Summer Of Love

  • Thread starter Thread starter crawdad
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Wow. I wish I could get that much separation and definition in my instruments.

My only complaint: the hat and a couple of lead solo parts seem a little loud and bright on my Klipsch 4.1 system.

It's a beautiful song. Well recorded, well mixed, well everything. Not my style of music by about a light year, but I can appreciate the talent that permeates this recording and makes it jump out of my computer speakers and kiss my eardrums like a high-school sweetheart.

Keep it up!

Piltdown Man
 
This is another with the recipe coming together in the story and the delivery. 'should be on a cd rack in some radio stations.
 
Wow, do I feel wonderful after reading all the responses from everybody! There are so many good suggestions and just plain ol' nice reactions, I feel like maybe I took a wrong turn and posted in heaven or something. :D

This was one of those songs I was really into at the time, but by the time I finished it, I was burnt out on it. I put it away for a while and burned it onto a CD with some other songs, as I like to periodically put songs on in the car to see how they sound. Well, after being away from it, I thought it was pretty cool. Needed that distance. A good reason to not throw anything away, I guess!

To keep this from being an hour long essay, let me say thanks to EVERYONE who responded, and I will make a few comments in particular.

First, some thought more production in the bridge. AH! That may be a great idea. I backed off of it because the chord changes were so dense that it seemed complex as is, but as I see it from a different perspective, I think thats a great idea I want to pursue.

Studiviols--man, that was a whole essay there, but I appreciated every word and idea. Your CD cover idea was exactly the kind of image I hoped that line would paint in context of the lyrics!

Villiage Idiot--What you laid out there was really, really nice to hear--on both a personal and a professional level. There are a lot of fine music people in Detroit, and I've gained something from every one--just as I have learned from everybody on this board. Its people like you who make my life richer. We gotta do a gig sometime! Jamfest 2004? :D

Anyway, I want to catch a couple tunes here before I crash, so may I just offer a hearfelt thanks to : Lt. Bob, Shaky Tee, Kramer, SluiCe, Pedulist, Dafduc, Zikes, Triple M, sloop, scottboyher, MC Gitarz, freshears, Kelly 51550, Guernica, Skids, VI, volthause, PiltdownMan, Toki987, Jagular (catch it when you get back!)---thanks to all!
 
Hi Al,
I have to say that I always look forward to listening to one of your tunes.................this is no exception...
You have a true gift man of meshing music to words...

no nits...
no critique...
just kudos...

Joe
 
Great sounds. Nice warm punchy low end. That short acoustic embelishment is a good hook. Tom hits are way cool.

There's some weird fuzzy hiss that comes and goes throughout the song that's a little distracting.

I thought the lead vocal was too dry for the mix, or maybe too compressed (that can have a similar effect, no? ). It didn't seem to have the same amount of breathing room as the other tracks.
 
crawdad,

I have only skimmed over some of the reviews on the track so pardon me if I repeat anything that's already been said.

Firstly, Summer of Love is wonderful tune. I loved it! The vocals you asked about if we could hear them and understand them in the mix, is an obvious and huge YES!

You did a spectacular job on the vocals as well as everything else.

I heard massive influences in the song from James Taylor in the arrangement, instrumentation and singing style.

If James ever retires and needs a stand in to take over in the middle of a concert tour, I think you would be more then qualified to step in for him.

I am humbled by your talent!:D
 
Get this man a drummer!! He deserves one!! :D A drummer to haul out of the closet whenever inspiration strikes... and Al's a friggin' gigantic cumulus full of lightning... and sad tears of rain...

All these positive ripples you put out into the world are arriving back at your shores now, Al.... and will continue as long as you live. Ripples created not just by soundwaves ... but by the kind and generous soul you are to everyone on this board, and (impirical evidence suggests) everyone you meet... as well as the soul you bare in your lyric.

It's amazing to think we can hang out with such a person as you.

7 burritos
 

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Man, from the first chord, all i could say was "what a beautiful recording!" Everything sounds absolutely perfect! Man, how do you do that?

Oh yeah, it IS a beautiful song to Al, made even better by a stunning recording.


Twist
 
Joro--I consider it an honor and a privelidge to share what I have to offer. The fact that you appreciate it really makes me feel good. And it makes what I do seem worthwhile, whether the songs see the light of day or not. Thank you.


Doug H--The hiss must be an incompatibility between our MP3 players, cause it isn't happening here--though I'm sure it is on your end. I actually thought about tweaking the lead vocal up a bit and may do that.

The Ghost of FM--Ha! James is still one my favorites and I know he rubbed off on me with this one, especially in terms of production. I'm really glad you liked the tune. Sort of a "Beach Music" (Pat Conroy) inspired theme, I suppose.

Participant--Deep breath before I continue...let me just say that we all put out those ripples and we share the messages and thoughts--thats what makes life so amazing. My feelings about you are echoed in your own kind words. And--I consider myself to be the lucky one....I mean, a place where I can get SEVEN (count 'em) burritos! Too good for words!

twist--How do I do that? Easy. I get lucky sometimes. Just as often, I come up with mud! Thanks for listening and for the nice comments!
 
awesome song,awesome mix.....i made out every word.......

i think i actually agree with the hippie (Steve) about putting something extra under the chorus&bridge, maybe just a strumming acoustic.....

love those bluesy fills......

third time around....yeah this is good stuff.......as always i listen in awe over and over to your tunes.....

4th time around.......i can tell when im listening to a good song because i can actually see the story in my mind, like a scene from a movie.....thats happening here........

this mix feels good....i hate to bring this thread down to gear but how bout a quick rundown of the gear you used and what it was recorded on..........



MIKE
 
This one reminds me of Lightfoot. That's praise.

I love that electric guitar work and those harmonies. The melody does interesting things. That's more praise. Excellent work. I'd'a sung 'mess' real short. Only thing I'd change. Oh, I'd'a cut a dB off that guitar hit at 4.06 too. LOL It's fun trying to find something to critique - needle in the haystack time LOL.

You can do these story-telling looking-back songs with your eyes closed and they always turn out exquisite. You need a challenge. Let's watch you do another R&B with Sluice. :D

In the meantime, this one goes on the album. I think you're the best regular mixer in the clinic.
 
You need a challenge. Let's watch you do another R&B with Sluice.
Click to expand...

Modern R&B, with hiphop beats and lyrics about pimpin' please....it's gotta be a challenge right? LOL :D
 
Al, simply put, you rock! You almost made me forget the drums are canned. Just remember, this is homerec.com. So tell us how you recorded it. What mic, pre, plugins, etc.? Then send me a link so I can buy some of your stuff. That's a song me and Mo Fleming would very much like to do a cover of, replacing the double tracked harmonies with real chirps. What the hell, it's 8 cents a copy. ASCAP, or BMI? Give it up, and find a percussionist. Thank you for making me cry.-Richie
 
Gidge--hey, thanks for checking it out! I'm gonna put a rundown of gear and stuff at the end of this post, so just check at the bottom

Dobro--You know, Lightfoot could do a killer job with this song--good call. Whats his number anyway? :D Hey, you don't hear the ones I throw away, and you're lucky you don't because some of them are really awful! R&B?.....

Pedullist--hip hop beats? Be careful what you wish for because one of these days I'm gonna do exactly that. There is some stuff rolling around in my brain that I have been thinking about doing in this vein. It could be pretty sick.

Richard Monroe--I don't have any CD's for sale at this time. I am more or less into writing and doing demos. If I were doing a CD, I'd for sure go for the real drummer, but I don't have room in my studio for a kit. If you are serious about covering this, drop me a PM, OK?

As for the recording: my setup is a Mac, Digital Performer and a MOTU 2408. I record at 16 bit, 44.1, though I am thinking about going to 24 bit soon. The keyboards and fake drums are from the Yamaha Motif. Bass (crappy old Peavey) was recorded through a Meek MQ3. The Strat went through a Dyna Comp into a Fender style amp that I put together and was miced with a MXL V93 into a DMP3. The acoustic was miced with an Oktava 012--again through the DMP3. Vocal was an ADK 51 into the DMP3.

Effects were reverb, compression and EQ. I was trying out a new verb plug in--a shareware thing--Ambience. Awesome but it eats processor like crazy if used full bore. You can adjust it to use less CPU, which I did. I put some compression on the vocal and on the acoustic and ran the mix through a limiter that just tamed the peaks.
 
I just listened to this 3 times in a row and hung on every word.You have struck a common chord in all of us with this one Al.This is a hit whether it goes to the top of the charts or not.This one does not need commercial success to confirm it as a bonafide hit.It IS a hit right now.

This song took me away in my mind to a place with music that I havent been since I was a kid, falling in love with every song on the radio.
 
This song took me away in my mind to a place with music that I havent been since I was a kid, falling in love with every song on the radio.
Click to expand...
Nicely put Kramer.. :cool:
 
After looking at the gear list, I'm even more impressed. It just proves again, if we didn't already know, that a fine performance of a fine somg is a lot more important than expensive gear. Count me as a person who will buy your commercial CD, whenever you release it. We'll talk, probably in the spring. Maureen and I are beginning now to plot out the program for our collaboration, "Horsefeathers". I'm near completion of my first album, and she's deep in tracking her second, but the deck is slowly being cleared. You met my basic standard. Any song that makes me laugh or cry is a good one. Thanks again for sharing.-Richie
 
my first reply got deleted, so i'll try again.....

it's a very nice song......the only thing i'd change are the vibes at the beginning (i think that's what they're called, the drum chime thing at the beginning)........that's about it......

it's a solid mix....very professional sounding......
 
Al -- What a magnificant tune! Excellent writing and the vocals are excellent, especially when some of those b-grounds come in.

I know instrumentation/arranging is one of those subjective things and such, and you probably won't use my idea (hell, this song is so good as it really doesn't matter) ... but in my head, just very subtle in the back-ground, during certain sections, I think a slide would work really well. Maybe mixed kind of in the background, not really in your face or anything, but just something a little bit to give it another texture/color...I could totally hear that as I was listening. Also, some real drums, very light percussion, maybe played with brushes, would also add a whole-nother (is that a word) dimension.

Again, excellent tune. Hearing something like this brings out the arranger in me, and though I love the arrangement you have on it, I keep hearing these subtle little things in my head...

Anyway, love the tune, man, and the recording is absolutely excellent!

:D
 
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