(Remastered 22/10/2021)
So I got me a new geetar the other week.
Named her Lala, obviously. Seemed kind of appropriate - she wears a faded gold dress and is full of chunes and mischiefs.
This is our first effort together. It was meant…
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…
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 one from me. It's ended up as a bit of a "crying into yer beer at Bob's Country Bunker" sort of song lol...
I've been sat on these lyrics in some form or another for absolutely years. I first wrote them one very dark night a few years after…
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…
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)
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
****
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
Stripped this down to perform during my acoustic live sets.
The Devil's March (unplugged)I see, your red mist rising now...A storm...That ruins all around...The road...That Hell is marching down....The demon seed is walking proud.....And…
The cupboards, of this old house
Don't close like they used to
And your mother, is just as old now
Wouldn't you say
The lanterns, you hung in your teeth when you were young,
Still light up the room
Yeah it's true,
If anything is true
I wish…
I've posted this "Naked" version because Mrs Russe wanted me to... :-)
It wasn't "finished" in my mind - there was a certain amount of "orchestration" to come.
But I ended up liking the starkness of this version.
The original intention…
lol - the bass was an organ set to "hammer house of horrors", perhaps I overdid it! (The reverb on the vox is deliberately "chilly" as well)
I wanted stark and lonely in the verses. But I also wanted comfort in the choruses - which is what the other instrumentation was intended to bring... but I've given up on that idea... it now sounds to me like the singer is incapable of bringing the comfort he offers, and he knows it... so I'll leave it them both to it :)
And nope, I didn't steal the teddy bear... But mine were removed from me and given to my sister when I was about 8 years old... so I do know exactly what I'm talking about lol
I saw "the Watchmen"....got me thinking.
are we truly immortal?
will we live through the material passing
or have we died oh so close to the light
not from this earth
not bound by its laws
A slave of no one
I will move beyond
are…
Continuing my obsession with the Buzzcocks Spiral Scratch EP, this is a medley of the four songs made using an Android ap called Chordbot.
There's two versions, this one and the one next to it here. And some guitar played over with the melody…
Oh this one! Without a doubt :)
Listened to all four tracks as well. Nice one. I loathed the Buzzcocks in the late 70s, but I came to appreciate them a lot more later.
I think this needs a guitar solo but i'm not capable of doing it so if anyone would like to give it a go i would love to hear what you could come up with its in C. Otherwise i'm quite happy with it...now with a solo by Billy Jack
Please Don…
I just bought a new Gibson SG Standard guitar with P90 pickups. I bought it after listening to Steve Krell's Gibson Gold Top with P90's.
Here is my first recording with the guitar.
Lyrics:
Sitting in my living room
Sunlight will be fading…
Having another listen for that guitar sound :)
Funnily enough, my SG and Explorer have swapped pickups (wonder if this had anything to do with it?). The SG has come off slightly better I think, been using it a lot last few days - slightly more, er, raucous than this, but it can do these sounds as well now.
I've posted this "Naked" version because Mrs Russe wanted me to... :-)
It wasn't "finished" in my mind - there was a certain amount of "orchestration" to come.
But I ended up liking the starkness of this version.
The original intention…
I'm reaching that conclusion too :)
If I'd held it back and put the parts on that I was rehearsing that day it would have been fine... and possibly better...
But I was trying them out today, and they seem surplus to requirements now!
(Mrs R has got her way lol)
some mistakes, like playing live, but i make them right quicky. the song is for halloween and make of the lyrics what you will.
the drums have phaze on them. some of the soft guitars have phaze and flange. the beginning 2 1/2 mins are slow…
:)
It's the rock part in the middle that grabs me most - love your vocal in that section, almost fluid and liquid.
I like how the whole things hangs together. Just waiting for that weird ending now.... ah here tis...
oh yes, very cool ending!
Many years ago I lived in an apartment in a big city. One day I just gave it all up and moved to the country so I could do the things I want. I This is a tune I made back then and has been in the back of my mind and I thought I would see what…
Never been happy with the original mix as it butchered Phil's drum work. He did an amazing job, and deserved better. So this is better...not as good as his playing, but better than it was.
Lyric:
I was doing a search there on Yahoo
Reading…
This is like, hmm... like talking to a stranger on a train. First, it's nothing about, and then suddenly you discover that you're about to tell your life; or you listen to someone's story, seemingly intricate or simple (and therefore seemed familiar…
My second entry for Beatlesfest II at Songcrafters. This is a cover from the John Lennon/Plastic Ono Band album.
Dueling novachords help tell the story of a world where the future may not be so bright...
Thanks for listening.
It's hard to go wrong with this tune... but this is just gorgeous. Love the arrangement. I find myself drifting between following the melody and following the accompaniment.
Masterful stuff.
Comments on Andrew Russe's stuff
great rockin tune nice listen......cheers ton y cee
brilliant vocal , very catchy ......cheers tony cee
nice song like it great listen ....cheers tony cee
another great track again superb vocals .....cheers tony cee
nice tune great vocals and guitar work .....cheers tony cee.
Could definitely hear a soul searing electric blues solo over that, or even an organ solo. nice subtle touch with that low organ in there.
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
Comments made by Andrew Russe
Not sure I've heard the unstripped version - have to go hunting. Like this one though :)
And this too... love the harmonies.
Yep :)
Wonderful.
lol - the bass was an organ set to "hammer house of horrors", perhaps I overdid it! (The reverb on the vox is deliberately "chilly" as well) I wanted stark and lonely in the verses. But I also wanted comfort in the choruses - which is what the other instrumentation was intended to bring... but I've given up on that idea... it now sounds to me like the singer is incapable of bringing the comfort he offers, and he knows it... so I'll leave it them both to it :) And nope, I didn't steal the teddy bear... But mine were removed from me and given to my sister when I was about 8 years old... so I do know exactly what I'm talking about lol
This is a little bit special.
Oh this one! Without a doubt :) Listened to all four tracks as well. Nice one. I loathed the Buzzcocks in the late 70s, but I came to appreciate them a lot more later.
Woo yeah. This un's a goodie. And a real stand-out Reg vocal on here. Superb.
Having another listen for that guitar sound :) Funnily enough, my SG and Explorer have swapped pickups (wonder if this had anything to do with it?). The SG has come off slightly better I think, been using it a lot last few days - slightly more, er, raucous than this, but it can do these sounds as well now.
I'm reaching that conclusion too :) If I'd held it back and put the parts on that I was rehearsing that day it would have been fine... and possibly better... But I was trying them out today, and they seem surplus to requirements now! (Mrs R has got her way lol)
:) It's the rock part in the middle that grabs me most - love your vocal in that section, almost fluid and liquid. I like how the whole things hangs together. Just waiting for that weird ending now.... ah here tis... oh yes, very cool ending!
Woo yeah... two nice songs. Looking forward to hearing more.
Nice one. Heartfelt stuff.
Wot a voice!! Magnificent.
Ooh yeah, love the skipping/bubbling rhythm.
Haven't heard the original mix, but I love this.
Wonderful music.
Don't know the original at all... but this sounds gorgeous.
It's hard to go wrong with this tune... but this is just gorgeous. Love the arrangement. I find myself drifting between following the melody and following the accompaniment. Masterful stuff.
Yep... it is ok already :)