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Welcome
Please feel free to address anything that doesn’t sound finished.

New Song – Emotional Train Wreck – a three-city collaboration
Co – writers: Ian Fraser and Greg Yarrow who have been friends since their first gig together in October 1970 at Dalhousie University.
Mixer and Master – Mario DeLaura of Forum fame.
Emotional Train Wreck This is a wma file and should work with any browser.

The Process
Created in BIAB with _CNTRYFS Ev8Ctry w PedSteel (190 RS) (not all of the RTs below were recommended by the style)
Edited in RealBand 2010.5 and PowerTracks 12
Initial mixing in RB,
Harmony – Greg Yarrow
Mastering and Remixing by Mario in Sonar

RealBass RT519 Pop HalfNotes Ev120
RealDrums-NashvilleEven8^6-HiHat,HhatO
RT622-Pedal Steel Waylon Ev167 – EXCLUDED – didn’t fit
RT406 Guitar Acoustic Strumming Ev 136
RT522 Guitar Acoustic Fingerpicking Ev 120
RT412 Guitar Electric Soloist Cowboy EV 165
RT685 Harmonica Bg Pop Ev 120
Not so Secret Ingredient: RT500 Guitar Electric Rhythm StoneZ Flash 1 Ev 140 (‘A only’)

Song History – written in 2010 after an email discussion about our female relationship choices back in the early years. The song rose from the dust with Greg’s use of the phrase “emotional train wreck” – what a great title, we thought. The rest of the song is largely fantasy and fabrication. Any more would be telling.

Enjoy
Ian


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Ian,
I throughly enjoyed this - it really kicks and was a lot of fun.

Great job guys!

Bob

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Thanks for checking in Bob - it was supposed to be Modern Country but couldn't resist the Stonez RT.

Just a couple of old folkies here with a great software.

Ian


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In general, it sounds good and is a fun song.

There are a number of places where the lead singer slightly staggers the vocals, and it doesn't quite match BiaB. Most of the time, it sounds OK despite BiaB chugging along like clockwork. But at the points where the entrances don't match up, I'd be really tempted to stretch the vocals so the hit at the same time.

My ears are too clogged up to say anything useful about the mix, sorry.

The ending cuts off a bit abruptly.

Other than that, it sounds fine.

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Hey "dc"

Staggering is something that I do vocally for effect at times but I'll give it a tighter listen.

I agree that the harmonica and bass could have held in a bit longer - I should have checked the RTs - can't chalk it up to anything but lazy - wanted to post it to see what the overall feelings were toward the song. I'm sure I'll have a to do list when everyone gets finished.

If you can cite the "off" lyrics it would be appreciated.

Cheers - Ian


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I can tell that's the effect that you're aiming for. If there were a 'real' band behind you, they'd give you a bit more breathing room and it would rock. The issue is with BiaB, not you.

The only places it really matters is at the entrance of the lyrics. I'll have another listen.


-- David Cuny

My virtual singer development blog
Vocal control, you say. Never heard of it. Is that some kind of ProTools thing?

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guote\
Ian,
I throughly enjoyed this - it really kicks and was a lot of fun.

Great job guys!

Bob
/end quote

Hi Ian,

I also enjoyed this. I used to play the bars years ago, and I think this would have went over well in some of the dives...ere..I mean clubs I used to play. lol.

Later,
Jim


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Nice song and performances Ian!


Have Fun!
Peter Gannon
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Hi Ian,
I like the intro creative tight sets the song up well. I also thought the way you sing train wrrrRRECK was spot on. My fav line was the one about "jack" . I thought the rhymes harder and order were unusual but work. Sounds like ya'll had a ton of fun.

Last but not least - cool pictures of you guys.

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Hi, Ian.

The "missed" entrances that stood out are at 1:35 and 3:22. There's a wide contrast in energy in the song. In some parts (like around 3:00) there's a lot of energy in the vocal, while at others (like 0:42) the timing is fine, but the vocal feels weak relative to the instruments. But it's still fun all the way through.

I'd have bet good money that guitar solo starting at 2:15 and 3:37 wasn't a RealTracks! I've got to have a closer listen to Guitar Electric Soloist Cowboy EV 165!


-- David Cuny

My virtual singer development blog
Vocal control, you say. Never heard of it. Is that some kind of ProTools thing?

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Thanks Jim.
I used to play in the dives but as a single with acoustic. Never played in a group after high school.

They'd dance to anything with a beat - even if only acoustic.
Glad you enjoyed.

Ian/Greg


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Nice software Peter.

Helping to live my creative dreams.

Ian


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Hey Josie

Thanks for the feedback - we were trying to make "train wreck" sound like the harmony-grouping of a real train whistle - still I guess it worked. Really glad to hear you grabbed the "jack" line - one of my favorites . . . .er, lines that is.

Harder/order just happened, we weren't even looking for a word to rhyme, it just popped in and we never questioned it - I'm very glad to hear that it's a comfortable fit.

Re photos - aw shucks ( foot scuffing in the dirt.)

It was great working out of three cities - thank God for Mario's and Greg's hearing.

In the chorus "turn off the light" I emailed them several times saying "I can't hear the "eff", it sounds like "on" - a couple of times. Return e-mails "Relax it's there". I don't use the phone well either.

Thanks for feedback Josie

Ian/Greg/Mario


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"dc"
Quote:

The ending cuts off a bit abruptly.



Here is a smoother ending - thanks to Mario.
Emotional Train Wreck update

I'll save vocal anomalies for another day. In several places I was deliberately "relaxing the phrasing", others I was being a bit lazy and concentrating on the lyrics.
Would that be the Bob Dylan minimal takes school of recording.


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Hi Ian,
Just getting round to listening to your song.
I like it a lot.
No critique from me.
It just works.

Best regards
Michee


Windows 11 64 bit, Biab 2026 (1237), Realband 2026 (10)
i7 Desktop Computer 16Gb Memory

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Hi Michee

"I'd like to say thank you on behalf of ourselves and the group (Mario and Greg) etc etc"

Good of you to respond.

Ian


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Quote:

Would that be the Bob Dylan minimal takes school of recording.



I was reading the back of a Dean Martin LP a while ago. The guy writing the liner notes explained that Dean walked into the studio, recorded the songs, and was done in less than an hour for the entire album. He considered himself a "stylist", not a singer.

That's impressive.


-- David Cuny

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

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