**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
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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
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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…
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
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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
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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
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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…
(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…
When you come to the end of the road
and all of the signs just say "No"
You never say, "Quit"
Cause that's not your bit
You're not a pup
You never give up...
It's so dark
she can't sleep
She needs more
ice in her water
She lost her smile
It went to Nashville
So she sent
me her address
I didn't know
if I should answer
or go to her
I could call a taxi
Too much wine
Too much coffee
Too…
Jeff's version
FLORENCIA
The tide is going out in Avila
I can feel it in my blood
Here I am in South Beach Florida
Just like you knew I would
There's a place in California
Where the coast is always clear
You said you'd be in…
Like it. I get the Glen Campbell vibe too.
I kinda like how the song is quite relaxed but the bass line is steaming along - almost like the bass-player thinks he's getting paid per note!
Of out tonight for a drink with a few friends but not til 9 so i thought i'd try to write a song and i think i have . i think i'll revisit it later to re-do but for now it will have to do. Hope you enjoy!! A heart-breaker for a Friday night…
Kavin Allenson and I did a NinJam session the other night on a public server. Ninjam is a software which allows real time collaboration over the net. There are some public servers available which you often have 'guests' which you can choose…
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Jan 17 2015 - Remixed. I was always kinda disappointed with what the original mix sounded like. Listening to it the other day I realised what it is - I'd mixed the vocals too loud. This reduced the "stereo" and killed off a lot of the life…
Just posted a remix of this one - I was never happy with the old one and couldn't figure out why...
I finally did yesterday - the vocals were mixed too loud!
So I lowered the vox and took some bottom end off the band (thanx Stoman - You were right!)
Rough Take: Recorded on what I had available (Cell Phone)
Made of iron, I'm made of blood
Raise your arms against me, and you'll feel the flood,
“Cause I don't need to run.
I won't sleep, til you're gone.”
My axe kept eating, wood and flesh…
Had this one sitting around for a year of so. I revisited it on Saturday and put down a couple guitar tracks and did a quick mix and master session on it. The inspiration came from a really cool melody/guitar riff a friend sent to me. Right off…
Unless my math skills have failed me, this is song #50 and 50/90 is complete! WOOHOO!
This song broke my one 50/90 rule... sort of. The rule was that all ideas get used immediately. Nothing gets dropped and everything I try stays. The idea…
Had a blues riff and I was recording on my cheapo. acoustic thru a 58 and my dog Rufus started singing so I kept it and made the song from his point of view. .... just having some fun.
Rar rar rar rar rar rar rar rar rar rar….
My name is…
This is an instrumental song I composed roundabout 7 years ago. Finally we got around to recording it with real instruments, and the band is:
Frank Zax: Guitars
Andy Gupta: Bass
Mark R. Cole: Drums:
Steffen Offermann: Synthesizers, Music…
Oh yes, like it a lot. I was thinking "very pleasant, where's it going to go? We've got another 3 minutes at least"... and then at about 50 seconds it told me.
I was sitting there taking it all in... and it finished before I knew it!
Fine job.
This one is pretty sad. Sad as in, it's not very good, not sad as in it's a sad song.
I spent one afternoon working exclusively in 7/8. This was the third thing I came up with. It's the worst of the three. I still sort of like the groove…
Wow. This 7/8 stuff really works! I like the groove too. Nice one.
I've got this gut feeling it could be really good with very little change - no idea what needs doing though, I think it's arrangement, varying the instrumentation involved mebbe so the choruses stick out... but I don't really know - the 7/8 keeps distracting me! (I might have to see if my drum machine can count to 7...)
Another song that is entirely in 7/8. I like this one a little bit even though the riff seems a bit forced. The guitars are all Les Paul.
I won’t try to hold you back
I won’t try to keep you down
I just want to build you up
I just want…
Like it. I've never been able to write/play anything in an odd time signature. I'm always in awe of folks that can stick a decent melody and lyrics over one.
Came up with this chord progression on the bass one day and hit record for the hell of it. Came back to it and decided to throw a quick lil melody over it. I think this is going to close out the "Just a minute?" playlist so I can move on to music…
one of a few improvs from the other night following a bike accident. these are all acoustic, no delay, just room recording, in tuning low to high AACEAE.
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
Very short and sweet - love it.
I LOVE this.
Like it. I get the Glen Campbell vibe too. I kinda like how the song is quite relaxed but the bass line is steaming along - almost like the bass-player thinks he's getting paid per note!
Yes. Hits the spot.
Wow - that works. I didn't think it would for me (from reading the about), but I really liked it.
Nice one.
Just posted a remix of this one - I was never happy with the old one and couldn't figure out why... I finally did yesterday - the vocals were mixed too loud! So I lowered the vox and took some bottom end off the band (thanx Stoman - You were right!)
Love it.
Yeah, nice one. I'm with captgene - strong bass part and you're good to go.
Nice one. Like the riffing. Fine ending to this 50/90 thing.
When it started, I was thinking "What's this??!?!" (Sorry Rufus hehe). It's fabulous, that's what. Nice one.
Oh yes, like it a lot. I was thinking "very pleasant, where's it going to go? We've got another 3 minutes at least"... and then at about 50 seconds it told me. I was sitting there taking it all in... and it finished before I knew it! Fine job.
Wow. This 7/8 stuff really works! I like the groove too. Nice one. I've got this gut feeling it could be really good with very little change - no idea what needs doing though, I think it's arrangement, varying the instrumentation involved mebbe so the choruses stick out... but I don't really know - the 7/8 keeps distracting me! (I might have to see if my drum machine can count to 7...)
Like it. I've never been able to write/play anything in an odd time signature. I'm always in awe of folks that can stick a decent melody and lyrics over one.
Oh yes, nice sounds.
That's jolly little one! Always love your harmonies.
LOVE IT! Some gorgeous acoustic on there. And slide, ooh yeah :)
Lovin your stuff.
This too...
Wow! Just found your stuff - I like this a lot. One guitar and no delays... and I was completely transfixed/mesmerised. Wonderful...