They say you should write what you know.

I know my life and my discovery of recovery as well as what came after.

Where I Need To Be <---- Soundcloud link

Not only are the lyrics up close and personal (and based in reality) this song marks my first song in over 15 years that I fully wrote, arranged and performed. Regardless of what you think about who could have sung this better (and I can think of two or three) this is my song.

Where I Need To Be 
(c) 2013 Ed Kocol
Verse 1: 
I was born a gypsy child 
And I was forever running wild 
Was never taught how to take the time 
Could never find how to ease my mind
A simple life never occurred to me 
Wiser men have said it's what we all need 
But it was all too hard for me to see 
Where I need to be


Verse 2: 
As I was growing into a man 
I always thought I had a master plan 
Could never ask for a helping hand 
Because I believed life was at my command
Then my addiction got a hold of me 
Wiser men said, taking steps is what I need 
Then I hoped to find what they all could see 
Where I need to be


Verse 3: 
Then the lovely lady, yeah she found me 
And our love grew, well that was the key 
It's all so simple when we finally see 
There's what we want and then there's what we need
A simple life was waiting here for me 
The wiser ones showed me how it would be 
After a search within I'd finally see 
Where I need to be
Where I need to be  

 
Production notes:


Bass - P-Bass DI (UA LA-610) -> Sonitus Compressor -> UAD Helios 
Drums - EZdrummer Jazz
Piano - EZKeys driving Ivory Bosendorfer 
Guitar - Line 6 JTV-69 "Martin" Acoustic
Solo - Dim Pro Dulcimer
Final solo - Dim Pro Dulcimer paired with Line 6 LP -> Apmpitube Fender Twin
Vox - AEA R84 Ribbon->Grace M-101-> Waves SSL400 Channel Strip/Waves JJP Vocal
Back Vox - Soundiron Venus Choir
 
 

"Oops, looks like we can't find that page!"

sorry Ed... I tried...

got another link? 

notnat

"Oops, looks like we can't find that page!"

sorry Ed... I tried...

got another link? 

Link was private (for testing), Frank. Now it's public. Try again please.

Those guitars are entirely too loud and are swamping everything else.

I believe there is a good song underneath it all!

I don't know James... I think it's mainly that C-note on the B string, that is sticking way out there... I'd try to notch-filter that note... otherwise the mix sounds ok to me... I'm not excited by the melody, or the somewhat stiff delivery, but all-in-all, it was not bad... I like the lyrics... I didn't know you were a gypsy... nice job Ed...

I like the delivery/phrasing of the lyrics. You could loosen up a bit as Frank mentioned. Reminds me of Dylan just a little. 

 Well as far as the melody, the first line is real cool but gets too repetitious after a bit. JMO I would change a few notes in the odd numbered verses to be like a call and answer sort of thing. I think your voice sounds pretty good in that key and range though.  All and all still really cool.

Maybe I'm biased because Ed and I are close friends and we work together a bunch, but what I hear is a great lyric with a good melody and a decent delivery.  I think it's a personal message type tune where melody sort of takes a back seat to the lyric and story.  I felt the vocal delivery was kinda' Dylanesque, and thought Ed did a pretty good job with it.  So, I may be in the minority there, but those are my thoughts.

Mix wise I thought the guitar was needed more body and less top end to it.


Overall- very well done.

Ed - thanks for being real on this one.  The production does not matter one bit compared to you putting yourself out there on a very cool tune about you.  Loved it.  Thanks much for posting this.

Jim

I like it, even the vocals! Good job Ed (I'm wearing my tee shirt that says "give me Ed till I'm dead" in a show of support) I put the shun in addiction...