NEW PUGTONES TUNE with Eva and Gdugan

Well, I'd gush on about the performances of my friends but I'll let the performances speak for themselves.  We welcome my sister Eva back and Gary Dugan, well, what can I say.  This song was inspired by Pia Toscano's surprise ejection from American Idol.  Mark sent the music and came up with the theme "pity me".  I did lyrics.
 
 Written by Mark and me.
THE DREAM.   http://www.vsplanet.com/mp3s/m/markctheDream_eq.mp3
 
Eva Willingham- Lead and BGV vocals
Gary Dugan- Keyboards
Mark Cline- Guitars, lead guitar and production
Warren Willingham- Intro acoustic lead, bass and BGV
 
Feel free to tell us what you think.  Thank you!!!

Hi Warren , this is a lovely song. Hat's of to all participants. I'm not a great fan of the drums, maybe just a bit of gentle percussion would fit this gentle song better. I found the end a bit surprising, maybe a bit of acoustic playing like the intro to play the song out. Very professional sounding , good job.

Greetings, Rik

Funny we both posted a track called "The Dream"...your lyrics really applied to me at this point in my life, things are looking up...

Top notch work all around Warren.

Love the strings!

Ron

I love the sound of this... wow, the string sound is so fine... what was used for the strings?
Lush harmony, tasty guitars, great lyrics, killer production...  
This song has it all... wonderful... 

I like the way she sang this Warren, nice recording and mix. I'm not sure I would have gone with a blues scale on the lead with this type of music vs. a standard major/minor overlay doing a melody of some kind.

You captured the "dreamlike" atmosphere perfectly. Pure, sincere character in the vocal delivery. I liked the drums as they give the arrangement a little edge. Very convincing strings. I'm with rockinrobby on the blues scale choice. Overall excellent work..........Ron 

excellent stuff. nice and smooth. excellent guitaring and like the synth work too. for me the vocals are just in too much a of a different space to the rest of it, maybe need to shorten the reverb tail a bit, or add a little pre-reflection? anyhow, that's just my opinion. another winner!

So sweet.

Excellent job. My only nit is with the drums, I'd try to soften them up a bit.... make them fit into the dream a bit better.

Nice playing

TO ALL COMMENTERS: Sorry I haven't responded sooner.  My wife went to the emergency room friday night and is still in the hospital.  She's doing fine but I haven't been up to much response.  I'll be back later.  Thanks to all of you.  I will address each comment as always.  She called while I am posting this.  SHE'S COMING HOME!!  Thanks to all!!!!!!!!  Oh, I am sure that you all wish the best, nice people that you are, so don't feel compelled to respond to this post.  Use your time for more important things.  :-)

The first few seconds I knew I was in for a real treat. Karen Carpenter fo sho!

The song is wonderful, Warren. And a great lead/production, Mark.

I actually like the drums quite a bit. Though I would make sure that the relative level between the snare and the toms gets corrected.

This is super slick.  Warm, Velvety vocals, Soulful guitars, perfect pad/textures...Exquisite production song making.
Eva never sounded better. 
great collab Gary, Warren, Mark, Eva!

Thanks everyone for taking the time to listen.

As always is the case - the other musicians involved in this tune made me look good. Eva has such a fantastic voice - it's tough to do a song she sings and not have it turn out sounding professional. Thank you Eva - you are wonderful.

Warren is, for me, the perfect writing partner. I'm a very limited musician - a mediocre guitar player and see myself as a musician who is seriously trying to learn how to write good, moving music  - but, I've got a long ways to go. Warren does all of the things I just don't seem to be able to do - he writes great lyrics, has a great voice, plays a mean bass and although he wears hearing aids - has a good ear for a song.

Thanks for everything Warren - you are one good guy.

On this tune, although I did the mix and final master on it - Gary taught me a lot. I think this tune ended up having a pretty nice polished sound. That was Gary - he had me tweek the mix in ways I never would have thought of. And Gary is a fantastic key player - I think we are lucky to have him working with us.

I just wanted to thank the other musicians involved - not only with this song - but with the other songs we have done and those we are in the process of doing.

Again, thanks for taking a listen.

This is wonderful, dreamy, enchanting, psychedelia.

Lyrics are utterly lovely, Warren!

You guys have shot down a few stars from their sockets.  This is general pop at its loveliest!

James- Thanks for listening.   Mark assembled some nice chord changes on this tune.  I grabbed it as soon as I heard it and we went to work.  Thanks for the kind words!!

Rik- James mentioned the drums too.  I am so close to the tune and have heard it so many times that I  have to say that I'm used to them.  I let Mark handle technical things like that.  I don't know how!  :-)  Thanks for listening!

Shawn-  I'll address both comments.  Mark's leads sometimes don't hit me at first.  After a couple listens I realize the "taste" factor is totally high.  I'm really glad you liked it.  As far as "The Dream", I realized that I listened and commented on your song well before we ever finished this and didn't even notice the name!  Remember, imitation is the sincerest form of flattery.  LOL.  I am happy that the lyrics relate to you.  That's what lyrics are all about and it is a real compliment to us!  Thank you.

Scotty- I've heard Eva sing since we were kids and I never noticed the Karen Caprenter thing till someone mentioned on her first song with us "Porch Swing".  I do hear it and am thrilled.  I loved karen's music and her voice.  Thanks for listening and commenting!

Ron- Thanks for listening and commenting, buddy.

Tim- Well,  I don't know anything smoother than a butterscotch milk shake, so we thank you!!  I know Mark is reading and listening to the drum comments.  The only comment I ever had on them in the process was the "sidestick" volume.  He did bring that down.  Thanks for listening and taking the time to comment, Tim!

Frank- Gary used his hands for the strings, waddya tink?  LOL!  I don't know what it is but I sure loved them.  I originally asked him to do piano or something because to me, the song needed a "smooth" sound underneath in places to fill "gaps".  Eva wanted strings and Gary gave them to her.  I'll see if I can find out what he used!