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Baghdad Blues remix w/kevmikwa & willnlf by bud [Email]

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SONG STATS:
Hits: 1233
Comments: 43
Votes:
Plays: 217
Last Played: Nov 29, 2008 - 11:35:58 PM
Downloads: 54
Fans: 15
Uploaded: Oct 01, 2007 - 10:28:24 PM
Last Updated: Oct 01, 2007 - 10:40:23 PM
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Keywords:
too many lives lost in vain (1), peace to the parents and children (1), respect to the soldiers and their families (1)
Description:
The second collaboration with my brother Will. I had to get this out today, I'd like to think I'll be singing a different song this time next year. Will sent the lyrics and I laid this down in one session - hence the rough edges and slipping tempos - but that's life.
Peace to us all in the year to come.

That note was written 12/31/06 - unfortunately not much has changed since. Will and I have written a bunch more songs since then - but it seems they're not changing the world.

Meanwhile kevmikwa (Mike Watkins) offered to replace the loops I used with live drums. This is the result of his efforts. He submitted his track a while ago - but I apologize in taking too long to get this new mix out. Mike did a great job - my time on this was pretty sloppy - and I know it wasn't easy for him to fit into the loose groove.

Thanks Mike.

Lyrics:
There’s a woman in the picture
her cheeks are stained with tears
There’s a man in a uniform
who’s confirmed her darkest fears.
Her features are contorted
her mouth it howls with pain
Her anguish is unbearable
but her anguish is in vain

(chorus)
We fill the air with bullets
we fill the air with bombs
we forget about the mothers
mothers with empty arms

She’ll never see her son again
her son just three years old
He died in the bombing
his mother’s just been told.
There’s a soldier in the picture
whose clothes are stained with blood
There’s a medic right beside him
but he can’t stop the flood

(chorus)

The medic’s face is empty
it’s drained by shock and awe
The medic’s face is empty
it’s drained by shock and awe
He’ll say a prayer and cry tonight
he’s seen it all before
He’ll say a prayer and cry tonight
he’s seen it all before

(chorus)

The soldier has a mother
she’s just heard the news
The soldier has a mother
she’s just heard the news
Her son’s been killed in Baghdad
She’s got the Baghdad blues.
Her son’s been killed in Baghdad
She’s got the Baghdad blues

(chorus)


Hardware:
iMac G5
Vagabond travel guitar with a nut adaptor for a dobro effect - played with a steel slide
Ibanez Bass
Danelectro Guitar
Oxygen 8 Midi Keys
Samson USB Mic
E Drums - Mike's kit

Software:
GB3
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Discrd and no harmony &mdash 10/02/07 - 12:21:34 AM
Bud - wonderful build up to this, then the drunken, slidey guitar comes in and slouches across the floor. This reminds me of early Beck a little - -it has a wonderful lo-fi feel to it.

The vox are great - low key, matter of fact, shell-shocked.

drunken punk blues - great track, guys.

steve



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Good ear Steve &mdash 10/02/07 - 01:04:47 PM
I had early Beck in mind when I did this. I really like what Mike did with the drums. Now it's a loop free tune. This is on the set list for a gig in a few weeks with a four piece band.

I appreciate your comments.

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Live! &mdash 10/02/07 - 01:21:52 AM
You know this has the way of a a live band. The drums fit very nicely.
The ending really builds up the intensity of the song as well.

I just noticed Steve's remark about Beck. That's pretty dead on.

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Thanks for stopping by Vic &mdash 10/02/07 - 01:08:32 PM
I like to hide my limited abilities behind the "live feel". It's a style thing.

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I have the &mdash 10/02/07 - 01:39:13 AM
original of this on my ipod - the more you hear it the better it gets.
Great relaxed feel and the live drums make it even more natural sounding.
Lovely song.
Cheers
Len



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Thanks Len &mdash 10/02/07 - 01:15:55 PM
I'm honored to be on your iPod.

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Baghdad Blues &mdash 10/02/07 - 06:53:13 AM
do I respect the song ? man you nailed what all
music can eb respetcable for .rarely to hear such
classical rockin group playin such tastey playin
the slide ..the bass and the perfect drums pattern
this song just great Bud ..!! GREAT cOLABRATION !!

KUDOS ! !

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Glad you can dig it Feter &mdash 10/02/07 - 01:21:08 PM
I really appreciate your comments. Mike really raised this one up.

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The original... &mdash 10/02/07 - 01:13:53 PM
...was really good, but this re-mix with the great live drums takes it to a much higher level of intensity and authenticity. This one will get on my next MJ MP3 and will be played on Friday nights when the wife and i knock a few cold ones back and listen to tunes! K U D O S !

Be well!

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great song &mdash 10/02/07 - 03:47:40 PM
i like your acoustic stuff a lot. i can hear the Beck "one foot in the grave" blues feel to it, but that's never a bad thing. just means you meant it.

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I think "One Foot in the Grave" &mdash 10/02/07 - 04:14:32 PM
is still my favorite Beck CD. Thanks for the props. The nut adapter thing I used is pretty cool. Turns any guitar into a lap steel.

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I &mdash 10/02/07 - 04:17:46 PM
meant to ask you about that. how's that work, does it raise the action on your guitar? or does it change the tone somehow?

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It's a metal bar with grooves in it &mdash 10/02/07 - 05:16:09 PM
and a lip that sits over the nut on your guitar - raising the strings about 3/8" so you can use an actual steel or glass or mudslide. I set up my travel guitar with it - it has a Fishman pickup in the bridge - and it's not that great to play the normal way - so I get good mileage out of it in this configuration (pardon the pun). I play t with a steel which is how I got the percussive slide sound on this tune. Here's a source: href="http://www.guitarpartsresource.com/guitar_nutsadapter.htm ">Nut Adapter</a>

[ Reply to This ]
Oops - tried to get clever &mdash 10/02/07 - 05:18:12 PM
http://www.guitarpartsresource.com/guitar_nutsadapter.htm



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Double &mdash 10/02/07 - 05:46:27 PM
I like the live drums. Great addition. Blue vocals, and slow beat set sad tone. Nice guitar leads too! Only, I wanted a crack at being the double fan. How is that done?

Thanks
Bill

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Not sure how Vic does it &mdash 10/02/07 - 08:51:05 PM
but it's not the first time. Thanks for stopping by and taking the time to comment. Mike has given this tune a new life.

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A nice surprise &mdash 10/02/07 - 07:41:05 PM
to see this tune pop back up on mj. Thanks to Mike for percusssion that supports the mood. Too bad nothing has changed since last December.

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You wrote an enduring song here bro &mdash 10/02/07 - 08:54:39 PM
too bad it's an enduring situation. Actually - wasn't the initial assault called Enduring Freedom? Who comes up with this stuff?

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holy sheep poop &mdash 10/02/07 - 08:15:21 PM
sorry about the description sometimes I dont know what to write but then all i want to say is how this is just greatness but then I say i think I have said that ten times before but Im not sure! thanks bud I needed that!

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I love it &mdash 10/02/07 - 08:56:36 PM
holy sheep poop - rolling stone doesn't measure up to your skillz Ego.

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Ooohhhhh... &mdash 10/02/07 - 09:55:42 PM
That was soooo good!

Can the chills be dark, but good...

Nice writing/playing/singing/collabing and stuff

Great production, too!

Very nice work, mister fellas.

Thanks! Dion

[ Reply to This ]
I appreciate your comments Dion &mdash 10/03/07 - 07:16:36 AM
Thanks for visiting.

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Dark stuff &mdash 10/03/07 - 02:37:38 AM
That "dobro" is very effective and drives the song.

I like the organic feel about this and how it seems to grow and build naturally.

Tough lyrics. I wish we didn't need songs like this :-(

Cheers

Dick



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I agree &mdash 10/03/07 - 07:19:12 AM
war songs have been with us since the start of music I guess - some for - not enough against.

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Hmm .. &mdash 10/03/07 - 02:09:31 PM
Very nice work here Bud, the guitar sound very nice and the most favorite thing here is the drums and the electric guitar ! Very Good Collab .. Enjoyed this song

Take Care
- Yeman A. Al-Rawi

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Your comment means a lot to me Yemen &mdash 10/03/07 - 02:29:13 PM
I imagine this subject is close to your heart and runs deeper than I can imagine. My best wishes to you and your family - along with a prayer for peace.

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Wondering Where... &mdash 10/03/07 - 03:00:46 PM
...the war protest songs are. Radio, tv... our entire entertainment machine doesn't even seem to be aware of the blood sinking into the streets - unless it can be used in the plot of another 'action-adventure' TV drama. Meanwhile, someone else's son or daughter dies. Then another. Then another.

Where are the protest songs? Here. You. Right now. I'm deeply moved by the almost casual, lazy hot-afternoon ease of the music and vocals, combined with the stark horror of the lyrics. The combination gives this song a knife-edge that cuts deep enough to bring blood. Or tears.

You guys pulled off one great track. Well done to all.

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Neil Young is still picking against the pricks &mdash 10/03/07 - 06:46:46 PM
and I guess John Fogerty too. One of my favorites is Steve Earle - he's got a lot of conviction and backs his words with action. But you're right - they're not on the radio. Clear Channel doesn't want it's corporate sponsors to get their knickers in a twist. It was suggested the first time around that I submit this to Neil's Living with War site. I think it's about time I do.
Thanks for the push and taking the time to listen and comment. It was great getting some live drums on this thanks to Mike.

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I meant to say "Kicking against the Pricks" &mdash 10/03/07 - 09:33:13 PM
but I guess picking is ok too.

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bud &mdash 10/04/07 - 10:10:17 PM
my main man!! great tune. overall excellence!!!

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Too kind ... seriously &mdash 10/05/07 - 09:48:54 AM
Thanks to everyone who has said nice things about the drummy bits here.

Still, I can't help but feel that I shortchanged ya, bud. I think it was July or so that I kinda ducked out of MacJams because I lost any semblance of spare time. This was one of the last songs that I worked on. As such, there are a lot of sloppy drum parts that really should have been punched. I gave you "first take quality" for your final take ... not great, coming from a guy who needs a couple takes. I realize the feel is supposed to be jangly and loose, but listening back, there are some drum things I did that just drive me bonkers. Mostly some stuff that is so far behind the beat it might as well be ahead of the NEXT beat. Ugh.

C'est la vie, I guess. Thanks for letting me sit in and for sharing the remix on MJ.

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Don't be too hard on yourself &mdash 10/05/07 - 11:44:34 AM
I completely understand your concern - but you still gave this tune a great lift. As far as first takes go - that's pretty much my style and I'm fine with warts. Thanks again for your contribution. I might have helped by giving the track a slight slip - mp3's don't always line up perfectly I hear.

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Mother &mdash 10/05/07 - 04:08:32 PM
Thinking of the soldiers mother brings on an emotional picture...

I love the live feel of this one.

Very good song. Very good plying. Very good production.
Would love to hear you do this one live:)

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Thanks Thoddi &mdash 10/05/07 - 04:53:53 PM
Will paints some vivid pictures - it's always interesting working with his words. Glad you stopped by.

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really good! &mdash 10/06/07 - 05:22:25 PM
very solid track you have here. Great guitar work and top notch songwriting. Good work.

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Thanks for your comment - &mdash 10/07/07 - 12:03:04 AM
Will's the writer. I call my playing style "accidental guitar" - it was a happy accident this time.

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Thanks &mdash 10/07/07 - 03:43:24 PM
To all who commented on the lyrics and to Bud who makes them come alive. I'm looking forward to writing a "war is over" song one of these days. May be if we all write one it will happen.

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: ) &mdash 10/07/07 - 09:29:09 PM
heavy lyrics ....nicely done man !

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;-) &mdash 10/09/07 - 07:59:49 AM
drunken punk blues =) lol
No for me no, dear Steve..for me is so bored: DISINCANTATO!
Mr. Bud il like this version too...
Oki now take off my "things" on my profile..i shame



Im not musician no shootME
-----------------------
Schello

[ Reply to This ]
OK Schello &mdash 10/09/07 - 01:12:59 PM
tell me you're joking. You'd never leave us - right? Thanks for stopping by my friend.

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More Alive Than Live &mdash 10/09/07 - 10:47:05 PM
You guys really did pull off a brilliant live performance kinda feel (as the other brothers from another planet mentioned). I am so impressed.

I knew Mikey 100 years (or less) before all of you and I think he's been over looked for way too long. I wish he'd fix my drums on every song I ever played (and sang too). Good job Mikey vs robot. I'm thrilled to death to hear you beating away to such a killer tune.

Drunken guitar is the perfect description of this colorful and fantastic guitar sound. The vocals and the lyrics make this song unforgetable. You changed my world, guys.

Thanks for another download.

Bob

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I &mdash 12/04/07 - 06:14:00 PM
really enjoyed this, it's great, I loved the vocals and the guitar sound is excellent!

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Thanks Bob &mdash 12/05/07 - 04:30:51 PM
it was real nice of you to stop by.

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