Hi, all:

So here’s the first offering of 2025 . . . a collaboration with ray c, who had an inspired take on a song I penned some time ago. I first wrote the music to this song (or most of it) in October of 2022 and had pretty much finished the lyrics by August of 2023 . . . but then the song sat . . . largely because I didn’t think I or the BIAB tracks could give it the sound I would have liked . . . and, to be honest, I kind of forgot about it for a while. But after our last collaboration, when ray asked if there was anything else I wanted to chase down, I sent him this song . . . specifically, just a rough BIAB demo and, I think, an acoustic version of the tune.

Ray quickly went to work and sent me a version inspired by The Sonics, a 60’s band from the Pacific Northwest. He may have been experimenting, but I thought it was way wicked cool. Over time, we added back in a BIAB drum track and electric rock guitar track and came up with . . . hmm, dunno . . . a 60’s Garage Band rock tune?

We both had our hands on the mix and hopefully it came out the better for it, but I'm sure you'll let us know. Feedback welcome as I’m sure there are some shortcomings we are missing. Hope you all enjoy it.

P.S.: A belated thanks to those who commented on my "Black Magic Blues" track . . . I just realized I lost track over the holidays with family in town and didn't get a chance to thank a few of you for your comments on that song. I don't want to bump it up now, but please know the feedback is very much appreciated.

Here's the song:

WHY YOU ALWAYS TAKING ME DOWN

Here are the lyrics:

Your play is hard to see
A curiosity
I get this feeling that you’ve only started
I wasn’t asking for
Some kind of all out war
That ain’t the way to treat the tender hearted
Oh, baby, baby
Why you always taking me down

I know it’s one and done
A dark and setting sun
And I’m okay if that’s the page we’re turning
But, baby, let it be
I’m not your enemy
You may be testing me, but girl I’m learning
Oh, baby, baby, baby
Why you always taking me down

I opened up my heart
You tore it all apart
And then you walked away
Just when I’m good to go
You’re back to let me know
That I’m the one to blame
Why you always taking me down

You tell our friends to no end I’m a lost cause
How you can’t stand I’m not the man you thought I was
I never gave you what you say was ever good love
How you feel so betrayed
All this time was I so blind
To think you’d ever change

And here is the band:

Real Drums: ProgRockCanFast EV8^01
Real Tracks. 999: Guitar, Electric, Rhythm HardRock LA Fuzzy
Additional Tracks:
Bass, through a Benringer BDI21
Squire Mustang through an ACTone. pedal
Tremolo, wave distortion and EQ by Reaper
Deathcore compressor
PSP2 vintage warmer 2 - Heavy driven tape saturation on everything.
There is an Organ and additional Guitar track not listed, which ray will chase down yet for those interested.

Last edited by Deej56; 02/03/25 01:52 PM.