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And here is the first reply to In Your Hands.
I say "first" because I've found another one, When I Try To Be Me, that Mrs R says I have to do too... but that's unlikely to be the next one I post because I'm working…
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OK, let's delve once more into the magical shoebox of unused songs...
I've already recorded several that were written in 1994 (Sleeping with the Ghost, Elizabeth's Room, With Mum Again, If You Knew, A Hundred and…
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And here we go - Edith FINALLY gets it...
Actually, she's been getting it ever since I wrote it on the 29th May. I thought it would take a week or so, but it proved to be more of a fight than I was expecting.
On…
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Here it is in all of its glory...
THIS is the song that Mrs R and I had decided was a suitable response to a request to "Upload something HAPPY, stat!!!!!!!!!"
I tried to record it back in 2013 when I wrote it…
I was once asked to write a happy song. It turned out to be about a woman who killed herself and when I found out THAT SHE ACTUALLY KILLED HERSELF I wasn't sure what to think about my premonition.https://alonetone.com/jamesmichaeltaylor/tracks/a-happy-song. THEN, later an old friend asked if I had any happy songs so I wrote this:https://alonetone.com/jamesmichaeltaylor/tracks/if-it-makes-you-happy-092914-1
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I was asked (told?) to upload something happy. Hmmm, I thought. This will end well...
So, a few days later, I was rehearsing a pleasant little thing I wrote several years ago that has a working title of "She Was…
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Here's the very latest from the broom-cupboard.
I wrote it one dark night over 23 years ago.
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**All I Have To Do - A A J Russe**
There isn’t much time to get this out
You won’t hear me if I have to…
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Okies, so I'm working on some other thing and it's taking a while... drums to do and wotnot. But in the middle of it I'm digging how my Martin acoustic is working out. You probs won't even be able to hear it amongst…
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I wrote this one last September.
Allison Jane Sixsmith 1965-2016.
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**Forever - A A J Russe**
I can see you on your rocking horse now
The one that turned around and kicked you in the teeth
He thought…
I hear you’re drinking at the chocolate fountain
You pulled the handle off the door
But they won’t mind
They’ll be mending it forever..." Great images...
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I wasn't even sure the recording machine was still going to work after nearly five years... Certainly, bits of me don't work anymore... But, surprisingly, I got this done in 24 hours, start to finish... Strange old world…
As If It Really Matters - A A J Russe
Written 16th January 1999
Recorded 12th March 2022
The Shoebox Demos Vol 1
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Crumbs, even this is 23 years old!
We used it as a set-opener in the last band I was in.
I've been trying to make…
Gates Of Heaven - A A J Russe
Written 15th January 1988
Recorded 6th March 2022
The Shoebox Demos Vol 1
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This is about as naked as I can get.
This is how I wrote it. It's never had any accompaniment.
I was a bit young to sing…
As If It Really Matters - A A J Russe
Written 16th January 1999
Recorded 12th March 2022
The Shoebox Demos Vol 1
****
Crumbs, even this is 23 years old!
We used it as a set-opener in the last band I was in.
I've been trying to make…
No-one To Blame - A A J Russe
Written 1st January 1988
Recorded 6th March 2022
The Shoebox Demos Vol 1
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Nearly forgot to post this one! (it's been a busy week at work)
I was 24 when I wrote it. What more can I say…
What's really cool about these songs written long ago is that you are still able to remember the melody... I'm always having to remember my own music. I really like this one! Wise words of a twenty something... wiser that his years!
Who Is My Neighbour - A A J Russe
Written sometime in 1992
Recorded 12th March 2022
The Shoebox Demos Vol 1
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I wrote this 30 years ago when I was 29. There were a bunch of people killing other people. There were refugees.
By the…
As If It Really Matters - A A J Russe
Written 16th January 1999
Recorded 12th March 2022
The Shoebox Demos Vol 1
****
Crumbs, even this is 23 years old!
We used it as a set-opener in the last band I was in.
I've been trying to make…
**Song-writing Demo for FAWM 2022**
Song number 15
Written Wednesday 23rd February 2022
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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…
Congratulations!!!! Ended with another amazing tune - YES! That is a wealth of creativity in you my friend. I look forward to hearing all your other tunes. I hope you took a good rest after all this!!!
**Song-writing Demo for FAWM 2022**
Song number 14
Written Monday 21st February 2022
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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…
Amazing how this came towards the end of the challenge...simply gorgeous. I don't hear any fatigue in it. A sad song though and I'm imagining the story behind it. Beautiful.
**Song-writing Demo for FAWM 2022**
Song number 13
Written Saturday 19th February 2022
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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…
This is another great one!!! and catchy too. I also loved hearing your description of how this came about - I totally relate!!! I actually don't like most of my own songs. This song captures the spirit of these challenges :)
**Song-writing Demo for FAWM 2022**
Song number 11
Written Thursday 17th February 2022
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Feels like I'm on the last lap now. Only 3 more needed.
This one came from a suggestion from Mrs R this morning. I didn't quite fancy it, but…
**Song-writing Demo for FAWM 2022**
Song number 10
Written Wednesday 16th February 2022
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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…
Yep :) like it.
I've just realised, listening to this, YOU'RE one of the main reasons that I've got a wall of guitars behind me with P90s in!!! And I STILL can't make them sound like this!! haha
Collaboration with Freight Drive Reprobates (music) and Darkarma (lyrics).
Don't think it's my best, but it's been hanging around for so long, I needed to get it out so I can move on to the next one :)
Enjoy!
This is a recording from my i phone off my back deck at home in Mill Valley tonight. Everyone howls at 8 pm for 1 minute in solidarity for the healthcare providers during this pandemic with COVID 19. its been going on for over 2 weeks now…
When I tell people I am a terrible singer, this is what I'm talking about. Listening to myself here is making my teeth ache.
This was the first idea I had for the April 2020 RPM Challenge - Social Distance Edition. I used a 1x12 combo amp…
I live in a house with a river running at the bottom of the garden so i wrote a song about it.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sz0ygixKAno
When I get down by the river and I watch it flow
I Wonder where the hell it finally goes
Snaking…
Wow. That works. Really uplifting.
We've only got slugs down the bottom of our garden. And the top. And a lot of snails in the middle. No ants though - they all seem to have moved into the house in the last few days...
This one came to me as I was sleeping on a plane, delayed on a tarmac. I dreamt that McCartney was singing this, sort of. I came out of the dream abruptly when the pilot said we were finally cleared to take off. I racked my brain to figure out…
Reminds me of a song called Scrambled Eggs ;)
(That's the blurb, not the song itself)
And strangely, I can hear McCartney singing this too... lol
Love the little horn part on the end!
This one came solely as the chorus melody and the basic hook "So I'll sing my song for Carolina" It's all I had for months, but I thought it was a good chorus line so I kept humming it to see if it would sprout further ideas. The mid section is…
This one started as the verse chords and some rambling vox melody. My demo of just gtr and me mumbling resulted in something vaguely Lennon-esque in delivery, so I kept that aspect and took it further for the mid section. The harmonies in the…
The word agony and the basic melody for the first line came first. I sat on it for a while, then one evening tried to figure out the chords for it. The verse chords followed very quickly, effectively falling out of the gtr after I had discovered…
A total gtr inspired tune. The riff came first and I knew it needed thunderous drums. The rest fell into place. I envisioned this one being very Top of The Pops on a Saturday in 1971, or Granada TV in summer of' 70, depending on your point of…
I have never written a song about the RPM Challenge itself, until now. Have we really been here for 15 years? It needed to be fun, it needed to be a great dance number. I had the gtr riff, and realized it would be even better as a horn line. The…
Home from work for 9 days. How is everyone doing? Stay safe and have fun on this weird global time off! got a new FX peddle , super octave, that im using here instead of a bass guitar.
Enjoy! Reef
Comments on Andrew Russe's stuff
Simple and clear...
"Teddy bead kisses..." So sad.
Sounds like another suicide song to me... We can feel the pain in your voice.
I was once asked to write a happy song. It turned out to be about a woman who killed herself and when I found out THAT SHE ACTUALLY KILLED HERSELF I wasn't sure what to think about my premonition.https://alonetone.com/jamesmichaeltaylor/tracks/a-happy-song. THEN, later an old friend asked if I had any happy songs so I wrote this:https://alonetone.com/jamesmichaeltaylor/tracks/if-it-makes-you-happy-092914-1
"But still I love the comfort I find in misery…" Great line. Beatle like...and that's always good.
Great guitar sound.
Love this. Beautifully done. Tonight I was trying out a song from that era: Twilight Time...https://www.e-chords.com/chords/the-platters/twilight-time
I hear you’re drinking at the chocolate fountain You pulled the handle off the door But they won’t mind They’ll be mending it forever..." Great images...
Rock on Dude...! Good to listen to some of your tunes. It's been a while. Strange relationship in this song.
Another great song! Maybe it’s time to get the band back together!,!
Like it.
Beautiful piece.
What's really cool about these songs written long ago is that you are still able to remember the melody... I'm always having to remember my own music. I really like this one! Wise words of a twenty something... wiser that his years!
This is a universal message with a hauntingly sad melody. Everyone should be open to these words. Thank you Andrew.
The words really speak to me … as ever!
Congratulations!!!! Ended with another amazing tune - YES! That is a wealth of creativity in you my friend. I look forward to hearing all your other tunes. I hope you took a good rest after all this!!!
Amazing how this came towards the end of the challenge...simply gorgeous. I don't hear any fatigue in it. A sad song though and I'm imagining the story behind it. Beautiful.
This is another great one!!! and catchy too. I also loved hearing your description of how this came about - I totally relate!!! I actually don't like most of my own songs. This song captures the spirit of these challenges :)
I can't help but comment again! This is fabulous!!! Love how it came about - thank you Mrs. R.
What a loving ballad .....just perfect. That "little guitar bit" found its home :) Beautiful vocals here too.
Comments made by Andrew Russe
oh fabulous
"Rosie the riveter" - classic!
Yep :) like it. I've just realised, listening to this, YOU'RE one of the main reasons that I've got a wall of guitars behind me with P90s in!!! And I STILL can't make them sound like this!! haha
Still grooving to this one.
This is a cool one... don't remember hearing it before.
Wow. That's pretty darn cool.
Dug this. Loved the lead break. And the vocals are a lot better than you think they are. My teeth aren't aching at all!
Wow. That works. Really uplifting. We've only got slugs down the bottom of our garden. And the top. And a lot of snails in the middle. No ants though - they all seem to have moved into the house in the last few days...
Have I heard this before? Don't seem to have commented before... I do seem to have favourited it... But anyways... Omigosh :)
Another utterly fabulous set of songs Mr Fox. Well done, big time.
Rocking. Am I imagining it, or is there a backing vocal that sounds like someone other than you?
Reminds me of a song called Scrambled Eggs ;) (That's the blurb, not the song itself) And strangely, I can hear McCartney singing this too... lol Love the little horn part on the end!
Run out of words to type... Wow
Yep. LOVED this one.
Love it. The lyrics are fabulous. I don't often notice lyrics on a first listen, but wow... Fab song
Woof! Yes
Love how you converted the guitar riff to horns - masterful decision (says a guitarist)
That works. Nice one.
Yep. Stay safe :)
Nice and laid back.