He can take it... Remix8 8/9 - GOT MY DAW BACK!!! :-D

One I've been working on for a while. I didn't comp or edit the vocals so they're a bit more "a-natural" than my usual fare. But they seem to fit the tune?
 
I also took some liberty with the production... The original didn't have a dobro, a mandolin, or a B3? But I felt they were lacking, so I added them.
 
And I took some liberties at the end with the words, but again, it seemed to fit?
 
I'm doing everything, and as usual thankful for any mix input.
 
Goodall Jumbo 6 string
Taylor 754CE 12
Flat Iron mandolin
Gold Tone dobro
Alembic 4 string bass
Ivory Pianos
NI's B4 (Hammond)
BFD2 drums (no loops, I played um)
And me singing.
 
At the top, "The Weight" 
  
www.reverbnation.com/rockinrobby 
 
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Remix 1, took a little top of the piano and bounced in a version of True Pianos, added a stero panner on the vox and changed the plate.
 
Remix 2, brightened the vox up a bit.
 
Remix 3, brightened drums per "Timaaaaay" and raised their volume a titch because I thought they could use it. Also, put a stereo delay on the vox, and raised them a wence and put a tiny bit more pressure on them (the differences between a titch and a wence require a micrometer) Thanks everyone!
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Remix 4, I dampend the snare a bit and removed a bit of the room and overhead, and compressed it a bit. It's quite different and I hope better, (Thanks yoyo!) And several people have been bitc.. errr um, "commenting?" on my pianos? If you listen to the cover, it sounds like he's playing an upright in somebody's basement, so I brought that upright sound out a bit more, and put a small chorus on the piano and wrote an envelope to take it down a bit on the chorus where I'm beating the hell out of the keys. It evens it out nicely I think :-) There are even some small mistakes in the piano part, they are there "intentionally" as I played it as a tribute version and they were there in the original.
 
Tremendous thanks to those who's ears I respect greatly. Will thank all individually.
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Ahhh I don't remember remix 5?
 
6 and 7 were to add some snap to that snare, transients and some parallel compression, and also I lost the backing pianos except the upright? It's kind of old timey sounding and not a clear piano patch, but "it is what it is..." (like a song I wrote by the same name) A ****load of thanks to those who helped with my feral mixing "skills?"

Thanks Lynn, sorry about that. I fixed the link. I'm also going to fix a high harmony tomorrow, but this is my 1st mix :-)

Fat sound Very nice

Thanks Lynn and James, I put a remix up, I bounced a version of True and blended it in, and took a little high end off the piano, and adjusted the volume slightly. Also redid the high vox in a couple of spots, and put a stereo panner on the verb :-)

Piano - better. Dobro - goosebumps.

RN is doing something stupid to my uploads. I'm probably going to open a soundcloud account this afternoon and try to put it there :-(

Much better, Robby.  It's been a while since I visited your site, but after listening to a few songs I'm so happy to hear your voice on a variety of tunes.  You've managed to make this song one that I don't want to end.  Well done.

I don't see the track "He Can Take It" In the list of songs

ditto.

I think this song in general is really lame. However, with your version, I think you did a good job with it. Th guitars and vocals sound a slightly out of tune at times but that adds to the character of the song.

Good job Robby.

Now, on to that "other" song?

well the drums sound like they are another state, but apart from that this is great Robby. Of course, we expect a great vocal for you, but all the string are played superbly. the piano is OK, i think even something like the freebie MDA piano with some chorus might sit even better? anyhoo, the vocals are what makes it!

The original is not about Jesus at all some mistakenly think that it is; Nazareth is actually where the Martin Guitar factory is in PA. But I changed the last verse a bit, and sing about Mary and Jesus? So "my version" is most definitely about Jesus, and the "The Weight" which we all cary with us, he can take it... It's just my take on an old classic "with a twist."

I'm with James with the snare sound, and the piano isn't that great either.  I've got an upright sample that would work perfectly.  If you want to send me the MIDI, I'd be happy to send you a rendered audio track.

Other than that it's quite nice.

J

The Band was a group that played a big part in my early years of music.  This song was ok.... but not one of my favorites by them. 

Your version: I actually like it better than the original. Kudo's on a good job.  The dobro is sweet, and the vocals are really well executed. Loved the dobro licks a lot! B3 sounded good too. I love a fat B3. 

My biggest problem is that piano. It sounds stiff or perhaps awkward the way it's played and the tone sounds more hurdygurdy than piano. The notes are good... its the tone and groove that are lacking on it. Actually, the run up lick in the chorus is OK.... that follow up lick is the one that's not fitting the groove. 

The beginning...... hummmmmmm.... personally, if you wanted to have that dobro intro... no problem, but do a turnaround rather than riding the same chord..... just a very minor nit. 

Robby,
 
Nice job.   I like the addition of the dobro, mandolin and B3.  You made it your own and I think it is a lot more interesting than the original version.  Vox are outstanding, bass is good.   Drums could use a bit of shining up as could the piano, just the samples, not the playing;)   It sounds like the drums and piano could have been captured from a live performance and the rest was recorded in a studio.   Bring the drums and piano "into the studio" and you will have a hit.  
 
Really good work.  
Regards