(Remastered 22/10/2021)
I wasn't even sure the recording machine was still going to work after nearly five years... Certainly, bits of me don't work anymore... But, surprisingly, I got this done in 24 hours, start to finish... Strange old world…
Hello peeps!
Long time no public activity from me.
I've been working on a bunch of stuff with the guitarist from my old band. None of its ready...
However, I've been experimenting with different ways of jamming and doing demos. And in the…
Hello peeps!
Long time no public activity from me.
I've been working on a bunch of stuff with the guitarist from my old band. None of its ready...
However, I've been experimenting with different ways of jamming and doing demos. And in the…
Lovely to hear your wonderful voice here again. Love this spare arrangement. Great sentiment in your lyrics. Life’s a journey indeed! I hope life is treating you well.
Who Is My Neighbour - A A J Russe
Written sometime in 1992
Recorded 12th March 2022
The Shoebox Demos Vol 1
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I wrote this 30 years ago when I was 29. There were a bunch of people killing other people. There were refugees.
By the…
(Remastered 22/10/2021)
I wasn't even sure the recording machine was still going to work after nearly five years... Certainly, bits of me don't work anymore... But, surprisingly, I got this done in 24 hours, start to finish... Strange old world…
As If It Really Matters - A A J Russe
Written 16th January 1999
Recorded 12th March 2022
The Shoebox Demos Vol 1
****
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…
New original from me, hot off the old wotsit.
When it was half written yesterday, I was considering binning it as a throwaway exercise - I do that quite often. But I played the songwriting demo to someone else and, er, apparently I should finish…
So I was locked in the broom-cupboard, checking out some old songs that need recording.
I'd just picked one and then suddenly this thing came out of nowehere. It started with one of those guitarist doodles that other musicians love so much…
(Remastered 22/10/2021)
And here we go - Edith FINALLY gets it...
Actually, she's been getting it ever since I wrote it on the 29th May. I thought it would take a week or so, but it proved to be more of a fight than I was expecting.
On…
(Remastered 22/10/2021)
And here we go - Edith FINALLY gets it...
Actually, she's been getting it ever since I wrote it on the 29th May. I thought it would take a week or so, but it proved to be more of a fight than I was expecting.
On…
(Remastered 22/10/2021)
And here is the first reply to In Your Hands.
I say "first" because I've found another one, When I Try To Be Me, that Mrs R says I have to do too... but that's unlikely to be the next one I post because I'm working…
(Remastered 22/10/2021)
OK, let's delve once more into the magical shoebox of unused songs...
I've already recorded several that were written in 1994 (Sleeping with the Ghost, Elizabeth's Room, With Mum Again, If You Knew, A Hundred and…
(Remastered 22/10/2021)
And here we go - Edith FINALLY gets it...
Actually, she's been getting it ever since I wrote it on the 29th May. I thought it would take a week or so, but it proved to be more of a fight than I was expecting.
On…
(Remastered 22/10/2021)
Here it is in all of its glory...
THIS is the song that Mrs R and I had decided was a suitable response to a request to "Upload something HAPPY, stat!!!!!!!!!"
I tried to record it back in 2013 when I wrote it…
I was once asked to write a happy song. It turned out to be about a woman who killed herself and when I found out THAT SHE ACTUALLY KILLED HERSELF I wasn't sure what to think about my premonition.https://alonetone.com/jamesmichaeltaylor/tracks/a-happy-song. THEN, later an old friend asked if I had any happy songs so I wrote this:https://alonetone.com/jamesmichaeltaylor/tracks/if-it-makes-you-happy-092914-1
(Remastered 22/10/2021)
I was asked (told?) to upload something happy. Hmmm, I thought. This will end well...
So, a few days later, I was rehearsing a pleasant little thing I wrote several years ago that has a working title of "She Was…
(Remastered 22/10/2021)
Here's the very latest from the broom-cupboard.
I wrote it one dark night over 23 years ago.
****
**All I Have To Do - A A J Russe**
There isn’t much time to get this out
You won’t hear me if I have to…
(Remastered 22/10/2021)
Okies, so I'm working on some other thing and it's taking a while... drums to do and wotnot. But in the middle of it I'm digging how my Martin acoustic is working out. You probs won't even be able to hear it amongst…
(Remastered 22/10/2021)
I wrote this one last September.
Allison Jane Sixsmith 1965-2016.
****
**Forever - A A J Russe**
I can see you on your rocking horse now
The one that turned around and kicked you in the teeth
He thought…
I hear you’re drinking at the chocolate fountain
You pulled the handle off the door
But they won’t mind
They’ll be mending it forever..." Great images...
(Remastered 22/10/2021)
I wasn't even sure the recording machine was still going to work after nearly five years... Certainly, bits of me don't work anymore... But, surprisingly, I got this done in 24 hours, start to finish... Strange old world…
As If It Really Matters - A A J Russe
Written 16th January 1999
Recorded 12th March 2022
The Shoebox Demos Vol 1
****
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…
Didn't know the name Lalo Schifrin... but I knew the song... oh of course! (Dean Martin, I have his version)... Anyways, cool version for us rockers :)
Last weekend we did this oldie
Hans Nooitgedagt Jr - drums
Erwin B - bass, recording
Bingsolex - lead guitar
KC - vocals, guitar, keys & mix
--------------------------------------------
Saturday nightlife, hot and swell
In the lower…
Here is my contribution to the Minnesota Association of Songwriters challenge: Write a song titled "Mississippi Moon" and use this chord progression somewhere in the song (adjust for the Key you are in) "C, G, Am, C, Dm"
You will find D…
My latest Soundscape hopefully evokes an atmospheric evening in the desert, as outside the tent the girls make their mournful cries before the local musicians strike up a dance beat.....
Yep... didn't comment, did I? "Cool sounds" :) But now I've heard the lap-steel addition on Kavin's remix, I appreciate this one more than I did at first... very cool sounds. Raises an interesting thought for me... how we can see/hear through others eyes/ears, we can have ours "opened" by someone else's re-expression of a thing... when I first listened to this, it was "OK" for me, I saw Newbold's comment and thought "yeh, well" ... but hearing Kavin's addition gave me an "in" to this track... listening now I can hear/experience what he and Newbold heard first up.
That works. Nice one. I like the sounds on Casting Ballots (might not have commented?) the lap steel adds a really effective contrast... the two together - very nice
A bit of a 'kitchen sink' one... It's another one I play beginner's guitar on tentatively (the lead break & rhythm)
The are no vocals (I'm amassing a large amount of songs needing vocals!) but it does feature some more epic 80s synths…
Nice one. Yep, we bought some of ours from one of my wife's favourite Cornish clothes shops... and much to my surprise they said "Made in China" on them when they arrived... The instructions had some interesting phrases too (or was that some other product from someone else? Everything seems to be a bit of a blur nowadays)
I acquired some amazing 80s synth plug-ins for this one - the Prophet 5, ARP2600 and Yamaha DX-7 are all over this track.
It started life as a 90 second instrumental for a video I'd produced to promote my business; my wife hated it so I wrote…
Yep, when the bass kicks in at 0:40 or so, it's a really cool bass line, but it's possibly a bit sinister sounding for a business promo (mebbe depends what business you're in?!! lol)
FIREFLIES. capo @ 2
F walk down
We (C) spoke of them as (C/B) sweethearts
There (Am) in the Southern (F) sky
(C) Saturn, just a (G) twinkle, bold (F) Jupiter near (G) by
I (Am) guess we didn't (Am/G) notice
as they (Am/F)drifted a…
For no. 3 in this soundscape compilation, I have imagined strolling along the waters edge, contemplating life on a blissful calm day with the relaxing shoreline sounds all around me....!
Yeah, nice one. We were meant to have a holiday in St Ives at the end of March. Luckily, the timing of everything worked out (just) that we got all our money back, trains and everything. But we didn't get our shore reflections... and watching on a Cam at the time, some buggers keep sitting in "our" seat! LOL
Here's the band version of this song
Hans Nooitgedagt Jr - drums
Bingsolex - lead guitar
Erwin b - bass, recording
KC - guitar, vocals & mix
The moon comes up
The sun goes down
The circle of life
Going 'round and 'round
Living…
How's that for some word salad, eh? Throw a little Italian dressing on this one and you've got yourself a healthy meal!
I've been trying to challenge myself vocally with more complicated melodies and lots of lyrics and things like that, even…
This is another that benefited from a second listen. What I've got to do is STOP reading your blurb on the first listen! Anyways, that's actually a really clever vocal melody. Keep challenging, don't actually kill yerself, obviously, but falling down after the vocal take is a good sign!! (ish!) LOL
A couple of months ago I came up with a couple of things that used polyrhythms. The drums were in one time signature and everything else was in another. I had some fun with it then and tried it again and... well, I got pretty bored with it really…
I wasn't sure about this one on first listen (your stuff about polyrhythms was making me think too much... then I remembered I'd forgotten something with work, so I had to deal with that while the track carried on)... when I got back I couldn't think of anything to say... so I hit play again and, woah!, it really grabbed me... then I realised I wasn't counting trying to figure out the funny rhythm - I'd just accepted it and it sounds really cool. Sounds like the hand's recovered too?
I'm really tired right now so this mix might sound awful and I won't know. Also, 50/90 might be hitting a snag in that I have a bit of an injury to my left hand. It's not getting better and while recording the leads on this puppy it was affecting…
A couple of unusual things with this one. There's an overdrive pedal in there that I've never used before. Meaning, I had never even plugged it in before. I bought it like six months ago and it sat on my dresser just waiting for me to play…
A song that I wrote this week
So much suffering in the world
I did this one on my own
KC
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River of tears – I see people in need
River of tears – They're all victims of greed
River…
Written Last Century....Every Word Holds It's Own Today.
Always someone out there judging shit they know nothing about. As it will be till the end of time. In the meantime, my simple response has always been, "Who Asked You"
Lyrics…
Comments on Andrew Russe's stuff
Glad you're digging into the archives. Good stuff.
'ello stranger, mind you, so am I now it seems, great to hear from you again, a touch of Roy Harper for me. Good Stuff.
Lovely to hear your wonderful voice here again. Love this spare arrangement. Great sentiment in your lyrics. Life’s a journey indeed! I hope life is treating you well.
Timeless! This needs to be re-activated.
FUCK! This rocks like a ton of granite. Long time since we exchanged comments. It's like old times.
Love it. Not used to you and that acoustic guitar. Sounds solid with your voice. If it’s really like you say it is, there’s no need to worry..."
just brilliant songwriting.......cheers tony cee
this is brilliant , love the soul felling to the song , your voice sounds superb , great listen ....cheers tony cee
That instrumental hook and slide playing is killer
Cool song, cool mix, nice work!
Simple and clear...
"Teddy bead kisses..." So sad.
Sounds like another suicide song to me... We can feel the pain in your voice.
I was once asked to write a happy song. It turned out to be about a woman who killed herself and when I found out THAT SHE ACTUALLY KILLED HERSELF I wasn't sure what to think about my premonition.https://alonetone.com/jamesmichaeltaylor/tracks/a-happy-song. THEN, later an old friend asked if I had any happy songs so I wrote this:https://alonetone.com/jamesmichaeltaylor/tracks/if-it-makes-you-happy-092914-1
"But still I love the comfort I find in misery…" Great line. Beatle like...and that's always good.
Great guitar sound.
Love this. Beautifully done. Tonight I was trying out a song from that era: Twilight Time...https://www.e-chords.com/chords/the-platters/twilight-time
I hear you’re drinking at the chocolate fountain You pulled the handle off the door But they won’t mind They’ll be mending it forever..." Great images...
Rock on Dude...! Good to listen to some of your tunes. It's been a while. Strange relationship in this song.
Another great song! Maybe it’s time to get the band back together!,!
Comments made by Andrew Russe
Didn't know the name Lalo Schifrin... but I knew the song... oh of course! (Dean Martin, I have his version)... Anyways, cool version for us rockers :)
Wowsers. Yes, the band's killing it... but the vox - and those harmony vox - take it to another level
LOVE the sound you guys are making together. You were all in the same room? If not, even more wow. Cool song, and what a groove.
Awww... fabulous. This has got the dulcimer on it too? I love the textures you create with this and the guitar. And the song... gorgeous.
Playing catch-up here... Oh yes, this was the right place to start. Cool sounds.
Wow. Liking this a lot.
Very cool guitaring on a very cool song. Nice one guys.
Yep... didn't comment, did I? "Cool sounds" :) But now I've heard the lap-steel addition on Kavin's remix, I appreciate this one more than I did at first... very cool sounds. Raises an interesting thought for me... how we can see/hear through others eyes/ears, we can have ours "opened" by someone else's re-expression of a thing... when I first listened to this, it was "OK" for me, I saw Newbold's comment and thought "yeh, well" ... but hearing Kavin's addition gave me an "in" to this track... listening now I can hear/experience what he and Newbold heard first up.
That works. Nice one. I like the sounds on Casting Ballots (might not have commented?) the lap steel adds a really effective contrast... the two together - very nice
Nice one. Yep, we bought some of ours from one of my wife's favourite Cornish clothes shops... and much to my surprise they said "Made in China" on them when they arrived... The instructions had some interesting phrases too (or was that some other product from someone else? Everything seems to be a bit of a blur nowadays)
Yep, when the bass kicks in at 0:40 or so, it's a really cool bass line, but it's possibly a bit sinister sounding for a business promo (mebbe depends what business you're in?!! lol)
Short but very sweet. I love these short ones with the almost throw-away lyrics that are SO full of meaning to the listener.
Yeah, nice one. We were meant to have a holiday in St Ives at the end of March. Luckily, the timing of everything worked out (just) that we got all our money back, trains and everything. But we didn't get our shore reflections... and watching on a Cam at the time, some buggers keep sitting in "our" seat! LOL
Yep. Classy stuff. What a groove you guys generate.
This is another that benefited from a second listen. What I've got to do is STOP reading your blurb on the first listen! Anyways, that's actually a really clever vocal melody. Keep challenging, don't actually kill yerself, obviously, but falling down after the vocal take is a good sign!! (ish!) LOL
I wasn't sure about this one on first listen (your stuff about polyrhythms was making me think too much... then I remembered I'd forgotten something with work, so I had to deal with that while the track carried on)... when I got back I couldn't think of anything to say... so I hit play again and, woah!, it really grabbed me... then I realised I wasn't counting trying to figure out the funny rhythm - I'd just accepted it and it sounds really cool. Sounds like the hand's recovered too?
Wooo! Another fab chorus.... oh crumbs, hand problem?? It's two days later now... hopefully it's healing.
You're creating songs faster than I can keep up with them!! Loving the rhythm of the vocal line on the chorus ("Nothing like a...")
Gorgeous sounds and groove.
Hehe - another "big smile on my face" track. I nearly choked on my sandwich when it went "Now Listen To The Angels"