Little Bit of Loving - PG Music Forums

PG Music Home

I stumbled upon this whole series of 5-minute mixing tips at https://www.youtube.com/user/recordingrevolution/videos?sort=dd&view=u . There were 31 from May 2011 and now he is doing 31 more (one a day) in January. Very interesting stuff. Of course, I will be "over-doing" the lessons and going in all directions at once -- but that's half the fun.

This one still has a ways to go -- I only did a "scratch" vocal and I need more placement of the electric guitar. I think the vocal is OK, but I didn't use a pop filter and there is a lot of background noise. Maybe I'll keep it and just add a "double". Plus, as skyline pointed out in another thread, you gotta change things a little here and there as you go along to keep the listener interested.

The good thing about this one not being finished is that I am open to any improvement suggestions. I think I am going to be spending more time mixing than writing and recording! I

********************************************************
Little Bit of Loving
(c) Emmrich 2012

(Intro – chorus chords)

(chorus)
She don't make me wonder
she don't make me wait
a little bit of loving
goes a long, long way
yea, a little bit of loving
goes a long, long way

(verse)
Way down south where the magnolias grow
How did I get so far away?
I must have turned left
when I should have turned right
so I'm heading back home this night,
cause ...

(chorus again)

(lead section -- verse)

(Key Change and bridge/verse)
sun's peaking thru
another day closer to you
i wonder what tomorrow will bring
breakfast at rosie’s diner
Everyone’s smiling at this hiker
it makes me want to sing,

(chorus again and outro)

Kevin: vocals, electric guitar
Sam: vocals
BIAB: bass (366), drums (NashPopBallad^01), harmonica (626), acoustic guitars (663 & 365), banjo (1035) , piano (891)

Kevin,

I think this is great. Pretty darn good for a scratch recording.
I like your voice.
Your chorus is simple and very effective. Pulled me right in.
come up with a middle verse for this one and I think you've got a winner.

Tim

Hi Kevin,

I was completely captured by the sound that you've got happening here. It's excellent. To my mind, the chorus is brilliant in its simplicity. The whole work, and every aspect, is a credit to you; a top-shelf effort however one looks at it.

Also, that's for the Youtube link. That's an amazing collection of helpful videos.

All the best,
Noel

Nice work Kevin! There's a very good song here, and I like the evocative lyrics. It put me in mind of 'Heart of Gold'.
Maybe mute the vox harmony in the first chorus; cooler then when it comes in on the second and subsequent choruses. The final chorus at 2:10 I think needs to be 'bigger', i.e. all instruments and vox harmonies in: add another vox harmony on 3rds maybe?

John

Quote:

Hi Kevin,

I was completely captured by the sound that you've got happening here. It's excellent. To my mind, the chorus is brilliant in its simplicity. The whole work, and every aspect, is a credit to you; a top-shelf effort however one looks at it.

Also, that's for the Youtube link. That's an amazing collection of helpful videos.

All the best,
Noel

A big +1

You've got a nice voice, and the song pulled me right in from the start. I love how you started with the chorus. Harmony is a great addition. I like it at the start, although I can see how slowly adding it would help with the build.

I know the song is short, but it starts to drag at the banjo "instrumental" - perhaps it could be cut just a hair there?

I love the little "oohs" that you added in.

I initially mis-heard the word "hiker" as "tiger". Maybe it's just me, since I'm getting over a cold.

Thanks for the links! I spent way too much time going through them the other night. There's some great stuff in there.

You know I have never used automation before -- hard to believe, I know. I once tried "clip automation", but it didn't work so I moved on. Come to find out that Sonar's clip automation is just flaky! So I build a couple of sub-groups and I rode the faders in the last two choruses to get it more umphf there (as Skyline suggested). I have one lyrical change to make and re-looking at the key change section, but here is take 2.

Tim: Thanks for the listen and comments. The original version for 50/90 only had 3 lines in verse 2, so I have already added more lines (ha, ha). Although I am changing one line, I won't be adding any more length to the lyrics (for now!).

Noel: Thanks so much for the kind words, it is appreciated.

Skyline: Funny you should mention that. I just learned how to use automation and I rode the faders up in the last two choruses. I am going to add one more voice to the last chorus to make it even bigger! I cut the 1st chorus down to one harmony line, then have two in the 2nd and will have three in the last chorus (3rd chorus not done yet). I did try and sneak in more electric guitar, but I am not happy with the outcome yet.

Mario: Thanks for stopping by and giving it a spin!

dcuny: That banjo was added to have more interest during the key change part. I think I will ask Sam to do more vocalizations there to create more diversion!! "Hiker" is hard to sing, I think. Thanks for taking the time to listen and comment.

Kevin

Kevin -

Dig this one. Reminds me of hitching down a long road a lifetime ago. Thanks for the link to Recording Revolution too. Great stuff.

Regards,

Bob

90 db: Thanks for stopping by and giving it a spin and I hope you enjoy those videos!

Very nice tune and track Kevin ! Loved this.

Kevin,

I don't know how I missed this one! I enjoyed it Like David, I mis-heard hiker as tiger. Has a little bit of an America sound to me. Enjoyed it.

Steve

Kevin,

I really like the feel of this one - nice job - enjoyed listening...

Bob

Kevin,

This ia really a nice song, really like the "monica" at key parts.

"outro" new word to me, but great in your notes.

Also you have a very nice vocals, easy going laid back when needed
then stronger as you proceed into the song.

Thanks for sharing.

Kevin,

too bad you didn't release this in 1971... you'd be rich !

Your voice REALLY reminds me of Neil Young, and I see the reference to HEART OF GOLD... not only the vocals but also the choice of instruments.

Regarding the mix, it sounded very clear through my headphones

I liked the banjo as a way to introduce some sonic variation in the second half of the song, but the brief section where you had 3 back to back instruments featured (harmonica then guitar then banjo) didn't work for me. To my ears, if you just skipped that part and went straight to the last verse it would have seemed more natural.

Having said that, its worth noting that in that genre it's pretty common for each of the instruments to come forward before the song ends, so it really is an artistic decision of what to leave in and what to leave out.

All in all I liked it a lot. It sounds like a lot of stuff I've paid money for

Cool song Kevin I like the vocals !