**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…
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
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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…
**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…
**Song-writing Demo for FAWM 2022**
Song number 9
Written Tuesday 15th February 2022
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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 am not sure anyone will like this track but me, but I think I did a decent songwriting job here.
Lyrics:
16 hours a day upon my seat
Never walk a step I’m feelin beat
Temp me with a little food
Put me in a better mood
Waiting for another…
Wrote this after I was getting over an illness. I think it came out pretty good, and my guitar sounds good through that '64 Ampeg Reverberocket.
(Lyrics are approximate)
Sittin around like a bump on a log
walkin around like my head in a…
I predict that this will be one of the more popular tracks of the album, because the whole thing took about 45 minutes to create. It was COLD that day!!
Lyrics (approximate)
Doncha stand too close or you'll burn your toes
move your face…
I spent days obsessing over the baseline for this song, and it ends up being fairly unremarkable and will be barely noticed on most speakers.
Lyrics:
You're drivin home in your luxury car all alone now
Designer suit is the only thing…
It's tough to go wrong with a song like this. Not only is it wholly unoriginal, but I think I am exactly ripping someone off. I can't place the exact song, though.
Lyrics:
Time to introduce myself as the fount of creation
you mighta been…
I started listening to this album the other day but got dragged off to do make the dinner or something.
Glad I came back - this grabs me just as much as it did first time round...
This is a song I wrote this week, trying to capture that strange emotion you sometimes feel during times of great milestones in your life - good things happening, changes, moving on. Joy and melancholy all at the same time. Everyone feels it…
This one went through many iterations before turning into what you hear. A key breakthrough came when I stumbled upon that keyboard part for the verses. That opened the whole thing up.
Another SUPERB RPM from you Mr Fox.
As always, I'm stunned you achieved this level across all the tracks in such a short time.
Hats off to you sir. Five Stars. Etc.
There is no reverb on any vox parts in this one. I loved how I was able to get the tone of the voices to have that mid-60s sound. This was aided by the fact I am running through an emulation of the Abbey Road mixing desk. ;)
Again, listened to most of this before reading the blurb. And I was thinking "there's John, Paul, and George..." - aha, I see!
(And therefore I've just learnt something from this - might be stealing this technique in future!!)
No offense meant to my English friends. ;) I grew up there as a kid, so we have common cause. Anyway, this song is more about the struggle between the material and spiritual, doing the right thing when you are called upon, etc. Hope you enjoy!
Oh yes.
Guitar, especially instrumental, is reminding me a lot of Jimmy Page (been listening to Physical Graffiti a lot over the last few weeks). Don't know whether an "English rock" approach to the guitar was intentional, but it certainly works.
As you may have picked up on, there's a lot this year about soldiering on when your world has been destroyed. So, this is a song of hope. Have faith, have faith...
Awww... and this follows "Say Something" perfectly. Gorgeous heart-rending chorus.
We all bring our own baggage to a song we hear - but I'm feeling more of an "PLEASE accept who I am" as I'm listening to it - whether sung to oneself or another. Probably fits with what you wanted, anyway!
Brilliant.
This one was a hard one to nail. The Wurlitzer riff was something I accidentally played and fell in love with immediately, so I needed to write a song that enhanced the mood that the tone of the Wurly evoked. The sound is so empty and spacious…
I'd listened to most of this one (and faved it) before I read the blurb... glad I did - cos I can tell you that we think you nailed it.
LOVE that bare piano and the plaintive "Say something".
Defiance, self-doubt, hubris, failure, choosing...It's all here to hear.
The title is a nod to my love of a certain guitar player and singer from a late 60's act; who's solo records were even better. The vibrato guitar is inspired by him…
It is easy to mock and ridicule, but much harder to learn and understand. Overcoming our own pig-headedness may be our biggest personal challenge. This song thinks about that. I also was rather happy with how my Telecaster sounds in the rhythm…
The song that led the way. I came up with the guitar sound first, and needed a song that evoked the pure energy that was coming from that guitar sound. It needed to be fast and intense. And it needed harmonies. We're full abandon 'cause it's time…
Girls aren't like guitars.
They won't just sit around waiting for you to come up with something interesting to do
Girls aren't like guitars.
If you're having problems maybe it's because
Girls aren't like guitars
(C) 2015 Royal T Music
I have been wanting to do some Cream covers for awhile now and with the passing of Jack Bruce it seemed an appropriate time to record some sort of tribute to him and the band.
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
I'm with you - good song, nice one. Enjoyed your RPM, well done.
Yep, this one came out good. It's the driving bass that I'm digging here.
Ha! Ha! I like the sounds you get with your acoustic guitars.
Digging the relaxed "roll" of this one. And that harp is spot on.
I started listening to this album the other day but got dragged off to do make the dinner or something. Glad I came back - this grabs me just as much as it did first time round...
Well that works. Lovely stuff guys.
Another SUPERB RPM from you Mr Fox. As always, I'm stunned you achieved this level across all the tracks in such a short time. Hats off to you sir. Five Stars. Etc.
Again, listened to most of this before reading the blurb. And I was thinking "there's John, Paul, and George..." - aha, I see! (And therefore I've just learnt something from this - might be stealing this technique in future!!)
Oh yes. Guitar, especially instrumental, is reminding me a lot of Jimmy Page (been listening to Physical Graffiti a lot over the last few weeks). Don't know whether an "English rock" approach to the guitar was intentional, but it certainly works.
Yep :-)
Awww... and this follows "Say Something" perfectly. Gorgeous heart-rending chorus. We all bring our own baggage to a song we hear - but I'm feeling more of an "PLEASE accept who I am" as I'm listening to it - whether sung to oneself or another. Probably fits with what you wanted, anyway! Brilliant.
I'd listened to most of this one (and faved it) before I read the blurb... glad I did - cos I can tell you that we think you nailed it. LOVE that bare piano and the plaintive "Say something".
Loving the guitar...
Well (and bear in mind, I was *quite* looking forward to this album) ... I'm not disappointed so far :)
And it's a fine fine guitar sound - it would have had me going too. Love it, nice opener.
Nice one. It's got a bouncy walk to it.
This is superb. Even the girl in this house laughed.
How did I miss this?!! I'm with JMT - coulda fooled me... Classy job sir
She's just a hoochie coochie cutie from the state of... misery Yes :-)
Yep, that's the stuff :-)