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Spring-Driven Thing by philonnie [Email]
Genre: Acoustic

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SONG STATS:
Hits: 586
Comments: 5
Votes: 3
Plays: 58
Last Played: Jan 04, 2008 - 07:30:51 PM
Downloads: 21
Fans: 1
Uploaded: May 15, 2006 - 05:26:16 PM
Last Updated: May 15, 2006 - 05:26:16 PM
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Description:
Possibly one for the oldies! Having come up with the chord sequence and tune a few weeks back the idea for the lyrics (probably my most ambitious to date) came from a recollection of discovering an old wind-up gramaphone in my gran's house as a kid and spending hours playing the stack of dusty old 78s (anyone remember those?!). More recently I relived the experience over again with my daughter who also delighted in hearing that unique lo-fi sound (yes, we've still got an old wind-up in the attic). If you listen beyond the end of the vocal section (about 4min I'm afraid) I've added a more up-beat kind of instrumental arrangement of the same tune, mostly midi instruments but with my daughter playing real clarinet. Hope you enjoy.
Thanks for listening
cheers, Phil

Lyrics:
Spring-Drive Thing

I’m a spring-driven thing all covered with dust
I’ll sing for you but first you must
Crank my handle round and round
Drop that rusty old needle to hear the sound ...

Of the nineteen forties at seventy eight
I ‘ll take you back there if only you’ll wait
For your ears to adjust to the scratches and shrill
Just forget your new ipod and soon you will ….

Waltz the blue Danube with Fred Astaire
Then get in Glen Miller’s mood as you take to the air
To be whisked of by Duke to the Isle of Capri
Or for a night in Tunisia with Miles, don’t you see …

I’ll play misty after Gene’s sung in the rain
We’ll drop down to honky tonk town with Louis again
Or re-live those golden days so deep in Mario’s heart
Or sing a rainbow with Peggy before it’s time to depart

But if smoke gets in your eyes and you’ve had quite enough
Excuse me for taking your time, and for sounding so rough
You know my coil has unwound and I’m getting so slow
But there’s a little sad fact I would like you to know ….

I haven’t issued a sound for fifty two years
Left in this cold, dark cupboard under your grannies stairs
With a box of black disks, many broken in two
So thanks for the chance to entertain you

I’m a spring-driven thing all covered with dust
I’ll sing for you but first you must
Crank my handle round and round
Drop that rustly old needle to hear my sound.


Hardware:
yamaha electro-acoustic
bass guitar
samson usb condenser mic
G4 powerbook

Software:
GB2
DoD
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Hey Syd come out of your garden ..) &mdash 05/15/06 - 08:25:21 PM
I like it - sounds like Syd Barret sitting in his garden playing acoustic
guitar.

;-)

[ Reply to This ]
Pretty smooth &mdash 05/15/06 - 11:07:04 PM
Vocals well done. Great mix for the entire thing. Cool arrangement and
great style. Well done and I really like it.

[ Reply to This ]
Wow! &mdash 05/15/06 - 11:30:12 PM
What a concept! This is amazing Phil. Very well written. Your vox is in top
form and fits the mood of the piece perfectly. The mix sounds like this
was recorded on an old 78. Genius.

Be well!

[ Reply to This ]
McCartney-esque &mdash 05/19/06 - 12:35:04 PM
I like the "dated" setting that you've created. There was a moment partway through where the noodling guitar was kind of buggin me and seemed out of place. Also, I'm not sure if the "postlude" instrumental works for me. I prefer the first section with guitar and vocals. Overall, very creative!

[ Reply to This ]
thanks guys! &mdash 05/28/06 - 08:34:45 AM
... really appreciate you stopping by to listen and comment. As a novice singer it is always a mighty relief to get feedback indicating it ain't too bad.
As for being McCartney-esque, well that's a real confidence boost!
cheers, phil

[ Reply to This ]
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