https://soundcloud.com/lawrence-olivier/danial-rolls

RealTracks in song: ~683:Bass, Electric, PopHalfNotesPush Ev 120
RealTracks in song: ~685:Harmonica, Background Pop Ev 120
RealTracks in style: 2430:Guitar, Electric, Rhythm NewOrleansMardiGras Ev16 085
RealTracks in song: 408:Guitar, Resonator, Background Allis Ev 120
RealTracks in song: 2678:Guitar, Acoustic, Rhythm BluesSw16GrooveBrent Sw16 085
RealTracks in song: ~669:Guitar, Slide, Background EasySouthern Ev 120
RealDrums in style: NewOrleansMardiGras16ths^01-a: Snare Groove , b: 4 and Hat

It’s fitting that Daniel’s favorite song was “Desperado” by the Eagles. I sat down next to him one evening at a bar in New Braunfels Texas. It was late in the winter of 2007. He pulled out his pouch of tobacco and rolled two cigarettes. We had a drink and a smoke and he began to tell me that he had is eye on a new bicycle that he wanted to buy with the money he had saved from working odd jobs. Daniel had spent a most of that winter in New Braunfels. No one knew him but everyone was fascinated with this drifter. I knew by the way he talked about the new bicycle that he was getting ready to set out so I started asking him questions. How many miles do you travel in a day? How many flats do you fix? How do you eat? Anything I could think of. Within a week he was gone. I wrote this song about him and soon after recorded a rough version of it.

He returned the next year. And all of my friends told him about the song and told me I should give him a CD of it. I laughed and asked, “yes, but what is he going to play it on?” He was very excited about the song and was adamant that he should have royalties. I don’t know if he ever heard the song. After 2008, he never returned. Every line in the song is true.

As far as this recording, I went through many different styles in BIAB to try and capture the feel that I wanted. When I heard the 2678 acoustic guitar, I knew that was the one. It took a little more time to put together the rest of the tracks but I’m pleased with the results.

Hi Lawrence.

Loved the story.

Loved the lyrics.

Loved the song.

Great backing track.

Great vocals.

Great mix.

ROG.

Lawrence

Had me riveted. Liked everything about the song.
Simply great songwriting.

Peter

Lawrence,

Awesome song! Great vocal and mix as well - loved the story!

Bob

Hi Lawrence,

What a cool song! terrific backing tracks and your vocal punctuates the lyric so danged good. This is quite a bit different from most of what we've heard on the forum lately. And what a great diversion from the norm this is. You aced it!

When I lived in San Antonio, I spent a fair amount of time in New Braunfels. Hal Ketchum lives there ... at least he did back in the 80s. We opened for him several times.

Again, great song and your delivery is superb! Best to you,

Alan & Di

good to have another of your songs Lawrence!

This is so very nice and up-tempo. Perfect drive in it.
I will surely check out that 2678 guitar.

Rob

Nice, Lawrence.

Good write. Good band. Good mix. Cool story!

Always enjoyable to hear you sing.

fj

Great write!

nice performance too,

mix sounds very good

my sister lived in New Braunfels for a few years,

used to go there and go tubing down the river,

great summer days.

I enjoyed this a lot as I do with all your songs.

Kenny

A classic!!

Man, I just loved this and tapped my feet the entire time--while I smiled.

Masterful chord progression, singing, lyrics, vibe, everything.

A signature sound from an artist.

"Daniel rolls his own."

!!!!!

Great line!! Jealous!!!

hi Lawrence very cleverly done great peace love the story thanks eric

Lawrence, this one holds the listeners interest all the way through! The vocal is outstanding as well as everything else! Great song! Thanks, Torrey

Yeah, that guitar is a good match for a story song! I like your choice of a drum track for this, as it provides a really interesting cadence. It also sounds a bit like a train, which works well with your main image.

The wordplay is good too... Daniel is apparently one of those guys who rolls in more than one way. I kept expecting lines that expanded on the verbal possibilities; but in retrospect, I think you were wise to play that card the way you did.

Aspects of the song reminded me of Dylan, and also of Paul Simon... but in the end, that distinctive voice makes it completely yours.

I typically hold people in relatively high esteem when they know their passion and make sacrifices to live it. But I thought it was presumptuous that Daniel would expect any kind of royalties from your song, and that piece of information makes me think a little less of him. I suppose that's just how he rolls...

I enjoyed the song, and the tracks gave it that "train chugging" sound that seemed a good fit for the subject matter.

Clever use of the the double meaning as well.

My only nit is that the mix seemed overly bright, so there were places in the mix where the vocal seemed to be overwhelmed by the instruments.

Oh yeah, it's always a treat to hear that great voice.

And along with it comes a cool backstory and a very strong write.

"The wordplay is good too... Daniel is apparently one of those guys who rolls in more than one way. I kept expecting lines that expanded on the verbal possibilities; but in retrospect, I think you were wise to play that card the way you did. "

What Pat said in the above quote well articulates our feelings. The wordplay is really clever...and effective.

Somebody mentioned the percussion hinting at the train feel of the song. Yep, it does and that's cool.


This one begs a subtle video!

Most enjoyable...

J&B

What a cool story Lawrence. I am with David had my toe tapping from the first bar of the song. Super vocal. Guitar was superb. Well done....

A signature sound from an artist, a true artist (David said it right!). Always love your stuff and you vocals are always TOPS!! Take care. Greg

Back for another listen or two...one of the best story songs posted in a long time....


J&B

Great story in a song form, outstanding!

Excellent backing tracks and vocal. Outstanding lyrics and mix.

You should be very proud of this one.

Thanks for sharing, gruverider! Very interesting story, and a very good song as well Had my head bopping the whole song! I loved when the electric guitar came in too, I wasn't expecting it. Great job - you should be proud of this one!

Thank you Rog


Thank you Peter.

Your very kind Bob

Thank you very much. Yes, Hal still does a few gigs around these parts. He has multiple sclerosis and that keeps him home a lot.

Thank you Rob. That guitar had such a wonderful groove!

Thank you Floyd

Thank you very much Kenny. Yes the tubing is huge around here!

That's very generous David. Thank you very much!

Thank you Eric.

Torrey, thank you very much!

Thank you Pat. You're very kind. Yes "Daniel Rolls" is such a great metaphor and he just handed it to me .

I have re-mixed it and hope it's a bit clearer now. Thank you for letting me know.


Thank you both so very much.


Thank you Scott.

Greg, that's very generous. Thank you.

You two are always so kind to me. Thank you.

Mario, thank you very much.

Thank you for listening Deryk. Glad you enjoyed it.