**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…
she will smother you with all her love
take you by the hand and drown you with passion
she could lead the blind astray
and break the will of stronger men than me
she will take your heart
she will take your soul
gently to her you surrender
yielding…
Chester Arthur was the president
But no one remembers him
What about you?
He served a term with no vice president
And no one resident
To tell him what to do
He came to office by a bullet's grace
Garfield lost his place
And Arthur took…
I keep dipping into your stuff (I'm very fond of Gormenghast as well, I've even got some songs knocking around somewhere that are directly inspired by it), but this is the first one I've listened to closely...
You guys are growing on me - you've got something that makes me keep coming back, and it's not just Mr Peake!
Faved :-)
Superb version.
I found the album in my parents' records when I was 14 or 15. This song almost took me down the "Bob Dylan" route, but I managed to avoid it in the end(!) But it's always been one of my favourites.
It's a difficult one to do justice to... but you've managed it apparently effortlessly :)
This is another composition from the early 90, and also a bass line. I added some arrengements to it, and it was, eventually, the third part of a long 'spacial' suite called 'Mars'. I could upload the 'part one' bass line one day, which I think…
I wasn't too sure of this when it started and I read the "about"...
But after 5 minutes I found that I was still listening and that I was likely to stay til the end.
Well put together. For me, it does what you set out to do. Fascinating and strangely calming, all the way through to the end.
Vocals: Tricia Dovidio
Lyrics: Tricia Dovidio
Composed by Tricia Dovidio
Guitars: Mike Woodford
Bass: Andy Gupta
Drums: Stephen Smith
Synthesizers: Steffen Offermann
Arranged & mixed by Steffen Offermann…
Inspired by a picture of my sister at the top of the Estes Cone (I was too out of shape to get up there myself... something I need to do when I return to RMNP).
From the Top of the World
On the top of the world
Nothing 'round 'cept mountain…
When the girl in the room is just too cute for me to concentrate on whatever it was I was trying to do.
Anything Done
How am I supposed to get anything done
With you looking like that
I'm so far gone
I'm forgetting where I'm at
How…
Another formerly poorly recorded song... Really a piece of poetry that was put to music (a hit-or-miss approach for me that seemed to work well on this one).
Three Times More
Dad plants his spring garden
For a good summer bounty he's…
I'm gonna have to set aside some time to listen to this entire Lobster Man album. What have I been missing?
Love the lead break on this one - right in yer face.
A frightening thing, to go from being a man to becoming a Lobster-man.
Now Gather around me hearties
For I've got a sad tale to be told
Hoist the colors ye bilge rats
The call rang out, we were off for gold
Grog in our bellies, horn-pipes…
If you'd described this to me I'd have said it'll never work...
... but it does!
It's one of my least favourite Beatles songs (and I'm a big Beatles fan), this has made me reconsider it as a song in itself. Nice one.
Oh good grief, this is just fabulous.
I've gotta go now, but I saw you getting a lot of comments last night, now I know why I'll be back check the rest out...
This such a good song/performance/recording... Loved it.
Really enjoyed this. It started up after I was listening to something else, and I looked at 7:07 and I thought "oh dear"...
But I never pressed stop! It kept my interest going all the way.
Woo, this has something going for it. I'm listening in headphones, so the initial fizzy synth tones were a bit scary!
I love the rhythm and the interweaving melodies. Really, really inventive stuff. On the second listen I almost felt like it was too short - so I had to listen one more time!
A cover of the Cure's minimalist alt-rock classic, an old favorite of mine.
keywords: instrumental, chill, the cure, clock watching, lucky time
Remixed: 12/18/2010
...
...
I'm ashamed to say I don't know much about The Cure - I was a blues-rocker by the time they emerged, I liked some of the singles and videos, but that was about it...
I really like what you've got going on here, though.
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
I'm still kinda stunned by this one. Welcome over here! :)
Well I enjoy the noises you make :) I like this one a lot, I'll have to explore your other stuff.
I keep dipping into your stuff (I'm very fond of Gormenghast as well, I've even got some songs knocking around somewhere that are directly inspired by it), but this is the first one I've listened to closely... You guys are growing on me - you've got something that makes me keep coming back, and it's not just Mr Peake! Faved :-)
Superb version. I found the album in my parents' records when I was 14 or 15. This song almost took me down the "Bob Dylan" route, but I managed to avoid it in the end(!) But it's always been one of my favourites. It's a difficult one to do justice to... but you've managed it apparently effortlessly :)
Oh yes, I like this!
I wasn't too sure of this when it started and I read the "about"... But after 5 minutes I found that I was still listening and that I was likely to stay til the end. Well put together. For me, it does what you set out to do. Fascinating and strangely calming, all the way through to the end.
Like it. Good song, good performance all round - still love her vocals! Excellent recording/mix.
Wow... this is a stunner... a complete stunner.
Another excellent song/performance. Your voice, guitar, and songs just hit the spot for me.
This one's a bit special.
I'm gonna have to set aside some time to listen to this entire Lobster Man album. What have I been missing? Love the lead break on this one - right in yer face.
I've heard tell of this many times, but I have to admit I've never got round to listening to it before. Superb :-)
If you'd described this to me I'd have said it'll never work... ... but it does! It's one of my least favourite Beatles songs (and I'm a big Beatles fan), this has made me reconsider it as a song in itself. Nice one.
This is one of my all time favourite songs (though I've never heard The Band's version). Great cover - love the backing vocals, really effective.
Oh good grief, this is just fabulous. I've gotta go now, but I saw you getting a lot of comments last night, now I know why I'll be back check the rest out... This such a good song/performance/recording... Loved it.
Really enjoyed this. It started up after I was listening to something else, and I looked at 7:07 and I thought "oh dear"... But I never pressed stop! It kept my interest going all the way.
Nice one. The title dragged me in for a listen. Good song :-) And that MLC is a stunning guitarist.
Woo, this has something going for it. I'm listening in headphones, so the initial fizzy synth tones were a bit scary! I love the rhythm and the interweaving melodies. Really, really inventive stuff. On the second listen I almost felt like it was too short - so I had to listen one more time!
I'm ashamed to say I don't know much about The Cure - I was a blues-rocker by the time they emerged, I liked some of the singles and videos, but that was about it... I really like what you've got going on here, though.
You guys are off the map! :-) Loved this, you had me rolling on the floor.