So I'm Told

This is a song that I wrote just for grins.... I wanted to write something new and came up with a story as I went.


It's country in the spirit of the old story tellers like Hoyt Axton and Tom T Hall... but hopefully a bit more modern sounding. 

Backing tracks are by my "studio band" and this is the first official song whereupon I play the new Taylor acoustic ......so listen for the sweet sounds of that in here. 


SO I'M TOLD >>>>>  http://www.soundclick.com...34&songID=11185706

It's been hanging around the hard drive for the better part of a month...so I figured I'd throw a new vocal on it today and get it outta here. 


Enjoy.


Note on the acoustic guitar recording. 2 tracks with strumming. Both recorded with the Rode NT-2A..one at 2' in front and the other over head..... very close to my ear..... panned the 2 tracks about 45% L/R. A bit of verb.... and the default cake compressor gate with guitar comp preset.

Hey man!


This sounds great! Man, the vocals are wonderfull, guitar sounds nice and clean and the violin is superb! Solo is perhaps a little too laidback for me. Everything is so upbeat and friendly and it sound a little.... lazy... But this is really good and I really enjoyed it

Oh, and the song is really nice, makes me happy! Or so I'm told

This is fantabulous work Herb.. Loved it.
Great story.
I'd say it's your best. (have I said that before:)?

I love Tom T. Hall! I like his style of songwriting in which it almost seems to stick with current structure styles but had really been for a lot of songs almost experimental in nature.

All the elements fit nicely. Nice production!

Nice harmonizing.  Fits well.

Relaxing feel is Jimmy Buffet-ish to me.  Marty Robbins sounding a bit too.

Regards,
Lance

Hi Herb. Cool tune. Nice tempo. Everything flows smoothly and nothing sounds harsh. I'm assuming that the "studio band" is some sort of midi chunks for the piano and fiddle. Great job putting it together and getting it all to sound good. The guitars sound great. Probably not the best tune to really hear the Taylor in all it's glory but it fits in fine. Guitar solo fits the song perfectly. I like the way it comes in and the way it goes out. Looks like your vox can still do no wrong. Good to see your still churning out quality originals.

Sounds great, Herb! I can hear the Taylor jangling away in threre.

A new Taylor huh?  You know I got 3 new guitars in the past 3 months... and I'm still lusting for new guitars... I'm going to burn in Hell aren't I?

Nice solid country tune.  Post the words!!!   What are you playing the lead break on?

I've written several tunes with the word MEXICO in them.  It always works so well and rolls of the tounge well and rhymes with so much

It's got a definate Jimmy Buffet vibe.

Dayrl

Daryl:  Man, my wife would shoot me if I came home with 3 new guitars in 3 months..... not you have me confused with someone else. Currently, now, I do own 3 guitars total. My SG, which is the lead you asked about, an Alvarez with a broken head-stock that I fixed, and now the Taylor.  I have to put the SG in the shop soon, and I'm actually looking a cheap squire tele or something for under $150 so I won't be without an electric axe for the 2 months the luthier told me it would take.....the frets are so worn out that they are nearly flush with the rosewood in a few places and are causing buzzing. Some serious neck work needs to be done. The work needed is expected to run between $400 to $600.  New frets from 12 down, sand the rosewood fret board level, replace 2 missing fret markers, remove the bridge and plug then re-drill the bridge holes, then do a complete setup and intonate the neck & bridge, replace the nut with bone..... quite a bit of work  but this SG is over 40 years old and has been in my possession since 72 and played constantly, so it's worn out and needs a bit of a face lift.

No How: no mids? hummmm. I'll have a closer look see. 

Herb, the work you are looking at having done on your SG will blow you mind when you get it back.  It will probably be better than new.  New frets and and a complete professional setup is an awesome and wonderful thing.  Worth every penny.  It will be just like a new guitar... only better.

+1 ----hard to hear the Taylor from all the other tracks.


suggestion--- how about a acoustic performance of this song just your voice and the Taylor maybe even a video would be neat!

Yeah Herb...I have four Taylors now and I love them! I'd like to have more of them but they cost money, ya know?

Nice production... great songwriting...

i posted a second mix on day 2 that this was up. All of the "new stuff" in mix #2 centered on the vocals. 

I went in and recorded 3 new tracks. A new main vocal and 2 harmonies. No melodyne was harmed in the recording of these tracks. I used punch to fix the obvious mistakes and let the rest ride. 

I put the new main vocal up from, and let the old one stay there but 12db down for a slight doubling effect that can be heard in a few places briefly. 

Then I places the harmonies about 6db down, and panned them L/R of center no more than 40%. 

I think I also tweezed the settings on EQ on the vocal buss O4 plug. 

I'm glad you like it. 

BTW: I know we're talking compression in another thread.... this tune just happens to be a bit more compressed then my usual fare. 

Radio: hey thanks.... it's not energy, it's inspiration and the thrill and enjoyment of the process of writing and perfecting the craft and the muse that drives me to write. The more I write, the more I enjoy writing. 

It is a learned process and a skill that, just like playing guitar or some other instrument, takes time, practice, dedication, and a love for doing it. I have come to really enjoy crafting songs. So it has become as natural as breathing to set down, and with a bit of inspiration, begin a new tune. 

Even as I was putting the finishing touches on this one......

The next one has already made it to the DAW. Still writing/finishing up the lyrics. It will be much more acoustic in nature than most of what I have done in the past. It will be finished by the coming weekend. As soon as my co-writer agrees that it is done. 

Oh yeah, I also have a co-writer who is as dedicated and ready to write as I am. 

Co-writing.... I heartily recommend it. It will pull you out of your rut and allow you to see things from a different perspective.


Note: So I'm Told was not a co-write.