https://soundcloud.com/alananddi/di-call-to-the-lord

We wrote this back in the summer of 2010 and recorded using tracks from a different music creation program. But BIAB is so much superior, we decided to recreate with BIAB tracks ... sounds much better! I worked on the music for several days and Di sang it about 20 minutes ago (3:00 pm April 5th). She got it on her second take. She originally did in it Bb but we dropped it to Ab. The ravages of time kicks you in the butt - and vocal cords!

It's a 3/4 Country Waltz with pedal steel leading the way. A;though we like the pedal steel a lot, we are a little disappointed with the couple of pauses it employs. Tried over and over to get a good track w/o the pauses, but just couldn't get anything more acceptable than what we have here.

Di isn't feeling well but wanted to get this done today. So, here it is. Hope you enjoy it.


Alan & Di

Here are the BIAB trax we used:

****** Song Summary *************
Title: Di - Call To The Lord
File:Di - (Ab) Call To The Lord - BG Trax.SGU
Key=Ab , Tempo 118, Length (m:s)=3:31
No intro. 136 bar chorus, from bar 1 to bar 136. Repeat x1 chorus
Melody has 213 notes, Melody harmony is < no harmony >(0)
Soloist track has 814 notes, Soloist harmony is < no harmony >(0)
Song is saved with Volume, Pan, Reverb, Chorus, Bank0,
Song is saved with bar changes for Volume Changes,
Style is _MELWALZ.STY (Melodic Country Waltz )

RealTracks in style: ~1122:Bass, Acoustic, CountryWaltz Sw 110
RealTracks in style: ~2050:Piano, Acoustic, Solo-Accompaniment CountryWaltzJohn Sw 140
RealTracks in song: ~827:Guitar, Acoustic, Strumming Country Waltz Sw 110
RealTracks in song: 1699:Mandolin, Rhythm BluegrassWaltz Sw 085
RealTracks in song: 2371:Strings, Rhythm PopCountryWaltz Sw 140
RealTracks in song: 2006:Pedal Steel, Soloist CountryWaltzPaul Sw 085
RealDrums in style: NashClassicWaltzSw^1-a:SideStick, HiHat , b:Snare, HiHat

*******************



Call To The Lord


(v1)
When times are troubled, your burden too much
Look up and call to The Lord
If the mountain's too high, the valley too deep
Reach out and call to The Lord
He'll be there to guide you, He'll be right beside you
He'll never deny you, Trust Him and call The Lord

(Chorus)
He'll show you the way, won't let you stray
Help you the river to ford
Safe in His arms, protected from harm
Eternally loved and adored
If you just call to The Lord

PIANO VERSE

(v2)
When you are tempted by Satan's design
Shun him and call to The Lord
Don't be a victim of, those evil plans,
Have faith and call to The Lord
He will protect you, comfort and love you
He asks one thing of you, believe Him then call to The Lord

(Chorus)
He'll show you the way, won't let you stray
Help you the river to ford
Safe in His arms protected, from harm
Eternally loved and adored
If you just call to The Lord
If you just call to The Lord

(c) 2010, Diana Randall / Alan D. David, BMI

Alan & Di,

Very nicely done, y'all. Di's vocals are nice. She owns this one.

Excellent mix. The strings are really nice. Steel, too.

Glad y'all are still making music! Enjoyed listening.

fj

Thank you, Floyd. We appreciate all the kindness! Di's health continues to decline but she's hanging in there, bless her soul.

I forgot to include the lyric before you listened. Sorry! I've added them.

Wishing you the very best,

Alan & Di

PS: You made Di's day!

Very nice listen. Excellent vocal Alan and Di. Well done

Hello, Alan & Di

Very beautiful country waltz.
The pedal steel at the intro is very nice.
The chord progressions using cliché in places are very good.
I love these chord progressions very much.
And Di's vocal is really wonderful.
Enjoyed my listen a lot.

Best regards.

Shigeki Adachi

We will remember Di in prayer and petition the Lord.

Very nice, kids. I have used that country waltz on several occassions for 3/4 gospel. Can't seem to beat it.

I didn't hear the pauses. You have more success than I have had with the steel. Sometimes I just turn it down
if I don't want to take the time to make isolated trax -- that is, a track of just steel and a mix without it. But you have it sounding so good, I wouldn't know how to get it better.

Beautiful melody and very nice vocal

love the chord progressions

steel sounds super, the mandolin is a nice touch

good write

enjoyed

Kenny

Alan & Di,

Very beautiful... Great song, vocal and arrangement.

Bob

Alan & Di,
Very enjoyable with a heartfelt vocal and good arrangement.
I`m glad you are able to continue making music together.

Robert

Thanks a bunch, Floyd. We appreciate the kind words! Best to you.

Thanks so much, Scott. Glad yuou enjoyed it! best to you,

Alan & Di

Hi Adach,

So glad you enjoyed our song. We appreciate all those things you noted. Wishing you well,

Alan & Di

Thank you, Ed,

We're delighted you liked it! We've had pretty good luck with the pedal steel tracks ... lots of patience required sometimes. Your very nice words make us smile!

Alan & Di

Kenny,

You are much too kind. But we'll find a way to deal with it. Glad you enjoyed the chord progression. I'm (Alan) kind of a chord guy ... do a lot of Smooth Jazz, which is chord oriented. Thanks for the listen and very nice words.

Alan & Di

Howdy Bob!

So glad this one works for you. Thank you for your very kind reply! Best to you,

ALan & Di

Thank you so much, Robert,

We will continue to make music together as long as we are able. We're both 70 years old. My health is pretty good (seems I've beaten the cancer - woohoo!). Di's health is not good at all. But, she keeps going as much as she can. Glad you enjoyed our song! Wishing you well,

Alan & Di

Nice song, great message. I like the arrangement, and Di did a great job on the vocals! Enjoyed hearing this!

Steve

Alan & Di, Wow that arrangement, write and vocal is super. The steel sounds fantastic, great editing. Love the chord progression. One of your best. And wishing the best to you both. Tom

Al and Di,


This is wonderful! Really enjoyed it.


Regards,


Bob

Hello,

a beautiful one; super country song that I love a lot.
Very well performed.


Sergio

Steve, Tom, Bob & Sergio,

Thank you so much for your very kind words. We appreciate them very, very much! Thanks for the listen.

Alan & Di

We agree all the way particularly with "She owns this one."

Soooo obviously from the heart and the soul!

Super production y'all!

J&B

Love it. Great production, song, vocals and message.

Thanks for writing this!!

Very nice!! Beautiful song, and such a sweet vocal delivery. Great one guys!! Take care. Greg

Thank you so much, Janice and Bud. We're delighted you liked it. Actually, Di's only been singing seriously (outside the shower or singing along with the radio) for about 8 years - already in her 60s.

Although we are believers, we don't much of a public show over it. We've written either 4 or 5 gospel/religious songs from the 700 or so we've done. But this one is special to us for a number of reasons.

Thanks again for the wonderful comments.

Alan & Di

David,

Thank you very much for the marvelous comments. We truly appreciate them! Best to you,

Alan & Di

Hi Greg,

Thanks so much. We have a couple other gospel/religious songs we penned. We'll slip them in here and there in the months ahead. We're glad you enjoyed the song. Wishing you the very best,

Alan & Di

Alan and Di,

This is absolutely superb.

At the moment, I'm sitting here with Soundcloud on repeat and the track is looping as I type. The flow of both the melody and Di's beautiful singing, the smoothness of both the chord progression and the arrangement, and the noteworthy skill with which the orchestration is woven are all truly inspired music making. I love the way that you've used those diminished chords.

Everything about this presentation sits so very comfortably with everything else. And then there's that elusive familiarity factor that is so hard to obtain. As I'm listening, I can't help feeling that this song has been a personal favourite song of mine for many, many years even though I know that that is not the case. To be able to capture that quality, like you have so very competently done, is nothing short of cutting-edge songwriting.

In my mind, as I hear Di singing, I have an image of Patsy Cline. As floyd said, "she owns this one"... absolutely beautiful work.... and then some!

All the best,
Noel

P.S. Di, I'm sending a bundle healing thoughts your way Hope things improve soon for you.

Noel,

You're well into your Friday as ours is just starting. We are truly humbled by your comments. I'm not sure how to reply. You've made our day and it's just started. The music and lyric came together congruently - it doesn't happen like that for us very often.

I (Alan) view diminished chords similar, though not quite as emphatic, as a key modulation - it seems to "perk up" the song; gives it a bit of freshness. Like most guitarists, I technically use a diminished 7th 99% of the time, rather than a true diminished. That extra diminished 7th note on top of the thirds opens more doors for resolution.

What resonated with us, above all your other generous comments, was your statement that this sounds like a song with years of familiarity although it obviously isn't. When our music leaves that faux familiarity with a listener, it suggests to us the listener truly connected with the song. We are in humble awe of that praise.

Please accept our sincere thanks for your marvelous review! We're speechless!

Alan & Di

It is a treat to listen to. Bless you both and thank you for sharing.

much enjoyed!

Thank you lawrence. your comments might be short in length but it's a big compliment to us. We thank you so very much! Thank you, also, for the well-wishes. And wishing you the very best,

Alan & Di