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PublicDomain
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Description:
My piano should be tuned every 3 months... i bought this yamaha baby grand in the show room used... it didn’t look great but it sounded the best... so I took it home, not knowing much about pianos... anyway it turns out this particular yamaha is not made for this climate... who knew... It starts going out of tune almost as soon as it’s tuned... so whenever I get it tuned I feel compelled to record something... I’ve learned how to tune it myself, but I have better things to do with my time...
Being human... means having faults... weaknesses... this song is a kind of Michael Franks’ amazing grace... I have extended myself a little latitude here, in that I’m not being too hard on myself... the same grace I extended to my friend in “So Much More”... I don’t feel the need to beat myself up, but the song is about recognizing my failures, and seeing something more... Years ago I had a prolonged bout with depression... I had some substance abuse problems that had spiraled out of control, along with some other mitigating factors/issues... I remember not eating and not sleeping in that descent.. and what few hours of sleep I got were filled with dreams of dark alleys and dead ends... that was the springboard for the lyric... by the time I wrote this I was a very healthy man... life is good... no complaints here
I was noodleing on the piano when I wrote it... and I wrote this a few decades ago, and I was in a new wave/punk band at the time... OOHHH THEY LOVED IT..... HA.. anyway it’s never been recorded so there i went...
I have left plenty of space... and I did not do any soloing... I would love it if a tenor sax would show up on this tune... or anything else you may hear, I just don’t want to do guitar solos on this
Lyrics:
I’M NOT SURE WHO YOU SEE IN ME
SOMEONE I DON'T HAVE THE STRENGTH TO BE
ONLY YOU CAN SET ME FREE
TO BE WHO YOU SEE IN ME
YOU SEARCHED FOR ME ON DARK STREETS AND ALLEYS
I WANDERED SO FAR ALL ALONE
YOU FOUND ME AND SAID "TIME TO COME HOME"
YOU SPOKE TO ME OF GOLD STREETS AND MANSIONS
BUT I FELT SO DIRTY AND BARE
YOU GAVE ME YOUR ROBE AND YOU SAID ”I’LL LEAD YOU THERE”
I’M NOT SURE WHO YOU SEE IN ME
SOMEONE I DON'T HAVE THE STRENGTH TO BE
ONLY YOU CAN SET ME FREE
TO BE WHO YOU SEE IN ME
YOU TOOK ME IN TO TREAT ME LIKE FAMILY
MY MANNERS AND HABITS WERE POOR
I ASKED “SHOULD I STAY” AND YOU’D SAY “OH YES I’M SURE”
STILL TIMES I FEEL LIKE I DON’T BELONG HERE
I’M HURT IF I GO WANDERING MORE
I COME BACK TO FIND YOU WAITING BY THE DOOR
I’M NOT SURE WHO YOU SEE IN ME
SOMEONE I DON'T HAVE THE STRENGTH TO BE
ONLY YOU CAN SET ME FREE
TO BE WHO YOU SEE IN ME
I JUST WANT TO BE WHO YOU SEE IN ME
HELP ME TO BE WHO YOU SEE IN ME
I WANT TO BE WHO YOU SEE IN ME
HELP ME TO BE WHO YOU SEE IN ME
WHO DO YOU SEE WHEN YOUR LOOKING DOWN ON ME
HOW CAN THIS BE THAT YOU LOVE THE MAN YOU SEE
WHO DO YOU SEE WHEN YOUR LOOKING DOWN ON ME
HOW CAN THIS BE THAT YOU LOVE THE MAN YOU SEE
Hardware:
G5, tayor c612, yamaha baby grand, martin bass
Software:
logic pro
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looking outward &mdash 07/11/07 - 07:36:43 PM
Scott, really something special here. A compelling performance & Lyrically redemptive. I'm glad the moons aligned to move you to record this. I love the chord progression and piano voicing's. Piano sounds outstanding. Thats rates 10's right there, cuz they're hard to mic and get them sounding like this. A lil flavor of Steely Dan [ Reply to This ]
Hi John &mdash 07/11/07 - 07:41:10 PM
thanx friend... my son walked in the room and asked when i wrote it... then when he heard the end he said... Steely Dan... I said thanx
i think a keyboard solo would sound good... your one of the folks I had in mind... or tell me what kind of bait you use to get edhara [ Reply to This ]
One man's Michael Franks... &mdash 07/11/07 - 08:08:41 PM
...is another man's Steely Dan...
...is another man's Joe Jackson... Thinking, "how would something like this translate into a punk/new wave band"?, the thing popping into my head are Joe Jackson's little new wave symphonies...
Let's see. You still sing great. And you still have a sophisticated sense of harmony, that stretches beyond the vocal line to the piano and guitar bits...
This is what it is, in the style that it is, and it sounds on all levels like it's you. I might be inclined to look for that little edge of something rougher in a voice or an instrumental timbre, just because I think that sort of contrast would work with the overall sweetness of the tune.
Still, you have great musical instincts and inclinations, Scott, and you're one solid songwriter...
Ed [ Reply to This ]
Joe Jackson &mdash 07/12/07 - 01:57:47 PM
yeh I like that... He certainly could have bridged that gap.. thanx Ed
being a songwriter got my foot in doors that would otherwise have been closed to me... I got to play with extraordinary players [ Reply to This ]
Thanks Scott &mdash 07/11/07 - 08:47:42 PM
Another master works by Mr. Carmichael. I wish I knew how to get as outstanding sound from my set up. Not only that, you message once again held special meaning. Many, many parallels. God bless, my friend. [ Reply to This ]
Hey Dave &mdash 07/12/07 - 02:00:17 PM
yeh... I think we have tread some of the same path... that ones pretty far behind me
thanx for that .. and I'm glad to see you're more settled
GREAT [ Reply to This ]
Amazing &mdash 07/12/07 - 05:47:02 AM
I like this a lot better than Michael Franks! This is great, as usual. You call this 'noodling' on the piano??? This sounds like big league, professional piano playing, my friend. Not noodling. No.
Beautiful song! Love the easy, relaxed feel. And I agree with Ed that it also has some resonances of Joe Jackson, one of my favorites. You hit it out of the ball park, once again! 10 10 10 10 [ Reply to This ]
Noodling &mdash 07/12/07 - 02:04:26 PM
honest.. i was noodling... I just keep noodling until it sounds like something... when I play piano, i don't even know what chords they are, for the most part... although I have learned more recently...
thanx much Clark... i'm glad to have a visit from one of my heros [ Reply to This ]
supa-dupa! &mdash 07/12/07 - 08:35:16 AM
You inspired me to break out my special old standby laudatory word. This is really great, though I do think of this a really great starting point. It would be great with recorded with a real drummer, because though the drums are very good (what are they? they are very very good), they could use a more sensitive touch that a really great live drummer could bring to it. Some slight ritards in some of the turnarounds, the spare swing to some of the cymbal playing, that sort of thing. I think the guitar is a little loud, maybe; soundwise the space could be more open. But I'm just writing that because I want to flesh out my comment with something maybe helpful for a future development for this wonderful song. I'm still going to download this version and listen to it many times, I'm sure. I feel much the same way, much of the time... [ Reply to This ]
supe dupa &mdash 07/12/07 - 02:09:25 PM
thank you Jim... yes it is a starting point... i'm hoping to enlist a sax... and I have just the drummer for this... when he gets back.. I have some comp work on guitar that I ommitted, so that someone else may ad the solos...
thanx again Jim [ Reply to This ]
What... &mdash 07/12/07 - 12:16:48 PM
...no mellow heavy metal shredding? What's wrong with you, Scott?
You're right: A tenor sax would sound great here.
This is a really fine song, Scott. Having been through some rough stretches myself, it's very easy to relate. Glad we can look back and talk/play about hard times from another, more postitive place.
Great chord changes. Nicely played piano. I should introduce you to my piano tuner (Boris). Maybe he'd be able to tinker a bit to fix up the climate problem. Yamaha's are too nice to be causing angst like that. Sounds really fine on this recording. [ Reply to This ]
Hey Bob &mdash 07/12/07 - 02:14:25 PM
I just may send you my version with the guitar solos I did... but I really don't want to hear what I do on this song... I'l like to hear Branford Marsalis... but I think he's busy [ Reply to This ]
Light me a ciggie... &mdash 07/12/07 - 01:46:05 PM
... pour me a drink, and just sing to us, man! Production is flawless, your voice sounds like a nice, peaty whiskey,and the song is wonderful - heartfelt, sad but sweet.
If that's you noodling .... man, I'm green with envy - this is proper singer/songwriter work here.
Just excellent.
Steve [ Reply to This ]
peat whiskey &mdash 07/12/07 - 02:18:17 PM
I like that... A snifter of Balvine or MaCallan... that is a wonderful compliment from a man who obviously knows the value and appeal of a proper glass..
and yes I was noodling...as I told Clark... i just keep on noodling until I think I may have something
thanx Steve [ Reply to This ]
Hey Scott ... &mdash 07/13/07 - 12:08:18 AM
a Laphroig, cask strength! &mdash 07/13/07 - 04:26:59 PM
This is &mdash 07/12/07 - 02:24:51 PM
class. Nothing to say except very professional, tasteful and well produced. This should have a wider hearing than Macjams. Thanks.
Cheers
Len
[ Reply to This ]
thanx to you Len &mdash 07/13/07 - 04:46:10 AM
I appreciate that.. "wider audience"... i'm certainly becomeing a wider performer...
I'll be by; Scott [ Reply to This ]
Inspiring! &mdash 07/12/07 - 02:25:51 PM
Love the chord progressions and your singing is so confident, blending perfectly with the piano and guitar. Warm, strong bass and simple drums - everything fits just right. So enjoyable to listen to music which has both technical finesse and heart-quality in it, seemingly effortless. [ Reply to This ]
thanx my friend &mdash 07/13/07 - 04:53:50 AM
I really appreciate the visit and comments... if there is effort it's a labor of love.. there's nothing i love better than studio time... [ Reply to This ]
better than #1 &mdash 07/12/07 - 02:29:11 PM
Beautiful. You never stop do you. I don't think you could write a bad song if you tried. Great chord changes and melody. Sooooo freaking tastey is this! Melancholy center wrapped in a veil of hope. This is another song that makes it into my top 10 all time favorite songs in the universe. That means I'll have to kick another song out of the top ten....unless I create a new position even better than the #1 slot, this song can go there! [ Reply to This ]
no bad songs??? &mdash 07/13/07 - 04:59:25 AM
hey Ray... I maybe write 2 keepers a year... or even one... but I'm in my 50's now, so I have a stock pile... for everyone I keep, I throw away 10... I wish what you said was true.. I'd have a library by now...
"Melancholy center wrapped in a veil of hope" here's one reason I love your witing... that really works for me
thanx my friend
I'm still keeping one eye open for your pass through here [ Reply to This ]
Definitely Joe... &mdash 07/12/07 - 02:50:21 PM
Ed mentioned Joe Jackson and by half way through that was what I was hearing. I wasn't sure about the production at first but by the end it had won me over in its mellowness (although there's something not quite right with the accoustic guitar - or am I hearing a twangy/scratchiness that isn't there? maybe it could just come up in the mix???). I think you could go a bit more agressive (as in Old Skool New Wave) and get away with it.
Overall a fine melody which floats. Nice. [ Reply to This ]
thanx Dolby &mdash 07/13/07 - 02:18:08 PM
the guitar was played with quite a bit of dynamics... I used my fingers on this... I could even it out with compression... I'd rather have it breath naturally... but I do hear those spikes that you pointed out...I don't notice as much I guess because I'm use to my playing... If I get the sax i want on this I'm pretty sure that I'll redo the guitar, and ad some vox
thanx and welcome to MJ... I'll be by to check you out [ Reply to This ]
well done &mdash 07/12/07 - 10:46:32 PM
to me, your melodies have a twinge of poignant, no matter what the groove. the partnering of the seemingly light music mood with the vocal story of the dark and coming back from it - heavy duty to say the least - totally works in an unexpected way. i absolutely love your harmony, scott - it's never ordinary. you sang that 2nd to last verse like a man possessed by the truth and not afraid to speak it. the vocal build there was powerful and perfect. the bass and piano kept me happy - and as the song ended, i bent toward the earth in a low bow to you, smiling in pleasure. soooo your fan, anne [ Reply to This ]
not ordinary? &mdash 07/13/07 - 02:36:51 PM
it's been said before that I'm not ordinary... oh wait... that was "normal" ... never mind.... seriously Anne... thanx... your ears, your song sense/vocals, and your catalogue give your comments a true value, and special meaning for anyone who knows you
thanx, your fan: scott [ Reply to This ]
This is just wonderful. &mdash 07/13/07 - 12:40:36 AM
Just as soon as I heard the voice with the keys Joe Jackson & Donald Fagen came to mind - I think it stands very strong all on it's own just the way it is beautifully written & performed.
Blessings, [ Reply to This ]
thanx Godchaser &mdash 07/13/07 - 02:47:23 PM
even so go check out edhara's page... listen to some of his work... and tell me that sax wouldn't be delicious on this
all the sme a song should stand without the frosting,,, if it HAS to have frosting... it may not be a song :)
and "Donald Fagen" humble thanx... a quirky genious [ Reply to This ]
Perfect is the fit NICKNAME for this &mdash 07/13/07 - 02:56:56 AM
How the Jazz could sound greater than this ??
Very intelligent music .. and it's great overall rating but you tell us "I would love it if a tenor sax would show up on this tune... or anything else you may hear, I just don%u2019t want to do guitar solos on this", i've found that guitar solo as your vocal tune would sound great ..
I'm classical player so i can't help you, just an idea !!
But really this one is perfect .. i've found that always the drums is the leader of the song, it's complete the song .. now i'm working on my new one, not music, it's a song and the biggest thing that is missed from it was the drums .. and i don't have a good program for loops .. but i hope when i post it you will like it !!
and that means that your drums has a great sound on this that make me talk about my songs ..
The lyrics is very nice to hear it from your cool vocal
From all the sides .. Scott .. this is great and perfect .. nice to hear it in the morning !!!!
Thanks for posting ..
Keep up your good work
Hope to post my new one these days
Regardz
==============
Yeman Auf Al-Rawi [ Reply to This ]
Hello Yeman &mdash 07/13/07 - 02:59:57 PM
my friend... great to hear from you... I'm happy that you liked this one... I wasn't quite sure when I posted it...
If I don't get what I'm hearing on this, I may post a version with the guitar work... we'll see...
we'll talk soon... DRUMS!!! [ Reply to This ]
lovely &mdash 07/13/07 - 05:02:04 AM
Hi Caroline &mdash 07/14/07 - 07:56:32 AM
who you see &mdash 07/13/07 - 12:17:20 PM
why this song gives me some wave from the early
80s ?.. I found the singing is so charming loved
the jazzy beats ..the stops ..very tastey with
the percussions behind ..that yamaha is GRAND !!
welldone my friend another gem ...!! [ Reply to This ]
thank you Feter &mdash 07/14/07 - 08:00:55 AM
Bit by bit &mdash 07/13/07 - 03:51:03 PM
Nice piece! Little by little, improving the world. This is very agreeable!
Peace,
Doug [ Reply to This ]
Hi Doug &mdash 07/14/07 - 08:03:59 AM
Yes &mdash 07/14/07 - 10:14:15 PM
Nice one Scott... &mdash 07/13/07 - 04:01:45 PM
...honest and insightful lyrics...really nice piano playing. And I always enjoy your singing bro.
Rock on my friend! [ Reply to This ]
Hey Michael &mdash 07/14/07 - 08:15:25 AM
honest and insightful... I try... just telling the story... thanx for that... and I've always considered my self to be the poor man piano player... you pack enough stuff around it and it sounds like you know what you're doing.. [ Reply to This ]
Hey! &mdash 07/15/07 - 02:36:29 AM
You're givin' away my keyboard secrets!!!
---
"We are put upon this earth a little space that we might learn to bear the beams of love." (William Blake) [ Reply to This ]
another great tune from you &mdash 07/13/07 - 04:24:12 PM
Wonderful, pro sounding recording. You have the voice of a star Scott. You play your instruments with confidence and pour beautiful chords and melodies out from your soul. I just love it:) [ Reply to This ]
Hi Thor &mdash 07/14/07 - 08:26:26 AM
thanx my friend... I was in here with my wife last night, she was listening to my music... she was impressed that I have a friend in Norway... so am I...
I always appreciate your time and comments [ Reply to This ]
got the works here &mdash 07/13/07 - 05:52:50 PM
with the singing, cool chorus-guitar jazz feel, like the soft James Taylor feel though It's your own. Lots of nice guitar chord changes.
Singing is very smooth and radio friendly.
Terrific!
[ Reply to This ]
Thanx Bill &mdash 07/14/07 - 08:39:17 AM
Excellent &mdash 07/13/07 - 10:38:29 PM
I haven't heard of Michael Frank in years. But now you mentioned it, there is some of that here.
This has classic hit written all over and inside of it. Everything from the song writing to execution.
Excellent! [ Reply to This ]
I should also ask... &mdash 07/14/07 - 02:36:20 AM
how did you get that picture of me snoozing in my favorite cubby hole?
---
what is the norm? [ Reply to This ]
Classic hit &mdash 07/14/07 - 08:46:01 AM
thanx Vic.. you never know until you post it... I just had no objective read on this one... it's an older song, and I want to eventually get them all recorded...
and I was waiting for you to wake up so I could nap... [ Reply to This ]
Smooth! &mdash 07/13/07 - 11:07:48 PM
Hey Scott, this is absolutely wonderful! Man, I wish I could play piano like that- maybe a few thousand more lessons for me, huh? I really enjoyed this. Thanks for sharing the story behind this song, too. [ Reply to This ]
Hi Mike &mdash 07/14/07 - 08:51:33 AM
I'm not known around here as a piano player... i learned along the way, out of necessity really... working on songs that needed keyboards and that was before pencil tools... i do enjoy it now though...
I am happy to say that I've been getting gigs around here playing bass recently... that has been fun
thanx for that Mike [ Reply to This ]
Another idea... &mdash 07/14/07 - 06:12:09 AM
Is the acoustic guitar mic'ed or is it recorded straight in using the guitar's build in pickup? It has sort of a piezo sound to it, and that's fighting with the mellowness of the piano sound. I would think that some a hollowbodied jazz guitar comping would fit in nicely with this, but someone else mentioned the scratchiness of the guitar, and I'm thinking that that's what I'm picking up on. Still great, tho, listening on my iPod while tootling around the city on my bike. [ Reply to This ]
Hi Jim &mdash 07/14/07 - 07:53:58 AM
the only thing on this that is new... are the drums and percussion tracks... I recorded the piano, bass, guitar, andvox about 4 years ago... i went to retrieved the files to remix them.. i do remember climbing on the piano because it was freshly tuned... but it wasn't recent... and now I can't remember how I recorded the guitar... but I can tell you that when i isolate it... I'm not happy... it was recorded with too much compression... It's one of those elements that I had to keep tinkering with... instead of doing the work and re-recording... as I was mixing I kept toying with the idea of just piano and bass... without guitar...
I didn't care enough about the song to invest more time... sometimes when you see how a song affects others then you begin to value it... the song is older so I can't see it very objectively... It had just never been recorded... part of the reason I have a studio is so a can get all this stuff recorded before I check out...
oh and I didn't answer your other question... I used some stock loops that came withthe mac for drums .. i just cut them up and then added some percussion stuff
[ Reply to This ]
Such silky smooth .. &mdash 07/14/07 - 09:09:10 AM
.. performances and recording. Lovely little swings and
skips in the melody. I agree those could just be that bit more personal touch with a real drummer, but having said
that the drums in this are far from bad by any means.
Great song, mix, lyrics, performances cross the board and fine arrangement as we'ld expect from you Scott. Pro quality... well your a pro and an inspiration to many.
I'm going to come from field left and say I get a kinda sense of a more acoustic Ben Folds and the theme from Arthur(?).. I can't place why on that one .. with a touch of Steely Dan more towards the end. It's a very NY sound I would thus surmise, to my foreign ears. [ Reply to This ]
Hi Alan &mdash 07/15/07 - 11:27:29 AM
thanx for the time and comment... I always prefer real drums when I have the choice... and I just might come up with some on this... if i do it will also get some sax treatment... I appreciate the kind support...
and I'm real comfortable any time I arrive from "left field" or at least less disoriented [ Reply to This ]
different and refreshing from you &mdash 07/14/07 - 07:36:48 PM
Scott, I really like the jazzy style of this song and this is a diversion from usual style. Still there is the unmistakable precision and polish you put in every song of yours. And your voice really suits this genre. You really rise up to the vocal challenge of this song. In one word--awesome! [ Reply to This ]
Hi Leon &mdash 07/15/07 - 11:58:18 AM
I know that if I wrote this song on guitar it would be very different... something about fleshing it out on piano, takes me a new direction... really an old direction, in that this sounds a little dated... but "unmistakable precision and polish" wow thanx my friend
[ Reply to This ]
Sophisticated &mdash 07/14/07 - 09:26:20 PM
Your choice of well played instruments works beautifully Scott, and your vocal is, as usual, excellent. Very good song too, and the production is also superb. What else can I say?
Neil [ Reply to This ]
Hey Neil &mdash 07/15/07 - 12:03:01 PM
of all the things you touched on... I think the thing I most like hearing is "good song"..
but thanx for all of it
Scott [ Reply to This ]
Killer Vocals & Music &mdash 07/15/07 - 11:53:53 AM
thanx Hector &mdash 07/15/07 - 12:06:30 PM
Perfect &mdash 07/15/07 - 01:10:46 PM
Loved every note! Joe JAckson comes to mind! Your voice is very good! Great song! [ Reply to This ]
wow Timothy &mdash 07/16/07 - 06:35:06 AM
thanx for that... I didn't hear Joe Jackson at first... although I do beleive the growing concensis... i always thought he was much hipper than this... but "perfect"... WOW
and I just visited your web site... excellent... I started out painting billboards for a living.... now my business is more than that... but I still do murals
you are very good [ Reply to This ]
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