Sounds really good to me Herb.

Markno, agape, wildman, guitartrek, Bapu... thanks.

I was listening to this on the way home last night and I totally agree with Agape that we need something in the first chorus to "raise the energy level" and I was thinking the B3 would fit the bill nicely without being too obvious. Then I got home and peeked in on this thread and saw the comment.... Good observation.

That's what I like about this forum.... good ears, and good ideas. 

Newer version is a vast improvement Herb. The new singer has a much better grasp of how to phrase tricky words to make them scan without putting an odd emphasis on them. The difference between 'secrets' and 'directions' in the two versions for example.

Aside from that I think the whole thing sits better in the lower key, and the production is very smooth. Good work.

Thanks James...I agree.

Hey Herb
Excellent piece!  The new mix has a nice clean edge and I'm another vote for liking the lower key.  Your new singer has good control over her voice but could use a little more dynamics.  Some added harmonies would be nice.
I know your not really asking for help on the mix but the arrangement IMO gets a little busy at times.  It sounds like most of those crowded tracks are the selection/style of Band In A Box.  Herb, I'm not sure what direction your shooting for on this piece.  To my ears the playing/style and instrument selection really gives this a true older country feel.  If so then BRAVO!  If your shooting for the modern country vibe I'm not getting that from this arrangement.  All in all this is a very well written piece of music/mix.  KUDOS!

Kev

Hey Herb, great work.  If your looking for opinions, I agree with whats posted above:

1)  Vocals maybe a smidgen too loud (or maybe partly the reverb choice?)
2)  The singer is real good, but she doesn't sound completely comfortable with the lines.  A little more practice with it and I think she can make it even better
3)  It is screaming for vocal harmonies.

The arrangement and mix sound great, just the minor vocal level and/or reverb choice.

Great job, please post a final version so we can all compare

Kev & Mike.... yup... we're working on it slowly but surely.

the mix is a rough mix.... things will be changed and edited...levels up, others down, some instruments will be edited or replaced...... but it is probably close to where it will end up.

Herb, The only crit I have is the singer is struggling a bit in the lower registers, but she is wonderful in the mids (she never went too high so I cannot judge that). Super strong mids, but slightly flat lows. Something seemed missing... but I am not sure what... maybe a bit of vocal layering.

Shad: We are planning some layering and harmonies on the choruses at the very least.  

A good song well played.
The Male harmony does not fit for me. Too wide a tonal separation?
I don't really know what I'm talking about but I imagined the song as a backer sung by a typical current country star and it worked for me so that's how I got to thinking it's about the vox (Other than some minor instrument blend tweaks)
Again, you are 100 times the engineer than I am.