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…
A little fun riff that came from noodling on my Epi whilst watching the idiot box one night. It's kind of written for a friend who is a little lost in a self-imposed exile from life.
This went by while I was musing on the earlier tracks...
Now I'm listening to it again. Another goodie. Stunning vox, and I'm liking the slide. The middle section is genius.
A brief glimpse, but that's all. Inspired by last April. It's for everyone, but no one in particular. Yes, this one gives more than a passing nod to Ham and Evans. Thanks gents!
Top Of The Pops circa 1972! Remember when all those bands in the early 70's where adding synth to every song but the lyrics meant something (sometimes)? Pure excitement, pure bubblegum, pure fun. Well, this is my offering and thanks to all of…
I've run out of words... I've broken me "Favourite" button...
And your rhythm guitar playing... wow... you've got the same thing going that Malcolm Young has.
Good grief... I'm only three songs into this album... this is just... just... fabulous.
Yep, that reverb is the one it needed.
Like DB sez, yes, ELO. But there's Mott The Hoople, etc, as well... much else... all that 70s goodness... and an excellent song as well.
Wow! John, Paul, and George with Young/Young/Williams/Rudd backing them... I can't think of a better combination for me to listen to.
The chorus is just sublime.
And George Martin at the controls... lol (just reached the end).
Almost perfect Gary - LOVE IT!!
Reg was talking to Elvis about Frank and he told him something he didn't know.you can have it all then at the end not remember it which is what happened to Frank the grind ground him down a sad ending for a great man......Dementia is a cruel end…
Don't know the original, but I likes this.
Lovely lovely vocal, and I like how the instrumentation builds, complementing the vocal perfectly...
And I'm still watching this "no reverb" approach with much interest - I wish I was brave enough to try it (I am trying to cut down though! lol)
View the footage with music [at youtube](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aQZDRKD8oSA&hd=1)
After watching the video of the tsunami devastating the shores of Japan, I couldn't work anymore. So instead I sat down to dedicate a few hours of…
An emotional and, I found, disturbing listen.
I have to admit, news stories and footage of things like this often tend to pass me by, I seem not to get emotionally involved. I sometimes wonder why this is but I have no proper answer. I do get affected by some news stories, but not usually the big ones like this. My wife has been upset, but I've been left cold again on this one, until now.
Listening to this piece has opened it up slightly for me, making it more... I don't know what...
Many thanks for making this and posting it.
Do you wonder
What became of me?
Cause I wonder
What became of you
Since you wandered
Wandered far away
Full of wonder
I couldn't make you stay
So I wonder what became of you
Did you do the things you had to do?
Will you find your…
This is a love song for my wife.
I want to be
Your honey bee
And you could be the only bee for me
Monogamy
For you and me
You, my little sweetheart
Monagabee
Life would be so happy, you see
If you would be the only bee for me
And…
The story of a car crash.
Had the dream again this morning
Pictured just how it would be
Saw it moving in slow motion
Felt it rushing up to me
And suddenly it's happening
I can't seem to make myself believe
Clench my fists
Lose my…
The story of a workplace experience. And an ultimate fighting match.
Killer bassline by Ian Tanner. Drums by Grant Muller. Backing vocals by Clarke McMurray.
Hey there Mr. Flashy Pants
Hey there voice of thunder
As you lie there flat on…
Yep, you're right about it being a killer bass-line.
The vocals are pretty stand-out as well :-)
Initially, I wasn't sure whether your vocal delivery was fitting the songs, but this one showed me why it works so well. It's almost like we've got David Gates singing punk songs here... lol. The contrast really brings out the emotions in the lyrics. If you tried to sound "angrier" we'd actually lose some of the power...
Composed, arranged & mixed by Steffen Offermann
=================================================
Floppy old mix. Another candidate for remixing or (at least) re-mastering. I'll probably do the latter soon.
This is a synthesizer instrumental…
I can kind of see why it hasn't made many friends - it just is what it is... It makes me think of 80s stuff, like Moonlighting, etc :-)
BUT... it's a mighty fine listen.
not really a ghost in my house it just badly needs rewiring.
There’s a ghost in my house
That we can’t see
Moving things around
When we’re not here
Playing little tricks
On my memory
Playing little games
With my mind
There…
I'd only heard the various live versions, where I was concentrating on the performance etc... on this one I noticed what an excellent song it is as well!
Love the dual vocal.
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
This went by while I was musing on the earlier tracks... Now I'm listening to it again. Another goodie. Stunning vox, and I'm liking the slide. The middle section is genius.
This is a stunner. Had to come back and listen twice. So well put together... unbelievably good listening.
Brilliant.
Yep, always listen to what the song says :-) Another superb one. On certain days, this would be my favourite of the album so far.
I've run out of words... I've broken me "Favourite" button... And your rhythm guitar playing... wow... you've got the same thing going that Malcolm Young has.
Good grief... I'm only three songs into this album... this is just... just... fabulous. Yep, that reverb is the one it needed. Like DB sez, yes, ELO. But there's Mott The Hoople, etc, as well... much else... all that 70s goodness... and an excellent song as well.
Digging them geetars :-)
Wow! John, Paul, and George with Young/Young/Williams/Rudd backing them... I can't think of a better combination for me to listen to. The chorus is just sublime. And George Martin at the controls... lol (just reached the end). Almost perfect Gary - LOVE IT!!
Sheesh... this is utterly superb guys. Stunning groove, love the guitars, and the lyrics/vox are just perfect.
Don't know the original, but I likes this. Lovely lovely vocal, and I like how the instrumentation builds, complementing the vocal perfectly... And I'm still watching this "no reverb" approach with much interest - I wish I was brave enough to try it (I am trying to cut down though! lol)
An emotional and, I found, disturbing listen. I have to admit, news stories and footage of things like this often tend to pass me by, I seem not to get emotionally involved. I sometimes wonder why this is but I have no proper answer. I do get affected by some news stories, but not usually the big ones like this. My wife has been upset, but I've been left cold again on this one, until now. Listening to this piece has opened it up slightly for me, making it more... I don't know what... Many thanks for making this and posting it.
Consider my maw told :-) Nice one boys.
And a nice one to finish. The whole album is an excellent piece of work.
Big smile on my face listening to this. Superbly recorded vocals and guitars by the way.
I love this one.
Yep, you're right about it being a killer bass-line. The vocals are pretty stand-out as well :-) Initially, I wasn't sure whether your vocal delivery was fitting the songs, but this one showed me why it works so well. It's almost like we've got David Gates singing punk songs here... lol. The contrast really brings out the emotions in the lyrics. If you tried to sound "angrier" we'd actually lose some of the power...
I can kind of see why it hasn't made many friends - it just is what it is... It makes me think of 80s stuff, like Moonlighting, etc :-) BUT... it's a mighty fine listen.
Very beautiful. Fine playing, lovely arrangement.
I'd favourited it after the first line! Luckily the rest of it lived up to it... Groove, over all sound, vocal, backing vox, everything. I love it...
I'd only heard the various live versions, where I was concentrating on the performance etc... on this one I noticed what an excellent song it is as well! Love the dual vocal.