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Description:
Original by Five Extra Arms can be found here:
http://www.macjams.com/song/13277
Bob's instrumental called 'Ethylene Hodgepodge' nearly went unnoticed, but in my trawling of the man's works, I unearthed this gem of a tune. After adding bits, especially lyrics, I handed the project to Andy & Maggi Carson, who have made this something altogether special. Maggi sings like an angel and Andy's technical head have combined to produce what I hope you agree is complimentary to the original without too much deviation, but manages to take the song to a place that no one could have imagined...
I tip my virtual hat to all four of us!
Jim
(Artwork is my sketch of Bob in NYC in April 2008)
Lyrics:
Closer
All our things in common,
Still gets me to this day.
How come you came,
Right out the sky,
And chased the blues away?
I didn’t see you coming,
To live the life that I’m in.
And thanks to you,
I’ve found the truth -
You’re closer than my skin.
Our lives crossed, but went unseen,
In rooms and halls and malls.
We danced and played
And lost the days;
Not hearing our hearts call…
Something changed and
a voice now said,
“Together now, come in…”
So here we are,
At last, alone.
You’re closer than my skin.
Keep this up and there’s no fear
Of life or death or sin.
We’ll keep our bond,
Forever more,
You’re closer than my skin.
2007/08 © Words Jim Armstrong © Music Bob Dorsey / Jim Armstrong / Andy Carson. Sung by Maggi Carson
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In Rooms and Halls and Malls &mdash 09/01/08 - 02:11:23 PM
Jim! This is magnificent! There's so much I love about this song. Maggi's vocal is just terrifically emotional and is that Andy on back-up? I haven't gone back to listen to Bob's original yet, but I get the feeling this is quite different. I love your choice of synth sounds, especially the bell-like/Rhodeish one on the main riff. It's just gorgeous.
Love that line, "You're closer than my skin."
I've downloaded this and it goes instantly into my very selective Best of Macjams playlist. I think this is one of my favorites on the site, ever. [ Reply to This ]
Why thank you, Lisa! &mdash 09/01/08 - 02:26:24 PM
Musically, it would take a few plays to hear what has been added on top of Bob's original - I tried not to stray too far and the original is all there . I believe that Andy effected Maggi's voice for the male backing - clever, eh? Although, he could be there and I was in on a guide vocal away back at the start, so could be a combo of backing (Andy did the final mix as well as other musical additions). I am really pleased that you like this. It's been hanging around for nearly a year now - so the covers challenge has come at the right time to share.
Your comment means a helluva lot, Lisa. I think there is a similarity in the emotion of Maggi's singing and your own. Almost fragile.
I'm so happy that you get it. Thank you!
Jim
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I Totally Get It! &mdash 09/01/08 - 05:27:34 PM
I've been listening all morning! I love that idea of affecting the female voice for the backing voice. It is quite far in the background and I wonder if that's why? It really works and I know I'll try it myself some time (complete thief!) Thanks again for posting it, Jim. [ Reply to This ]
Effect /affect... &mdash 09/01/08 - 06:40:17 PM
Closer &mdash 09/01/08 - 02:30:37 PM
WOW ...what a great song ..loved the singing ...
amazng amazing ...the drums and bass gave the song
a real solid ground to let the spacey keys settle
there and fit the vocals into the groove ..just
wonderful work my freind ..thnx alot for sharin !!!!! [ Reply to This ]
Thank you! &mdash 09/01/08 - 04:09:10 PM
Glad that you like it - Bob's original made it a pleasure to rework - and Maggi & Andy have sealed the deal!
Cheers,
Jim [ Reply to This ]
Thank you! &mdash 09/01/08 - 04:09:22 PM
Glad that you like it - Bob's original made it a pleasure to rework - and Maggi & Andy have sealed the deal!
Cheers,
Jim [ Reply to This ]
I totally got like &mdash 09/01/08 - 03:45:30 PM
a religious feeling by this. Maggis voice really caught me here, with this very nice chant-like delivering of the beautiful lyrics. Not totally "perfect" (as in uninteresting) but very soulful and heartfelt. Guess she really IS an angel?! Went right into my heart, anyway.
And the music is a perfect soundscape to back it up, with lots of interesting stuff going on in many different layers, if for some reason you'd start losing concentration on the words. Also loved the spoken words. Is that an old classic or did you come up with it. Well, it's classic now, I guess...
What was it? Soul changing? Yeah, that's it! Totally! Kudos to all!
/Henke [ Reply to This ]
I hear ya! &mdash 09/01/08 - 04:26:11 PM
Religious in a way - never thought about that but now that you mention it, I hear a coming togetherness, not only thru the collabing personnel, but in the music, words, vocals and the sharing of ideas.
Hmm, you really got something there - good points, well made. Thanks for your comments. It's a great feeling when it all comes together.
All the best,
Jim [ Reply to This ]
I hear ya! &mdash 09/01/08 - 04:26:29 PM
Religious in a way - never thought about that but now that you mention it, I hear a coming togetherness, not only thru the collabing personnel, but in the music, words, vocals and the sharing of ideas.
Hmm, you really got something there - good points, well made. Thanks for your comments. It's a great feeling when it all comes together.
All the best,
Jim [ Reply to This ]
Double posts!!!! &mdash 09/01/08 - 04:50:10 PM
Can I double Fav this?! &mdash 09/02/08 - 07:00:30 AM
Listening again at work, and really, this is pure magic! I get cold and warm all over at the same time. Phew! Thanks again! /H [ Reply to This ]
Thank you so much, H &mdash 09/02/08 - 02:44:42 PM
That is probably one of the nicest comments an MJ-er could hope for - repeat business!!! Thanks for taking time out to come back again. We really do appreciate it.
Jim [ Reply to This ]
Sorry, but a small update... &mdash 09/03/08 - 03:47:11 PM
It's now like two days later and my iTunes counter says this has been played 21... 22 times! Apart from those played here at MJ and at work. Can't, and don't want to, get it out of my head. I think it's the soundtrack of my dreams these days. Talk about soul changing :-)
I think one of the things that caught me is the slightly melancholy feel, which I am possibly unhealthily attracted to. In a way an odd feeling for the very deep and happy feeling the lyrics convey. Maybe that's where the "religious" feeling come in?
Again, really big thanks! I've tried to get people to go listen, because you should really have a ton of fans on this one. I feel some of the more active people are not around at the moment? Take care!
/Henke
P.S. Ooops, 23...! [ Reply to This ]
I am blown away! &mdash 09/06/08 - 06:23:21 AM
I know that feeling of wanting just one song over & over. Enjoy it until it wears off! I am really pleased that you find this song so attractive for whatever reasons (happy/melancholy). I write the lyrics about my wife who lived in a different town but in later years we discovered that we had gone to the same places, especially to see bands. We even worked out that we were in the same room at the same time without knowing it, 2 years before we got together. So that's what it's about. I had recorded my own vocal, but always knew that a female needed to sing it, so when Maggi became involved, I couldn't say no.
Andy made the final mix, added sounds and from Bob's original we have it now sitting in your iPod being played to death! How wonderful is that. What a great set of musical connection this song is turning out to have.
I am truly grateful that you enjoy our song so much. It gets unhealthy if it's the only song you ever play, but I'm so happy that you are into it so much right now.
All the best,
Jim [ Reply to This ]
Ah, &mdash 09/07/08 - 12:42:22 PM
thanks for the background! It's an amazing story, for sure. And now the melancholy feeling also makes better sense, with those lost days you might have had. (It's an idea I've had for a "novel" or maybe a film, with peoples' lives touching but not connecting. But it was not a project for me. Others' have done it, of course. But it is pretty fascinating to think about...)
I don't think it will be played to death. It's a survivor, this one!
All the best to you too!
/Henrik [ Reply to This ]
Fantastic! &mdash 09/08/08 - 07:05:22 PM
Write that story!!! - it's so cool to think that all these people are out there not knowing what lies around the corner....
I am living proof of a happy ending!
You are a gentleman, and I tip my virtual hat to you, Henke.
Cheers!
Jim [ Reply to This ]
Henrik &mdash 09/13/08 - 08:10:12 AM
Just for you...
Något förändrats och
en röst som nu sagts,
"Tillsammans nu, kom in…"
Så är vi där,
Äntligen ensam.
Du är närmare än min hud.
All the best,
Jim [ Reply to This ]
Ha ha, &mdash 09/17/08 - 04:14:15 PM
Sorry didn't see this til now. Gee, thanks! How did you come up with that? Do you know a bit of Swedish or did you use a translation service of some kind? Anyway, you did pretty good :-) I feel honored. But then again I HAVE listened to this like 60 times to date, equivalent to 5 I/2 hours in little more than two weeks. And it's still great! Thanks again! /H [ Reply to This ]
I must confess to using Google translator! &mdash 09/20/08 - 05:31:48 AM
I have been fascinated by the 'shape' of the Swedish language as it appears so different from English. I first came across the written word when The Stranglers released a song in 1978 (a rare track now) and it is sung in Swedish...called, aptly 'Sverige'.
http://tralfaz-archives.com/coverart/S/Stranglers/stranglers_sverige.html
Us chatting reminded me of how much I liked it back then (I believe the singer's accent / pronunciation is not that great) but hey, it was a rare 7" single for my collection, when punk was the fashion!
I just thought that a tip of the hat to you was in order - thanks for you support, H.
Jim [ Reply to This ]
Great Stuff Jim &mdash 09/01/08 - 06:25:31 PM
Spot on, the warmth comes through, music is splendid, Vox are sincere can't ask for more! [ Reply to This ]
Wait &mdash 09/01/08 - 06:34:13 PM
...Where that dialogue from? no matter it all fits together nicely , this is catchy as anything! nice one!
I see XXX is turning out to be quite the album :) [ Reply to This ]
Wait &mdash 09/01/08 - 06:34:52 PM
...Where that dialogue from? no matter it all fits together nicely , this is catchy as anything! nice one!
I see XXX is turning out to be quite the album :) [ Reply to This ]
The dialogue... &mdash 09/01/08 - 06:44:17 PM
Andy made that appear - I didn't have that it my first couple of takes, but I'm so glad he put it there. It all just works for me.
Maybe I should go and cover 'The Nerve" someday...hmm on second thoughts - I need you on guitar, so might as well leave it alone!
Jim [ Reply to This ]
An amazing transformation &mdash 09/01/08 - 07:00:23 PM
I went and listened to the original before i listened to this one. I can't believe how you've built this beautiful song on that foundation. The original had a lot of potential to it, but what you've done is simply outstanding. Kudos to all of you for and very excellent job.
be well and be cool
Ed [ Reply to This ]
Good move, Ed &mdash 09/02/08 - 07:23:50 AM
To have heard Bob's original before tuning in to this. We have stayed true to the soundbed that Bob had put together way back when, and the melody never needed changed in any way. It's the voice and production that really give the song a new life of it's own. So it's probably fair to say that this isn't a true cover as such, more a reworked, late collab. I had always liked it as was, but knew the potential for something bigger was there. Big thanks to Andy & Maggi for their major parts in producing Closer from Bob's 'Hodgepodge'.
Glad you like - cheers for commenting.
Jim [ Reply to This ]
lovely &mdash 09/01/08 - 08:24:04 PM
outstanding work and very pro sounding. what a great example of teamwork.
this put my mind into a altered state!
Bob has to be gushing. Now how did he manage to draw a side profile of himself, must have eyes on the side of his head. [ Reply to This ]
Hmmm....altered state..mmmmm!!! &mdash 09/02/08 - 07:30:44 AM
Cheers Vic!
I am over the moon with the end product, because like a relay race (or in this case marathon) where no-one drops the baton, Bob allowed me to carry on and add to the 1st leg, while Maggi & Andy carried it across the line.
The sketch is by my own fair hand and was done as Bob sat in a bar in downtown NYC in April this year. The original is in his cool ideas book that he carries and is full of great drawings and musings.
I'm really happy about the response to this as it has been kicking around for a while now. Thanks for tuning in.
Jim
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Closer &mdash 09/01/08 - 09:24:37 PM
Jim,
wow,
you've really perfected this song in this version. I can't believe what the magnificent Carson's have added to your vision.
I'm so glad I met you and hung out with you and Jake TWICE now (and Tom Wounded and Bud!!). You're a really great guy and a very talented artist who is just starting to exhibit his abilities. I look forward to hearing more and more of your work as you realize you're capable of so much music. I am honored that you took interest in my sketch of a song and astonished by what you did with it.
Thanks for taking this beyond what I was capable of.
Your best buddy in the South Eastern USA,
Bob [ Reply to This ]
Well Bob, &mdash 09/02/08 - 07:36:02 AM
You know it was a pleasure to be involved, not only in the cover, but meeting again and continuing our 'live' collabing!
I too loved that particular day with the rest of the guys and it's something we still talk about as though it was last week. Your E.H. was spoken about LAST YEAR if you remember, so it's a good feeling to eventually see the reaction to this final version (or is it? M & A might do something totally different again).
I'm happy that you're happy.
Take it easy, now!
Jim [ Reply to This ]
five extra armstrong &mdash 09/02/08 - 02:47:40 PM
This is more than a cover, this is a king-size quilt. You managed to wring out and express the latent emotion in the original number. This challenge has been amazing so far. [ Reply to This ]
Latent &mdash 09/03/08 - 02:00:03 PM
Great word to describe what Bob's original had as far as potential is concerned. I'm sure there are many more hiding around that should be sprung. I think this challenge should be always on the go, especially for times when you hit the wall.
Cheers, CJ.
Jim [ Reply to This ]
nice &mdash 09/02/08 - 03:17:40 PM
wow really cool sound. great vocals. it kind of has a japanese flavor to it. This gives me a warm spacey feeling - just what I needed this afternoon. [ Reply to This ]
Never thought about the Japanese vibe &mdash 09/03/08 - 04:19:10 PM
That comes from Bob's original choice of keys. It would be something else to hear it sung in Japanese, no?!
Yes - the mellow setting of a feng shui'ed garden - this would go down well. Good spot!
Thanks for tuning in.
Jim [ Reply to This ]
Great collab - excellent tune &mdash 09/03/08 - 09:32:25 AM
Nice to have you back in action Jim. I really love what you've done here. Wonderful lyrics and the perfect vibe throughout. Well done. [ Reply to This ]
It's good to be back! &mdash 09/03/08 - 04:23:10 PM
Right timing for this one to be shared. Thanks for commenting on the lyrics - I guess having met Jack you might have worked out that this is about us/her....
Andy & Maggi have taken it to new heights, and of course it wouldn't exist if Bobby D hadn't given us such a cool tune in the first place.
Talk soon,
Jim [ Reply to This ]
Closer &mdash 09/05/08 - 12:23:05 AM
Beautiful lyrics. Lovely sweet crystalline vocals. Great trick with the male backgrounds! You have done my buddy Bob real proud. I have always loved the vibes, they add such a warm inviting pathway. The synth textures create such a supple landscape that just envelopes this beautiful song. Just great.
Philip [ Reply to This ]
Glad you like this version &mdash 09/06/08 - 05:51:57 AM
Thanks for tuning in, Phil. The beauty of this is that this comes from an early Bob offering and has never gone away from my head. It's quite hypnotic and I'm so happy that we have built it up without going a million miles from the original.
Don't you just love Maggi's voice? I do. Andy introduced me to Garageband and if that hadn't happened, I wouldn't have met Bob (twice) in NYC.
It's an amazingly well connected piece of work when you drill down the background.
Thanks again,
Jim [ Reply to This ]
. &mdash 10/14/08 - 04:37:48 AM
Nice mood. I'd love to expand the melody a little, though. Really nice feel and lyrics. Thanks for sharing! [ Reply to This ]
Thanks, Richard &mdash 10/14/08 - 03:09:15 PM
It's really good of you to visit this song as I am particularly fond of the it as well as the personnel involved.
Cheers,
Jim [ Reply to This ]
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Love that line, "You're closer than my skin."
I've downloaded this and it goes instantly into my very selective Best of Macjams playlist. I think this is one of my favorites on the site, ever.
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