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#843353 02/18/25 09:07 PM
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A shy, first-toe-in-the-water song posting. I've written songs since I was about 12 and now I'm really old, so that's a long time. I have started recording some of my favs from over the years taking advantage of new technology to help get the sound closer to what I'd actually imagined originally. I don't consider myself a performer even though I've played in a few bands over the years. Composing and producing the tunes is the fun part for me.

"Sentimental Melody" is one of those old songs. It's a gentle shuffle ballad with a slight bluesy edge. The BIAB tracks used are:

RealTracks in song: 533:Bass, Electric, 12-8 Crystal Sw 065
RealTracks in song: ~904:Piano, Electric, Rhythm SmoothCool Sw16 075
RealTracks in song: 2686:Guitar, Electric, Soloist BluesSlow12-8BrentSimple Sw 065
MIDI SuperTracks in song: 2849:Organ, Rhythm BluesSlow128Mike Sw 065
RealTracks in song: 3878:Guitar, Electric, Rhythm VintagePopSlow68Chop Sw 070
RealDrums in Song:CountryShuffle128^6-a:Sidestick, HiHat , b:Snare, HiHat

https://soundcloud.com/mick-grainger/sentimental-melody?si=0b37e20f58a7483b8e5a539640985a5d&utm_source=clipboard&utm_medium=text&utm_campaign=social_sharing

The drums are reinforced with UJAM Legend drums and the guitar mutes are from UJAM USynth. Tracks were transferred to Studio One 7 for editing, mixing and mastering. The vocal gets a helping hand from Melodyne. Finally, I throw in some female voices from Synthesizer V in the latter choruses as background. The lyrics:

"Watching passing cars, I think of you
On this foggy, grey day
Just a fleeting thought pulls me back in time
And lifts my spirits away

Things were newer then, things were rawer then
So much I just didn't see
But looking back from here, it seems it all worked out
Eventually

Let it loose, watch it fly
Set it free, sentimental melody

Are you happy now?
I hope you're happy now
With whatever you found
As for me I'm good, no need to worry there
A real legend unbound

Let it loose, watch it fly
Set it free, sentimental melody"

I hope you enjoy it and thanks for listening.

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Nothing shy about this Mick - you did a really excellent job,
sounds highly advanced to my ears!!
Very well done - looking forward to more from you,

Best regards,

Carl

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Very enjoyable song indeed. Pro quality. Specially I liked the guitar fills. One thing I would have mixed myself differentially: during vocals I would mix the band a little bit lower, so that the vocals can be heard more clearly. You have a nice voice, which you shouldn't try to hide behind the band.

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Welcome, Mick! Love the easy swinging feel of this tune. Nice use of BiaB instruments, and you've got that soloist complimenting your tune perfectly. Nicely sung. I'd agree that the "let it loose..." passages get a little buried in the mix, but it's a small thing. Great first post, looking forward to more!


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Very nice sound. I really like the style and the song. With the choirs it's great.
laurent

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Excellent "first post"! I liked the gentle sway to it. I agree with some of the others that I'd push the band back a little and bring the voice up a bit. Looking forward to your continuing work here!


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I appreciate all of your feedback, thank you. Message received on the mix (particularly the chorus). I'll do some more work on it based upon your advice. Cheers.

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I think you've done really well with the instrumentation and arrangement in this song. I'm not a Synth V fan, but the backing vocals work great.


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WOW, huge welcome to the forum, Mick. Love this opener, man. You use BiaB so well. Very cool build to this song. Keep 'em coming. Glad you're here.

In 1962 we had a catcher onour Little League All-Star team named Twinkle Toes. What a great player --he went on to become a banker, so...

Last edited by BabuMusic; 02/20/25 06:53 AM.

Enjoy whatever happens!
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TT, welcome to the forum and to the family. This is a really nice way to introduce yourself.

This has a laid back 60's kind of feel to the groove of the music.

Nicely done.


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Mick,

Enjoyed listening to your song. A good 1st post.
A nice write. Causal and conversational. The chorus is terrific - love the sing-a-bility of it!
Nice, appropriate arrangement/production. Good use of BIAB.
Very appropriate guitar fills.

Well done.

fj

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Hi Mick,

Welcome to the forum! Good to have you with us.

Uh, really old? I'm closing in on 80 - grew up in the 40s and 50s. Been playing music professionally since 1963.

This is a terrific way to introduce yourself. excellent use of band In A Box. What I like about this one is it sounds "real". I could see myself sitting at the bar with a cold Bud Light in front of me at the local hangout and listening to you sing this.

That was a very enjoyable listen!

Alan


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Mick, this is an excellent first post
Super groove
Great vocal
Super lyrics
I agree that the backing band should be a tad lower in volume
Nice guitar licks that are played in the perfect spots.

OK Twinkle Toes I gotta ask, how old are you? I'll bet that you are younger than me.


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Really appreciate the encouragement folks, thanks. In regard to the age challenge, OK you got me. A little openess for the positive review - not a bad deal. Born in 1948.

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The guitar solo part meshes in well the instrumentation and groove. I like the laid-back feel of your composition. Keep posting!

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Hi, Mick

Easy-going tune, pleasantly sung and well done all around.

Welcome to the forum! smile


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Vocal control, you say. Never heard of it. Is that some kind of ProTools thing?

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Originally Posted by Twinkle Toes
I appreciate all of your feedback, thank you. Message received on the mix (particularly the chorus). I'll do some more work on it based upon your advice. Cheers.
Originally Posted by Twinkle Toes
A shy, first-toe-in-the-water song posting. I've written songs since I was about 12 and now I'm really old, so that's a long time. I have started recording some of my favs from over the years taking advantage of new technology to help get the sound closer to what I'd actually imagined originally. I don't consider myself a performer even though I've played in a few bands over the years. Composing and producing the tunes is the fun part for me.

"Sentimental Melody" is one of those old songs. It's a gentle shuffle ballad with a slight bluesy edge. The BIAB tracks used are:

RealTracks in song: 533:Bass, Electric, 12-8 Crystal Sw 065
RealTracks in song: ~904:Piano, Electric, Rhythm SmoothCool Sw16 075
RealTracks in song: 2686:Guitar, Electric, Soloist BluesSlow12-8BrentSimple Sw 065
MIDI SuperTracks in song: 2849:Organ, Rhythm BluesSlow128Mike Sw 065
RealTracks in song: 3878:Guitar, Electric, Rhythm VintagePopSlow68Chop Sw 070
RealDrums in Song:CountryShuffle128^6-a:Sidestick, HiHat , b:Snare, HiHat

A new mix based on comments is below:

https://soundcloud.com/mick-grainger/sentimental-melody-1?si=1d830e3b79f648f39af425e1ade26f47&utm_source=clipboard&utm_medium=text&utm_campaign=social_sharing

The drums are reinforced with UJAM Legend drums and the guitar mutes are from UJAM USynth. Tracks were transferred to Studio One 7 for editing, mixing and mastering. The vocal gets a helping hand from Melodyne. Finally, I throw in some female voices from Synthesizer V in the latter choruses as background. The lyrics:

"Watching passing cars, I think of you
On this foggy, grey day
Just a fleeting thought pulls me back in time
And lifts my spirits away

Things were newer then, things were rawer then
So much I just didn't see
But looking back from here, it seems it all worked out
Eventually

Let it loose, watch it fly
Set it free, sentimental melody

Are you happy now?
I hope you're happy now
With whatever you found
As for me I'm good, no need to worry there
A real legend unbound

Let it loose, watch it fly
Set it free, sentimental melody"

I hope you enjoy it and thanks for listening.

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Here’s just a small sampling of what you can look forward to in XPro Styles PAK 10: Soft indie folk worship songs, bumpin’ country boogies, gospel praise breaks, hard rockin’ pop, funky disco grooves, smooth Latin jazz pop, bossa nova fusion, western swing, alternative hip-hop, cool country funk, and much more!

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