Mississippi ~ Gecko Zzed's version of Upfiddler's song

[gecko zzed]

I managed to scrape this in just before the end of March in concession to the 'virtual challenge' to which this contributes.

I had hoped to do more with it, but time and circumstances conspired to burgle my time, so this is it.

I hope I have done justice to the swampy feel of Upfiddler's lyrics.

http://www.box.net/shared/xn26kupzt3

 

[up-fiddler]

Sweet

Outstanding my Aussie friend! I tried and tried to get a harp into my version but couldn't get anything to work with the chord pattern that I ended up choosing for the song. Nice work. Minimalist but punchy. I also like the slower tempo of yours compared to mine. It puts more emphasis on the lyrics and gives the guitar a bit more room to 'breathe' on the fills. I will listen again when I return from the shop tonight. (Building a Tele copy for our son.)

 

[cnix]

I agree with Dave, that is a great job. I always like the instrumentation in your songs, and the melody was great with good flow. The harmonica is outstanding and gives that Mississippi "feel". Did you play the harmonica and did you find it easier or more difficult to create music for someone elses lyrics? Enjoyed the listen.

Charlie

 

[gecko zzed]

I agree with Dave, that is a great job. I always like the instrumentation in your songs, and the melody was great with good flow. The harmonica is outstanding and gives that Mississippi "feel". Did you play the harmonica and did you find it easier or more difficult to create music for someone elses lyrics? Enjoyed the listen.

Charlie

Yes . . . I played the harmonica

Yes and no . . . In this case, creating the music was easy . . . the lyrics virtually dictated the feel. Sometimes it is more difficult, but in fact I often write music for other people's lyrics.

 

[icystorm]

I managed to scrape this in just before the end of March in concession to the 'virtual challenge' to which this contributes.

I had hoped to do more with it, but time and circumstances conspired to burgle my time, so this is it.

I hope I have done justice to the swampy feel of Upfiddler's lyrics.

http://www.box.net/shared/xn26kupzt3

Hot damn! Mississippi is bringing out the best in you guys! Excellent track, Gecko. This genre suites you perfectly. It was so good I listened twice.

Your voice is well-suited to such songs. The music and product were excellent as well.

From my perspective, your vocals are reminiscient of maybe one-third Bob Seger and two-thirds Joe Crocker. Good stuff. The music could be characterized as part southern rock, part honky tonk.

BTW, I'm always amazed at the clarity of your productions.

You guys should send the track to some AM radio stations in Mississippi. You would probably get some local airplay.

Cheers,
Joseph

 

[up-fiddler]

Nice tight instrumentation.

Gecko - Thanks bunches for 'adopting' one of my children. I have had a couple of people cover some of my previous songs and a couple who put the lyrics to music. Still, it is great to hear how others decide to interpret something you have done. The feeling is difficult to describe. Naturally I like your version of Mississippi better than mine. The slower tempo and the geographically accurate instrumentation is what put yours over the top for me. It sounds 'swampy', as you say. I tried to convey the stifling southern heat with the synth stabs in mine but had limited success. I still may revisit the song later in the year. Right now I am up to my ears in other work. On the plus side I have a couple of girls coming in to record at the studio on the weekend. It's always fun to do someone else's material.

PS Burt are still working on something out there?

 

[gecko zzed]

icystorm: thanks for your comments! I appreciate you taking the time to listen, and I'm pleased you like it. "Southern rock, part honky-tonk" sounds like what I was aiming for. This waqs a less complex recording than I usually do, and so there wasn't a lot there to mess up the clarity.

up-fiddler: it was a pleasure adopting one of your "children", specially when they are so well-behaved! By that I mean that the lyrics were so well-written that the song just fell into place. I just needed to make sure I captured that southern heat, and it seems to have worked. I'm flattered that you like the result.

 

[rayc]

From the steamy swamps of Tasmania (well it'll have to be the Karen Pinni Tasmania) the translation of the Franklin on Gordon back woods (deep woods) comes delta blues (more Karen P?).
What is the chain on the guitra Gekko?
Very nice job.

 

[gecko zzed]

What is the chain on the guitra Gekko?

You shouldn'ta asked.

It's a Pacifica going through a Behri desk, using one of the guitar amp sims within its FX panel, then into the firepod. Within Logic, the rhythm guitars go through a Cakewalk amp sim that I use for tremolo.

No other fx other than a comparatively small room verb.

 

[icystorm]

icystorm: thanks for your comments!

Your welcomed!

Cheers,
Joseph

 

[Strat1958]

Freakin incredible. Nice job, GZ.

 

[Whatmysay]

I can't believe you also used a Harp - I think it was the second verse calling out to us. Much tighter feel to yours than mine, I love the they way it just chugs along with the great licks on the guitar and harp.

I can see you had as much fun with it as I did.

Funny how a Tasi man and a syd boy in HK were both attracted to these great lyrics.

Love this version

 

[gecko zzed]

Thanks Burt!

But . . . I've said in my other responses that really the lyrics told me what to do . . . it kind of just all fell together!