PG Music Home Forums General Discussion User Showcase Evil Chillun 2.0

There's Evil In You Chillun
BTW, for our international friends “chillun” is Deep South USA for children

Janice and I left our bluegrass band in 2003 and for nearly 10 years we rarely picked up our instruments or recorded. Since we had both retired in 1999 we had more things we were interested in than gigging (mountain biking, hiking and kayaking). But we continued to listen to music of many genres over the years. Three years ago I stumbled into BiaB after buying an iMac, noodling around with Garageband that came on it and getting interested in its recording capabilities. That (and some googling) lead me to PGMusic.

BiaB offered us a chance to ease back into making music and explore new genres. Our first posts here on the User Forum in 2012 were rehashes of our bluegrass writes. A public domain tune, Evil Chillun, was our first real venture away from bluegrass into another genre — Western Swing for that tune. And, the response it received (three years ago this month) on this forum was what put us on the Americana journey that we continue to travel.

I recently revisited the song and decided to reconstruct it with the original vocal track. Hopefully I’ve learned a bit more about the use of Biab, mixing and mastering over the last three years.

Evil Chillun is from the very early Western Swing tune period when a “sock rhythm” acoustic guitar and/or mandolin provided a lot of the upbeat on top of a minimalist drum kit. Also it was typical that the upcoming soloist would play pretty hot under the vocalist leading up to the solo. We tried to incorporate all of this.

So….here’s the new version. And many thanks to PGMusic and this great community for putting us on this three year adventure and for all of the support. Pardon the ramble and your time to listen is always appreciated!

Dedicated to the memory of our best friend and mentor RANDY HOWARD 12 time National Fiddle Champion and much, much more. He tore this stuff up. RIP.

J&B

Drums: Nashville 8th’s SW
Bass: RT 445
Guitar Rhythm: RT 1028
Mandolin Rhythm: RT 599
Mandolin Solo: RT 1862 (comped from multiple regens)
Fiddle Rhythm: RT 1296
Fiddle Solo: RT 1871 (comped from multiple regens)
Piano Rhythm: RT 1993
Piano Solo: RT 1865 (comped from multiple regens)

Effects/Mastering: Nectar 2 and Ozone 6

Vocal: Janice
Arrangement, mixing/mastering: Bud

There’s Evil In You Chillun
Creative Commons - Public Domain archive.org/details/SonsOfTheWest-11-20 (link no longer valid)

Nice, nice, nice. I haven't heard your original version for comparison but no matter.

This is totally up to your normal standards in Janice vocals and Bud's arrangement, mixing and mastering.

Let's just say there's magic in you two chillun'!!!

Your mastery over the Biab technology far exceeds my recollection of my early years experimenting with modern technology. I can still recall my mother yelling to me out the back door -- "Charlie, get away from that wheelbarrow! You know you don't know nothin' bout machinery!"

Loved it. A real toe taper.

Everything as usual is top shelf, super mix, great choice of RTs and of course Janice's super vocals.

If I had hear this is a record shop I would have bought it.

Hi there J&B.

Wonderful stuff.

Thanks for the background information - I'm always interested how the music is constructed for different genres.

Terrific backing with well chosen solos and the mix sounded great.

And, of course, I love to hear Janice sing. Brilliant.

ROG.

This is a cool cover! We also listened to the original version (which is also nice but sounds kind of crackling ;-)
Top-notch production as usual, well arranged and very well sung!

Very cool song. Loved it.

As I was reading that I thought what a great testimonial for BIAB!

I'll steal RnAm's comment -

"Top-notch production as usual, well arranged and very well sung!"

Ditto.

Charlie, you are too kind. My mantra with BiaB is "keep it simple stupid." I've learned my limits and, yep, they are influenced by my age and reticence to keep taking on more and more new digital products. I deeply admire the loops, and midi stuff and huge numbers of RT's that folks can arrange into masterful productions. I just don't think I could ever do that. I guess it's from years of playing in a 4 or 5 piece bluegrass band but I have to imagine that my productions are a small group and I'm looking at their backsides playing bass and also working the house/monitor system -- as I did for years, i.e., I have to approach this whole thing as though I'm mixing a live band. That scenario I understand and strive through BiaB to relive. Thanks again for the very nice comments!

Bud





Thanks man, and you don't have to buy it...it's free!!! We appreciate you.

Bud

Great arrangement, really nice southern style, and the fiddle fits in perfectly. Absolutely sensational vocal. The mandolin certainly wasn't out of place either.

I like the way you comped the solos too, great outcome.

Overall top class delivery, thanks!

J&B, I like simplicity as you can tell by my songs. KISS has always been my philosophy and what you guys do brings out the best in both of you. Good song, production, lyrics, vocals and BIAB choses. I enjoyed listening and thanks for sharing.
Sonny

Janice & Bud.
Superb! You make it hard to comment I'd rather just listen.

Thanks ROG! Glad you liked it and thanks for taking the time to listen and offer these comments. They are much appreciated.

J&B

cool jukin song.

Nice quality fiddle, mando and piano sounds in the solos

regeneration is the secret to smoking hot solos

ever read the book... Children of the corn? Talk about evil chillin....

Hi Janice & Bud,

I remember this was your first song posted. But I can't remember what it really sounded like. Your new version blooms with Janice's vocals and Bud's arrangement, mixing and mastering. I'm especially impressed by the great solos of the different instruments.
Very enjoyable listen.

Guenter

Nice Jammin' tune!! Really well arranged (and of course sung-we would not expect any less). Solos worked perfectly. Another excellent contribution from the dynamic duo!! Take care. Greg

Hi Janice & Bud,

Is this a cool song ... or what? I've always loved western Swing. Asleep At The Wheel is one of my favorite listens. Everything about this is superb. And Janice's voice sets perfectly in this great mix. What a treat ... thanks guys!

Alan

J&B, As usual this has a fantastic arrangement , mix and vocal. As Herb said" regeneration is the secret to smoking hot solos" . This is how it's done. The solos sound great and of course they are the hallmark of any Western Swing type song. Your standards are very high and this one stands right up there. A Super Listen ! Tom

J&B -


I'll echo the other third of I75 here. You chillun's be doin' it jes fine!


Regards,

Bob

Glad you liked it! We first heard it on an old compilation album of 78 transcripts...and, yep, it was crackling for sure.

Thanks for the comments.

J&B





Thanks Scott!

J&B

Good lively fun and very well done. Don't know the song but the melody certainly feels familiar. Cheers.