**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…
I had your FAWM playlist going and sort of forgot I was supposed to be active listening, but this one pulled me right back into it... then I saw your liner notes. I know the feeling of not being happy with something but needing to get it out, but this is great. I'm curious to see what you do with it, because I think it works far better than you it seems.
You better close the stadium with this one, because all those lighters and voices in unison are going to violate some sort of by-law.
**Song-writing Demo for FAWM 2022**
Song number 3
Written Tuesday 8th February 2022
****
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…
I'm a little perplexed at the narrative, but oh what a great narrative it is. That second verse paints a pretty vivid picture, although I'm a little unsure that being denied pastries is an apt consequence, but then Ive never had a Chelsea Bun.
**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…
Congratulations on the FAWM "win", especially with only 23 days to do it. A great start as well.
I share the sentiment on production. Part of me wants to do RPM next year because I wonder if I had too, could I move fast on production? It sounds a lot more exhausting than FAWM, that's for sure.
**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…
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
****
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
****
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
****
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
****
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
****
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…
Just realised I hadn't listened to this...
There's quite an amazing breadth of styles you handle. I feel like I do electric stuff and acoustic stuff, but it's all pretty much rock-pop with hints of blues, country, and folk in varying degrees. The only time I step out of this is if I approach the recording machine without a finished song and just wing it (rarely finish any of those though!).
Another nice one :-)
Well, it IS!
lyrics for my Italian friends:
We're gonna be there in your wake
mending the seams when they start to break
make you do what you said that you would
and other words that rhyme with good
once so close why let it go, baby…
She hangs a little garden
so everyone can fit in her yard
when it's time to take tea
fills it up when they're walking about
they really knew how to twist and shout
and they're always going back that way again
rents a flat with his sister…
Love this one.
Brilliant lyrics, and a gorgeous quirky performance.
I like how you fly by the seat of your pants on songs - you seem to be treading a thin line between genius and disaster. For my money you're falling off on the genius side with this one.
I always aim at solid and dependable - I've got a feeling I could learn something from your songs.
lol - that'll teach me to post before the owner has fixed the title etc...
Good excuse to give it a second listen. And reading the "About" now - yeah, I thought David Bowie when I was listening to "75e67 c5 etc" (actually, that might have been what made me think of David Bowie!)
You know how you're listening to the track above, and then the next one starts, but you've already heard it just now, so you reach for pause...
Didn't click it this time lol
This is fab.
A song about my dad. Written a few years ago but I wanted my family to do the harmonies. Finally I got the last two laid down week. There are 10 harmonies featuring sisters, sons, daughters, nieces and nephews and I thank them all for their amazing…
Well, that was 19 second Fave :-)
(It was nearly 2 seconds, but I thought I'd better wait for the vocal lol)
And then when the backing vocals came in I wished had an "Even Better Than That" button to press...
Fabulous. Love how the melody skips.
This started up as someone else's favourite... knees immediately turned to jelly... once I'd recovered my composure, I thought "hang on a minute, I only know of one voice that... oh, I see" lol
New recording after being forced to take a few weeks off due to personal health issues. It's a little all-over-the-place (hence the name) but I'm excited to share it with you fine folks all the same.
Special props to my buddy Karl Ridgeway…
2nd song for the RPM challenge in 2012. As always, feedback is appreciated!
Lyrics:
Hold on little girl. Don't lose hope.
Even though things seem so damn broken now,
I want you to know that it gets so much better.
My thoughts flow out, like…
Words and music by me.
Lyrics:
Love is trying to find a way around,
Somebody else who's laying down,
Right in the way of where I want to go.
These words have many meanings.
I'm not just walking blindly any more.
And if you'd lend…
This weekend I was thinking about artists that I used to enjoy listening to in highschool. Toad the Wet Sprocket came to mind, and I thought it would be fun to cover one of their songs. I've always liked "Pray Your Gods" - even though the chorus…
None of us knows where we'll be tomorrow,
Let alone 2 weeks from this date.
Will I still be in this place?
"It's okay", she says, "I'll definitely call you later."
If I don't go and forget to,
And if I'm still living here.
Can we say we see a…
Excellent stuff - big smile on my face.
And anyone who can master a tambourine is ok in my book (wretched instrument of the devil that it is lol)(guess who, still, after too many years, can't get a tambourine to do sensible stuff?)
Comments on Andrew Russe's stuff
I had your FAWM playlist going and sort of forgot I was supposed to be active listening, but this one pulled me right back into it... then I saw your liner notes. I know the feeling of not being happy with something but needing to get it out, but this is great. I'm curious to see what you do with it, because I think it works far better than you it seems. You better close the stadium with this one, because all those lighters and voices in unison are going to violate some sort of by-law.
I'm a little perplexed at the narrative, but oh what a great narrative it is. That second verse paints a pretty vivid picture, although I'm a little unsure that being denied pastries is an apt consequence, but then Ive never had a Chelsea Bun.
Congratulations on the FAWM "win", especially with only 23 days to do it. A great start as well. I share the sentiment on production. Part of me wants to do RPM next year because I wonder if I had too, could I move fast on production? It sounds a lot more exhausting than FAWM, that's for sure.
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 ......
Comments made by Andrew Russe
It is! (ah and you've added an about, and stuck them in the title) SUPERB version
WOW! Brilliant version (it is what I think it is, isn't it?). If it isn't... er... brilliant anyway! Love it.
Just realised I hadn't listened to this... There's quite an amazing breadth of styles you handle. I feel like I do electric stuff and acoustic stuff, but it's all pretty much rock-pop with hints of blues, country, and folk in varying degrees. The only time I step out of this is if I approach the recording machine without a finished song and just wing it (rarely finish any of those though!). Another nice one :-)
Another cutie...
Love this one. Brilliant lyrics, and a gorgeous quirky performance. I like how you fly by the seat of your pants on songs - you seem to be treading a thin line between genius and disaster. For my money you're falling off on the genius side with this one. I always aim at solid and dependable - I've got a feeling I could learn something from your songs.
lol - that'll teach me to post before the owner has fixed the title etc... Good excuse to give it a second listen. And reading the "About" now - yeah, I thought David Bowie when I was listening to "75e67 c5 etc" (actually, that might have been what made me think of David Bowie!)
You know how you're listening to the track above, and then the next one starts, but you've already heard it just now, so you reach for pause... Didn't click it this time lol This is fab.
Like this one. Kinda tricky lyric though - I can see why you haven't sung it lol
Nice one. I don't think I knew this song - looked it up and now I have the lyrics... Fine version.
That's beautiful :-)
Oh yes, love this.
Wonderful. The song's lovely, there are some very interesting chords going on behind it, and those harmonies on the top are just fabulous.
Well, that was 19 second Fave :-) (It was nearly 2 seconds, but I thought I'd better wait for the vocal lol) And then when the backing vocals came in I wished had an "Even Better Than That" button to press... Fabulous. Love how the melody skips.
This started up as someone else's favourite... knees immediately turned to jelly... once I'd recovered my composure, I thought "hang on a minute, I only know of one voice that... oh, I see" lol
Wooo... Doesn't sound all over the place to me. Another fave.
You rock, it's melodic, it's inventive, superb vocals - such timing. Excellent production. Everything I love.
Oh good grief... another one. Superb everything. How have I missed all this? Why so few people listening to you? Very glad I found your stuff.
I keep trying to comment this one - not sure if I'm getting confused, or wot... Love it, fantastic. At least I've managed to fave it
This is wondrous. Song, performance, vocal, recording, everything. Nothing's ever perfect, but this comes pretty damn close for me. Lovely.
Excellent stuff - big smile on my face. And anyone who can master a tambourine is ok in my book (wretched instrument of the devil that it is lol)(guess who, still, after too many years, can't get a tambourine to do sensible stuff?)