Closed Sunday Blues (Fist Full of Blues Open Collab) by psexnyc
Genre: Blues (contemporary)
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Description:
Pick Quick Records posted this Blues Bed of blues in open collaborations (http://www.macjams.com/song/46784), so I decided to take a shot at it.
I tried to make my voice sound like an 80-year-old bluesman on this one, cuz my regular voice just did not work for me. I don't sound like a guy that has the blues when I sing the blues (at least in my own imagination) so I have come up with a new personality. I have named him "Blind Mellow Phil.
I made up the words on the spot. My motivation for the words was simply a lack of motivation. Everything in my life is pretty bluesless, so I had to come up with something and the words you hear are the words that just happened to come out of me. I liked them, so I kept them.
Leave comments please! And if the bass guitar sounds too low....I know....this seems to be a recurring theme in my music. It has to do with my mixing abilities or maybe the headphones I'm working with. I am working to resolve my bass (or bassless) issues.
I tried to make my voice sound like an 80-year-old bluesman on this one, cuz my regular voice just did not work for me. I don't sound like a guy that has the blues when I sing the blues (at least in my own imagination) so I have come up with a new personality. I have named him "Blind Mellow Phil.
I made up the words on the spot. My motivation for the words was simply a lack of motivation. Everything in my life is pretty bluesless, so I had to come up with something and the words you hear are the words that just happened to come out of me. I liked them, so I kept them.
Leave comments please! And if the bass guitar sounds too low....I know....this seems to be a recurring theme in my music. It has to do with my mixing abilities or maybe the headphones I'm working with. I am working to resolve my bass (or bassless) issues.
Hardware:
eMacFender Strat
Software:
GarageBand 3You must be registered and logged-in to comment.
ktb
wow, way to tear into it. Just the right touch.
craft
great guitar playing
Moviz
Love those guitar sounds that go through the solar plexus and yes you managed to sound about eight years older than myself very successfully LOL..... and effectively. Great stuff, cheers M
Feter
Ye ye ye ....goin down blues ...Blind Mellow Phil
got this one so right ...Outstanding colab the strat
blown in fire and it feel so fine ..man your singing
is great as well ...perfect ,,,just perfect ,....
Deepest Bow !!!!!
VicDiesel
Ok, great guitar work and your vocals are very convincing.
You already know about the bass.
You are way too aggressive about the high frequencies. This mix sounds tinny, and the cymbals are almost shrill. Careful with your ears!
psexnyc
When mixing this, I was so concerned about losing Chris' horns and organ sounds....well, not so much losing the sounds, but I didn't want them to get lost in the mix. I used that 10-band graphic eq and brought up the middle. That seemed to make the horns stand out some. Ahhh, but the bass. I could still hear the bass bumping along in the headphones, but I figured that they would be low because I got comments from the last song about this same thing after I thought I could hear the bass bumping along.
Well, with the latest and last version of "Ummm" still on the mixing table (featuring you AND Allen Dean on bass) you can bet I will be extremely focused on getting that bass out front and center in the midst of all those guitars (this one also has some blistering guitars by Allen on it).
I am realizing there is no one mixdown recipe that delivers. Each song will have its own audio variables and characteristics. So every mixdown will always have to start from scratch. What was successful in one mix means didley squat in the next.
VicDiesel
Don't boost too many frequencies: start by cutting other frequencies.
When you want a mid-range instrument to stand out, first remove mid and low frequencies from other instruments. For instance, piano and rhythm guitar can add a lot of rumble, so use a low shelving EQ on them.
It's called "making space for other instruments".
But I still don't understand why you get that tinny sound from boosting the midrange.
psexnyc
Thank you for this tip! Once again, you are helping me step up my game!!
You can rest assured that the next I am ever able to find time to record a tune again, I will most definitely be applying this technique you have shared with me here. And when this tune is uploaded, I will send you a note to let you know! Thanks Vic!!
sloparts
Leads and vocal work, but I agree with Vic about being too aggressive with the highs in this. The cymbals do sound very thin and way too crisp.
Also you might want to back off just a little on the vocal reverb, it makes it sound to far back in the mix, and like it doesn't fit in with the reverb on the rest of the tracks.
That said, it doesn't take away anything form a great performance on your part both for the guitar and the vocal.
I'm gonna save this one for now, that is until you do a little remixing. Then I'll grab that one too. Very cool song Phil
Be well and be cool,
Ed
psexnyc
I think I am going to re-piece this song together track by track, starting with Chris Cihon's "Fist Full of Blues" download and then layer in the two guitar tracks and finally the vocal track. This shouldn't be too hard. Hopefully I can prevent the "tinny" sound....I wonder if using the GB, Pop > Top 40 master track setting did this. I picked it because it seemed to make the bass more bassy. Either my headphones are lying to me or my ears are getting bad. Most of the time I think I am just too close to the recordings and need another set of discerning, musically inclined ears to decipher my mixes.
NewInfection
you really shine on this one. on your previous songs, your guitar playing seemed to be more subdued, and went along with the song. but one this one, i felt you let yourself loose, and it shows. your tone is classic 1970's, and the verb is perfect. the style is awesome for the song. i think having the opportunity to simply jam and sing without having to write and produce has set your talents free here. i am really impressed, brother.
AD08
psexnyc
I did let loose on this one!! Now if I can get it all back in!!
egobandit
and there closed on sunday excellent!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
PickQuickRecords
COOL!!!
I have to say I agree with Allen on this. You playing is blazing and I really dug your vox. I think Blind Mellow Phil needs to go on tour.
I'm really impressed with what you came up with. Sounds awesome!
Great job!
BTW, If you need some "extra" ears for your mixes, just drop me a note. I'd be glad to listen.
psexnyc
Oh Thank you sooo much!!
You can bet that I will be dropping notes to you like crazy!!
Well....maybe not like crazy, cuz I can't record as often as I'd like, but I will have one coming at ya real soon. Hopefully before everybody elects Obama to the White House...I mean before election day.
lengold
and vocals.
Cheers
Len
dug110
This is so sweet! Thanks for sharing your talents!