china cat sunflower (another rough-around-the-edges cover)

[heatmiser]

Hey,

Here I have another stripped-down cover. This one is an old grateful dead tune...I know, I know...but please check it out anyway .

Lots of problems with this one, but interesting nonetheless I hope. Anyone familiar with this tune?...I'm guessing for the most part, no. I have tried to capture at least some of the weirdness of the original. The lyrics are really bizarre and the vocals here are poor, but need to be there as an excuse to do the song. I appreciate any input on any level whatsoever.

http://www.soundclick.com/bands/page_songInfo.cfm?bandID=660667&songID=7449507

 

[intomusic]

I've never heard a Grateful Dead song but this makes me want to hear some - I love that guitar lick all the way throughout the verse - has an African guitar vibe to it like Louis Mhlanga...really nice tune to chill out to.
Yeah, vocals sounded a little weak as you said.



intomusic

 

[Dak_Sunset]

Heat,

I thought that was great. As mentioned, the vocals were a bit soft. I think you might want to try layering another vocal track on top. Add a touch of reverb and bring the level of the vocals up a bit.

Jerry would be proud.

 

[mixsit]

That was fun. As you said a bit stripped down, but the instrumental counter weave still brings joy.
Which reminds me..

..I still need to rent a room for Shoreline.

 

[heatmiser]

I've never heard a Grateful Dead song but this makes me want to hear some - I love that guitar lick all the way throughout the verse - has an African guitar vibe to it like Louis Mhlanga...really nice tune to chill out to. Yeah, vocals sounded a little weak as you said. intomusic

Thanks man Interesting, I never noticed that before but now that you mention it, that bob weir lick kinda sounds like something from paul simon's graceland or something. Vocals are still an issue but have been redone.

Heat, I thought that was great. As mentioned, the vocals were a bit soft. I think you might want to try layering another vocal track on top. Add a touch of reverb and bring the level of the vocals up a bit. Jerry would be proud.

Thanks Dak

Good idea. The vocals sound deceptively simple, but there are a lot of weird intervals. Plus, I am sort of a pitchy baritone with less than one octave of range . I went with your suggestions and the results are...well, different .

That was fun. As you said a bit stripped down, but the instrumental counter weave still brings joy.
Which reminds me....I still need to rent a room for Shoreline.

Ha! So, a couple of heads turned up and approve of this madness. Good.

Thanks for listening mixsit . I was most set on capturing that jam in the middle. I hope it works.

I have a new mix with doubled vocals with all kinds of delay and verb and stuff. Kind of has a drunken cyborg sort of vibe to it now. I was able to add clarity to the instrumental bits though as well I think...take a listen...

 

[Greg_L]

Sounds good dude. I don't know the original, so this sounds just fine to me. Nice little licks in there.

 

[Chili]

I wouldn't call myself a deadhead, but I do have quite a few of their cd's, plus Sirius Radio's Dead Channel.

You've got the guitar interactions down perfectly, especially during the solo. It's what I would expect to hear from them without the mistakes!!!

The drums definitely add a new dimension to the song that I never thought I'd hear. But I think it works.

I'm not crazy with the vocals. For one, they're in tune. but the doubling and singing in a lower register works against the feel of the song.

It's so cool to see someone put up a Dead cover. I did Althea when I first started recording. It came out horrible, but if you're interested in a collab, that might be fun.

peace.

 

[heatmiser]

Sounds good dude. I don't know the original, so this sounds just fine to me. Nice little licks in there.

Thanks Greg...glad you checked it out

I wouldn't call myself a deadhead, but I do have quite a few of their cd's, plus Sirius Radio's Dead Channel.

You've got the guitar interactions down perfectly, especially during the solo. It's what I would expect to hear from them without the mistakes!!!

The drums definitely add a new dimension to the song that I never thought I'd hear. But I think it works.

I'm not crazy with the vocals. For one, they're in tune. but the doubling and singing in a lower register works against the feel of the song.

It's so cool to see someone put up a Dead cover. I did Althea when I first started recording. It came out horrible, but if you're interested in a collab, that might be fun.

peace.

Thank you Chili! Excellent points there. I think originally it is sung in a kind of light, joyful way. I somehow brought a whole weird other feel to it.

I tried so hard to get a mellow, natural sound out of that drum machine, but it kind of stands out anyways...

Really glad the guitar parts worked out ok...

 

[Chili]

Really glad the guitar parts worked out ok...

Yeah, you nailed the guitar work. It's really good. Sorry for repeating myself... think it's worth it.

cool.

 

[Incanus]

Very cool! Nice version. A lot like the original (Europe '72, that is)

Vox aren't that bad. I guess it would be a bit better if it was an octave higher though.

I noticed that the 'Bob' guitar part is a little different. He puts a different ending on it every other time (one goes up; the next one goes down).

Very enjoyable.

 

[queepy]

I really dug this....The Dead is one band I have never delved into to deeply other then the stuff on the radio....this has a real cool funky vibe, vocals seem cool to me, but again, I am not familiar with the original.
I really enjoyed this...enough that I'm gonna research me some Dead and pick something up from Amazon! Nice job bud!

 

[mixsit]

You've got the guitar interactions down perfectly, especially during the solo. It's what I would expect to hear from them without the mistakes!!!

It's not mistakes necessarily. More.. delightfully controlled chaos.

 

[heatmiser]

Very cool! Nice version. A lot like the original (Europe '72, that is) Vox aren't that bad. I guess it would be a bit better if it was an octave higher though. I noticed that the 'Bob' guitar part is a little different. He puts a different ending on it every other time (one goes up; the next one goes down). Very enjoyable.

Thanks a bunch Icanus! Yes, I think the '72 version is the most well-known and probably was in the back of mind, but I love me some of the hyper '80's versions too. LOL on the vox...I hesitated to post this track knowing I couldn't reproduce Jerry's tenor, but it seems to be passable at least. Really gave up trying to emulate anything and went more for my usual robotic baritone effect.
Good call on the Weir lick...you are correct - there are two alternating variations and I have never figured out the second one so I omitted it busted. Thanks again .

I really dug this....The Dead is one band I have never delved into to deeply other then the stuff on the radio....this has a real cool funky vibe, vocals seem cool to me, but again, I am not familiar with the original. I really enjoyed this...enough that I'm gonna research me some Dead and pick something up from Amazon! Nice job bud!

Thanks Variqueepman! I am really glad you like it. If you do pull the trigger on any dead cds, do your self a favor and go live all the way - One From the Vault!!! or Europe '72 or Live Dead...or something...

It's not mistakes necessarily. More.. delightfully controlled chaos.

Good point...I was always immeasurably tolerant of flubs especially when they tended to be offset by energy and improvisational fearlessness...

 

[Incanus]

I mentioned Europe '72 to distinguish from the 60's studio version--which is too fast, and flat sounding.

Also, yeah, I wouldn't really call it 'mistakes' either. Just very, very loose and sloppy. Either way, those guys have written many fantastic songs over the years.

I love Estimated Prophet--but it's almost impossible to cover.

Again, nice job, heatmiser!

 

[Chili]

Thanks Variqueepman! I am really glad you like it. If you do pull the trigger on any dead cds, do your self a favor and go live all the way - One From the Vault!!! or Europe '72 or Live Dead...or something...

Yeah, absolutely must have the live CD's. My favorite is Without A Net. '89, I think.

 

[ksounds]

This is immediately identifiable as the dead, based on the guitar work. Nice job. Very jammy. Was this done on cassette? Sounds nice and warm. Really makes me want to reach out and dig into some of the dead catalog. Lyrics are a bit hard to identify, but I need to check out the original for reference. Very good though!

 

[Chili]

It's not mistakes necessarily. More.. delightfully controlled chaos.

Yep, you're right.

 

[heatmiser]

I love Estimated Prophet--but it's almost impossible to cover.

I love that tune too. I know most of the guitar parts, but the rhythm is really complicated...I think it alternates between 4/4 and 3/4 time every other measure. I take it as a challenge! I will try.

This is immediately identifiable as the dead, based on the guitar work. Nice job. Very jammy. Was this done on cassette? Sounds nice and warm. Really makes me want to reach out and dig into some of the dead catalog. Lyrics are a bit hard to identify, but I need to check out the original for reference. Very good though!

Thanks ksounds! Yes, still strictly cassette here...I remain stuck somewhere in the late eighties.

See, this is kind of what I was getting at in the other thread...these lyrics are hard to identify 'cause they make no freakin' sense! Here is one line:

Copperdome bodhi drip a silver kimono like a crazy quilt stargown through a dream like wind.

WTF? What in God's name are they talking about?..nobody seems to care .

 

[joeym]

Real groovy tune, Heat!
Don't know the original, never got into GD so I can't compare. But this is great, I like the Zappa-like voice. Beautiful recording, everything's so nicely balanced. Great guitar work, love it!

Joey

 

[ksounds]

See, this is kind of what I was getting at in the other thread...these lyrics are hard to identify 'cause they make no freakin' sense! Here is one line:

Copperdome bodhi drip a silver kimono like a crazy quilt stargown through a dream like wind.

WTF? What in God's name are they talking about?..nobody seems to care .

Cassette Rocks!

About the lyrics... the dead were trippin' balls all the time, so really, to understand that lyric, you need to be trippin' balls. Then it will make perfect sense.