**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…
Oh yeah. Like it. From the lyrics, it should be kinda depressing... but it's not, I find it really uplifting. So you could think, oh, the lyrics don't fit the music... but they DO!! I don't know how it works but it does. Love it.
I LOVE this... I got a notification that you'd posted - I thought "who's this? I remember the name, but..." Looks like I followed you when you first joined, but I'd dropped off the edge of the world by the time you started posting again! I got some catchng up to do :)
Winter 1977 / 1978 - band is Clay percussion, Evan guitar and guitar pedals (synth sounds), Mike Barry piano, Mike Craddock bass, and Chris guitar (with echo / volume pedal)
This was the next to last jam of the night
So I put 77/78 together with the title "Oh Well" and came up with... "wow! they played that?... ummm... er... ok... when does the riff start then??" lol ... Once I got to the end, I realised it obviously wasn't ever going to burst into "I can't help about the shape I'm in / I can't sing, I ain't pretty and my legs are thin"... So I went round again... and appreciated some very cool sounds. In fact, this is mighty cool.
I've been busy lately playing The Last Of Us 2 and the similarities between what's going on in reality and the game are on point. We're not far off the cliff. I imagine every man for himself and Evil is resurrected in plain view but believing…
The last time I played a computer game (apart from solitaire!) was Tomb Raider 2!! So I don't get the references... but I do get the music... wow some cool sounds there...
OK... I've been misled by a track comment... I was finishing enjoying Shoulder Mounted Attack Borb and reading ahead for the next track... "calm reflective" indeed... eh? I need a lie down now... and I was barely off the horizontal anyway... Still, I'll happily agree with the "something compelling"
I have an aggressive species of cockatoo on my shoulder, so you probably should follow standard social distancing protocols.
His name is Mitri, and he's a lesser sulfur crested cockatoo, so he's kind of a jerk.
LOVE the title - pretty much describes me. Wasn't sure I was going to like the music too, but I do!! Big time... I'm gonna be checking out more of your stuff.
A simple tune with a sweet melody. New version uploaded with the sound more balanced and a better vocal track, I think.
Lyrics:
You thought it could be simple
You hoped it would be fine
When you took the path long travelled
You took…
Love the lyrics. I was thinking like this the other day - not specifically for or about me - but I was explaining what Jimi Hendrix's Highway Chile meant to me when I was young (to my wife, she was just nodding, so I'm guessing it was one of those "uh-oh, Andrew's talking about music/musicians again, better nod my head" moments!). And then I was wondering about Neil Peart and how he used to write about stuff like this... and then I wonder how... etc... etc... IN my case, I deliberately stepped out of the spotlight before it got that bright - I miss it but not what it costs... and yep, years later, the music got young again... did I say love the lyrics?
My latest composition - It was the first song I worked on in Dubai after curfew was imposed in April but it started life in January in the UK and was called 'Abundance Of Time' and has taken me until now to finish. It's a bit unusual as it has…
My latest composition - It was the first song I worked on in Dubai after curfew was imposed in April but it started life in January in the UK and was called 'Abundance Of Time' and has taken me until now to finish. It's a bit unusual as it has…
Cool sounds. I was going to listen out for the two basses (I'm considering it on something I'm working on, probably won't though) ... and then I missed it because I'm working in the other window... I shall try again!
Are all of my songs this month funeral dirges?
I like playing over a 6/8 groove, but I don't know if this one is holding up for me. I don't dislike it entirely, but it seems lacking somehow. I almost like the lyrics but I think I should have…
This one is long. Much longer than it needs to be, but at the time it seemed like the right move. The chorus to this one came to me while I was watching TV with the family. I fear (hopefully wrongly) that I stole it from the background score…
Loving the groove of this one. And another really cool chorus. Don't worry about the length - I was expecting a cool guitar solo for that long... and I got it :)
Not sure how I feel about this one. It’s not as bad as some of my crap, but it’s not that great either. I kinda like how the bass does some strumming, but damn if that intro isn’t way too long.
The rhythm guitars are an ES-335 Pro to a RYRA…
I see what you mean about the lentgh of the intro... But you'd lose the tension it creates if you shortened it? Loving the sound of the guitars on these tracks.
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 yeah. Like it. From the lyrics, it should be kinda depressing... but it's not, I find it really uplifting. So you could think, oh, the lyrics don't fit the music... but they DO!! I don't know how it works but it does. Love it.
I LOVE this... I got a notification that you'd posted - I thought "who's this? I remember the name, but..." Looks like I followed you when you first joined, but I'd dropped off the edge of the world by the time you started posting again! I got some catchng up to do :)
So I put 77/78 together with the title "Oh Well" and came up with... "wow! they played that?... ummm... er... ok... when does the riff start then??" lol ... Once I got to the end, I realised it obviously wasn't ever going to burst into "I can't help about the shape I'm in / I can't sing, I ain't pretty and my legs are thin"... So I went round again... and appreciated some very cool sounds. In fact, this is mighty cool.
The last time I played a computer game (apart from solitaire!) was Tomb Raider 2!! So I don't get the references... but I do get the music... wow some cool sounds there...
But only two tracks! I want to hear more :)
Love that little guitar left playing at the end
Oh yes. This too. Love it.
Somehow the site had recorded that I'd listened to this. But I hadn't ... So I thought I'd give it a go. WOW! So glad I did - love it.
Oh yeah, that works.
Sounds like slightly more elbow grease than I'm prepared to put into it was also involved
OK... I've been misled by a track comment... I was finishing enjoying Shoulder Mounted Attack Borb and reading ahead for the next track... "calm reflective" indeed... eh? I need a lie down now... and I was barely off the horizontal anyway... Still, I'll happily agree with the "something compelling"
Haha!... yeah, ok I'm hooked.
Another cool title... and track to go with it...
LOVE the title - pretty much describes me. Wasn't sure I was going to like the music too, but I do!! Big time... I'm gonna be checking out more of your stuff.
Love the lyrics. I was thinking like this the other day - not specifically for or about me - but I was explaining what Jimi Hendrix's Highway Chile meant to me when I was young (to my wife, she was just nodding, so I'm guessing it was one of those "uh-oh, Andrew's talking about music/musicians again, better nod my head" moments!). And then I was wondering about Neil Peart and how he used to write about stuff like this... and then I wonder how... etc... etc... IN my case, I deliberately stepped out of the spotlight before it got that bright - I miss it but not what it costs... and yep, years later, the music got young again... did I say love the lyrics?
I love the intro, by the way.
Cool sounds. I was going to listen out for the two basses (I'm considering it on something I'm working on, probably won't though) ... and then I missed it because I'm working in the other window... I shall try again!
And another cool chorus! Yep... I think this could be my favourite of the four. Love the lyrics.
Loving the groove of this one. And another really cool chorus. Don't worry about the length - I was expecting a cool guitar solo for that long... and I got it :)
I see what you mean about the lentgh of the intro... But you'd lose the tension it creates if you shortened it? Loving the sound of the guitars on these tracks.