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Fire The Next Time
© 2020 Trad Arr Bud Merritt, Janice Merritt & Peter Fulham

We arranged the lyric based, in large part, on three 19th century African-American Spirituals, “God gave Noah the rainbow sign,” “I’ve got a home in that rock,” and “Mary, don’t you weep.” Much later gospel and folk music can be readily traced to tunes like these with a little research - a debt that is frequently not credited.

Our title is taken from “no more water, the fire next time” a line found in some versions of these old songs. And, more significantly, James Baldwin used it as the title of his civil rights book “The Fire Next Time” published in 1963. BTW, The phrase “...home in that rock” may reference “honey in the rock” that is traditionally thought to mean there’s some good in the toughest of places.

This is a completely new production retaining only the lyric from an acoustic version we posted seven years ago. A big shout-out to Peter for the guitar tracks/arrangement input and to PG Music for their products and this community.

As always your comments are welcome and appreciated.

Be safe.

Janice: vocal, melody and arrangement
Peter: guitar solos and fills
Bud: lyric compilation, tech stuff and arrangement

Vocal: Rodes NT1 mic > Scarlett 212 > Logic Pro X > Logic EQ > Waves CLA Vocals
Guitar (Peter): solos, fills including wah wah fill
Drums: RD BluesRockSlowEv^1-a:SideStick , b:Snare > Waves CLA Drums
Conga: RD CongasEv8 Waves > CLA Drums
Gongs: EMT Plate Reverb sim (thanks to Peter for samples)
Rhythm guitar: RT 3164 Baritone Electric > Waves CLA Guitar
Bass: RT 2903 Acoustic > Waves Bass Rider > Neutron 3
Piano: MIDI SuperTrack 3004: Piano, ElectricVintage > Logic Pro X Wurlitzer Classic sound
(Neutron’s “anti-masking” used on most tracks)

Mastering: Ozone EQ > Ozone Dynamics > Ozone Imager > Ozone Maximizer > Ozone Tonal Balance > Logic Pro X Loudness Meter


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I always love everything you guys do. But this one is special. The purity and simplicity of the arrangement it stunning. It gives ample space for Janice's vocals to shine (like they always do). And Peter, amazing job on the guitar work. Everything is in its place. Again, all your songs are good, to me. But I think this one is a new favorite for me!

Well done, my friends!

Steve


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You three always raise the bar here and this I believe is your best to date. The perfect background was set for Janice's, as usual, outstanding vocal. Peter's guitar is icing on the cake.


I'm in a fitness protection program. I'm been hiding from exercise.

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Originally Posted By: Steve Young
I always love everything you guys do. But this one is special. The purity and simplicity of the arrangement it stunning. It gives ample space for Janice's vocals to shine (like they always do). And Peter, amazing job on the guitar work. Everything is in its place. Again, all your songs are good, to me. But I think this one is a new favorite for me!

Well done, my friends!

Steve


Thank you Steve. We were aiming for a simple arrangement and chord structure to hint at the songs from which this was derived. And we agree for sure on your comment about Peter’s guitar. Thanks for your continued support!

J&B


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Quite simply, superb.
Regards,
Leon

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Greetings To All Three Of You ..

An excellent song any way you want to slice and dice it. Yes ... simplicity can be elegant. A wonderful arrangement and superb performance by all three of you. If you folks keep raising the bar like this, I'm gonna need an oxygen mask just to see it.

Sweet!!!!!!!

Wishing all of you the best. Please be safe ...

Alan

Last edited by Al-David; 07/30/20 01:47 PM.

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It works so well when sign is sung in a sigh.
Excellent ensemble piece.
Great parts and greater than them too.
That voice!


Cheers
rayc
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Pure perfection!

The stripped down arrangement allows both Janice and Peter to shine, excellent performance from both!

Mix sounds great though both the 'phones and the KRK's.

Love the fake ending!

Nice one you three, enjoyed.

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Originally Posted By: MarioD
You three always raise the bar here and this I believe is your best to date. The perfect background was set for Janice's, as usual, outstanding vocal. Peter's guitar is icing on the cake.


Thanks for the listen and comments!

J&B


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Originally Posted By: Steve Young
I always love everything you guys do. But this one is special. The purity and simplicity of the arrangement it stunning. It gives ample space for Janice's vocals to shine (like they always do). And Peter, amazing job on the guitar work. Everything is in its place. Again, all your songs are good, to me. But I think this one is a new favorite for me!

Well done, my friends!

Steve


Thanks Steve - Bud certainly has a knack of bringing the best out in the mix.

Peter

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Good work on all sides.

You guys have that blues thing together.

I enjoyed it.


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Originally Posted By: Leon1
Quite simply, superb.
Regards,
Leon


Thank you Leon!

J&B


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Wow, this is just a very good song. And the mix - and especially the balance between the vocal and the rest of the band - is outstanding well done.

I really enjoyed this song!

Thanks for sharing!
Will

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The understated arrangement works well, and I also got caught by the false ending!

Thanks also for the details - I'm not really familiar with spirituals, so it's nice to get filled in on the background. smile


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Originally Posted By: Al-David
Greetings To All Three Of You ..

An excellent song any way you want to slice and dice it. Yes ... simplicity can be elegant. A wonderful arrangement and superb performance by all three of you. If you folks keep raising the bar like this, I'm gonna need an oxygen mask just to see it.

Sweet!!!!!!!

Wishing all of you the best. Please be safe ...

Alan


Thanks Al! Y’all take care and hope the house building is going well.

J&B


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Hi Janice, Bud and Peter.
What a nice blues between Africa and America, somewhere on a secret island !
Everything is so well done.
The arrangements and Bud's mix are top notch, Peter's guitar is magic and Janice's voice is a gift from Heaven.
Thanks for sharing. Christian

Last edited by Chris37; 07/31/20 03:20 AM.
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AS. GOOD. AS. IT. GETS.

Period.

LOVE this BAND.

THE tastiest guitar Peter has ever played. Perfect.

Janice - At The Top Of Her Game. It is a CRIME that you are not a SuperStar.

The mix is GORGEOUS.

I would buy an album based on this one song (hoping the rest of it was THIS good).

Your BEST. Ever. THAT is a high bar.

(Deb says "I love it!)
("It's really good!")
("It's super good!")
...she just keeps talking about it.

Great album cover, too.


DAMN this is good!!!

fj

Last edited by floyd jane; 07/31/20 03:33 AM.
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You guys are my favorite group. Seriously. Everything you do, and how you do it, is outstanding. Right from your germ of an idea, through the mention of overdue credit, and then to the real jackpot. What a wonderful song with the perfect lyrics and feel. Excellent choices on instruments, especially that guitarist. wink Janice's voice is so engaging with a magnetic feeling. Bud, Janice & Peter, thanks you.


Enjoy whatever happens!
marty

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Originally Posted By: rayc
It works so well when sign is sung in a sigh.
Excellent ensemble piece.
Great parts and greater than them too.
That voice!


Thank you Ray. Cool that you noted the way Janice sang that. She appreciates your mention!

J&B


Our albums and singles are on Spotify, Apple Music, Amazon Music, YouTube Music, Pandora and more.
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Great, great, great as always. What a trio of talent. Inspirational for the rest of us here trying to find our way!


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