This song was originally written back in 2009 as a writing/recording challenge by Robby Robbins.  I took some liberty with it and rewrote it lyrically.

The original version from 2009 is on my sound click here>  http://soundclick.com/share.cfm?id=7520478  if you have the time, listen to this original version first.

I figured that with everything that Robby and I have learned over the years we could, and should redo this tune.  It would provide an interesting look at how we have both progressed musically over the last 3 years. I started to work on it as a full country band version, but after talking with Robby,  decided to go in a totally different direction with the production.  Totally 100% acoustic..... no midi.  Use mics to record it.  

So... here's the breakdown of this project. I salvaged a few of the tracks from 2009 that were worth keeping.  Fiddles and the dobro leads and that was about all that is common to both versions. 

The decision was made to record everything else again. 

There are 10 vocal tracks... 5 by Robby and 5 by me. one lead each and 4 BGV's. 

1 track: Scott Campbell is playing the fiddle in his classic and brilliant fashion.

7 tracks: Robby is playing acoustic guitar, dobro, and fretless bass.

4 tracks: I am playing acoustic guitar and mandolin. 

A total of 22 tracks with lots of panning and volume envelopes. Much time went into this project and we sincerely hope that you enjoy this new acoustic version. 

Thanks Robby for playing and singing on this new version. 

We present, for your listening pleasure Missing Person (2012 acoustic version)  http://soundclick.com/share.cfm?id=11962059

Enjoy.

Big fun :-)

Great job on both tracks especially the acoustic one. I also see the tremolo part still remained. Gives one that old "Saloon" feel (I do realize the genre, but nonetheless). 

Never right, never wrong, I can write a tune all day long
Nothing like the good ole I-IV-V! (Had to. Sorry!)

Wonderful job by both again. In general, some songs sound better when played acoustically.

I read the explanation for the rewrite, but what prompted the original to begin with?

Robby... 100%!

Rus W:  It was back in 2009 that Imogen Heap released the vocals to her song (The Song That Never Was)  that  I and a few others here covered.  A few weeks ago....Tom & I just had newer versions posted here.... anyway, I think a few other cakers grabbed that vocal track at the same time and did a version of it. 

After that passed into the digital abyss, a few weeks later Robbie came out with a cool challenge....he had written a lyric and anyone who wanted it could get a copy.  The challenge was to put your own melody, chords, style, and creativity towards finishing the song and everyone would post it on the same day...about 6 weeks away if I recall correctly. A number of cakers jumped into that project.... me included. IIRC, we had blues versions, rock versions, electronica versions and country versions. It was a very unique project as everyone, using the same lyrics, came up with close to a dozen versions, none of which sounded anything alike. I think someone cataloged them all to a web page or something.... (does anyone remember?) 

I took the lyrics Robby wrote and did what I do, which was to rewrite them even more....changing and adding to what he had started with .... everyone else followed the rules and used Robby's lyrics "as is"..... 

any way... that was how this song came to be. 

Yeah, this is actually a very storied song...

I wrote it many years ago for Miss April who was a missing person in my life... She later died from cancer. She also inspired many other songs I've written. When I went to record it, I told my son I was working on a new song called "Missing Person" My ex was listening in and called the cops and said I was threatening to make her a missing person and had a restraining order sworn out against me.

I also sent it out to 9 different people who stepped up to the task and did 9 different versions of it, in all genera's from cowboy country (thank you Herb!) to smooth jazz (thank you Frank) to a hard rock version, a soft piano version, a trip hop version, it was was really wild! And fun :-)

I called the project "Missing People" and the song was actually used as evidence in a case in Georgia! Pretty wild.

That is really fine boys... So well done... I love it...

Holy Cow! What a difference! The new version has a much more clear and open mix. Robby's additions make it real special too.

Thanks Scotty! I think it's much better too, Herb and I really put some harmony in there :-) However, I still feel your fiddle parts are the high part of the song. 

Robby: I had remembered it was about Miss April but had forgotten the other stuff..... wow... evidence in an Atlanta courtroom.... did the judge like the song? 

Frank: thank you for listening When you are impressed, I feel I have done my job well. 

Scotty: thank you...and same thing I said to Frank..... yes, I would say there is a difference.... after all, it has been 3 years and we've all learned a lot in that time....

 This is a good example of how time and applying your lessons and the things you study does make a difference.  the first version, back in March 2009, when I recorded it, I thought, it was really good, and it was at the time, since it was the best I could do then. The difference is startling on the second mix.... it's just been a matter of sticking with it and working though a bunch of songs, mixes, situations, and learning something from them all. No magic, no slick tricks, just the results of work...lots of work, and more yet to go. 

It never went to trial because there's no way they could have convicted me of anything. They're lucky I don't sue their ... for false arrest. But I had "all 9 versions ready to be submitted in to evidence." Your honor, exhibit A, a cowboy country version of the song. Note how non-threatening Mr. Hartley's voice sounds.