**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…
Well sir, you smashed this challenge - and ended up with a stunning unplugged album. It's made me want to hear some of your established tracks with similar stripped-down arrangements, leading the listener to concentrate on the sheer artistry of your words and astonishingly soulful vocal. Next challenge for you is the 24 hours album. 24 minutes of original music in 24 hours. I believe it originated on alonetone. Off you go.
**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 10
Written Wednesday 16th February 2022
****
I've had the little guitar bit in the middle for years and years and years.
Even my wife recognises it, I play it so often.
Yesterday while…
**Song-writing Demo for FAWM 2022**
Song number 9
Written Tuesday 15th February 2022
****
I decided it was time I wrote a song that wasn't so hard to sing and play!
****
**Once Again - A A J Russe**
Every day
You keep asking…
**Song-writing Demo for FAWM 2022**
Song number 7
Written Saturday 12th February 2022
****
This one was easy to write but hard work singing and recording.
I'm fairly certain this one is high on the list of "arrange me later" - I kept…
Great song writing - loving the sentiment and your tender vox here. I love it when the FAWM and RPM parameters draw out his kind of track, any more of an arrangement would detract from the message - IMHO.
**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…
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…
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…
I BUY GUITARS
Em
One man might buy cigarettes and waste it all in smoke
Another marijuana and share a friendly toke
Am
Another, with more money, might invest in antique cars
Em
I buy guitars
A man might buy a baseball card
Keep it…
I have no memory of writing or recording this song. I have no idea what it's about.
CONNIE'S SONG
Em D C B...
(Em) Before I knew anything (D) about you, I (C) loved you
(Em) Whenever you would show, I stared in (D) wonder
I heard you…
Not sure if this one is worthy of the 6:00 running time as it's not nearly that much of a prog epic. I think I over did the padding (unintentionally). I could have cut the break in the middle considerably, and the solo at the end could be cut…
Love the 335 lead. I see what you mean about mixing, though. And the drone - that's a cute idea. I wasn't gonna listen now (VERY late, VERY drunk), but the description of the drone made me press play. Sounds cool, but I almost wanted more of it - I am drunk, though! That lead, wow, wanna switch a guitar on now... but... there's always tomorrow/today... and bed feels like a good idea.
I have no memory of writing or recording this song. I have no idea what it's about.
CONNIE'S SONG
Em D C B...
(Em) Before I knew anything (D) about you, I (C) loved you
(Em) Whenever you would show, I stared in (D) wonder
I heard you…
I BUY GUITARS
Em
One man might buy cigarettes and waste it all in smoke
Another marijuana and share a friendly toke
Am
Another, with more money, might invest in antique cars
Em
I buy guitars
A man might buy a baseball card
Keep it…
WITHOUT THINKING
capo @ 3 in C
C I do things without E thinking
Am (walk down) I admit it's true
But I do C nothing without G thinking about C you
Am I turn a corner
Em I pump some gas
F I fold a pillow case
C I wash a G glass
I stand…
Oh yeahhhhhhhh... Of the three - Simone, the Paul and the Strat - I think I'd go for the Paul myself... if I wasn't so married it might be different :)
Oh yesss... I did miss this one when you posted it... Found it now, though. Love it. I can't get my missus to sing. I was sure she had a few "Hey Hey"s in her... Anyways... this is fab. DADGAD and the mix of voices floating over it.
actually a song i only wrote a few weeks ago rather than one from eons ago lol...
wanted to keep this recording as simple & raw as possible since i have a bad habit of over working/over editing stuff, so hopefully that shows somewhat…
Another new song
KC
----------------------------------
Where in the world did we go wrong
All the bad guys are coming on so strong
We're slowly losing all our rights
A quiet revolution overnight
Whenever you think that it's not right…
Did you know that if you use a drummer in GarageBand you can shut off the snare drum? I didn't. I setup the entire song with the drummer (Benny) and then copied the track to a standard MIDI drums track and deleted all the snare hits. Cool…
I came dangerously close to calling this ABACAB, and also to having the song form be ABACAB. Bullet dodged? I was noodling out the bass line and drum parts on my iPad and I had three sections. I couldn't decide which one had the better hook…
Dig this one too. First listen I was distracted by some work stuff... then a delivery... life, eh? Came back and hit play again and it's like old friend.
If ever there was a song that begged to close an album, it was this turkey.
A couple of things here. First, I don't really know what I was going for. Quiet, slow, boring? Probably not boring, but there you go. The cool thing happens in…
If ever there was a song that begged to close an album, it was this turkey.
A couple of things here. First, I don't really know what I was going for. Quiet, slow, boring? Probably not boring, but there you go. The cool thing happens in…
My song writing happy place is sort of slow to mid tempo dumb rockers. Something like 75-90 beats per minute. Every once in a while I feel the need to shake things up and write something super hyper active. This is an example of that. I also…
LOL - you always sell your stuff so well in your blurbs. I actually like the lead takes like this (that's assuming these are the sloppy ones and you didn't replace them!)
Comments on Andrew Russe's stuff
Well sir, you smashed this challenge - and ended up with a stunning unplugged album. It's made me want to hear some of your established tracks with similar stripped-down arrangements, leading the listener to concentrate on the sheer artistry of your words and astonishingly soulful vocal. Next challenge for you is the 24 hours album. 24 minutes of original music in 24 hours. I believe it originated on alonetone. Off you go.
Glad you didn't bin it! Liking the driving feel - immediately hooky also.
A sweet almost-lullaby - glad this one found a home in your February. So very pretty.
Really love this melody and the breezy feel. Some gorgeous little acoustic guitar runs in there too.
Great song writing - loving the sentiment and your tender vox here. I love it when the FAWM and RPM parameters draw out his kind of track, any more of an arrangement would detract from the message - IMHO.
Woohoo! Logged in and back from Brighton. <3 Can now fave this utter classic.
Hauntingly sad and beautiful
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.
Comments made by Andrew Russe
Oh this is WELL COOL. Giving Mrs R a tour of the MTBottles peeps. I haven't heard Mark Imsdahl for ages and ages ... so smooth.
Oops... just ordered another one....
Mrs R loves this one too :)
Love the 335 lead. I see what you mean about mixing, though. And the drone - that's a cute idea. I wasn't gonna listen now (VERY late, VERY drunk), but the description of the drone made me press play. Sounds cool, but I almost wanted more of it - I am drunk, though! That lead, wow, wanna switch a guitar on now... but... there's always tomorrow/today... and bed feels like a good idea.
Still love this one. Pity I can't favourite it twice...
Yep... My name is Andrew, and I buy guitars
This one touches me.
There should be a "happily" somewhere in that last comment (in case she's reading... hehe)
Oh yeahhhhhhhh... Of the three - Simone, the Paul and the Strat - I think I'd go for the Paul myself... if I wasn't so married it might be different :)
Oh yesss... I did miss this one when you posted it... Found it now, though. Love it. I can't get my missus to sing. I was sure she had a few "Hey Hey"s in her... Anyways... this is fab. DADGAD and the mix of voices floating over it.
Well that rocks
Nearly missed this one! Like it.
Yep, I'm with Greg, the groove on your stuff is one of the things that drags me in
Cool guitars
Dig this one too. First listen I was distracted by some work stuff... then a delivery... life, eh? Came back and hit play again and it's like old friend.
Loving the lead and the backwards guitars at the end. You might think you're over using it, but wow it's a mighty cool sound.
Liking this one a lot. Making me want to reach for the Robin Trower albums.
Nice one.
LOL - you always sell your stuff so well in your blurbs. I actually like the lead takes like this (that's assuming these are the sloppy ones and you didn't replace them!)
Wow. Not got anything more constructive to say than that... just... Wow... not sure how or why, but this works for me