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Scott C Offline OP
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This song was originally done in 2017. Robert and I thought it was a good candidate for an overhaul.
Vocals, Guitars and backtrack were retooled which I think gave the song a different feel as well as a very cool video

Lets take a trip back to 1969

If Then Was Now - Video

If Then Was Now - Original

Robert Cordrey, lyrics, vocals, video production
Scott Collingwood, lead guitar and fills, soundtrack production
Band in a Box, Leonardo.ai, Kyber.ai
Mixed and Mastered in Studio One 6
More Spirit Level can be heard at ://soundcloud.com/spiritlevel.ca

The Band
File:If Now Was Then remix.SGU
Key=D , Tempo 102, Length (m:s)=3:52
No intro. 96 bar chorus, from bar 1 to bar 96. Repeat x1 chorus
No Melody
No Soloist track.
Song is saved with Volume, Pan, Reverb, Chorus, Bank0,
Song is saved with bar changes for Time signature, Styles,
Style is _PBALCEL.STY (Pop Ballad w/ Cello & Guitars)

RealTracks in style: ~~683:Bass, Electric, PopHalfNotesPush Ev 120
RealTracks in style: 1856:Cello, Background PopCountry Ev 085
RealTracks in style: 838:Guitar, Electric, Rhythm PopBalladClean Ev 085
RealTracks in style: ~703:Guitar, Acoustic, Strumming Spirited Ev 085
RealDrums in style:NashvilleEven16^5-a:Snare, HiHat , b:Snare, Ride

*******************
If Now Was Then

a high wire between oceans
holding on at both ends
must have been a beautiful failure
I didn`t see you fall my friend

you said starlight`s a memory
looking at me from the inside out
your arm around Oleander
hunter`s moon split the clouds
you sang that song you were writing
called If Now Was Then

I kept your insect in amber
with a question in its eye
the riddle of the gypsy girl
how to live and how to fly

did you burn up on reentry
Oleander found the ashes of your crown
in the final moments
the hourglass turns upside down
did you finish that song you were writing
every word was zen
did you finish that song you were writing
called If Now Was Then


I kept your insect in amber
with a question in its eye
the riddle of the gypsy girl
how to live and how to fly

© Robert Cordrey Dec.2017


Scott Collingwood
https://soundcloud.com/scottt709
https://soundcloud.com/spiritlevel-ca
https://www.youtube.com/@SpiritLevel-ge3hm/
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Scott and Robert!

You guys are a great duo! Roberts delivered a great vocal to accommodate the excellent lyrics! Scott, that is some of your finest guitar work....sounds great!
You guys keep rockin', TB

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Scott / Robert

Excellent work all round, all the parts work, lovely sounding guitar, very nice video and Roberts signature vocals.

Good stuff.

Peter

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Scott and Robert,

Very great music and video!
It is impressive that the simple melody is repeated over and over again.
Scott's guitar phrases are also especially wonderful this time.
The videos are also a fusion of Eastern, Western, ancient, modern, and futuristic elements, and I am drawn to the screen.
Enjoyed my listen and watch a lot.

Best regards.

Shigeki Adachi

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Scott, great job again by you and Robert! You definitely have a signature sound that is your own and fun to listen to. Especially liked your guitar on this one, and that there was a lot of it. The last few bars of guitar at the outro were icing on the cake. Nice!


DC Ron
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Too many guitars (is that a thing?)
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Scott / Robert,

Wow! Great song, great video and great performances by you both. You guys are creating some really fine music.

Loved it!

Bob

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Hi Robert and Scott,

An amazing song!
Very nice different vocals and that lead guitar shines, Scott!
Loved the lyrics.
I wanted to quote that last part here, because it was so sweet (in a way).
Then I realized you wrote them so don't need that quote...

Hans


Hans Berkhout
(Birchwood)
https://soundcloud.com/user-296497130
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Hi Scott and Robert
A great song
Excellent vocal work
Great song structure
Your solo really is absolutely incredible good
Great sound
Outstanding work
Many greetings
Andi ;-)

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Hey,

This sounds really great and is totally my cuppa tea fellows!

Great job.

For whatever is worth, there is no time change for me here.

This is how I live and dress today.

Though on some days of the week my wife and I pretend it is 1954.

And sometimes it is 1888.

Anything but 2024.

No.

Not interested in modern culture at all.

No thanks.

smile

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Scott and Robert, you produce some of the best music on the planet.
Great guitar leads and vocal.
The perfect backing tracks.
The mix is spot on.


I think my wife has started to show the first signs of dementia.
She said she can't remember what she ever saw in me!

64 bit Win 10 Pro, the latest BiaB/RB, Roland Octa-Capture audio interface, a ton of software/hardware
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Scott C Offline OP
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Originally Posted by Torrey Bliss
Scott and Robert!

You guys are a great duo! Roberts delivered a great vocal to accommodate the excellent lyrics! Scott, that is some of your finest guitar work....sounds great!
You guys keep rockin', TB

Thanks Torrey. Really glad you liked the song.

Originally Posted by PeterF
Scott / Robert

Excellent work all round, all the parts work, lovely sounding guitar, very nice video and Roberts signature vocals.

Good stuff.

Peter

Thanks Peter. Really good to hear from you. Hope you are having a great summer. Glad you liked the song.

Originally Posted by animarorecords
Scott and Robert,

Very great music and video!
It is impressive that the simple melody is repeated over and over again.
Scott's guitar phrases are also especially wonderful this time.
The videos are also a fusion of Eastern, Western, ancient, modern, and futuristic elements, and I am drawn to the screen.
Enjoyed my listen and watch a lot.

Best regards.

Shigeki Adachi

Thanks Shigeki for checking out the song. Robert will be especially you liked the infusion of the eastern influences. They especially dear to him. Glad you liked the song.


Scott Collingwood
https://soundcloud.com/scottt709
https://soundcloud.com/spiritlevel-ca
https://www.youtube.com/@SpiritLevel-ge3hm/
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The riff, fills & licks, along with the solo, really lift this and give it an ominous feel.
Cool.


Cheers
rayc
"What's so funny about peace, love & understanding?" - N.Lowe
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Hi Scott and Robert. A glimpse of the dark and mysterious.
Very well performed. Very interesting lyrics.

Vic

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Hi, Scott and Robert.

I listened to both. Since the vocals are so much more clear on the first mix, I call that a huge win there.

Plus, the video on the first is more interesting than on the second. wink

Much wider stereo field, nice separation between instruments (especially the bass).

I'm still clueless what the lyrics are about, but that's par for the course with Robert's lyrics. Some songs are meant to be felt, not understood.

Good job with retooling it! laugh


-- David Cuny

My virtual singer development blog
Vocal control, you say. Never heard of it. Is that some kind of ProTools thing?

BiaB 2025 | Windows 11 | Reaper | Way too many VSTis.
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Very cool retro tune guys!!! Love the video too......would have been even better after a few dummies smile. Maybe next time! Really enjoyed this!!! Take care. Greg

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Scott and Robert, this is another good one from you has the dark mysterious vibe that are central to many of your songs. Good vocal, connect the dots lyrics and some really tasteful guitar work. Enjoyed,Tom

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I like the mystical mood you create with the instrumentation and the unusual vocal performance.
Cool stuff.

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Gave this a listen when you first posted on YT, and good to hear it again now.

Excellent song, cool video.

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The video and music are fascinating. Gorgeous.
Laurent

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Good work from you both.
Spirit Level is doing excellent music.

fj

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