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Joined: Apr 2020
Posts: 310
Journeyman
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Journeyman
Joined: Apr 2020
Posts: 310 |
Candidly I don't post a lot in the forum because I find my music to be one off, but I think some of you like to hear something a bit different. I wrote this song as a testament to the old soul groups of Motown and Philadelphia which I loved and grew up with like the Delfonics, Stylistics, Blue Magic, The Moments etc. So I found a decent pattern in BIAB that I could use as the rhythm section and built the song around that. The string arrangements were played by me through a MIDI controller and were the type of string lines that were instrumental to music of that era. For the video I thought I play around a bit and use my cell phone camera taking a gaff at myself. It is 30 seconds or so but I think it sets the song up nicely. This song has just started playing on all the major platforms and Pandora (of course without my foolishness in the intro) :-) so hopefully it will resonate with my existing fan base and grow it a bit more. Of course all vocals (lead and harmonies) were performed by me. https://youtu.be/GHpjr8oHpaAFor this song I used: Style: Texas Blues 12/8 w/Guitar Solo Drums: Real Drums Southern Pop 12-8 Bass: 1922: Texas Blues Rock Slow Guitar 1: 1923: Electric Blues Rock Slow Guitar 2: 1924: Electric Rhythm Texas Blues Rock Slow Guitar 3: 838: Electric Rhythm Pop Ballad Clean Organ: 688: B3 Background Pop Piano: 1576: Acoustic Rhythm Soul Strings: Cakewalk SI MIDI String Synth M-Audio KeyStudio MIDI Controller Vocals: Shure PG-42 through Focusrite SOLO USB Interface
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Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 1,825
Expert
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Expert
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 1,825 |
Hi Henry,
Wow - what a production!
Yes - you really have the Philadelphia/Motown feel down perfectly.
Vocals - top notch.
BV's - spot on.
Instrumentation - perfect.
All-round very professional song - congratulations.
Best Regards
Nigel
Nigel Spiers
Christchurch, New Zealand
info@nzacoustics.com
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Joined: Apr 2013
Posts: 8,766 |
Oh yea. Mr. Nigel set it up perfectly. I'll add you were very accurate with the string arrangements.
Enjoyed my listen a lot.
Charlie
BIAB 2025:RB 2025, Latest builds: Dell Optiplex 7040 Desktop; Windows-10-64 bit, Intel Core i7-6700 3.4GHz CPU and 16 GB Ram Memory.
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Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 10,694
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Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 10,694 |
I was raised in south Jersey in the 60's and that was a very familiar sound on the radio out of Philly.
I think you nailed it perfectly. even got the Phil Spector wall of sound going on.
My only nit on this is the verb is heavy on the vox and the lead vox is kinda down there in the mix. The lead could stand to come up a few dB or so....
I had a really hard time understanding the lyrics.... in fact.... I didn't get very many of the words at all. Maybe it's just my gunshot and guitars ears... Ease off the verb and bump the lead vox a bit to let it set in the mix. Use Smokey Robinson as your guide on levels and verb.
And.... as far as not posting for one reason or another.... A lot of folks here are "one off" writers. If you got it, post it up. Personally, I like hearing the stuff you write. And this one is well done and worthy to be heard. Cool video editing job too.
You can find my music at: www.herbhartley.comAdd nothing that adds nothing to the music. You can make excuses or you can make progress but not both. The magic you are looking for is in the work you are avoiding.
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Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 24,168
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Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 24,168 |
Nigel is spot on!
All I can add is WOW this is fantastic.
To nitpick I also think that the vocal could come up a tad. You have a excellent and very versatile voice so showcase it more.
Also please post more often.
I'm in a fitness protection program. I'm been hiding from exercise.
64 bit Win 10 Pro, the latest BiaB/RB, Roland Octa-Capture audio interface, a ton of software/hardware
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Joined: Feb 2016
Posts: 1,677
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Joined: Feb 2016
Posts: 1,677 |
Henry,
as far as I'm concerned you should post a new song here every week - this one is a treat.
I've been a huge Motown fan ever since (spent months trying to find out how James Jamerson did what he did)- if Smokey had known this song he would definitely have recorded it. But your vocal is amazing, too.
The video is really nice, too - good fun.
Like everything from A to Z.
Take care and please return soon !
Stefan
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You never fail to please, Henry!! Great voices and a terrific video. I want to say everything Stefan said. Man, this is song is soooo good, and, yes, Smokey would've been all over this. I'm right there with you on the Motown & Philly sounds, and you do it righteous justice, man. Thanks for posting it.
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Henry
Lovely work on the song, beautifully sung and arranged.
I agree with Herb about the lead vocal processing, but overall an excellent job.
Peter
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Whas'sup, Mr. Clark? Though I agree with 'guitarhacker(s)' observation that the vocal track is kinda in the backfield and processed with a wee bit too much reverb, nonetheless your vocal harmonies are so heavenly and your string arrangement complements them so gorgeously that I couldn't help being swept-up by the song. It really took me a place that I'd love re-visit and remain in. Cool video, too  !
"Music is what feelings sound like."-- borrowed from a Cakewalk Music Creator forum member, "Mamabear".
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Joined: Nov 2017
Posts: 480
Journeyman
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Journeyman
Joined: Nov 2017
Posts: 480 |
Henry, unbelievable!! What a production, reminds me of my favorite Motown group the Temptations!!
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Joined: Apr 2019
Posts: 708
Journeyman
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Journeyman
Joined: Apr 2019
Posts: 708 |
Love the genre, Henry, which you nailed. And your vocals are exceptionally good. Great song. Keep them coming.
Regards,
Leon
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Journeyman
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Journeyman
Joined: Apr 2020
Posts: 310 |
Thanks all for the kind comments. One thing is that once it's posted that means it's been released so it's gone. No tweaking the vocals, sound or anything. Regardless the song is doing fairly well. Almost 2k streams on Spotify (and growing daily), 500 on iTunes, some plays on Amazon, Deezer, Tidal, and a few other sites. It's grown my Pandora listener base by around 500% and 27 Thousand views on Facebook resulting in 71 shares and still growing. Thanks again for the kind comments and you guys continue composing the great music you are creating. Cheers !!
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I don't have enough technical know-how to provide and in-depth critique, but I can tell you that I enjoyed this production from go to whoa. String and vocal arrangements were most impressive. Love the harmonies.
ProTools; Ableton Live Lite; Reaper
Focusrite Scarlett 2i2 MK4 interface
Novation Launchkey 61 Mk4 midi controller
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A double shot of Henry Clarke (The Henry Clarke Five)!!! WOW, you're making me nostalgic!!! Love the era and you have stayed beautifully true to it. SOOOO. SOOOOO. GOOOD!!! Take care. Greg
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