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Backwater There’re many news stories of late about floods around the world so perhaps this post is topical. Close to 100 years old Backwater Blues (public domain) by the wonderful Bessie Smith is about a 1926 Nashville, TN flood. We changed the chord progression and lightly tweaked the lyric and hope you find it of interest. Big thanks to our music partner PeterF and PG Music. Comments are always welcome! Backwater appears on our new album Deep In The Domain available on all the major streaming platforms. Lyrics on SC and as with PD songs we own all rights to this version. Janice: lead/call back vocals & arrangement Peter: all guitar solos & RT guitar processing advice Bud: mix, mastering, arrangement & photo Vocals: Rodes NT1 mic > Scarlett 212i > Logic Pro > Izotope Nectar Bass: RealTrack 564 Electric, Blues Monday > Izotope Neutron > Waves Bass Rider Rhythm Guitar: RealTrack 1924, Electric, Rhythm TexasBluesRockSlow > Neutron > Logic Pro Overdrive Piano: MIDI SuperTrack 2845 Piano, Rhythm BluesSlowSwingMike > Logic Pro X Grand Steinway > Waves CLA Unplugged > Ozone 10 Imager Drums: RealDrums NashvilleSwing8 > Waves CLA Drums Snare: RealDrum kit file > Waves Torque > Waves Magma BB T Cymbal: RealDrum kit file > Logic Pro Channel Reverb Mastering Chain: Ozone Dynamic EQ > Ozone Vintage EQ > Ozone imager > Ozone Maximizer > Ozone Tonal Balance
Our albums and singles are on Spotify, Apple Music, Amazon Music, YouTube Music, Pandora and more. If interested search on Janice Merritt. Thanks! Our Videos
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Hi Guys,
Yes Backwater Blues is also one of my favourite Bessie Smith songs and you have done a most interesting version.
Well done.
Best Regards
Nigel
Nigel Spiers
Christchurch, New Zealand
info@nzacoustics.com
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! have run out of adjectives to describe how good you all are so all I can say is this is another winner!
PS - you know that I love the blues so you know that I would love this!
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It's a song for times.
Very cool renovation.
It's probably my ears today, a bit of a brain pain, that makes things seem a little crisp.
Peter Perfect flies again.
Excellent work team...I really like the stereo image.
Cheers
rayc
"What's so funny about peace, love & understanding?" - N.Lowe
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Hi Guys,
Yes Backwater Blues is also one of my favourite Bessie Smith songs and you have done a most interesting version.
Well done.
Best Regards
Nigel Thank you Nigel. As long time admirers of her we were pleased when this tune entered the PD this year. Glad you liked our effort in interpreting it! J&B
Our albums and singles are on Spotify, Apple Music, Amazon Music, YouTube Music, Pandora and more. If interested search on Janice Merritt. Thanks! Our Videos
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Janice, Bud & Peter,
Wow! That is some really great swinging blues. I love this arrangement.
Awesome vocals - love the lead & background vocals by Janice. So good!
Peter's guitar was on fire and Bud, you have raised the bar again with your production skills.
Great music!
Bob
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! have run out of adjectives to describe how good you all are so all I can say is this is another winner!
PS - you know that I love the blues so you know that I would love this! Thanks Mario. It’s always rewarding to hear good words from a blues man. J&B
Our albums and singles are on Spotify, Apple Music, Amazon Music, YouTube Music, Pandora and more. If interested search on Janice Merritt. Thanks! Our Videos
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Hi Y'all ...
Excellent! These old Blues numbers from way back are just so powerful and full of soul. And this version has both.
Everything in place and doing its job perfectly. The mix is crisp and so clean. Nobody twists those mixing knobs like Bud! Peter's guitar just cries out the Blues as good as anyone and better than most. Of course, Janice just wails the dickens out of these songs. She sings like a child of the 20s and 30s. She might have been born in the wrong era. But Bud, I'm sure you're delighted and thankful she wasn't!
Nothing but first-class talent here by all song contributors. Another delight for our ears.
Alan
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It's a song for times.
Very cool renovation.
It's probably my ears today, a bit of a brain pain, that makes things seem a little crisp.
Peter Perfect flies again.
Excellent work team...I really like the stereo image. Thanks Ray. With the mono solo guitar and vocals centered, the stereo drums and piano centered I had only the r guitar to pan. To compensate I used stereo imaging on several tracks and during mastering. Glad it seemed to work. J&B
Our albums and singles are on Spotify, Apple Music, Amazon Music, YouTube Music, Pandora and more. If interested search on Janice Merritt. Thanks! Our Videos
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WooHoo! You know it's a good day when it starts out with a new Blues song from you three. I'm not familiar with Bessie's version, but will have to look it up. You guys always make an old song fresh and even better than any other version. Dang, Peter, that is some fine playing --such good feeling. Janice your vocals can't be beat, but I'm curious why you didn't use harmony parts in your response vocals. Bud, you are so darn good at the board. Always a pro result from you three.
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Janice, Bud & Peter,
Wow! That is some really great swinging blues. I love this arrangement.
Awesome vocals - love the lead & background vocals by Janice. So good!
Peter's guitar was on fire and Bud, you have raised the bar again with your production skills.
Great music!
Bob Bob, your comments are very supportive and appreciated! J&B
Our albums and singles are on Spotify, Apple Music, Amazon Music, YouTube Music, Pandora and more. If interested search on Janice Merritt. Thanks! Our Videos
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Topical indeed. And sadly, only likely to get more so. Fabulous job by all concerned, as always.
Regards,
Leon
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Hi Y'all ...
Excellent! These old Blues numbers from way back are just so powerful and full of soul. And this version has both.
Everything in place and doing its job perfectly. The mix is crisp and so clean. Nobody twists those mixing knobs like Bud! Peter's guitar just cries out the Blues as good as anyone and better than most. Of course, Janice just wails the dickens out of these songs. She sings like a child of the 20s and 30s. She might have been born in the wrong era. But Bud, I'm sure you're delighted and thankful she wasn't!
Nothing but first-class talent here by all song contributors. Another delight for our ears.
Alan Al, that is a very thoughtful, positive and supportive review. Simply the mention of soul is so meaningful to us. That is indeed what the blues is all about. Thank you so much! And bud is thankful she was not a child of that period unless he was also.  J&B
Our albums and singles are on Spotify, Apple Music, Amazon Music, YouTube Music, Pandora and more. If interested search on Janice Merritt. Thanks! Our Videos
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Hey what a great sounding version y'all!!
I love to hear you sing and play these classics.
Well done!!
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WooHoo! You know it's a good day when it starts out with a new Blues song from you three. I'm not familiar with Bessie's version, but will have to look it up. You guys always make an old song fresh and even better than any other version. Dang, Peter, that is some fine playing --such good feeling. Janice your vocals can't be beat, but I'm curious why you didn't use harmony parts in your response vocals. Bud, you are so darn good at the board. Always a pro result from you three. Thanks Marty! Regarding harmony Janice says, “well this is the way I felt it.” And her producer said, “hey girl it’s your call.” Bud
Our albums and singles are on Spotify, Apple Music, Amazon Music, YouTube Music, Pandora and more. If interested search on Janice Merritt. Thanks! Our Videos
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Hi Janice, Bud and Peter,
I love what you do with old songs. You bring them back and not only that, you make it a brand new song;
new clothes, shinny shoes and teeth brushed. Excellent!
I think in Ukraine they will all sing along with it, with their boken dams. Maybe in another language, but Janice keeps the lead!
And a month ago we would have done the same in my country as well. Very rainy for weeks, cold and very windy.
But suddenly the weather changed. Very hot, no rain for 30 days. I think it's worse than the dessert now. So make us a song about that.
Beside all this bullshit, my first sentence stays! Excellent
Hans
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Hello Janice, Peter and Bud
My feedback on your song is very short.
It doesn't get any better than this !!!
Perfect performance by ALL involved.
Very impressive
Many greetings
Andi ;-)
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Topical indeed. And sadly, only likely to get more so. Fabulous job by all concerned, as always.
Regards,
Leon Thank you Leon. Great to hear from you. J&B
Our albums and singles are on Spotify, Apple Music, Amazon Music, YouTube Music, Pandora and more. If interested search on Janice Merritt. Thanks! Our Videos
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J&B+Peter
This is undoubtedly your territory. Excellent musical rendition and ACE vocal performance!
Radio quality mix. Enjoyed it! Being almost 100 years young, very relevant, especially considering current events.
Thank you for sharing.
Misha.
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J&B, Peter...classic in every way...the combo of Janice's sultry vocals and Peter's impeccable guitar are an unbeatable blues team...and as usual the mix and production work are some of the best on the forum! stellar work indeed!! Dan
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