Crawdad Helps A Hillbilly

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chrisharris

chrisharris

King of Bling
Here's one that I wrote awhile ago. Then (with enthusiastic support and permission from me), Crawdad fixed it so that it made sense to the average country listener (subtract 55 I.Q pts). Then, to my delighted amazement, Crawdad recorded the new and improved version for everyone on this board to help make better.

I think the mix is solid (except for that damned robot-like hi hat), and Crawdad recorded it, so you know it won't suck, but mix comments are, as always, greatly appreciated.

Comment on the song too. Good, bad, ugly, clear, or confusing. I need to get this one as perfect as possible :D

The original is also posted on my page if you wanna' compare. In my mind, there's no comparison. (Nod to Crawdad)


Thanks for listening (again).
-chris (signator and poster by proxy for "Crawdad").

OUR SONG:
www.nowhereradio.com/honestmango/singles

p.s. - I promise to quit starting threads after this one.
 
wow

sounds great chris. very well written song and i realy like your voice. man crawdad sure can mix. realy realy like it i wish i could add somthing but my ears are very untrained that is why im always asking you guys for help, rock on chris check out my two new songs i just posted. thanks tim pate
 
FOR THE RECORD...

I didn't play or sing a lick on it (all Crawdad), and I didn't mix it either.

I think I just have more space on nowhereradio than Crawdad.

BUT THANKS!!!

(will check out new tunes...NOW)
 
Man.........absolutely killer what crawdaddyo has done with your fine song, Chris. You must be grinnin' from ear to ear. :D

Mark
 
This mix sounds good to my ears. I like the background vocals. So this makes you a bona-fide songwriter, man! You wrote and and Crawdad brought it to life...

This sounds great (even to a person that doesn't listen to Country on a regular basis).

Nice job especially the vocal break. I wish I had some mixing advice, but the song itself sells itself quite well.

Nice job to you both!
 
Chris--since this is your post, I'm not gonna invade or do the thank you's. Thats YOUR job, my man!

I would like to add a couple of comments. The story is that I heard this song Chris posted and I really liked it--it pretty much knocked me out. So I asked if he would mind if I did a demo of it because I heard some production things I wanted to try, and because I was looking for a song to record, and just because I really dug the tune. Chris was kind enough to say OK. Well, we got into rewriting some of the lyrics, changing the arrangement. We actually talked a lot via e-mail about certain lines and arrangement ideas, with the concept of the "best idea wins". Well, there was one line in particular that Chris wanted and I liked, but there was something wrong. Chris found a simple twist and turned it into brilliance, which made the song really right to me.

Anyway, it was really fun. Another form of collaboration. Oh, I was gonna mail Chris the track and have him sing it (still can, Chris), but thought I did OK, so that was it. I'd like to thank you Chris for the sharing and sticking to your hunches!
 
Wow,sounds fantasic!

I told you this was a great song,Chris. ;)
Crawdads mix is gold!

I'm looking foward to you two guys singing together,now that should be something to hear!

Man,take that song you have right above this one off though,will ya.
That guys voice is really bringin me down!:D

Great work,really sounds pro.

Best to you,
Pete
 
And now...the REST of the story

Reading back through what I wrote in my post, I realized something. For a guy who is supposed to articulate ideas and information FOR A LIVING, I can be about as clear as mud.

First. Thanks for listening. Not just the people who wrote something, but everybody...just for listening. This is a pretty unique environment, and whilst I ain't been here long, I've been here long enough to see both amazing generosity and humbling talent. Mark, Tim, and "boydrj" (if that's your REAL name), thank you for taking the time to write. If you listened but didn't or don't have the time to write because the song has no major problems, great. Unlike songs, time is one of those things you just can't make more of.

Now for the sappy part. The real deal here is that Mr. Al Carmichael (a.k.a. "Crawdad") heard a kernel of something in this song (because he took the time to listen). Then, he posts a response and offers (1) encouragement; and (2) assistance. I knew the man had undeniable talent (you don't have to be here long to figure that out), and I learned that he's also one hell of a human being. This guy, this Crawdaddyo guy, volunteers to do a demo of the song, the way he hears it. He asks for nothing. I've never co-written anything with anybody in my life (unless you consider cheating on your high school Government Final Exam "co-writing") and I'm incredibly lucky that my first co-writing experience was with Al. Yeah, he's a good engineer and performer and what a voice and all that, but you wouldn't believe how meticulous and thoughtful the man is about writing. I have no fucking idea why Crawdad's not running the musical universe. Again, he asked for not a damned thing.

I wrote 1/2 a song...it was 1/2 a song for a long time...unfocused, wandering (albeit wandering around a good hook). Crawdad completed the song. We wrote this together, which is a pretty intense, organic thing to do with somebody that you've never even spoken to face to face. AMAZING experience. I swear, I wanna' write 50 more with the guy. He's more than bright...he's intellectually human. I didn't want to gush in my first post, because I tend to make these things too long (just like my songs), and I'm near the end of a project, so I've been posting a lot and trying to get stuff ironed out with help from you people-I feel like I'm hogging people's time. But the truth is that I have been LEVELLED by the generosity and intellect of the man we call "Crawdad," and I'll write about THAT all damned night.

Back to the song: I can't think of a more appropriate name than "Our Song." I hope the Academy of Country Music dumps 50 awards and a truckload of cash on the doorsteps of Crawdad and me. But if that don't happen, I'm still way ahead of the game for having been involved in this process.

Now somebody please tell Al that the hi-hat is just too damned loud and robotic so we can get on with pitching this song to people who aren't as cool as ya'll are?

Thanks Crawdad,
-A Fan
 
Great song Chris! Really.........I could see Emmy Lou Harris doing this, very nice.
Also....you're right on about crawdad. He's an extremely talented writer and player who has that passion for what he does that makes everything he plays special. And speaking about that..........
very good tracks there my friend. Especially the pedal steel. that's just too cool. I wish I could play one of those. I've got an old Sho-Bud but I can't play a lick.
The singing, the guitars, the harmonies....all of that is first rate.
You two guys get major props for doing this. great work!
 
Great stuff, guys.

This version sounds extremely professional, very commercial. The following comments should be taken with a very large pinch of salt, seeing as I am a complete amateur, but for what it's worth:

I loved Chris' original harmonies on the intro - crawdad's arrangement is cool, but to me it's a bit more "straight ahead", where Chris' was a bit more "Beach Boys"

The hard-panned acoustic guitars sound just a little thin to me. I don't know if you've used Nashville tuning, or if you've just chopped off too much mid range, but I'd warm them up a little. It's not that there's too much high end (they aren't brash or cutting) it's just that there's not quite enough of the "body" of the guitar sound. Start the roll-off a wee bit lower, and get some warmth back into the guitars!

The hi-hat could certainly be improved. Or you could even use a tambourine or shaker during the verses - the hats are less obtrusive during the choruses.

I love the a capella harmony section near the end - very cool.

Even closer to the end, where you do a "stop" on IV/sub-dominant, I'd probably do the cheesy vocal harmonies building up the IV chord, whereas you decided to bring the harmonies back in when you resolve to I. Probably classier, but I like cliched harmonies!

(If the above paragraph makes no sense, let me know and I'll try and explain what I mean a bit better. It makes perfect sense in my head :) )

There's a wee bit of electric guitar somewhere near the middle - I'd bring the level up slightly.

Overall, really excellent. A great collaboration, great song, great stuff. Keep up the good work.

Hope this helps

Alastair

PS Bear in mind I know nothing about country music, so if anything above is stupid, feel free to ignore it ;)
 
great job guys.. This sounds totally professional..

the song and the recording..


I can't believe crawdad stole it! :eek:
 
this is terrible.....












I don't know who to save it under ... :D
I guess I'll have to save it twice....


this is just pure enjoyment.... and that pedal steel ... oh! boy!

didn't like the bass drum on the accapela part.. (those dar n midi drums :) ) but I'm sure when you guys sing this one on Austin City Limits it will be claping there ... :D

great, great, great....
 
Hey guys: Thank ya'll for contributing to my covert goal of having nothing but "chrisharris" threads on the "front" page.

Lt. Bob - I tend to agree with pretty much everything you said, so I'll just say "thanks."

ALIBISH - You're right. You know nothing about country music. All of your comments are being officially ignored. In fact, you probably know as much about country music as a blues musician from Detroit. (That was a very careful listen, and your comments are appreciated and on the table....Thanks).

Pete: Ya' think I'm stupid or something???!!!??? :D :D You calling me stupid???!!!??? That's it, I'm outta' here. (*storms out*) :D

Sami: you obviously read my post. You're funny. Thanks for the ear. Crawdad has reluctantly agreed to make every single change you recommended. :D

Fed: Thanks. "this is terrible"...made me laugh...I am on the phone with booking agent for A.C.L. right now. They say we can have a spot, but only if we bring our own "clappers." You up for it?

sincerely,
-crawdad groupie
 
I listened to another version of this one ... and just had to say it's also outstanding... IMHO

cheers
 
Real nice song. Loved the melody, harmony and lyrics. Loved the guitar fills too.

Now on the negative side... There was the spot where you... uh... something didn't sound.... uh... Timing issues... uh...

Seriously I can't think of anything wrong.

Well done, gentlemen...
 
A wise man once said"Stupid is as stupid does!":D :D :D
(What in the Heck does that mean anyway?)
 
This song needs to be pitched in Nashville......I could hear Blackhawk singing this.......

excellent job guys....damn good writing and crawdad's recordingis killer......

so crawdad, if i order a few dozen BBTTE's, will you record one of my songs?....:D :eek: :rolleyes: :p
 
Gidge said:
This song needs to be pitched in Nashville......I could hear Blackhawk singing this.......

excellent job guys....damn good writing and crawdad's recordingis killer......

so crawdad, if i order a few dozen BBTTE's, will you record one of my songs?....:D :eek: :rolleyes: :p
Click to expand...

Heck, we're running a special right now. Anybody who buys a dozen BBTTE's gets a free demo! So you could have three songs out of the deal! Of course, once they were run through the BBTTE, who knows whose songs they would be!
 
Crawdad already knows I want one of the BBTTE's. I'm not ready to order a dozen yet though. Real good stuff here. Like I said in the past I'm not much into country as far as playing it, but I was raised on it. And I know a good country tune when I hear one. This could be a hit. Chris ya got a good thing going here. Ya have a good man helpin' ya and a good collaboration. Sometimes it's hard to find someone to help as much. Good job guys.
 
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