**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
****
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
****
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…
Released as a single earlier this year.
This version the song is sung by the lovely Theresa Johnson
An optimistic track for these dark times.
VERSE 1
When dreamers fly
We need them now more than ever before
And if they talk about…
Released as a single earlier this year.
This version the song is sung by the lovely Theresa Johnson
An optimistic track for these dark times.
VERSE 1
When dreamers fly
We need them now more than ever before
And if they talk about…
Released as a single earlier this year.
This version the song is sung by the lovely Theresa Johnson
An optimistic track for these dark times.
VERSE 1
When dreamers fly
We need them now more than ever before
And if they talk about…
As I have mentioned in other years, I am so very blessed to have some songs come to me in my dreams. Grace is one of them. The specific line "Grace, grace, grace! You don't have to be a lonely child" is what I retained in my waking moments so…
Aww yes... I was frantically exchanging messages with a crazy person while it was all playing... so I gotta come back when it's quiet (maybe when I'm working next week)... maybe even read the blurbs that go with the songs... but yeah, loved it... how do you manage this every year??!
Originally I had a Motown idea in mind, and I kept my stomping and clapping, but the song seemed to lend itself to a more spacey-synthey feel, so I ran with it. I also am hinting a tiny (very tiny) bit at Joe Jackson's band's backing vocal styles…
I'll be honest... I was somewhat disappointed with my RPM Challenge 2021 effort, so I took it down.
I've remixed, and heavily re-edited this track, as it used to be a tortuous 13 minutes long.
I'm redoing another track as I was a bit slapdash…
We decided to give the kids an outlet that wasn’t pandemic or lockdown based this February, and made an album as a family for the RPM Challenge 2021. It was just the most precious, funny, brilliant month.
Challenged to write a 'winter' bluebonnet love song, Theo came up with this delightful picture. It is included on the bluebonnet/wildflower love song album, Texas Roadside Blues offered at www.cdbaby.com/artist/theodoreahenningii
Domestic violence is a societal evil needing our vigilence to irradicate. It goes beyond bullying. There are so many mixed feelings within the emotional turmoil of the victim/abused. Perhaps this song will open a window of understanding. To the…
I really wish I could sing.
This one was written for the 2014 50/90. I remember it clearly. I set up with the intention of working on something else but plugged in my guitar and played this without thinking about it. Well, I guess I was…
I really wish I could sing.
This one was written for the 2014 50/90. I remember it clearly. I set up with the intention of working on something else but plugged in my guitar and played this without thinking about it. Well, I guess I was…
I think I need to take a day off. My ears are turning to mush. I really struggled mixing this and I can't even tell if it's worth keeping or not.
This song was written during my first attempt at doing anything in GarageBand. Prior August…
I think I need to take a day off. My ears are turning to mush. I really struggled mixing this and I can't even tell if it's worth keeping or not.
This song was written during my first attempt at doing anything in GarageBand. Prior August…
What do you think of the mix a few days later? I quite like it. You always get all the parts clearly defined - and I think they are here too - but sometimes I find myself wanting them more "moulded together", which is what is going on here (I think). It feels more like a live band blazing away in a room than it does sometimes.
Happy Halloween. Or should I say, Happy Covid-ween. Har Har.
Another song from 2007's failed RPM Challenge that wasn't finished until 2011. This was also on my short list of songs to re-record when I first thought of this whole silly project…
OK... where's this Duane Moment? Ah! There tis, I hears it... Now, I can do quite a lot of Duane tricks... but NOT those, cool! Btw, I assume, as a fully accredited guitarist, you have the 6 CD Complete Fillmore East recordings? LOL (Actually, I've been really getting into the Dickey Betts side of the stage recently)
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
And a cool song and vocal too (nearly forgot to mention that!)
Loving that piano/acoustic/bass/drums ensemble sound.
Oh yes, love how this builds.
Aww yes... I was frantically exchanging messages with a crazy person while it was all playing... so I gotta come back when it's quiet (maybe when I'm working next week)... maybe even read the blurbs that go with the songs... but yeah, loved it... how do you manage this every year??!
I'm a bit late, but here I am for my yearly Gary fix ... mighty cool opener
NIce one. I think I could have coped with the 13 minutes.
Oh MY GOODNESS ... love this album. Well done guys.
You're making some very cool sounds.
Wow! What a track
Yep. Love it to bits.
Woooo :)
Yeah, cool track.
Yes indeed. You got some cool songs.
Oh Yes... what a cool song. Digging the playing and delivery too.
But, yeah, listen to Colleen: "Singing sounds great!!!!"
Although, picking this one at random for another play, this one's got the same live in a room vibe - mebbe I'm talking crap!! LOL
Yeah, this one rocks.
What do you think of the mix a few days later? I quite like it. You always get all the parts clearly defined - and I think they are here too - but sometimes I find myself wanting them more "moulded together", which is what is going on here (I think). It feels more like a live band blazing away in a room than it does sometimes.
OK... where's this Duane Moment? Ah! There tis, I hears it... Now, I can do quite a lot of Duane tricks... but NOT those, cool! Btw, I assume, as a fully accredited guitarist, you have the 6 CD Complete Fillmore East recordings? LOL (Actually, I've been really getting into the Dickey Betts side of the stage recently)
A fine album. Nice one.