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Down In The Valley by Jim Bouchard [Email]

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SONG STATS:
Hits: 899
Comments: 17
Votes:
Plays: 131
Last Played: Oct 13, 2008 - 05:24:30 AM
Downloads: 49
Fans: 15
Uploaded: Oct 16, 2007 - 06:37:58 AM
Last Updated: Oct 16, 2007 - 06:37:58 AM
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Description:
I've always loved this song. Here I get to try out my concertina. Unfortunately only one button was in the same key as this song, and so that's the alternating D and A notes you hear throughout to accompany my doleful vocals.
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Beautifully done, Jim &mdash 10/16/07 - 07:15:39 AM
Ooh, cute mando, and it sounds as good as it looks.

Your voice perfectly suits the chilled out but slightly melancholy groove you've created here. You sing it like your heart is truly in it, which is always a good thing in my book! I like the way the sweetness of the song morphs into that unsettling ending too.

The concertina's presence certainly adds something to the song, even if it's subtle.

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angels &mdash 10/16/07 - 08:50:21 AM
the concertina adds a subtle backdrop - those two notes really play their part well.I really like the long sweeping notes in the background though.Your voice really reminds me of jim morrison but I'm sure i've told you that before.Beautiful song! rg

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Down In The Valley &mdash 10/16/07 - 12:42:20 PM
one of your best perfomance singin ..the concertina
at its best ..great recording indeed ..Unique with
its arragment by all mean ..welldone my friend !!

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Lovely Relaxing ! &mdash 10/16/07 - 01:01:15 PM
Mr. Jim, very lovely song, your vocal is one of the bests i've heard it here, i'm enjoying your work with the mandolin. Great touch in the song with the concertina ! Loved this piece so much !

Take Care
==============
Yeman Auf Al-Rawi

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Wow! that's surprising! &mdash 10/16/07 - 04:22:36 PM
I don't really like my voice all that much on this. I am a little rusty with the singing thing and need to work on it. I actually have two takes of my vocal on this, one that was take 1 and that's sort of soft with a lot of echo and take 2 which was a little better and is the main vocal. But I didn't want to overwork this simple little song so I just posted what I had after spending a morning and an evening on it. This was recorded in a session with "On Top of Old Smokey" which will be posted next.

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Ohh .. &mdash 10/17/07 - 03:01:08 PM
I LOVE YOUR VOCAL !! Really rich and full of feelings
-
Looking forward to hear the new song .. Loved your stuff

Take Care
==============
Yeman Auf Al-Rawi


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Whatever it is that... &mdash 10/16/07 - 11:04:49 PM
...takes on that intensity in the background as the tune begins to draw to a close and then at the end...it's very effective...

...I love this tune, too, Jim. Very nicely done...

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That's a synth sound &mdash 10/16/07 - 11:25:11 PM
And somewhere I found a suite of free plugins and the one I use here is called Spectral DroneMaker and at times it sounds like that Tibetan throat singing, but I'm just playing a few notes on the keyboard. Sort of a cool effect, I guess, but I wanted it to build and I guess it worked! Now if the singing was only a bit better! LOL

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~ &mdash 10/17/07 - 12:16:45 PM
I like your voice...

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awesome &mdash 10/17/07 - 02:27:55 PM
love this songg and your version is great. love that mandolin.

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Cheers &mdash 10/17/07 - 03:57:24 PM
Cheers for a fine performance!!!!

Thanks
Bill

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tough tune &mdash 10/20/07 - 08:20:34 AM
I beleive these are some of the hardest songs to cover. But you did a great job. The mandolin is a great touch. the floor tom sound (drums over all)
reallt sound great. and then you have a very neat ending.
Great job JIm!!!

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u &mdash 10/20/07 - 02:35:25 PM
r right man....this is a beautiful song.....its an old italian immigrant song/melody no?....u have captured the magic and made it new again......many bows.......

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Great song well performed &mdash 10/22/07 - 04:46:54 AM
Great song well performed. I'm with Birdman here. Dig your voice like this. It sounds r e a l.

Though it is the first time I hear it I can understand that it is a song that you can dig for a very long time. Who made it by the way?

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Who made it? &mdash 10/22/07 - 09:19:01 PM
This song was born in the mountains, it's so old. There's a great Pete Seeger version, of course, but I probably first heard the Kingston Trio or The Limelighters singing this. Thanks for the kind words!

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and here's a link: &mdash 10/22/07 - 09:22:58 PM
And for anyone that is inclined to pick up the great Pete Seeger version of this (he plays the banjo on it) you could get it here: http://www.emusic.com/album/Pete-Seeger-American-Favorite-Ballads-Vol-1-MP3-Download/10910022.html

I love Pete Seeger, he's genius!

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Restrained &mdash 11/01/07 - 02:48:22 PM
playing and singing here Jim. I love the sound of your productions - lots of detail and clarity, but still with good presence (of a gentle kind). Can't beat mandolin and concertina to set the mood. Very enjoyable.\Neil

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