MacJams.com - Song: Undiscovered Hero by sloparts

Undiscovered Hero by sloparts [Email]

Genre: Country-Western

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Keywords:

country (101), singer (18), balladeer (1), baby (36), lap (2), county (3), fair (3), songs (5), hope (81), jokes (2), pickup (2), truck (1), playing (6), guitar (831), stetson (1)

Description:

This is a song I wrote to honor and old friend of mine who's stage name was Charlie Red. He taught me a lot about writing songs and recording through his patience and understanding.

He toured the County/State fair circuit for many years in California, Arizona, Nevada and Oregon so I thought the best way to honor him was to put this song together.

It's one of my earlier recordings and the quality shows that, but I still thought the song had something going for it so I post it here to honor my friend.

I hope you enjoy it, but keep in mind it's taken from a master tape from 17 years ago so without redoing it completely there's no way to go back and change it.

Thanks for listening, I do hope you enjoy Charlie Red's story.

Ed

Lyrics:

Undiscovered Hero (Charlie Red's Song)
Words, Music and Arrangement By Edward C. Wemmerus Sr.
Copyright © December 20, 1990 All Rights Reserved
Copyright © Registered January 15, 1991

Verse I
He's a country singer in a Stetson hat
with a guitar in his hand
Wearin' cowboy boots an old gambler suits
he makes a livin' doin' one night stands
Standin' on the stage at a county fair
with a rag-tag five piece band
tellin them stories and singin' them songs
about workin' hard and takin' a stand

Chorus
He's an undiscovered hero,
a country balladeer
bringin' songs and jokes and words of hope
to all the folks from far and near
but when this gig is over
and the crowd has all gone home
he'll pack up the old truck, kiss his lady for luck
and down the road they'll go

Verse II
Wearin' faded jeans and a pony tail,
she's sittin' in the very last row
She's heard those songs a million times
through every matinee and show
She's got a baby on her lap, still she's the first to clap
even if he's done it wrong/
She loves the fair haired man, with the rag tag band
And the way he sings a song.

Chorus

Bridge
It's a hard life that they're livin'
playin' for the crowd each night
they give it all they've got, for one more shot
hopin' it will turn out right
But nine years on the highway
with a pick-up truck for home
makes it hard to be a star, no matter who you are
a singin' in that microphone

Chorus

Tag line:
he'll pack up this old truck, kiss his lady for luck
and down the road they'll go.

Hardware:

This was recorded on a Tascam 688 8-track recording deck that used cassette tape as a recording medium. The headroom was somewhat limited, but still I think it came out fairly well.
I brought the master into Cubase SE3 and tweaked it some, then I took it from there into Garage Band to do this mixdown. Finally I converted it to mp3 in iTunes.

Software:

Yamaha SY99 sequencer, Cubase SE3, Garage Band 3, iTunes 7.5

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An Undiscovered Hero &mdash 12/02/07 - 02:03:38 PM

Feter

Man ..such awesome classic is this and I think
your friend realy deserve such cool dedication !
I just loved a perfect in everything ..down the road
they ll go ...KUDOS !!

[ Reply to This ]

Thank you Feter &mdash 12/02/07 - 05:22:44 PM

sloparts

It really is Charlie's story, I just wrote it down and sang it. I've been on the road doing music in my life so I know a little about the kind of life he was living back then. It wasn't hard to put together a song about it, but at that time my production and recording skills were not where they are now. Consequently the music and production reflects that reality.

Since I can't go back and redo it now, it is what it is, a good story to not so good music.

Thanks for you kindness Feter and for taking time to listen. I'm happy you enjoyed it.

Be well my friend and stay happy.

Ed

[ Reply to This ]

Classic country-rock radio....... &mdash 12/02/07 - 08:32:56 PM

Joe Brady

Great chorus! Love that harmony and Honky-Tonk feel. Really enjoyed this.
All the best,
Joe

[ Reply to This ]

Thanks Joe &mdash 12/02/07 - 10:55:36 PM

sloparts

Sure glad you came to the Fair and listened to this tribute to an old friend. Since I've moved away from the west coast, and Charlie moved to somewhere else in CA, I've lost touch with him. I wanted to leave this tribute to him here on MacJams in hopes he might hear about it and know he has a friend out here in cyberspace.

I guess anyone who's played a Fair circuit anywhere for any time at all can relate to this song. In my mind, those that work the Fairs, really are "The Undiscovered Heros"

Glad you enjoys it Joe and thanks again for listening and taking time to let me know you enjoyed it.

Be well friend.

Ed

[ Reply to This ]

Your voice &mdash 12/02/07 - 10:58:28 PM

Ibstrat

and feel shines through the production.Your lyrics are always a treat.I actually think this could be a hit now.I can think of a few current country artists who would kill for a song this good!

[ Reply to This ]

Thanks you Mark &mdash 12/02/07 - 11:30:27 PM

sloparts

My only wish was that I had recorded this after I learned a little more about production and mixing. I think it would really shine then. But alas, it's still got some good lyrics to it and the music is just good enough to get it listened to.

From what I've heard on the Country stations of late there's a lot of em looking for a good song. If I had any idea where to send it I'd send it out just to see what happened.

Anyway, thanks again Mark for listening and your kind words. Always a pleasure to hear from you.

Take care my friend

Ed

[ Reply to This ]

My oh my Ed &mdash 12/02/07 - 11:40:37 PM

gail60

I have to admit....You are my country hero! What a sweet, sad story here and you did a great job tellin(singin) it, as always. Thanks for sharing it with us.

[ Reply to This ]

Thanks Tex &mdash 12/03/07 - 04:19:43 PM

sloparts

The guy I wrote this song about, Charlie Red, was a master at telling these kinds of stories, and I have him to thank for helping me learn how to be a better story teller than I was when I started trying to write songs. My early attempts were really pretty pathetic, ones I'll never ever post here. But through patience and understanding, and a whole lot of guidance he slowly brought me along to where I am now. He truly is an "Undiscovered Hero", at least to me.

Thanks for coming over to the Country side for a visit, and the kind words for Charlie's song. I always love it when you like my work Gail

Be well my friend

Ed

[ Reply to This ]

I love... &mdash 12/03/07 - 03:51:02 PM

guitapick

...this kind of stuff...really, really nicely done, Ed. I could care less about the "sound quality"...this is great!

[ Reply to This ]

Thanks Bob &mdash 12/03/07 - 04:26:37 PM

sloparts

I guess when it really comes down to it, it's the story that really matters. The music sets the mood and the lyrics tell the message. I just would like to hear it how it could be, instead of how it is. Maybe I really do need to do a completely new version and make the music fit it better. One of these days.....

Thanks again Bob for the kind words, I'm really glad you enjoyed my tribute to a very good friend.

Take care and keep on pickin' and grinnin'

Ed

[ Reply to This ]

hey &mdash 12/07/07 - 12:06:51 AM

timothy devine

did you ever make a kids video?
Your vocals sound real familiar
i just whent lookin for the vid to check the names on it.
cant find it.
I loved that video cause of the music
this song is great i love it
nicely done

[ Reply to This ]

Never did a vid, &mdash 12/07/07 - 01:03:49 AM

sloparts

but I was on the local evening news once during a flood out in Tillamook Oregon. So no, I'm not the voice you thought I was. As a matter of fact, I'm not even the voice I think I am. It has something to do with delusions of grandeur I think.

Anyway thanks for the nice comments Tim, I do appreciate it, and that you took time to have a listen. I'll try not to disappoint you in the future. Be well my friend.

Ed

[ Reply to This ]