Before doing anything else, I feel I should address several production suggestions/nits all at the same time...

It has been cool to have so many people mention things that they felt could be changed... I don't usually get a lot of that...

This song (production) is intended to get a little closer to an "updated" sound (for me, anyway). Not that I won't still do the other (older?) stuff, but...

These days, I listen to a LOT of new music. And there is a lot of it that I like.
I'm not talking about just "new Country" (though I do listen to almost every new major release at least once).
There's also forays into Pop, Alternative Rock, Americana.
The newer styles of these genres are influencing some of what I do.
Some of it I did not like when I first heard them.
But I have grown to like more and more new stuff the more I listen.
If you don't venture into these areas then some of what I'll be doing will likely land outside what you are accustom to hearing.
Or not.

Some examples?
Go listen to Charlie Puth's "Voicenotes".
Or the new Taylor Swift.
Maggie Rogers' "Heard It In A Past Life"...
Any of Ryan Hurd's EPs...

That's just a quick few....


So... back to Every Little Piece Of My Heart...

ray (rayc) said:
the only nit that stuck out was the bass tone in the intro - it's a bit aggressive/toppy when that naked though it sits perfectly for the rest of the song.

...and David (dcuny)
I'm with rayc on the bass - it initially sounds too loud with the guitar, but once the vocal kicks in, it magically slots into place.


An aggressive bass is a mainstay of much of current music. There are untold numbers of songs that have aggressive bass and drums and little else - some tinkling of something here and there. So, that was intentional.



Herb (Guitarhacker) said:
I don't think the guitar solo fit as well as it should have. Tone was a factor.

This is one I whole-heartedly disagree with. Guitar tone is entirely subjective. What better tone for a song like this than Brent Mason doing Crossover. Your sound is rooted in the '70's. If you want everything to sound like ZZ Top or Marshall Tucker, that's fine. But it's not going into anything I'm doing these days (unless it is intentionally retro).



Ed Z (EdZ314) said:
If you wanted to put a bit more swing in there and some more aggressive arranging and instrumentation, it could also work really well in that style too. I think its great as it stands, no need to change it, but a really good song can have several excellent variations and still cut it.

...and David (dcuny) said:
I've got mixed feelings on the instrumentation - I like the idea of the pared-down mix, but it feels too stripped down to me. Again, "feelings", not a suggestion that you should change anything.


That is an interesting perspective, I think. I don't feel that this is "pared-down". especially compared to a lot of the current music. There is quite a bit going on throughout the song - and a lot towards the end. I supposed compared to what we grew up listening to it might be considered pared-down. But as I said earlier... I'm trying new stuff...

(Ed Z - Welcome to the Showcase!! Looking forward to hearing some of your stuff on here...especially if you are going for that "new sound"...)


Stefan (Crossroads) said:
If I may humbly make a suggestion: I think another drum track could make the song even 'rounder' - there's too much boom-boom by the kick and the snare for my personal taste, and I can almost hear no cymbals. A more balanced drum track with a smooth ride could support the flow, especially of the chorus, I think.

Almost ALL of the new stuff I'm listening to these days has VERY little more than a kick and a snare or clap. Practically NO hats. And I prefer that type drum track. Lee Brice's Hard2Love album got me started on that. And much of the new Country that I like is that way...


I am NOT trying to rustle any feathers here. Merely explaining where these sounds are coming from.


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