Song for America

Here's a song I recorded last summer, but recently re-orchestrated.  It is my most complicated project with 49 time signature changes and 74 tracks. A lot of the orchestral parts are based on the version Larry Baird did with Kansas when they played with a full orchestra.  It is a long song - but well written by Kerry Livgren.  Let me know what you think.  
  

http://soundclick.com/share.cfm?id=11719220

i played bass on this song, in high school, when i was a senior...
the keyboard player put a project together, and we did this song in front of whole school for an assembly, maybe it was a talent show, i don't remember..

this quite the different version of it!

heheh

one of my favorite kansas songs, it's probably the quintessential kansas song for me, moreso than wayward son or point of know return.


very cool version.....

it's kind of sweeping modern progressive version of it...

you can't skip the intro to get to the vocal!
that's just wrong...

don't even suggest it.


the whole intro is the buildup to the feeling of the melody and lyric..

to me, without the long intro, especially the break down part at 2:20, the lyric does not make any sense..

the entire intro, is the journey.

then they arrive, at 2:50....

and what they see, becomes the lyric and melody....

bring that opening vocal line up, so it really stands out for that moment that it begins..
then the mix falls into place.

real nice on the harmonies.
really like that.

made it your own, but it still keeps the original vibe.

nice transition at 4:30

the drums are heavy handed here....
but they basically are doing the heavy rock thing, whereas the original was more jazzy....

guitartrek, thank you for that.
that was excellent.

 
WOW... that knocked me out... one of the most impressive productions I've heard on this forum... Outstanding... I knew you were a great guitarist, singer, producer, but how did you manage all those great keyboard parts..?  wonderful work...  

No... I didn't just like it? 

I like plenty of stuff? It ranges between here, and here? (Holds hands up?)

However? This... This was "up here?" (holds hands up, but much higher?)  It's a question of honoring talent? Vs respecting people who are good? vs. respecting people you appreciate/like. This? This was "up here?"

So it needs to be understood that there is a delineation/differentiation? Because, there is one... And it's not a small one. There are very few who could do this? Very few... So with that said? Special respect is given.

Geno,
 
This is a ridiculously great production.    Mix is great, performances great, details, orchestration, etc...   Your drum track is also exceptional, and the detail in tempo mapping and time signature changes are evident.   Very impressed by this production.   Just amazing all around.
Regards

jamesg1213


Absolutely astonishing. What an epic production, this blows me away. I have to say, it doesn't belong on a free 128kbps Soundclick account Geno, we should be hearing this in it's full glory.

Superb.

^^^^^^ Says it all 


nice thanks for sharing

Wow.  All I can say is that all the adjectives and superlatives being hurled at Geno's masterpiece to date are truly appropriate.  The drums felt a little loud at points on my pc speakers, but so what.  What a remarkable accomplishment.  I will join Robby for the moist towelette and a smoke.

Geno, step forward and take a very deep bow. 

Unbelievable!  Incredible!  Wow!  And what Robby and everyone else said.  This is out of this world good!  :)  

I LOVE this better than the Kansas version.  Your added synths give a lot more depth than the Kansas fiddles and guitars did.

Truly a cover epic!

Geno, I had the good fortune to get to know Kansas when I was in college.  The played around Topeka, KS as White Clover while I was going to school in Lawrence, just 30 miles down the road.  I've seen them play this in concert several times, and this version is as good as it gets.  Every song I've heard from you has been outstanding, and this is the icing on the cake.  You have very good taste in music!

So this is where you've been the past few months!

Nothing more to add than this is just so much goodness and it was undeniably so much work, it must have been a huge labor of love to undertake. It is so pro-sounding, pro-performed, pro-mixed. The guitar work is simply unbelievable.

Take a bow.

I have always loved this song and you have certainly done it justice even if it is a bit slower than the original version. I love all that you did here. It's a project that you can be proud of. 

Philip, sharke - thank you

Lynn - That's cool - I was born in Topeka, mom went to KU.  I have a strong connection to that part of the world.

chasmcg - Thanks!

James - Thanks a lot - yeah a labor of love.  I've done these Kansas songs in hopes to one day present them to the writer - Kerry Livgren.  I considered Song For America at first but way too complicated and too many time signatures.  So I said forget it.  Later it became a challenge.  Originally I orchestrated with GPO, but once I got into it GPO just wasn't cutting it.  So I bought EWSO and EW Solo Violin.  Took me a couple months to re-orchestrate it.  Every volume / timbre / articulation had to be painstakingly reworked.  That took the longest time.  I did the same re-work on Dust In The Wind, The Wall and Carry On My Wayward Son.

Kev, Scotty, Old55 - thank you!

Hi Geno,

This is just absolutely amazing on every level. Awesome!

Wow you're good. Excellent.