markno999
  I don't think it is productive to continue pushing ideas on someone's post after they have dismissed your opinion.   That is my opinion and certainly anyone is free to accept or reject that opinion. 
 
    Just realize that when giving critical suggestions sometimes people take it and sometimes they leave it.  If they leave it, respect that and let it go...
 

This is what bothered me the most.  You (jkose) told me the issues you had with it, and I told you why I did what I did, but then you came back again, like in-my-face, and made me feel as if I was totally wrong for doing that and that "how can you expect people to enjoy this song when you do that?" (paraphrasing).
 
One of the things that makes music (or any art form, for that matter) great is diversity.  No two artists approach their art the same or use the same techniques as the last guy.  Everybody does things differently.  That's why Hendrix was a unique guitarist, Buddy Rich was a unique drummer and Sammy Hagar is a unique singer.  Songwriters and arrangers also each have their own unique approach.  Many times I've listened to a piece of music for the first time and thought "That sucks!  Why did they do it THAT way?".  But after I listened to it a few more times I found I started to like it, and even later, fell in love with it.  I'm not saying you'll feel that way with "Out in the Open" or any of my songs, but somebody might and the old saying "beauty is in the eyes of the beholder" certainly applies here.  Some here have compared my vocal style to Neil Young and I'm grateful for that.  I must say that personally, Neil Young's vocal style never did much for me.  But that's a matter of opinion.  Maybe I don't care for Neil's singing, but somebody must, because he's made a successful career with it. 
 
We're all entitled to our opinions, so long as we don't try to make our own personal opinion the Gospel of all opinions.  Also, I'm not looking for stardom or making a big hit.  My star searching days ended 30 years ago.  I'm just doing this for fun.  Anally probing my work takes the fun out of it for me.  I realize there are people here who are young and still aspire to make some kind of career in the music industry.  I respect that and wish them all the best.
 
I don't want to fight with anybody here.
 
John B.

I liked the song. Your vocal style took me back to 1977 pop radio, that warm, kinda plaintive vocal.
As for the criticism: you got musicians hearing things that sound off to them, it it doesn't sound off to you, then full speed ahead. Let it roll off your back...artists NEVER should have to explain their choices, but they do have to deal with the reactions to those choices, if you know what I mean.

Thanks for your thoughts, JS.
 
Twisted6s, thanks for listening.  I know what you mean about the mix levels and EQ.  I've been working on different mixes.  Hopefully soon I will hit the right combination and formula.
 
Jamesyoyo-Thanks so much!  It's encouragement from people like you that keep me going with this.
 
John B.

I would definitely keep working on this song, it is really a cool song and worth spending some more time with in regard to mix and a little more looseness, swing...

Regards

markno999
I would definitely keep working on this song, it is really a cool song and worth spending some more time with in regard to mix and a little more looseness, swing...

Regards

I tried working with the "groove quantize" this morning.  Didn't work out too well.  Couldn't find a happy medium.  Either too loose or too tight.  Any suggestions?  BTW-this feature can only be used on MIDI apparently.  I have these frozen to audio.
 
JB

Is your project a mix of MIDI and recorded audio?  If you have the MIDI parts frozen, you can unfreeze, Groove Quantize and then re-freeze.   I would save the project file as a backup in case something gets jacked with the Quantize, sometimes it can be it and miss.    
 
If recorded audio, there are other options for that.

I keep everything, so I still have access to the MIDIs.  But I fear I'd still have to re record the vocal as that IS a recorded audio track and that just ain't happening.  I spit enough blood getting the vocal track I have.
 
JB