This is a song I wrote on Memorial Day weekend 43
years ago and recorded on an album in May 1975.
Just updated it with BIAB tracks and mixed in
RealBand until RB crashed a few tweaks shy of
finished.

[Link no longer valid]

****** Song Summary *************
Title: Can't See The Light
Key=G , Tempo 95, Length (m:s)=3:10

Style is _RNBWRMO.STY (RnB Rock w/ Warm
Gtr&Org(65 RS))

RealTracks in style: 366:Bass, Electric, Country Ev
065
RealTracks in style: 911:Piano, Electric, Rhythm
SmoothBallad dry Ev16 065
RealTracks in song: 1004:Guitar, 12-String Acoustic,
Rhythm ClassicRockStrumming Ev16 065
RealTracks in style: 871:Guitar, Electric, Rhythm
ModernRnBRockWarmStrum Ev 065
RealTracks in song: 1705:Guitar, Electric, Soloist
CountryBrent Ev 085
RealDrums in style: NashvilleEven16^1-a:Sidestick,
HHat , b:Snare, Ride

Vocal Stem: "Hey,hey by RnAM from free use samples by Rob.

****** LYRICS ******
It's such a clear day but I can't see the road
My mind is in a dark cloud I can't see how to go
If you can't see the light How you gonna make it
down the road
When you can't see the light How you gonna make it
down the road

It's a long a winding highway that I travel down
Don't think that I can make it I'm scared I might fall
down
If you can't see the light How you gonna make it
down the road
When you can't see the light How you gonna make it
down the road

If you can't see the light How you gonna make it
down the road
When you can't see the light How you gonna make it
down the road

Such a lonely way I'm living I seem so all alone
But I can't change this life I've chose
I must sing my song
If you can't see the light How you gonna make it
down the road
When you can't see the light How you gonna make it
down the road
******* ****** ****** ******

Good tune, catchy chorus.

Bummer about RB crashing. Computers are great tools... until they start crashing!

Now that is both an interesting and effective choice
of RT's. Also the 16th's feel works really well
with the lyric and your vocal. I'm so locked into
8th's -- to a fault.

The mix sounds good on our monitors and to
my ears everything on the soundscape is sittin'
in the right place.

Nice one Charlie!

J&B

Hi Charlie,

nice one. I especially like the
chord progression.
Rob's hey heys are a nice touch.
Enjoyed it.

Guenter

Charlie,

Enjoyable, I like your vocals considering the reason the song was written, almost plaintiff.

wonderful

Alyn

Charlie, The chords are really great here. Your vocal sounds better and better with each post. I really like melody. Well done. I am going back for a few more listens. Tom

Charlie,

Love your sound on this. Excellent combination of RTs - for a very unique sound (compared to all the songs on this forum). Kind of Poco leaning towards Air Supply. Really nice! I kept looking back to see what the RTs were. Really surprised by the "country" bass - is sounds so perfectly pop/dance.

Ah...now I'm hearing Average White Band! (I'm listening again as I type). Some girl singers behind you on the chorus would be nice. The guitar solo is nice...

Nicely done. I really enjoyed that.

floyd

Hi, Charlie !


I liked this tune very much !


Cheers
Dani

Very easy to listen to!! Just pleasant and rolls along nicely. I get very much of a Dead vibe from this. Really enjoyable listen!! Take care. Greg

Ha ha, cool, almost didn't recognize my own sample.
This is a song with a good groove, interesting chord changes too. The soloist is very well-chosen.
All in all, what's not to like!

Rob

+1 Cool song Charlie and I especially love the way you arranged that intro. Really draws you into the song.

Hi Charlie,

A 43 year old song! Cool. If your song was a bottle of red wine it would probably be worth quite a bit by now. Like the others before me, I enjoyed the journey your music took me on.

It's a great chord progression you've put together. I can tell that you've also used a few slash chords. There are some terrific bass considerations in the arrangement.

Nice one!

All the best,
Noel

David: Thanks for stopping by for a listen. I really enjoy BB/RB and they play nice so much of the time but they can sure make me ill when they don’t act right.

Janice and Bud: Glad you enjoyed the song. The RT’s are mostly stock instrument choices from the rnb/warm guitar style. I changed out one guitar and added the solo instrument and replaced the drums. The 16th’s feel seemed to pull the song along better and this style first seemed to be rushed, but it worked once I figured out to slow the tempo a few beats on the bars that have the 4 chord change progressions. The 95 tempo caused the song to drag with some style combo’s I tested and using 16th's fixed that issue. I appreciate your kind words on the mix.

Guenter: I appreciate you taking time to listen and comment. This song has always been a favorite of mine because of the chord progression. Trivia Alert: The original recording of this song is the only song I’ve ever recorded where I played a lead solo. I played an acoustic guitar tuned to the Nashville ‘high strung’ tuning. Fortunately for the forum, I did not attempt to recreate it. I appreciate that Rob had offered a collection of samples from some of his recording session back some time ago. I’m glad I was able to fit something in.

Alyn: Thanks for listening. I’m glad you enjoyed it.

Tommy: Thanks for your kind comments. On the original recording, my brother played a very unique steel guitar part that I was unable to find anything comparable to in BB because this song never sounded country in any traditional sense of the word.

Floyd: Yep, I was hooked on the bass line from the moment I heard it. I salvaged the intro piano run and the entire first guitar solo from another version of the song. They were generated in that first version and nothing similar ever occurred in subsequent generations. Glad I saved those initial audio files. I had some backup vocal plans using the harmonizer and some more of Rob’s (RnAM) samples but RB began acting strangely so I stopped with what I had. Thanks for listening a commenting.

Dani: It’s so good to see you back on the forum and commenting. I smile just from seeing you’ve posted. Thanks for taking time to listen. Glad you liked it.

Greg: I appreciate you taking time to listen and comment. My sound seems to be more often compared to the Grateful Dead than any other group in various comments to my songs here on the forum. Glad you enjoyed the song.

RnAm: So glad you reminded me in another thread of your samples. This song had a feel to me of somewhat a style you would sing, so I pulled up your sample folder to see if anything would work. I had some other samples I planned to try and include but RB became unstable and I didn’t get a chance to use them in this instance. It’s obvious to me even in only hearing you sing two words, that you and Anne Marie could really nail the vocals and backing on this song. I always look forward to you and Ann Marie commenting.

Josie: Thanks for listening. I had a lot of fun doing this one. I always liked the chord progression and am quite satisfied with this new arrangement.

Noel: I was a bit surprised when I considered how old the song is. I still have the original lyrics in an old notebook up in the attic. Thinking back, I can’t recall what inspired me to write a song about being clueless to the direction I wanted to go through life. Thanks for listening and commenting.

hi Charlie like the chord progressions nice vocal I like it a lot thanks eric

Thanks FMM. It was a fun song to bring back from the 'archives'.


Charlie