I Hope I Love Them - A A J Russe
Written sometime in 1989
Recorded 2nd March 2022
The Shoebox Demos Vol 1
****
This one has tugged at me for many many years.
I absolutely adored it from the moment I wrote it in 1989... But I thought…
Foolishness - A A J Russe
Written 3rd January 1988
Recorded 1st March 2022
The Shoebox Demos Vol 1
****
While writing and recording songs for FAWM 2022 I discovered that I can create acoustic demos of nearly any song I've ever written…
Hehehe... there's LOTS of youthful angst is these Songs from the Shoebox... possibly an embarrassing amount... You wait... let's see if I'm brave enough to record the ones from 1978/9!!!
Foolishness - A A J Russe
Written 3rd January 1988
Recorded 1st March 2022
The Shoebox Demos Vol 1
****
While writing and recording songs for FAWM 2022 I discovered that I can create acoustic demos of nearly any song I've ever written…
Foolishness - A A J Russe
Written 3rd January 1988
Recorded 1st March 2022
The Shoebox Demos Vol 1
****
While writing and recording songs for FAWM 2022 I discovered that I can create acoustic demos of nearly any song I've ever written…
**Song-writing Demo for FAWM 2022**
Song number 5
Written Thursday 10th February 2022
****
What can I say? Mrs R likes it.
I knew she would.
Scheduling-wise, songs per day, I've now caught up with having missed the first 5 days of…
**Song-writing Demo for FAWM 2022**
Song number 1
Written Sunday 6th February 2022
****
OK, this is a bit of a departure for me - posting songwriting demos.
This is a one mic recording made this morning in the living room, touch of reverbs…
**Song-writing Demo for FAWM 2022**
Song number 5
Written Thursday 10th February 2022
****
What can I say? Mrs R likes it.
I knew she would.
Scheduling-wise, songs per day, I've now caught up with having missed the first 5 days of…
**Song-writing Demo for FAWM 2022**
Song number 15
Written Wednesday 23rd February 2022
****
I wasn't able to stop! I really meant to, but... Oh well.
It's still February, so it can go with the others.
IT IS MY FIRM INTENTION TO…
(Remastered 22/10/2021)
I've been missing in action for ages - apologies to all, I'm about to start listening again too.
For ages, I'd been considering a move away from my trusty Boss BR1600 on which I've recorded and mixed nearly everything…
I saw your comments on my site. Thanks. It sounds like you’ve got this recording process figured out. I’m still learning as I go. Thank God for YouTube. 😎
**Song-writing Demo for FAWM 2022**
Song number 15
Written Wednesday 23rd February 2022
****
I wasn't able to stop! I really meant to, but... Oh well.
It's still February, so it can go with the others.
IT IS MY FIRM INTENTION TO…
**Song-writing Demo for FAWM 2022**
Song number 1
Written Sunday 6th February 2022
****
OK, this is a bit of a departure for me - posting songwriting demos.
This is a one mic recording made this morning in the living room, touch of reverbs…
This is kick-ass! You have a great voice and I love your guitar playing. When you have great ingredients like that, you don’t need much more than good material, of which there is plenty here! I am very inspired listening to this. I appreciate you sharing it and I look forward to delving deeper -bjk
**Song-writing Demo for FAWM 2022**
Song number 6
Written Friday 11th February 2022
****
I was meant to be resting and chilling.
In fact, I was resting and chilling.
But then I got a message from Lala saying she was listening to the…
**Song-writing Demo for FAWM 2022**
Song number 13
Written Saturday 19th February 2022
****
UPDATE: 8 Hours after posting I just spotted that I listened to and favourited a song called... um... "We're Done" by oldfolks2 - check it out…
**Song-writing Demo for FAWM 2022**
Song number 14
Written Monday 21st February 2022
****
This is it ... FAWM's all finished for me... time for a lie down now.
There's still nearly a week to go, but I'm done, 14 songs written in 16…
**Song-writing Demo for FAWM 2022**
Song number 15
Written Wednesday 23rd February 2022
****
I wasn't able to stop! I really meant to, but... Oh well.
It's still February, so it can go with the others.
IT IS MY FIRM INTENTION TO…
Love this song! Congratulations - what an accomplishment. I can imagine your fingers are a bit sore and your voice is craving a cold libation. But very glad you shared these with all of us.
**Song-writing Demo for FAWM 2022**
Song number 14
Written Monday 21st February 2022
****
This is it ... FAWM's all finished for me... time for a lie down now.
There's still nearly a week to go, but I'm done, 14 songs written in 16…
Wow!!!! Congratulations. All 14 songs were amazing. And this one - quite the pinnacle moment itself. Gut wrenching in parts... especially the chorus. Your writing is always an inspiration to me, and this one certainly has done that job.
**Song-writing Demo for FAWM 2022**
Song number 14
Written Monday 21st February 2022
****
This is it ... FAWM's all finished for me... time for a lie down now.
There's still nearly a week to go, but I'm done, 14 songs written in 16…
**Song-writing Demo for FAWM 2022**
Song number 8
Written Monday 14th February 2022
****
It's not entirely true. But it's CLOSE ENOUGH!
It was actually the 16th of February.
But we were corresponding by email on the 14th.
Then we…
**Song-writing Demo for FAWM 2022**
Song number 6
Written Friday 11th February 2022
****
I was meant to be resting and chilling.
In fact, I was resting and chilling.
But then I got a message from Lala saying she was listening to the…
**Song-writing Demo for FAWM 2022**
Song number 5
Written Thursday 10th February 2022
****
What can I say? Mrs R likes it.
I knew she would.
Scheduling-wise, songs per day, I've now caught up with having missed the first 5 days of…
Playing with my new Zoom B1X effects processor. Synthesized drums are from the B1X. Bassline is a panicky one I like to play. The guitar part I just came up with. Altogether I think I like it -- anyway it gets my pulse up!
Well, it's a work…
A short 2-track guitar tune. I was trying to get that feeling of going out in public after lockdowns are all over. Sort of a combination of relaxing and frantic, I guess?
OK, so just in the spirit of the season (!) here's a playfully spooky little creation.....maybe imagine all those skeletons dancing around the place!!! I should maybe pay some homage to Tim Burton/John Williams here...?
:) I thought I'd commented on this one too... (been distracted by Mrs R's latest Christmas film choice ... it's not even December yet!!! It's got Dolly in, though... interestingly she looked older in 1996 than she does now!!) ... Anyways, yes, I like the insistent rhythm driving it on.
Oh yes, like it. And I agree with thetworegs - it does evoke some Christmas vibes (this maybe something to do with the fact my wife is binge-watching Christmas films on amazon prime and I can't really get away from it!!)
It is said that the Valley of the Kings is understandably a haunted and sacred place...hence the start and end of this composition, being no. 7 in the Fusion Soundscapes project....and hopefully evoking a sense of awe and majesty walking in the…
DIRTY LAUNDRY Key C
I got a call from Russell. He had to move his junk
He’d filled his car. He’d filled his trunk
Big black bags of something. I said, “What’s with these?”
He said, “It’s dirty laundry.” I said, “That’s crazy.”
So, he…
HOME
(Am D) or (F C)
VERSE 1.
Where the (G) windmill sings to the mocking bird
And the (CM7) prairie wind, without a word
(Am) Whispers thru tall (D) grass, I’ll be (G) home
(F C G) or (Am D)
VERSE 2.
Where the butter cups and…
I’ve seen you crash back down into the ash
Like an inverted Phoenix
So delectable yet totally ineffectual
Those intellectual verbal tricks
I’ve tried to save ya from your bad behaviour
And keep you safe within the mix
I’ve been here to…
So, what do you think... could it use more wah-wah?
This was written for the 2014 RPM Challenge. The chromatic thing at the beginning had been rattling around in my head for years and years but had never found a home.
The lyrics here…
And that "yeah" - it sounds like an expression of "NAILED it" at the end of a take... and I shall take it as that. But it could so easily be what I tend to capture a lot: a response to a call of "dinner's ready, I've called you three times already" lol
So, what do you think... could it use more wah-wah?
This was written for the 2014 RPM Challenge. The chromatic thing at the beginning had been rattling around in my head for years and years but had never found a home.
The lyrics here…
Or is it actually a keyboard? On second listen I'm wondering whether there's a also a keyboard pad of some sort tying the mix together. Could be guitars, though... anyways, very balanced mix that makes everything shine, especially the vocal.
So, what do you think... could it use more wah-wah?
This was written for the 2014 RPM Challenge. The chromatic thing at the beginning had been rattling around in my head for years and years but had never found a home.
The lyrics here…
Woah! That use of the wah is SO cool. The vocal is a goodie too. I like that guitar doing the plink plink plink kind of piano part thing. The guitars are huge. Love the "yeah!!" (is that what it is?) at the end. Digging this track big time.
The first song completed for the second round of re-recorded Quarantine Tunes. This one was written on the last day of the 2016 RPM Challenge. I had written a bunch of songs saying that people who think the Earth is flat are somehow defective…
GEETARS! :) Love the leads... Oh yeah... I think I'd like the rhythm ones louder, but they've got a lot of mids between them, so they probably could drown out the rest. I think we could take a spot more, though... Oh! Just reread the blurb - the rhythms are through a cocked wah? Ah, then you had the same problem as whoever had to mix Blizzard of Ozz, MSG, etc! LOL (I only tried that technique once - bear in mind this was a bluesrock band - my sound engineer went "wtf are you doing!?!? If you keep doing that I'm just turning your fader down..." lol)
A silly, sort of dreamlike / lullaby-ish tune, about weird travels on a bubble-gum balloon.
Lyrics:
See one time I was chewing bubble gum and it was mighty fine
I blew a bubble so big it took me up into the sky
So this is the story of where…
Comments on Andrew Russe's stuff
Great tune Andrew. we held back on a few old ideas too. i'm glad you put it out there
Hehehe... there's LOTS of youthful angst is these Songs from the Shoebox... possibly an embarrassing amount... You wait... let's see if I'm brave enough to record the ones from 1978/9!!!
That's rather wonderful ...... a bit of youthful angst ??
You've been a writer / poet for so many years!!! How delightful to put these songs out. I'm glad you found the shoe box.
Another beautiful piece of storytelling through haunting voice and gentle music
You sing these words perfectly … I am just in awe of your story telling
So lyrical
Intrigued … who is this written for? Whoever it is is a lucky person … love this
I saw your comments on my site. Thanks. It sounds like you’ve got this recording process figured out. I’m still learning as I go. Thank God for YouTube. 😎
Another little gem ......
This is kick-ass! You have a great voice and I love your guitar playing. When you have great ingredients like that, you don’t need much more than good material, of which there is plenty here! I am very inspired listening to this. I appreciate you sharing it and I look forward to delving deeper -bjk
Good stuff. I'm always amazed at how versatile you are.
That's a good song. I like the "acoustic demo," but do you also envision this as a rocker (2 guitars, bass, and drums)? I think it'd kill.
RIP to your pretty one....!!
Love this song! Congratulations - what an accomplishment. I can imagine your fingers are a bit sore and your voice is craving a cold libation. But very glad you shared these with all of us.
Wow!!!! Congratulations. All 14 songs were amazing. And this one - quite the pinnacle moment itself. Gut wrenching in parts... especially the chorus. Your writing is always an inspiration to me, and this one certainly has done that job.
***** A lie down ?!!!? You to get yourself a hobby .... Ha Ha, after all that hard work, I'll have to retire ...... Oh ... already am ......
Agreed with the other comment, very Elbow-esque, the melody and even the vocal has a Guy Garvey style to it. Excellent!
Toe tapper, this one. Nice chord changes.
Touching.
Comments made by Andrew Russe
Yep, raised my pulse too. Nice one.
And this is mighty fine playing.
Every now and then I'm struck with "One day I'll get a mandolin..." and noodles like this encourage that.
Love it.
Oh yes. Love this one.
:) I thought I'd commented on this one too... (been distracted by Mrs R's latest Christmas film choice ... it's not even December yet!!! It's got Dolly in, though... interestingly she looked older in 1996 than she does now!!) ... Anyways, yes, I like the insistent rhythm driving it on.
Wow, that works, wasn't expecting it to at all, but it does, big time. Nice one.
Oh yes, like it. And I agree with thetworegs - it does evoke some Christmas vibes (this maybe something to do with the fact my wife is binge-watching Christmas films on amazon prime and I can't really get away from it!!)
Yep, that works. Majestic stuff.
Yep :)
I'll comment on this one :) ... mighty fine song.
Short and sweet!
Wow. Gorgeous sounds.
And that "yeah" - it sounds like an expression of "NAILED it" at the end of a take... and I shall take it as that. But it could so easily be what I tend to capture a lot: a response to a call of "dinner's ready, I've called you three times already" lol
Or is it actually a keyboard? On second listen I'm wondering whether there's a also a keyboard pad of some sort tying the mix together. Could be guitars, though... anyways, very balanced mix that makes everything shine, especially the vocal.
Woah! That use of the wah is SO cool. The vocal is a goodie too. I like that guitar doing the plink plink plink kind of piano part thing. The guitars are huge. Love the "yeah!!" (is that what it is?) at the end. Digging this track big time.
Cool sounds
Nope, that's not a silly little ditty at all - well, you can call it that, if you want :) - it's actually quite thought-provoking. Nice one.
GEETARS! :) Love the leads... Oh yeah... I think I'd like the rhythm ones louder, but they've got a lot of mids between them, so they probably could drown out the rest. I think we could take a spot more, though... Oh! Just reread the blurb - the rhythms are through a cocked wah? Ah, then you had the same problem as whoever had to mix Blizzard of Ozz, MSG, etc! LOL (I only tried that technique once - bear in mind this was a bluesrock band - my sound engineer went "wtf are you doing!?!? If you keep doing that I'm just turning your fader down..." lol)
That's a cool track. Pulls you in a spins you round. Like it.