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rayc Offline OP
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An analogy based on an allegory with some metaphors sprinkled in for good measure.
RALLY 'ROUND the SOW'S HEAD
REAL DRUMS RockHard^03
ORGAN 4253
STRINGS 2062 & 2512
Ska Guitar 3493
Steve Hutter did the Baritone guitar solo & runs on the choruses
Alison Reynolds played cello in the last two choruses
Terry Berman sings the main vocal
I did the bass, extra guitars, verse & last two choruses baritone on the left. I also wrote the midi string parts using a Redtron VSTi.
Mastered, as usual, by Fran Ashcroft.

Video is in the works.

All thoughts, comments, suggestions etc. are most welcome.

LYRICS
Flies swarm about the sow's head
Jack & Roger seize the day
The beast lurks within, without
The hunt is underway

Today's another plane wreck
Yet more barbaric & cruel
The beast radiates darkness
That vested interests fuel

Piggy's science sustained them
It's a power to be dashed
Spear, mightier than the mind
Or lens that must be smashed

Today's another train wreck
bodies scattered on the track
The beast radiates darkness
Actions they can't take back

Today's another car crash
Massive pile up on the road
The beast radiates darkness
Fueled by the mother-lode 6

c4Today's another plane wreck
Yet more barbaric & cruel
The beast wears a red hat
Four letters for the fools.

Last edited by rayc; 02/19/25 08:30 PM.

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rayc
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Very cool sound. That bass grabs the beat early and never lets go. Super job on the strings, too. Vocals, baritone and cello are all quite nice. That BiaB ska guitar is perfect. Like the dark lyrics and the harmonic progression. Wouldn't change a thing. Well, except now when I close my eyes I keep seeing a sow's head...Ha!


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Really well done Ray and Crew!
Nice job on all the instruments, I especially like the bass and cello. Baritone is cool too, I need to get one one of these days wink
Good vocal too, I thought it was a little low in the mix initially but it grew on me.
And love the dark lyrics!
Looking forward to the vid.

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You definitely surround yourself with good talent, Ray. Excllent choice on the baritone; Steve really added an good edge of impact, although I noticed you mispelled his name on SC. Allison is always a good idea; she plays with such love of feeding the song with taste. Terry brings in his cool vocal. He delivers tragedy with such a soft flare for kindness. (I'm not sure what I mean either.) I love the write here, too. Your bass is such good news for any song. Love the way you think, my friend. "An analogy based on an allegory with some metaphors sprinkled in for good measure." Simile makes me smile.


Enjoy whatever happens!
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This was, as always, interesting. Your use of the unconventional is beyond compare and well done.


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Good solid bass and use of baritone.
I feel the vocal could come up a tad, maybe.
Good mix.
Vic

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Hello Ray & Gang,

Well, that was unusual, interesting ... and pretty darn good!

Given the title, I wasn't sure what to expect - just that it would be a great listen. I was right about that.

The lyric is a bit on the dark side, and the band supported that quite nicely. The bass line and baritone guitar were stand out. And, as always, Alison's cello part was excellent.

Much enjoyed! best to you and your mates.

Alan


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ray (and crew)

Nice bottom. Smooth sounding bass.
I always want the drums louder.
Good guitar balance.
Love the JamesBond guitar on the left.
Cool baritone.
Nice vocals.

Very well balanced.
A great signature sound. Consistent.

Another scary write.
Just another day.
They don't have a clue what they have unleashed.

fj

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Ray and company, this is an excellent and very interesting song
I liked the backing tracks a lot, excellent work on that
I thought the vocal could be a tad louder
I really liked this song.


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Ray & Team,

Love the song and the excellent production. Some really nice things going on in this mix.

Nice work all.

Bob

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Originally Posted by DC Ron
Very cool sound. That bass grabs the beat early and never lets go. Super job on the strings, too. Vocals, baritone and cello are all quite nice. That BiaB ska guitar is perfect. Like the dark lyrics and the harmonic progression. Wouldn't change a thing. Well, except now when I close my eyes I keep seeing a sow's head...Ha!
Thanks DC,
The BIAB components are fabulous & that ska guitar was a very out there thing to use given the rest of the arrangement but wow, having access to squillions of things to try lead me to using it and I think it's a cherry on the top.


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rayc
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Originally Posted by BlueAttitude
Really well done Ray and Crew!
Nice job on all the instruments, I especially like the bass and cello. Baritone is cool too, I need to get one one of these days wink
Good vocal too, I thought it was a little low in the mix initially but it grew on me.
And love the dark lyrics!
Looking forward to the vid.
It is a bit of a crew isn't it? I've worked with Steve twice, Alison about five times and Terry - well, Terry & I were in a band together in the mid 80s.
I agree about the vocal...it takes a little time but fits. I tried louder but other parts of the arrangement suffered so it is what n where it is.


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rayc
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Originally Posted by BabuMusic
You definitely surround yourself with good talent, Ray. Excllent choice on the baritone; Steve really added an good edge of impact, although I noticed you mispelled his name on SC. Allison is always a good idea; she plays with such love of feeding the song with taste. Terry brings in his cool vocal. He delivers tragedy with such a soft flare for kindness. (I'm not sure what I mean either.) I love the write here, too. Your bass is such good news for any song. Love the way you think, my friend. "An analogy based on an allegory with some metaphors sprinkled in for good measure." Simile makes me smile.
Thanks Marty,
I bought a VERY cheap baritone...AUS$300...so decided to showcase it. Soon after Steve bought a baritone in the US for even less. He took up the opportunity to showcase his bari.
I've fixed the misspelling. Alison came on board before there were lyrics & melody. It was a protracted collaboration...still unfinished as the video isn't completed...that started in November.


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rayc
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Originally Posted by Guitarhacker
This was, as always, interesting. Your use of the unconventional is beyond compare and well done.
Unconventional often comes from the untutored.
Thanks.


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rayc
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Originally Posted by vicarn
Good solid bass and use of baritone.
I feel the vocal could come up a tad, maybe.
Good mix.
Vic
Thanks Vic,
I'm not surprised re the vocal but I've explained the why above somewhere.


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rayc
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Originally Posted by Al-David
Hello Ray & Gang,
Well, that was unusual, interesting ... and pretty darn good!
Given the title, I wasn't sure what to expect - just that it would be a great listen. I was right about that.
The lyric is a bit on the dark side, and the band supported that quite nicely. The bass line and baritone guitar were stand out. And, as always, Alison's cello part was excellent.
Much enjoyed! best to you and your mates.
Alan
Thanks Alan,
The line in the lyric that the title comes from is, as your probably guessed, a reference to The Lord of the Flies.
dark words, dark story & dark allegory for dark times I'm afraid.


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Originally Posted by floyd jane
ray (and crew)
Nice bottom. Smooth sounding bass.
I always want the drums louder.
Good guitar balance.
Love the JamesBond guitar on the left.
Cool baritone.
Nice vocals.
Very well balanced.
A great signature sound. Consistent.
Another scary write.
Just another day.
They don't have a clue what they have unleashed.
fj
Thanks Floyd,
The left guitar is me in the verses and Steve in the choruses...so thanks for that specific too.
The adults turned up, eventually, to bring things into balance in the book but there're no adults within the locus of influence in this story time.


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rayc
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Originally Posted by MarioD
Ray and company, this is an excellent and very interesting song
I liked the backing tracks a lot, excellent work on that
I thought the vocal could be a tad louder
I really liked this song.
Thanks Mario,
The backing was the fun part - exploring BIAB and adding my own bits.


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rayc
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Originally Posted by rsdean
Ray & Team,
Love the song and the excellent production. Some really nice things going on in this mix.
Nice work all.
Bob
Thank you Bob,
I did enjoy planting little things like the classical guitar flourishes that are easy to overlook but add to the texture & vibe.
I've since had to replace the tuners and almost completely restore the classical guitar since this was tracked. Hopefully I haven't killed it.


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rayc
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As soon as I saw the title, I knew exactly what this was about. I though to myself, "Lord of the Flies and the big orange American hog." My honors students just finished LOTF last week. Love the song and the baritone guitar. No subtlety in the last lines but directness is needed anyway.

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