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#864367 10/06/25 06:44 AM
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https://soundcloud.com/esa-blomberg/rising-sun-blues-trad?utm_source=clipboard&utm_medium=text&utm_campaign=social_sharing&si=f4d92b983cd44f9b80bb49d976ed844c

"Rising Sun Blues" is an early title for the traditional folk song "The House of the Rising Sun". The oldest known recording of this song was made in 1933 by Appalachian artists Clarence "Tom" Ashley and Gwen Foster. There are many versions. I learned this from a hit by the Animals in 1964. It was in 12/8 and in a minor key, also the melody line and lyrics were changed from the oldest versions.
My version is in 3/4 (or 6/8) and in major, like the oldest versions. The lyrics are as the same as in that 1933 recording, despite I added two verses from never versions. "Rising Sun" was the name of a bawdy house in two traditional English song and proposed that the location of the house was then relocated from England to the US by Southern performers, so I added some Celtic flavour to my version, like in the Appalacian old time songs.
In my version I sing and play mandolins (octave and Napolitan), banjos (tenor and plectrum) and guitars. I produced this at my home with Band in a Box and Reaper.

****** Song Summary *************
Title: House Of The Rising Sun
Key=Bm , Tempo 90, Length (m:s)=3:11
Style is _MONDOR.STY (Slow Swing Blues w/ Organ)
MelodyCustom Synth is Hi-Q 019 01 Organ, Electric, Rock Sforzando
RealTracks used:
RealTracks in style: 564:Bass, Electric, Blues Monday Sw 065
RealTracks in style: ~~425:Organ, B3, Background Blues Sw 120
RealTracks in style: ~~585:Guitar, Resophonic, Rhythm Blues Muddy Sw 120
RealDrums in style:BluesMondaySw8^01-a:Sidestick, HiHat , b:Sidestick, Ride

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Hi Arri!
Thanks for the background of this song. I knew the song was traditional folk, but knew nothing about its musical evolution. Based in the major key, the song has a different feel to it. As I listened, I was hearing another song but couldn’t initially put my finger on it, until I realised the similarity of its melody and harmony to ‘Last night I had the strangest dream’ on Simon and Garfunkel’s ‘Wednesday morning 3 A.M.’ album, which was a cover of the Ed McCurdy original - so I just found out.

The solo instrument - is that the Napolitan mandolin? I love the tone and pitch of that.

Andrew

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I 1st heard this via The Animals as well...a superb arrangement.
After that it was Leadbelly & eventually the early recordings.
This is a nice interpretation though your voice doesn't sit with the instrumentation - it sounds like it's in a different room & there seems to be some proximity effect/excess bottom end on it too.


Cheers
rayc
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Brno Offline OP
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Thanks. I'll check the vocals.

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I checked the vocals, and they were like I wanted. I tried to sing like an old man, who is regretting his past life, which wasn't hard to do, as I'm already 72.

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The first song I learned to play on guitar was the Animals version of this song, back in the late 60's I guess, and I've heard many different versions over the years.
Nothing quite like this though, the major key and different time signature certainly give it a different feel.
Nice job on this.

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Thanks.

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Oh, so good, Arri. Sure I know the song and played it many ways with many groups, but never like this. Oh, man, I wish I did. Never heard the '33 origianl of which you speak, but this one is so cool with banjo and mandolins. Good idea with the major shift and a more waltz feel. It fits perfectly. Very well done.


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We always enjoy a take on this tune.
Nice interpretation indeed.

Enjoyed it!

J&B

PS We previously posted a version that we rewrote to present it from the lady's perspective. smile


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Thanks. I often study the origins of the songs and many interesting and even surprising things show up.

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Great history lesson, Arri! Like Dave, this was one of the first songs I learned to play on guitar. No blue pill in those days, old men could only wax nostalgic about their days in the stews. Enjoyed this much, thanks for such an interesting post.


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Hi, Arri.

Nice cover, and nice playing too!

I agree with ray about the instruments feeling like they're in a different location. At some points the backing instruments are so low in comparison with the vocals (and hard panned) that the felt disconnected.


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

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Brno, I was aware of the original version so I listened to it first, then to your version.
Excellent rendition. Your vocal phrasing is very close to the original. Although the instrumentation was different it did fit the song perfectly. Excellent work.
IMHO this is your best to date.


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Thanks. I'm not a good singer, but I try still to keep the vocals so loud, that the words can be heard. Most of the comments I've got, were, that the vocals very too quiet and the words couldn't be heard. I also tried to sing with the broken voice of an old man (which wasn't hard). I also duplicated my vocal track and panned it 15 % to left and right to give more power. It's a pity some found the vocals disconnected from the backing band. They do have the same delay of large room, but vocals a shorter delay time (ca 2 ms against 7 ms). I still think, that the lyrics are most important and focus to keep them audible, even tho the backing band suffers from it.

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Hi Arri,
This is indeed a very old version of that famous song. I didn't know it was that old!
I was about 8 years old when I first heard this song, played by a Dutch marine on his guitar at our house in Curaçao, Caribbean.
I think he was paying more attention to my older sister than to his guitar, but I was impressed by the song (in the same style as the animals played it) and that guitar.
Sadly, the man died in a traffic accident, but the song and even his name have stayed with us. Later, I often played and sang the song on my guitar.
Those memories always come flooding back when I hear this song, even in this historic version. You've made a beautiful addition to it with all your instruments.
Well done, Arri!

Hans


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Hartelijk dank, Hans.

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