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Another of my story songs. First did this with help from my pal Mike Leblanc back in 2016 with a swing feel but decided recently to change the style and much of the lyric. Vic https://soundcloud.com/vic-arnold/aces-and-eights-1Aces And Eights or Dead Man's Hand vs2 © 2013 Vic Arnold with suggestions from Mike Leblanc V1 In the wild town of Deadwood, Jack had lost his pride. Playing at the tables ... with bad luck on his side. Bill took all his money and they all laughed in the saloon Gave him back a couple of dollars. Said ... "Jack. Don't you come back too soon" V2 Jack returned the next night ... Put aside his fear With a head full of vengeance and a belly full of beer The cards were on the table. The writing on the wall. Bill never knew what hit him ... when Jack came round to call Ch.1 Aces and eights. Called the dead man's hand Ever since that night down at Nuttal and Mann's Was it just fate or was it something more when Bill sat at the table with his back toward the door V3 They say Jack stepped up from behind, pulled out his 44 "Take that" he cried, a shot rang out and Bill slumped to the floor Now there lay Wild Bill Hickok. In a spreading pool of blood still holding in his fingers his last hand of five card stud Inst. V4 When later, Jack's arrested, found guilty of the offense He showed no remorse, said he'd do it all again So they swung him from the gallows and now he's lying still And the cards no longer shuffle for the legend of Wild Bill Ch2. Aces and eights. It's called the dead man's hand Ever since that night down at Nuttal and Mann's Was it just fate or was the whole thing planned Jack got his glory ... but he got hanged Ch1. Aces and eights. Called the dead man's hand Ever since that night down at Nuttal and Mann's Was it just fate or was there something more when Bill sat with his back toward the door Bass = 1759, Drums =Northern Rock ballad Guitars 806, 703, 2626 and 804
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I enjoyed that.
I love story songs.
Well written, performed and mixed.
My only suggestion to make this a viable hit would be find a way to cut it back a minute or two.
I enjoyed it but, it's hard to get long songs to stick with today's short attention span audiences.
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Hi Captain.
Thanks for your comment. Glad you enjoyed it.
I realise it's long and hasn't much chance of being a hit but if I cut it down too 3 9r 4 minutes it would lose the story and that story feel.
If I speed it up it would sound weird. I am resigned to a non hit here. Having said that; I changed it once so could do it again :-)
Vic
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Vic,
Good story telling song.
Sort of like Dylan's Lily, Rosemary and the Jack of Hearts which goes for 9 minutes and is sung pretty fast.
I especially liked the chorus. Nicely produced.
Peter
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Well done! I like this kind of songs which is telling a story.
Keep posting, please!
Will
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Hi Vic
Very well written and sung. Great band. Like Peter, I picked up a bit of similarity to Dylan's Lily, Rosemary and the Jack of Hearts. Much enjoyed my listen.
Regards,
Leon
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Good old western card tale sung well, liked it a lot, a bit long but still good.
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Thanks for your input, Peter. Never heard that song before. Wow! Nine minutes! Done at my song's speed that could work out to about 18 minutes. Another three like that would make a CD.  I suppose there is a similarity being that they are both bar room songs. I see you are in Sidney. A guitarist pal of mine called John Wheals moved over there in the seventies. We lost touch. I don't suppose you ever bumped into him? Vic
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I will, Will.
Thank you for your comment.
Vic
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Vic,
Good BAND, good vocal, good mix.
A bit long, seems "slow" at times. I think you could take out some space.
The chorus is nice.
fj
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Good old western card tale sung well, liked it a lot, a bit long but still good. I agree with that Vicarn; though I think the length would be less commented on if you were to introduce more dynamic changes in the arrangement - not much needed, maybe a harmony on choruses,bringing the intensity up or down through instrument choices. I like story songs, so you have my attention with this style of songwriting. Robert
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Thanks for your input, Peter. Never heard that song before. Wow! Nine minutes! Done at my song's speed that could work out to about 18 minutes. Another three like that would make a CD. I suppose there is a similarity being that they are both bar room songs. I see you are in Sidney. A guitarist pal of mine called John Wheals moved over there in the seventies. We lost touch. I don't suppose you ever bumped into him? Vic Vic Can't say I have. Peter
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Hi Vic ...
A really good story song. They sometimes take a while to tell. reminded me a bit of Johnny Cash's version of "John Henry". It, too, was pretty long ... 8:24. Radio Disc Jockeys loved it ... they could pee, grab a sandwich & a Coke, and still have time to settle in behind the mic before the song ended!
Your voice, to my ears, has a slight tinge of Johnny Cash. And that's not a bad thing! listened all the way through and enjoyed it. Nice work!
Wishin' you the best. Be safe ...
Alan
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Thanks Leon.
Much appreciate your support.
Vic
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Thanks Tunemonger.
I am considering the length of it.
Vic
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Thank you Floyd.
There are places I could trim where there's nothing much going on and without damaging the story feel.
I have done some cutting already.
Vic
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Hi Robert.
Thanks for the nudge. I'm working on it.
Vic
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Thanks Al.
That's a good pitching angle: "Pee, sandwich and coke."
Vic
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Vic,
I love the write and I love the feel of this song . . . and your vocal matches both. As usual, you do such a great job on the percussion—really carries this song along (with that bass). As others noted, length and pacing could be a commercial challenge, but that’s never been something that worries me, particularly when the story is strong enough to keep the listener engaged, as it is here. Robert has some good suggestions on ways to maybe perk things up along the way—worth exploring maybe.
Good stuff, Vic. Enjoyed the tale!
Best regards,
Deej
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Hi Deej.
Yeah, to hell with the commercial side.
I was listening to Bob Dylan's live version of "Billy" which doesn't seem to vary all the way through.
However, I have now shortened it (about 25 secs) by cutting some of the spaces and put a couple more fills in the choruses.
It is what it is, as they say.
Thanks for having a listen.
Vic
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