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…
Demo #3 for FAWM ’22.
[INTRO]
Gimme a ticket for an aeroplane
Cause I ain’t got time for no slow ass train
My babies moving on,
and I know when she’s gone
My life will only get better…
One Two Three Four!
[CHORUS]
Gimmie a ticket…
Demo #1 for FAWM '22.
[VERSE]
I wasn’t looking for trouble,
Just a change of pace.
Something different that my mind could engage.
A shallow fragment of longing
For something different to feel
The novelty of the change it’s own appeal…
Well...This is song #10 for my 2022 RPM challenge- the final track for my "album". It's a bit like two songs that found each other somehow. That makes for a very long track! eek. Thank you to everyone who has been listening to my songs...it…
Guess I just needed to say something ......
Well, the line's been drawn, we'll ignore and we'll invade,
It's best if you run, or get on your knees and pray,
After midnight, bullets…
Yep... Not much to say really... But I like how you've done it... Those chords in the chorus/refrain, moves the vibe from "triumphant" to "empty" as you deliver the line.
I was thinking "cool slide" and then that amazing harp kicked in. I'm real glad the slide featured later - you've got a nice touch. But that harp... whoa... fabulous sounds. Cool song too. This Amber Lee sounds like a wrong un to me!
RPM Challenge 2022 song number 3.
This one is okay. I have a feeling that anytime I work in 6/8 time I come up with exactly this song. I knew the lyrics in the chorus (the second line) were bad but I thought I could live with them. Now…
Yeah, this way of doing the guitars is paying off for me, big time. I always love your rhythm playing, but these are shining even more. And the lead on this - NICE. Your comment on the 2nd chorus line made me laugh. I'd heard it a couple of times before I read the comment, and I'd thought "cool line!"
The second song started for the 2022 RPM Challenge is the second song finished. I'm sort of working off a first in first out queue this year. I didn't plan it that way, but that's how it's going.
I'm disappointed in this one. It's not a…
Actually, I think it works (I've been getting some of that - I'm disappointed, but the listeners think it's mighty fine - so I kinda know what you feel like now!) .... anyways, love the groove and riffing on this. The chorus is cool, but it's maybe not standing up to the job it's being asked to do nearer the end? Maybe that's what's leaving you feeling flat about it? I'm still digging it, though.
The first song worked on and the first song finished. The 2022 RPM Challenge is well underway!
I had a few gimmicky ideas for this year's challenge and this song hits on some of them. First, I wanted to get away from the small room reverb…
The first song worked on and the first song finished. The 2022 RPM Challenge is well underway!
I had a few gimmicky ideas for this year's challenge and this song hits on some of them. First, I wanted to get away from the small room reverb…
Wooo yeah, liking the two gimmicks - I think it's the different guitars for tracking the rhythm makes the biggest difference, but I'm useless at picking and evaluating reverbs... so it could be that? Anyway, bigger, more spacious sound. And it leaves a better space for the vocal to sit in. Love that lead.
Woah! Love this. I follow you, so I got the notification, but couldn't remember why... (My brain's going in my old age!) ... But when this started, AH! That's why...
LOVE the vibe on this... And the lyrics... wow. I was messaging someone, and the tale in this just DEMANDED my attention... gotta go back to them in a minute! I'm wondering whether this was the idea that was originally intended to go on With Signs Following? It's FABULOUS here.
Wow - this one is longer than I was expecting! I'm listening to your RPM playlist while monitoring non-music stuff in another window (and holding a book, an actual book!) ... and I was thinking I'd lost track of what was going on! This is very trippy - I'm in the latter half of this track now, and what it's most reminding me of is Electric Ladyland period Hendrix. This is mighty cool. Are you going to have a version with the lyrics you were planning?
First track of my, now defunct EP RPM challenge effort. It has not gone well :)
Week 1 - road being resurfaced outside.... noise noise noise!
Week 2 - got some tracking done
Week 3 - Bad tooth infection needing extraction for week 4
Week…
Just been reading your blurb - oh man... what I nightmare. I've been recording acoustic demos for the FAWM challenge, I gave up worrying about noise in the end, otherwise I'd have destroyed more than one guitar!. The noise from outside (and from significant other snoring on the other sofa one afternoon... I kid you not, it's in there somewhere!) has been somewhat worse than usual. No tooth infection... although I do have a crown that fell off months ago that maybe I should get fixed before I get an infection!
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
Woah! That's a cool track.
Woo. Love that insistent riff in the background.
Utterly magnificent set of tracks. Wonderful stuff.
This is the only one I hadn't commented on already or favourited already. I wanted to favourite them all again :)
Awww. From start to finish this is a sweet listen. Love it.
Cool sounds, very cool sounds, I gotta dust mine off... And H R Music, YES, you gotta get a resonator
Yep... Not much to say really... But I like how you've done it... Those chords in the chorus/refrain, moves the vibe from "triumphant" to "empty" as you deliver the line.
I was thinking "cool slide" and then that amazing harp kicked in. I'm real glad the slide featured later - you've got a nice touch. But that harp... whoa... fabulous sounds. Cool song too. This Amber Lee sounds like a wrong un to me!
Yeah, this way of doing the guitars is paying off for me, big time. I always love your rhythm playing, but these are shining even more. And the lead on this - NICE. Your comment on the 2nd chorus line made me laugh. I'd heard it a couple of times before I read the comment, and I'd thought "cool line!"
Actually, I think it works (I've been getting some of that - I'm disappointed, but the listeners think it's mighty fine - so I kinda know what you feel like now!) .... anyways, love the groove and riffing on this. The chorus is cool, but it's maybe not standing up to the job it's being asked to do nearer the end? Maybe that's what's leaving you feeling flat about it? I'm still digging it, though.
Cool song too.
Wooo yeah, liking the two gimmicks - I think it's the different guitars for tracking the rhythm makes the biggest difference, but I'm useless at picking and evaluating reverbs... so it could be that? Anyway, bigger, more spacious sound. And it leaves a better space for the vocal to sit in. Love that lead.
Oh yeah. Mucho coolio. Love your playing on this.
Love the massive open sound you get.
Woah! Love this. I follow you, so I got the notification, but couldn't remember why... (My brain's going in my old age!) ... But when this started, AH! That's why...
Excellent RPM. There's some real standout tracks for me. Nice one.
LOVE the vibe on this... And the lyrics... wow. I was messaging someone, and the tale in this just DEMANDED my attention... gotta go back to them in a minute! I'm wondering whether this was the idea that was originally intended to go on With Signs Following? It's FABULOUS here.
Wow - this one is longer than I was expecting! I'm listening to your RPM playlist while monitoring non-music stuff in another window (and holding a book, an actual book!) ... and I was thinking I'd lost track of what was going on! This is very trippy - I'm in the latter half of this track now, and what it's most reminding me of is Electric Ladyland period Hendrix. This is mighty cool. Are you going to have a version with the lyrics you were planning?
Love those harmonics.
Just been reading your blurb - oh man... what I nightmare. I've been recording acoustic demos for the FAWM challenge, I gave up worrying about noise in the end, otherwise I'd have destroyed more than one guitar!. The noise from outside (and from significant other snoring on the other sofa one afternoon... I kid you not, it's in there somewhere!) has been somewhat worse than usual. No tooth infection... although I do have a crown that fell off months ago that maybe I should get fixed before I get an infection!