Hi All.

This song could just as easily have been called - How much fun can you have with a vocoder?
Those of you who heard my last post will remember I used a subtle vocoder effect on the vocals and the same effect is on the chorus voices in this song - it uses modulated white noise to create a soft breeze blowing through the voices. For the verse, I wanted something more aggressive, to make a step-change between the sections, so there's a lot more processing on those voices.

This song is a follow-up to a song I posted a couple of years back and eventually I hope to turn the story into a trilogy. If you want to hear the first song, you can find it HERE.

Many years ago I stood in for a bass player who had broken his arm and in that band the guy on Hammond used to echo phrases that the sax player used in his solos. It annoyed the heck out the sax player, but he couldn't stop him doing it, even though they nearly came to blows one time. Watch out for me doing it to the RT sax solo in this song. It took me back to those happy days!

The project started out in Realband and was mixed and mastered in Powertracks.

FOOLISH GIRL
She wakes up
Taking her time to dress alone
Tries not to cry
It's not enough
Something inside won't let her go
Tears in her eyes

Foolish girl, it's way too late
There's just so much that a person can take
Foolish girl, you had it all
A lesson learned, now it's your tears that fall.

She reads the note
Goodbye was all he wrote
One word says it all.

As ever, many thanks if you have the time to listen.

Cheers ROG.

Really nice and nicely innovative too. I really enjoyed this one a lot.

ROG,

WOW! What a sound!

I'm listening to the intro at the moment - it's great! Now that I'm further into the song, the arrangement is awesome. You really know how to produce an amazing sound! I really like the effect of the vocoder. I listened without the lyrics in front of me (I always like to do that first). My only criticism is that because of the effect, I couldn't understand some of words. That didn't detract from my being captivated by an incredible production, though. I simply pass the thought on in case it's useful.

I'd love to be able to get a sound like what I've just heard! It's fantastic! There's no two ways about it, you're a blackbelt writer/arranger/producer!

All the best,
Noel

• my Christmas song: Can You Imagine

What a great vibe ROG!! I love that sound. The musical transition from the verse to the chorus is beautiful. This reminds me of some retro British bands (Camel for one) and has some elements of newer retro inspired ones like Snow Patrol or Coldplay. Really nice stuff! Loved it!! Take care. Greg

Hi ROG,

What can we say....
Great groove, professional and very cool use of the vocoder.
We love those strings arpeggios.
And the sax solo sounds great.
One of your best we think!
(Also makes us think of Alan Parsons)

ROG

Yes, you've sure delivered with this one.

Great driving beat, the backing tune is remarkable.

Vocals: you nailed them throughout.

The arrangement is solid from the first note to the last.

Can't say enough good things about this.

Trev

Incredible track! I enjoyed this very much. I really like what you did to create such an awesome sound. Good writing and vocals. Great job!
Sonny

This is absolutely fantastic and radio ready IMHO.

Perfect from start to finish with great vocals, sax solo, backing tracks, lyrics and harmonies all mixed perfectly.

This is a keeper.

Hi Rog ...

It doesn't any more professional than this. We're not familiar with the vocoder but the effects on the vocals is stunning! The variance between verses and chorus is very prevalent and exciting.

The background reminded us of some of the Carpenters' recordings. ... but with a contemporary touch. That was a gorgeous listen! What talent!

Alan & Di

ROG,

great stuff ROG, impeccable on all fronts.
A great 80's vibe, fade to grey springs to mind

I played piano in a band and used to echo the guitarist's phrases, and he mine, and we developed a competition to see if we could play something the other could not. Ever heard an octave whammy drop on a piano LOL. I played a M Audio keyboard midi controller so that was possible, once set up.
back to your song

Thoroughly enjoyed as usual
You sure know your way around Power Tracks
Happy Christmas to all

Alyn

Hi Rog. I like it very much! It certainly ads a certain flow to the vocals. I am really enjoying my Sunday morning listen to all these songs. Good job!

ROG, This is going to require multiple listens. There are a whole bunch of nice little touches sprinkled throughout here and there. Great sound overall. A really well produced, well sung and well played track. Congrats on a marvelous song! Tom

WOW, ROG!

You've out-done yourself on this one.

This has "radio!" written all over it... a true "hit sound".

The production is so good, I think people are missing how well written the song is! That is an accomplishment.

Your best. Loved it!

Impressive.

floyd

Very cool intro. Here a little Moody Blues in there. Well done

hi rog excellent production everything well done very clear mix had to listen again thanks for sharing eric

Rog
Exceptional.

Really a nice song! I enjoyed the vocoder use.

Sergio

Wow, great song ! Excellent vocals...

Many thanks, Charlie. Glad you enjoyed it.


Thanks very much, Noel. The vocoder does tend to make the lyrics indistinct - it's one of the downsides of using it. I tend to just think of the voice as an instrument when I'm using that much effect. Thanks again for all the nice comments.


I can certainly live with those comparisons, Greg. Many thanks for the listen.


You're too kind! Alan Parsons is someone I really respect. Many thanks.


Hi Trevor. Many thanks for listening and for all the kind words.


Hi Sonny. Thanks for the listen and for the positive review. Cheers.

ROG

Nice song. There are textures in there of ELO. Lots of synths, which is something we don't normally hear in the BB/RB compositions. They worked well.


I'm with Noel96 on this regarding the vocals. I found the vocals hard to understand mostly because, at first appearance, the levels on the vox are way too low. They're hiding in the mix just a bit too much.


Cool song, good production, there's a lot to like here in this mix.

WOW!!

That is one huge sound. The soundstage is full but
every track has it's place. One of the classier
productions that we've hear here. We just love
these big sounds that still shine with subtleties.

As Mario said "Perfect from start to finish with great
vocals, sax solo, backing tracks, lyrics and harmonies
all mixed perfectly."

Not much to add to that and certainly nothing to take away.

Great listen!

J&B

Many thanks, Mario. Reviews like that make it all worthwhile!


Hi Alan & Di. Thanks for the listen and the review. Vocoders are great fun if you don't over-use them. Everyone knows the talking-synth sound, but they're much more versatile than that when you get to understand them. Thanks again,


Hi Alyn. Thanks for the kind words. I owe a lot to your inventiveness for making me try to be original in my own way. Cheers.


Hi Josie. Glad you liked it, many thanks.

ROG

ROG,

This is absolutely brilliant! Captivating from start to finish. Listened on the trusty old Sennheisers, and you've achieved a killer sound here.

Bravo!



Regards,

Bob

Excellent work and a really great mix!

+1! Cool sound ROG.

Many thanks, Tom. Always value a review from you.


Ah Floyd, you're too kind. Many thanks for all the nice comments.


Thanks, Scott. Moody Blues? I can certainly live with that!


Hi Eric. Many thanks for the listen and the review.


Thanks, Peter. A very welcome review.


Thanks, Sergio. Pleased that you liked it.

ROG.

Hi there J&B. Many thanks for the review. You know that I always respect your own productions, so I really appreciate all the nice things you've said.


Hi Bob. Many thanks for the review. I use a pair of trusty old Sennheisers myself. Nothing better.
Cheers,

ROG.

Phew, a great production and a very enjoyable listen indeed. There's a lot work in there Rog.
Well done that man.

John

The vocoder gives it that Parsons/ELO vibe, with the strings and drums leaning it a bit more in the ELO direction - but it's certainly not derivative.

I'll be honest - I didn't bother listening for the lyrics, just the general vibe of the song. If you cared about people understanding the lyrics, you might make the unprocessed vocals more in the forefront.

But if you're having having fun with a vocoder... mission accomplished.

Fun listen!

Great production and fun song. Am I remiss in saying this took me back a little bit? Back to the late 70s and 80s?

Good stuff!

Off to listen to it again...

Hi Herb.
I'm sure I've replied to you once, but I can't find it now, so think I must have missed hitting the submit button. Anyway, many thanks for the review. The vox levels are low, basically because my 1980s hardware Syntovox vocoder makes them rather unintelligible, so I mix them in as another instrument, rather than up-front. Maybe modern software vocoders are better, but I keep using the Syntovox as long as it keeps working because it has a certain vibe.
Cheers,

ROG.

Many thanks for the review and nice comments.


Thanks, David. Really pleased that you liked it.


Many thanks, Josie. Always pleased to get a review from you.


Hi John. A lot of work indeed, but the positive feedback makes it all worthwhile. Many thanks.


Hi David. Thanks for looking in. Parsons/ELO? Thank you very much! Vocoders are great - you should try one sometime.


Not remiss at all! I can sometimes get a bit stuck in that period. There was some great music produced in those decades. Many thanks for the review.

I thought ELO and Jeff Lynne too when listening to this one

And a touch of Spandau Ballet too