Guitarhacker
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The Best Christmas
Short background: This is a song started back in 2011. It's a co-write. It started out as 4 verses and chorus plus a bridge and nearly 5 minutes in length. With the guidance and advice from several of the Nashville Songwriters Association staff members, this was whittled down over several months of communications, and restructured to it's current form. Two verses and the bridge were dropped and other internal edits were made. Finally, with a thumbs up at last from the folks in Nashville... I reckon it's done as far as it ever will be. Early on in the project, I contacted Scotty and with his assistance, we were able to get his buddy Buffer to sing it. Scotty recorded the vocals at his studio and sent me the finished files. I didn't have to do very much to them... a few minor tweeks here and there. (thanks for your hard work engineering the vocals Scotty, and to Buffer for his most excellent vocal contribution) THE BEST CHRISTMAS >>> http://soundclick.com/share.cfm?id=11971116 You may have heard this last Christmas season but that version was not the final edit version as it was still a work in progress last year ... this one is the finished version. A lot of work and time went into this... I hope you enjoy this song.
My website & music: www.herbhartley.com MC4/5/6/X1e.c, on a Custom DAW Focusrite Firewire Saffire Interface BMI/NSAI "Just as the blade chooses the warrior, so too, the song chooses the writer "
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markno999
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Re: The Best Christmas
2013/12/18 18:03:40
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Herb,
Nice job. Sounds good all around. My only suggestion, being a country swing song, would be to walk the bass a little more rather than sitting on the tonic throughout. While listening the first time I was thinking, what is missing, all the elements seem to be here. Then at 2:54 the bass walked up the scale and then it dawned on me. Maybe a personal taste thing, I wouldn't overkill it and walk the bass throughout but just a little more movement here and there would add a nice feeling of swing. Really fine work and this is a minor suggestion in the context of a really well written song and performance..
Regards
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theguitarplayer
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Re: The Best Christmas
2013/12/18 19:59:54
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Nice collaboration guys. Great sound and vocals and a great mix. Nicely done.
Peace and Blessings, John
Sonar X3 Studio, Acid Pro 7, Sound Forge Pro 9, Sonicfire Pro 5, Kinetic 2, Cinescore, HP Pavilion dv7, CORE i7, Q-740, 8gb Ram, Windows 7- 64 bit, 4 tb mem , Audiobox USB, Digitech GNX4, Gibson SG1 & SG3, Martin J65M, Washburn Custom Cumberland, 3 Marshall Amps, Casio 365 Keyboard, M-Audio Axiom AIR Mini 32, Behringer Truth Monitors, Garritan Aria, EWQLCC, Alloy 2, Ozone 6, Melodyne http://www.soundclick.com/JohnRKennedy
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Lynn
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Re: The Best Christmas
2013/12/18 20:24:08
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Great job, Herb. I can see Mark's point of view, but this stands on its own, anyway!
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The Band19 
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Re: The Best Christmas
2013/12/18 20:34:36
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This is really great Herb! I love the lead guitar. And Bruce did a great job on the vox.
Merry Christmas to you and yours.
Sittin downtown in a railway station one toke over the line.
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Guitarhacker
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Re: The Best Christmas
2013/12/19 08:56:29
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Thanks for listening and commenting on this Mark, John, Lynn, & Robby.
I say it's done.... but is anything ever really truly "done" in our world?
My website & music: www.herbhartley.com MC4/5/6/X1e.c, on a Custom DAW Focusrite Firewire Saffire Interface BMI/NSAI "Just as the blade chooses the warrior, so too, the song chooses the writer "
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Scottytunes
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Re: The Best Christmas
2013/12/20 06:59:17
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Nice! Robby, his name's Buffer. LOL
post edited by Scottytunes - 2013/12/20 07:00:26
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Guitarhacker
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Re: The Best Christmas
2013/12/20 13:26:01
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Thanks Scotty.... for all your work on this on the vocal end of the project....and to Buffer for singing it.
My website & music: www.herbhartley.com MC4/5/6/X1e.c, on a Custom DAW Focusrite Firewire Saffire Interface BMI/NSAI "Just as the blade chooses the warrior, so too, the song chooses the writer "
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Flagrant Regard
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Re: The Best Christmas
2013/12/20 15:33:24
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Wow - great mix! Solid in every way!
This is a SUPERB Christmas song! Get it to a publisher - there's a few big names who could use a new Christmas song in the Country music market and this is it!
Congrats!
If there was anything I would suggest, is that I would love to hear it a few BPM's faster, but that's probably just me.
The chording and transitions are stellar-great.
I'd put this up there with the top-10 things I've ever heard on this board.
Best to you This Christmas
FR
We Are FLAGRANT REGARDOS: Windows 10, DAWsoft: Sonar Plat, Soundcard: AP2496, Equipment: Tak/Tay/Yam/Fen/Kor/, Speakers: Equators D-5s, PolkAudio Home, Paradigm Subwoof, Plugs: many, too blinkin' many to know what to do with them. Must cull!!
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CLEAN
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Re: The Best Christmas
2013/12/20 20:41:36
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Herb - this is very nicely done - love it. The bass needs to move a bit though.
Love it.
Merry Christmas.
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Scottytunes
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Re: The Best Christmas
2013/12/20 22:23:14
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Guitarhacker
Thanks Scotty.... for all your work on this on the vocal end of the project....and to Buffer for singing it.
You're most welcome, Herb! Merry Christmas!
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Guitarhacker
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Re: The Best Christmas
2013/12/21 07:56:08
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Martin D.... interestingly the guy I wrote this with is D. Martin....
Yes that is the plan. I've submitted this to one pub who specializes in Christmas and holiday music and they passed on it. I'll be sending it back with a few other Christmas songs for them to have another listen to the final version. As you may know, the hardest part is to find a publisher who has the street cred to make things happen and who is willing to even listen to the songs of someone they have never heard of. I've asked NSAI for referrals and they are hesitant to assist and help writers get into the closed doors of Nashville, even when they give the song a big thumbs up as they did on this one. I have at least one library for film & TV willing to sign it, however, I'm thinking I'd rather have it with a publisher with artist connections.
I'm really glad you like the song.
Mark: Glad you like it too.... and others have commented on the bass line. I may experiment with it. Probably in January after the holidays since I'll have more time then.
My website & music: www.herbhartley.com MC4/5/6/X1e.c, on a Custom DAW Focusrite Firewire Saffire Interface BMI/NSAI "Just as the blade chooses the warrior, so too, the song chooses the writer "
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