i'm so lonesome i could cry

[heatmiser]

Sorry to post another track so soon after the last, but I'm in high output mode and would really like to get feedback on this one before moving on to whatever else is next.

This track is different in many ways...content obviously...It's a Hank Williams tune done more in a johnny cash kind of vein, but it's also only 8 tracks, with almost no processing and more dynamics, but less volume. Interesting story about the slide guitar...

I think this tune is way more in my wheelhouse (to the extent that I have one) vocally, as I am much more comfortable singing in this range (I realize a few words are a bit flat, but mostly ok?).



Honestly, I'd like you to rip it apart if it sounds like crap, but I'm pretty proud of the authenticity here...I was going for a 1960 kind of mix here I think?

 

[Nola]

I don't notice too much flat. Maybe "behind the cloud"...sounds more like you just gave up on going for the note rather than you couldn't hear it or hit it.

Which reverb do you use? It sounds good here. Is it a larger one like a plate/hall? The tail on it sounds..maybe too long on the vocal. If you can adjust that maybe cut it shorter.

I thought it sounded cool and 60s vibe for sure. The mix is thin, which is pretty refreshing.

 

[Robus]

Sounds authentic. I recorded a cover of Cold, Cold Heart once. Yeah, you're a little flat here and there. Have you got some kind of plugin that's simulating a scratchy stylus on vinyl? Whatever it is gets a little distracting. Otherwise I don't really have much to offer. The arrangement and mix are doing their job of supporting and highlighting the vocal. It sounds good.

 

[heatmiser]

I don't notice too much flat. Maybe "behind the cloud"...sounds more like you just gave up on going for the note rather than you couldn't hear it or hit it.

Which reverb do you use? It sounds good here. Is it a larger one like a plate/hall? The tail on it sounds..maybe too long on the vocal. If you can adjust that maybe cut it shorter.

I thought it sounded cool and 60s vibe for sure. The mix is thin, which is pretty refreshing.

I listened to johnny cash on you tube 5-6 times before doing this, and I felt he really had a weird mix where the whole band was somewhat subdued behind him. I tried to emulate that overall feel here.

Yeah, The word "cloud" in particular is a bit unfortunate, along with a few other words, but I was quite happy with the take overall?

I used some assortment of roland effects that come with my machine as I do on all of my tracks. Here, it involved a large room verb, and a delay...plus some other incidental shit that I don't recall.

Sounds authentic. I recorded a cover of Cold, Cold Heart once. Yeah, you're a little flat here and there. Have you got some kind of plugin that's simulating a scratchy stylus on vinyl? Whatever it is gets a little distracting. Otherwise I don't really have much to offer. The arrangement and mix are doing their job of supporting and highlighting the vocal. It sounds good.

I'd love to hear your cold, cold heart! PM me if you have it available.
No scratchy plugin applied here. Damn. I was actually thinking specifically of you and your prior feedback when I mixed this so naturally and without all of the usual squashing comp and limiting. I purposefully meant for this one to be more open with more air and less congestion.

 

[Robus]

It was on a 4 track cassette, would take some hunting to find it. The mix is clear and highlights the vocal, which is good. An I hearing preamp gain on one of the tracks maybe?

 

[Nola]

Yeah, The word "cloud" in particular is a bit unfortunate, along with a few other words

That's' the only one I noticed as flat.

Yeah I thought the take was good, vocally. Want me to ask my gf about this take? Maybe you guys can make up haha

 

[heatmiser]

It was on a 4 track cassette, would take some hunting to find it. The mix is clear and highlights the vocal, which is good. An I hearing preamp gain on one of the tracks maybe?

Thanks. 4 track cassette can sound awesome, but I won't hold my breath. lol

I'm not sure what you're hearing, but if it comes in just as the drums do, it might be them? It's a loop with brushes and it is kind of noisy. All of the tracks that I personally recorded live were technically flawless of course.

 

[heatmiser]

That's' the only one I noticed as flat.

Yeah I thought the take was good, vocally. Want me to ask my gf about this take? Maybe you guys can make up haha

Not sure I could withstand the brutally honest feedback? from a trained singer no less? Thanks for the offer though. Spare her. lol

 

[JDOD]

Its a long way from a genre I know anything about but everything sounds good and well recorded and the mix sounds authentic.

 

[rayc]

It sounds RIGHT and yes, your voice is in this particular pocket - well done. I bought the Don Gibson single of this in about 68.

 

[DM60]

I have mainly heard two versions, BJ Thomas and of course Hank's. You have done this in a Johnny style for sure. I am not even sure if Johnny ever covered this one.

I think the vocals are still a tad too loud, but you are right, Johnny always had his vocals very much up front. Not sure that much, but up front.

Using Johnny as a reference, I think you are pretty spot on.

That is all I have.

 

[paulman77]

This sounds great! To me it has the feel and sound of a 60's recording with the "oomph" of a modern recording. Your vocals are perfect.

 

[Crycookie]

Definitely a great mix here and the 60s vibe is spot on, vocal are really good too, just a bit too loud which seem to accentuate the reverb and the tail,rather than focus the vocal.But overall this song has a really sound feeling

 

[heatmiser]

Its a long way from a genre I know anything about but everything sounds good and well recorded and the mix sounds authentic.

That's great! Thank you JDOD.

It sounds RIGHT and yes, your voice is in this particular pocket - well done. I bought the Don Gibson single of this in about 68.

Thank you mr. rayc sir. Much appreciated!

I've not heard of Don Gibson...god, everyone and their mother has covered this song I think. When doing a little research prior to starting this, I was surprised to find that one of the most commercially successful versions ever was recorded by Terry Bradshaw (former pittsburg steelers QB)! It was pretty awful, but I was simply astounded that he made a record! lol

 

[heatmiser]

I have mainly heard two versions, BJ Thomas and of course Hank's. You have done this in a Johnny style for sure. I am not even sure if Johnny ever covered this one.

I think the vocals are still a tad too loud, but you are right, Johnny always had his vocals very much up front. Not sure that much, but up front.

Using Johnny as a reference, I think you are pretty spot on.

That is all I have.

Thank you DM60. I admittedly breezed through this one in a matter of hours (another unique thing about it!), but I remember spending quite a bit of time struggling at the end with where to sit the vocals. I agree they seem too forward, but honestly, lowered just a little, it sounded wrong. I can't explain it, but that's how it sounded at the time. This was the best compromise I could reach.

Oh yeah, Johnny covered this! More than once actually. His version is the one I'm most familiar with (I think from 1960 or so). I have it on a greatest hits album of his.

Geez, I've never heard of BJ Thomas either! I knew it was covered a lot, but man...! Thanks again.

This sounds great! To me it has the feel and sound of a 60's recording with the "oomph" of a modern recording. Your vocals are perfect.

Excellent! Thank you paulman. I'm happy that this one seems to be sounding pretty solid to folks.

Definitely a great mix here and the 60s vibe is spot on, vocal are really good too, just a bit too loud which seem to accentuate the reverb and the tail,rather than focus the vocal.But overall this song has a really sound feeling

Thank you! Maybe I overdid it on the delay/verb combo here? I was trying to get it to sound somewhat like a retro slapback echo kind of thing which is how I hear the version I know best. Hard to do with digital, built in roland effects, but I think I came reasonably close at least. I'm glad you felt it sounded authentic-ish!

Ok, no one bit on my comment on the slide guitar, but I wanted to share (sorry). My steel string is a 1940's Kay archtop that belonged to my father. It plays like shit, but looks beautiful and has a nice honky sort of sound. Anyway, I have no pedal steel, and I thought electric slide would be too conventional, acoustic slide too wimpy, but I remembered my dad also has a pick up for this thing. I dug it out and it's so cool! It's a 1940's DeArmand pick up meant for archtops...I looked them up and they sell for quite a bit online...it's in mint condition too. I thought it sounded really nice through my ampeg...check it:

 

[Nola]

That guitar is sweet, HM.

I find that cigar box guitars work really well for slide that's somewhere between electric and acoustic and they're cheap.

 

[heatmiser]

That guitar is sweet, HM.

I find that cigar box guitars work really well for slide that's somewhere between electric and acoustic and they're cheap.

Cool. I have of course heard of those things and seen pics here and there, but never seen one in person let alone played one. Something to consider.

 

[Nola]

Cool. I have of course heard of those things and seen pics here and there, but never seen one in person let alone played one. Something to consider.

They're really fun. If you want to preserve the Kay and not play it as much, a cigar box will get you close to that sound.
I used one on the intro of the Beck cover you liked.

 

[TripleM]

I like the twangy guitars. Lead guitar is decent - I'd like a little more bite, but just a little.

I thought the vocal was a bit too far out front. A small pitch problem in a couple of spots. Old-country-honky-tonk doesn't exactly suit your style. Just my opinion.

 

[rayc]

I goofed Don Gibson did Oh, Lonesome Me - it's a bit more Honky Tonk verging on Brownsville.