Lady Luck

This is a bit different for us three as it is all acoustic.  Janice sang and played percussion on her cajon (no drums), Peter plays guitar (solos and rhythm) and Bud is on upright bass. The mix and arrangement are both a three way effort. As always your time to listen and, if interested, comment are appreciated. And thanks to the guitar man and PG Music. More info below tech stuff and on SC.

Vocals: Rode NT1 > Scarlett 212 interface > Logic Pro > Nectar (very light compression and reverb)

Piano: MIDI SuperTrack 2845 Piano, Rhythm BluesSlowSwing > Logic Pro Grand Steinway > Waves CLA Unplugged 

Rhythm Guitar: RealTrack 556 Acoustic, Rhythm Jazz Ballad Sw > Waves CLA Unplugged 

Cajon: Waves Magma BBT & Waves CLA Drums

RealDrums: ShakerSwing8ths
RealDrums: TambourineSwing8ths (tag) > EMT 140 Plate Reverb sim on both

Bass: 1953 Kay Swingmaster > Logic Pro EQ > Neutron 3 > Waves Bass Rider

Solos and rhythm guitar: whatever the man does

Post mix stuff: Ozone EQ > Ozone multi-compression > Ozone Imager > Ozone Maximizer > Izotope Tonal Balance > Logic Pro Loudness Meter

© 2024 J. Merritt, B. Merritt & P. Fulham All Rights Reserved
The tune is world wide public domain, first released by Clarence Williams 101 years ago, and was also sung by Bessie Smith in 1923.  We tweaked the lyric and created a new chord structure. Being public domain we own all rights to our version.

You three are in tune with each other on this.
To my ears, the bass, although sound may be a trifle loud?

Vic

It's blues, so you've already won me over with that.

Janice's singing makes me run out of superlatives, and Peter's guitar is perfect. I was so focused on the vocal, I didn't even notice the BGVs until the second listening. Which means they're sitting in the mix at the right level.

I didn't know anything about Kay basses, but after reading through your comments I had a look, and now I know a bit more about those sturdy beasts.

Ha! I didn't expect the tag at the end.

Nice work all, I really enjoyed the listen.

Nice! Janice, Bud, Peter, you really sound tight on this one, or maybe you have exactly the right amount of looseness to fill in all the right blues spaces. Great acoustic playing by all. Especially liked the dobro(?) sliding around. The ending was cool, too. Super effort by the group!

Janice, Bud, and Peter unplugged - brilliant!
You know I love the blues and this acoustic blues is fantastic, as good as or better than what I have ever heard.
As usual everything is absolutely perfect.
Loved it.

Thanks Vic. Regarding the bass I need to change out to some steel strings that cut thru the mix better with less volume. The nylon strings are almost more like a tuned kick drum 😀when played in a low register. Great for bluegrass though. Glad you liked it.

J&B

Thanks - no dobro or slide just an acoustic but interesting that it sounded like that to you.

Peter

Janice, Bud & Peter,

Outstanding all around... Fantastic vocal by Janice. She always brings any song into a completely new space. Her delivery is flawless, emotive and holds your attention like no other.

Love the upright bass by Bud - it's just a wonderful sound. Peter's acoustic guitar playing is superb. Also, love the way the production and mix totally fit the acoustic sound - hard to do and done so well.

You all are making this old music completely relevant and making new history with it.

Loved it all!

Bob

Classic interpretation of a classic. Bessie would be proud. Janice not only sings brilliantly, she ace at arragning and mixing.

Superb. Mrs Merritt ... wow. What a voice. Love the staccato end of phrases on the word "luck", and a few others. You know when to hold a note and when to cut it short Also, your tone is OUTSTANDING, and perfect for songs such as these.

Peter's guitar playing fits seamlessly into the song. Not too much, not too little. Well done, Bud, on the mixing, too!!!

As others have said, I too concur: Bessie Smith would be so proud.

What a board chock-a-block full of talent we truly have, right here, at the PG Music User Showcase forum. Long may it continue ... I know I'm guaranteed to hear good music if I log in, here. Thanks, PG Music ... whatever you do, please keep it going ... this truly is the best Artists' Corner that I know of, online!

J&B,
You all are quite the pros/experts at reviving these old PD tunes! Great vocals and percussion Janice! Bud is a wonderful bassist! Nice guitar solo! Super clean production that really sounds great to me! Sounds like it was recorded in a major studio!
Take care, TB

Glad it all worked for you. Janice’s “oohs”
are indeed laid back and make brief appearances. 😀 Yes, the Kays are beasts! I drug mine around to festivals, club gigs and parking lot jams for many years. They dominated that scene and the rockabilly folks like them also. Even seen a few at jazz festivals. Just about any of the high end basses would survive little of that. Pardon the digression and we three greatly appreciate your response!

J&B

Man, this sounds really good y'all.

I do love me some live acoustic now. It sounds like the way Jerry and Chester and me used to play it. Y'all would have fit right in. I used to know an old boy round here by the name of Doc Watson who might have joined in for that one. But he's gone on to play for Jesus now. But that's what I am talking about! Keepin' it in the family and keepin' it real.

But, I am afraid that Bass won't be in the family too much longer.

Bud, I am about to offer you 50 dollar, cash on the barrel head, for that bass thumpin' box of thunderin' buffalo noise you got there. Now that is my last offer, so you might as well pack her up. I will take Janice's old Martin box, too, since you know it ain't worth more than maybe ten or fifteen dollar, as old as it is. You can trust me. I's a friend and I would not lie to bluegrass fambly that way.

Be by shortly to seal the deal.

Thanks for listening and the comments are much appreciated!

J&B

I'm never disappointed when I listen to a song from you guys.
I really like everything about this song, and the icing on the cake (as always) is Janice's vocals.
Love it!

Thanks for the kind words Mario!

J&B

You say different, I say same. Same incredible talent. Same best version I've ever heard (although this is one I haven't heard before, past examples lead me to believe there is none better). Love the all-acoustic approach, and Bud back on the Doghouse Bass. Janice, some great singing (same). Peter, some fabulous playing (same). Bud, some sweet slappin' (same). Outstanding mix and marvelous master (same).

Appreciate the comments Mario.

Peter

Ace performances by all involved.

Janice captures the bluesy heart of the song.

The acoustic solo sounds so era authentic.

Bob, we are happy the acoustic vibe worked for you. You are a master of the more sparse productions that we love so that makes your comments even more meaningful to us.

Thank you!

J&B

A blues song that brings a big smile to my face! Great vocals Janice. of course, I loved the production and the tender, heart felt guitar solo as well. Great team effort J & B, and Peter!

Dewey

Okay, I was writing the initial post before I heard the final chorus and 2nd guitar solo...WOW! Great job

PERFECTION.

Don't need to say much more than that.
Janice at her Best.
Peter at his Best.
Bud at his Best.


Music. At it's Best.

Wow.
P.E.R.F.E.C.T.I.O.N.

J&B, Peter...I'm very partial to acoustic pieces and this is done to perfection....Janice is certainly fitted to this style of music...sultry and with just the right interpretation and tonal inflections for these old classic R&B blues numbers....Peter is extraordinary on the flat-top...super tone...Bud...your bass is the perfect match to complete the trio...just great (as usual)! Dan

Thank you!

J&B

Thanks a lot.
Peter


Thanks Bob appreciate the comments.
Peter

Janice, Bud & Peter,

Rhythm and blues songs are really great.
Even if it is performed in a new style, the essence remains the same.
Unfortunately, I haven't heard the original version so I can't compare it, but I think this version is really great.
Vocals, performance, everything is top notch.
Enjoyed my listen a lot.

Best regards.

Shigeki Adachi

Our own "Queen of Soul" really shines on this one!!! Excellent production all the way with some sweet guitar licks!!! You guys are a force!!! Take care. Greg

Bessie Smith, hey? We are lucky some people had the presence of mind to capture several of her performances on film. Remember "Give me a pig foot and a bottle of beer." ??

We appreciate you listening and writing such nice comments. And Janice thanks you for mentioning her phrasing.

Thanks for all!

J&B

When the three of you decide to rework these old classic blues numbers they come out brand new and could be released and I’m sure they would have a place on the current charts. You won’t hear anything better than this on Americana or a Classic Blues station. High quality vocal, guitar, bass and production. There is certainly nothing much better than this here or anywhere else for that matter, Tom

Thank you Torrey for all you wrote. Glad you like the bass and Janice’s cajon. It was a fun production.

J&B

Glad you liked it but we’re gonna have to negotiate your offers a bit. 😀

J&B

I really enjoy this acoustic approach, so easy on ears. Cajon, Peter's guitar and the upright bass blend nicely with BIAB instruments. I can imagine this being played live, very nice laid-back feel.

Janice is definitely the Lady Luck, everything she touches with her voice turns to gold, exceptional work here once again

Janne

Thanks!

J&B

Hi J&B,

Bessie again!!!
She would be very jealouse/ or proud if she could hear Janice. I think it's 'proud'.
Janice, what a nice performance. And what nice you have a very good band behind you, with Peter there.
I think, beside Janice's' her voice the acoustic 'band' uplifted this song into a toe tapper (or maybe it already was).

A very nice Blues, really enjoyed!

Hans

Thanks Marty! We appreciate every word of that particularly given this was a bit of a different direction for us.

J&B


Much appreciated!!

J&B

Once again a beautiful song very well sung and after listening to it; let's hope I'm lucky: I'm going to get a lotto ticket
Laurent

Thank you!

J&B



Thanks and glad you liked that last section. Janice and Peter put a lot of heart and soul into it … but hey I’m obviously quite biased!😃

Bud

Thank you mr jane! That makes it all worthwhile indeed.

J&B

This one has vibe, authenticity and fab performances from a crack ensemble.
Ace mix with that bass thudding away as it ought too.
The tag was well worth hanging around for as it tied this package with a neat bow.
TREE mendous.

Thank you very much Dan! We all three much appreciate your listen and generous comments.

J&B

Thank you!

J&B


Thanks Gregg!

J&B

Man, I'm very late to the party on this one, three pages of reviews already!

Just love the acoustic approach! Bass is solid, and the Cajon sounds cool.

Peter sounds great! And Janice is her usual awesome self

Excellent right from the start to that cool ending, well done folks.

We enjoyed those few film performances. Hope you liked ours! 😀

J&B

Tom, given the quality of your productions and your feel for the blues we could hardly ask for a more supportive review.

Thank you very much!!

J&B

Thank you! A laid back live feel was exactly what we hoped to achieve. And Janice much appreciates your comments on her vocal.

J&B

Thanks Hans. Janice says she's is proud just to be mentioned in the same paragraph as Bessie Smith!
We three are happy you liked it!

J&B

Late to the party - couldn't get my email for almost two weeks! Hope the cake ain't stale and the Coke is still cool.

I'm guessing the Blues genre came to be because someone knew you two would someday come along and give it validity.

Just so danged good! These Blues put a smile on my face. All three of you outdid yourself. This is my favorite lead track from Peter - awesome! And Janet's voice? Well, the known superlatives are inadequate. And Bud's knob twisting - precision!

Blues as it's supposed to be.

Alan

Hello Janice Bud and Peter,

Composition very rich in orchestration. The mix is ​​impeccable. And the tone of Jani’s voice is still so pleasant. I also like Peter's guitar playing. Everything is smooth and well done.

Jani

Thank you. And we hope that lotto ticket wins! 😀

J&B

We three appreciate that Ray!

J&B

Thank you Al. Those comments are too kind but, hey, we’ll take them! 😀

Much appreciated,

J&B

Loved the groove and feel to this tune. Love how Janice's vocal slides the note. Perfection. Peters guitar break was excellent. Some very tasty basslines :-). Awesome production and mix Bud. Radio ready. Well done..

Thank you.

We’re glad you liked it!

J&B

Thank you Scott! It was a fun project.

J&B