**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!
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**Once Again - A A J Russe**
Every day
You keep asking…
oh yeah!!! Great song and loving that chord progression. Beautiful with all the changes ...loving it. How did you do all this in such a short time period? Wow, wow, wow.
**Song-writing Demo for FAWM 2022**
Song number 8
Written Monday 14th February 2022
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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
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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…
**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 3
Written Tuesday 8th February 2022
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So, here's today's little ditty.
(I don't know whether folks outside the UK would know what a Chelsea Bun is. I love them, they are extremely yum…
Great story line - has a true troubadour feel about it! Love it - kind of dark.
I have had the pleasure of a Chelsea bun here in Canada - yup, extremely yummy.
Very creative song. I'm listening to a great concert of all your songs ...loving it.
**Song-writing Demo for FAWM 2022**
Song number 2
Written Monday 7th February 2022
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I wrote this one a couple of hours ago.
I set up for recording, and busted a string on the Martin... GAH!!!
I tried a big ole dreadnought thing…
holy cow......I hadn't heard this one before! Gorgeous!!! That Fender did it's job well. Absolutely love this. I think this one is perfect as an acoustic version.
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…
Wow!!! This song did not age ....it is gorgeous. Truly beautiful and I love the complexity of the melody and how it moves about. I imagined hearing it live at a concert (I'd be in the front row!).
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…
The Feast - A A J Russe
Written 26th September 1985
Recorded 3rd March 2022
The Shoebox Demos Vol 1
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This one's been sticking out of the shoebox for a long long while. It always shows up in a list of maybes. And it did this time…
Just To Make It What You Want - A A J Russe
Written 1st October 2016
Recorded 4th March 2022
The Shoebox Demos Vol 1
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I was going to choose a more uptempo one next, then this one jumped out of the shoebox at us, shouting "me me ME…
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…
Isn't This Fun - A A J Russe
Written 1980 (Completed 16th June 1991)
Recorded 6th March 2022
The Shoebox Demos Vol 1
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I wrote most of this in my first year at university.
But the Shoebox says I completed it 16/06/1991 - and the…
I Want You To Know - A A J Russe
Written 21st June 1987
Recorded 6th March 2022
The Shoebox Demos Vol 1
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This was to the same lady who inspired Foolishness. There's a couple of others from the same period, related to her, that will…
I Want You To Know - A A J Russe
Written 21st June 1987
Recorded 6th March 2022
The Shoebox Demos Vol 1
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This was to the same lady who inspired Foolishness. There's a couple of others from the same period, related to her, that will…
Gates Of Heaven - A A J Russe
Written 15th January 1988
Recorded 6th March 2022
The Shoebox Demos Vol 1
****
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…
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…
**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…
First time hearing your stuff. After the first song, I love your writing. I'll be listening through what you have posted for the rest of the day!
Completely agree with RPM. I do enjoy it, however this year, my focus was more on songwriting and having fun. Production took a back seat.
I Want You To Know - A A J Russe
Written 21st June 1987
Recorded 6th March 2022
The Shoebox Demos Vol 1
****
This was to the same lady who inspired Foolishness. There's a couple of others from the same period, related to her, that will…
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…
The Feast - A A J Russe
Written 26th September 1985
Recorded 3rd March 2022
The Shoebox Demos Vol 1
****
This one's been sticking out of the shoebox for a long long while. It always shows up in a list of maybes. And it did this time…
For everybody who wanted to hear my voice!
I love rainbows. I originally uploaded this as a dedication to my Dad :)
Recorded with a £4.99 Asda SmartPrice headphone/ mic, using just the metronome you can hear ticking away there. I then…
Yeah, write some lyrics!
It needs doing :-)
Even without vocal this yummy. And some VERY tasteful guitaring going on - makes me want to get one of my telecasters out and dust it off.
And then the sudden change of style at the end? That was a real surprise, but it seems to fit - it needs them lyrics.
Oh this is just a brilliant version. I played it because I thought, well... I had my doubts! (I'm kinda fond of the original).
But this is superb - there's a whole load of sunshine in your voice.
It's fun to buy a new toy once in a while. This is the first attempt at using my new Line 6 POD Guitar Effects.
Lyrics:
Here you come, my sweet baby
Don’t know why you drive me crazy
I’m crazy, in love with you
And it’s been a long long…
the girl with her piano
this land she's in
clothed in unfamiliarity
these colors blend, fade
and run out of hue
all light has changed
and turned into greyscale
tinted with every shade of blue
this room she's in
suddenly fills with…
My composition Ediacaran Garden for classical guitar has been selected for performance by Kenji Haba in New York City June 26 2011 as part of the Fifteen Minutes of Fame with Kenji Haba Vox Novus series. A requirement was that the piece not…
It was about sunrise when I met this guy on the streets of the French Quarter and bought him coffee. I don't know if he's still around -- that was some 20 years ago -- but a two-hour conversation affected my life more than I would have ever known…
This has probably the least effert i've ever put into a song , i was sat at my computer falling asleep , when i had the urge to sing this beautiful George Harrison song , i could'nt be asked to get up and change guitars , so using my PRS Singlecut…
This is a Ralph Mctell song , a very underated British singer / songwriter , probably famous for one song , The Streets of London , but in fact wrote many great songs , he wrote this while working on a building site before he was signed by a record…
This song was written by a guy called Bert Sommer , and perforormed at the Woodstock Festival , he was also in the musical Hair , its said he wrote the song about Jennifer Warnes ( who was also in Hair ), if this song had been included on the…
Awoke tonight to realize that my girl had a broken heart,
And like an image of me, she fell apart.
You laid it all out on the line, another time. A shout out in the dark.
And I should have come but it seemed too far at the time.
In the end it…
A fine end to a fine set of songs :)
Considering the layers of guitars and vocals over all the tracks, and the quality of all of them, I'm stunned you managed to get this done in three weeks.
Excellent stuff, thanks for posting it.
Some may say that given time, every one messes up and thinks of no one else,
Sins their sin, their selfish acts.
But you I would have sworn were different, a faithful heart.
Not without fault, but I never thought you would cut me like that.
Some…
Lack of self respect can blind,
Lead to self destructive tendencies.
But I am old enough to know this game.
I cannot deny the truth to this.
Still I...
I've always recklessly believed that there was more to you than what they said you were.
I…
Woo... huge wide sound at the start, and then the voice sitting in the middle - and superb bvox, by the way.
Builds and then down to nothing... perfect.
Beautiful constructed.
Both of us have made mistakes, I know
I'm not so naive to think this is an empty canvas for me to paint my hopes on
Even so, that doesn't mean there's no potential
Even so, I'll still put myself on the line
Just take it or leave it.
This…
You know how to sequence an album... (for my tastes anyway lol).
As this started, it was the perfect build after the last two. And then the song itself builds up to the energy of the earlier tracks.
With a new day comes new hope for tomorrow,
It may be unfounded but it's all that we've got.
So don't hide your eyes. No one's watching out for us.
We're on our own, and we're all that we've got.
In your shadow I am groping to find purpose.
What…
You'll find me there.
Discover my smile.
I'll be confused, and so will you,
But it won't last for long.
Because you and I were never meant for this place.
Soon you'll see-
We're better with wings.
It's in the air,
Reaching out for a hundred…
Nice change of pace. Lovely groove with a dreamy vocal on top.
Excellent. Liking how the songs fit together as an album as well. With each one I want to keep listening.
Hello stranger.
I've been waiting with a compliment for you,
In case it's something that you don't already know.
Hello stranger.
There is always something left unsaid.
But just ask me and i'll tell you, though I don't even know your name.
We…
The past holds nothing for a man so proud.
Nothing for a man like you.
I feel like I haven't lived before tonight.
That terrifies me.
Would you like to take a walk or something?
She keeps the truth held tight inside, but her eyes show.. something…
Digging this one too. Excellent vocals (I'd personally try to bring them up a bit more against those fabulous guitars).
One of the things that I'm noticing with your stuff is how you manage to cram so much into the arrangements without over-stuffing it. This is really impressive - guitar parts, vocals, drum parts, there's always something interesting happening but it never overpowers the track.
I'll get over this,
There's no need to talk about it.
As soon as you are gone I'll start to make myself forget.
Just go..
There's really nothing left, you don't have to stay here (at all)
I misunderstood your intentions here.
There's still time…
Wow! Big sound. Mighty fine
From your profile I'm getting the impression you're a one man band - if so, this is a stunner - I'm really impressed with the "band" sound you've created.
Excellent arranging/playing of the guitars.
This is a stunner.
I had time for one more song before I logged off, and the title of this grabbed me.
Really glad I listened, I'll be back for more of yours...
Comments on Andrew Russe's stuff
oh yeah!!! Great song and loving that chord progression. Beautiful with all the changes ...loving it. How did you do all this in such a short time period? Wow, wow, wow.
Another beautiful poetic song with such an excellent expressive performance. Love it!
I must take this train after hearing this song! What a great song :)....deserves a second comment.
Absolutely beautiful! Warm and an interesting narrative :). Loving it!
Great story line - has a true troubadour feel about it! Love it - kind of dark. I have had the pleasure of a Chelsea bun here in Canada - yup, extremely yummy. Very creative song. I'm listening to a great concert of all your songs ...loving it.
holy cow......I hadn't heard this one before! Gorgeous!!! That Fender did it's job well. Absolutely love this. I think this one is perfect as an acoustic version.
Wow!!! This song did not age ....it is gorgeous. Truly beautiful and I love the complexity of the melody and how it moves about. I imagined hearing it live at a concert (I'd be in the front row!).
I think I dated this one. I like the guitar lick. The song really moves along well.
I can feel that being a great Rockin' song .....
That's a great song in the making ......
A little bit of magic ...
Very good ..... afraid the 80's are so far away for me ..... old age ;)
Top notch my friend ....
An enjoyable listen, and a little different.
This is beautiful.
Poignant, affecting. Something everyone can relate to. I'm glad you were able to revisit this old song, and I also hope recording it was cathartic.
First time hearing your stuff. After the first song, I love your writing. I'll be listening through what you have posted for the rest of the day! Completely agree with RPM. I do enjoy it, however this year, my focus was more on songwriting and having fun. Production took a back seat.
Funny I don’t get stalker vibes but I can see if one knew the backstory that might be the outcome. Another great piece of writing!!
Sparse and beautiful
This is a good listen.
Comments made by Andrew Russe
Oh yes...
Yeah, write some lyrics! It needs doing :-) Even without vocal this yummy. And some VERY tasteful guitaring going on - makes me want to get one of my telecasters out and dust it off. And then the sudden change of style at the end? That was a real surprise, but it seems to fit - it needs them lyrics.
Oh this is just a brilliant version. I played it because I thought, well... I had my doubts! (I'm kinda fond of the original). But this is superb - there's a whole load of sunshine in your voice.
Love this.
This is fabulous, extremely inspiring, I'm reaching for my guitar now... Thanks for this one.
Fantastic playing there. Congratulations. Pity it's only a minute long though lol
Excellent stuff. Huge story crammed into 4 minutes.
Ah... You know I likes this one already, very glad to hear it again. There is something VERY special about this vocal performance.
Lovely track. Simple recording beautifully done.
I don't know the original - at least I don't think I do, it does sounds very familiar - but I do like this version. Lovely vocal, excellent stuff.
A fine end to a fine set of songs :) Considering the layers of guitars and vocals over all the tracks, and the quality of all of them, I'm stunned you managed to get this done in three weeks. Excellent stuff, thanks for posting it.
I faved most of them on the album, but this is my favest so far lol
Woo... huge wide sound at the start, and then the voice sitting in the middle - and superb bvox, by the way. Builds and then down to nothing... perfect. Beautiful constructed.
You know how to sequence an album... (for my tastes anyway lol). As this started, it was the perfect build after the last two. And then the song itself builds up to the energy of the earlier tracks.
Oh this is just great.
Nice change of pace. Lovely groove with a dreamy vocal on top. Excellent. Liking how the songs fit together as an album as well. With each one I want to keep listening.
Love this one :)
Digging this one too. Excellent vocals (I'd personally try to bring them up a bit more against those fabulous guitars). One of the things that I'm noticing with your stuff is how you manage to cram so much into the arrangements without over-stuffing it. This is really impressive - guitar parts, vocals, drum parts, there's always something interesting happening but it never overpowers the track.
Wow! Big sound. Mighty fine From your profile I'm getting the impression you're a one man band - if so, this is a stunner - I'm really impressed with the "band" sound you've created. Excellent arranging/playing of the guitars.
This is a stunner. I had time for one more song before I logged off, and the title of this grabbed me. Really glad I listened, I'll be back for more of yours...