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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.

Deej & Ray,

Wow! That is one of the best rock songs I have heard in quite a while. Stunning vocal with hints of Ray Davies. Love the way you really let your vocal fly towards the end.

The band is outrageous. What a great sound. Mixed perfectly.

Mind blowing stuff!

Bob

Deej, Ray, what a great groove! That main guitar riff is insane, and the ambient vibe under it all make for a really fun sonic landscape. Super vocals/harmonies and excellent playing throughout. That mix really glues it all together though. Super job!

Deej and Ray,

Well, this one sure shakes up the excitement factor! The background vibe is super cool - almost mystical.

This arrangement is a perfect match for your vocal style. You two work good together. Ray is a real joy to work with. I did as couple he collabbed on and he took them up another level.

The only thing that crossed my mind (other than all the good) is, I think it could use a little more bottom. Just an opinion. But a stronger bass line would really fill it out. FWIW.

Best to both of you - cool song!

Alan

The organ is 2284.
I shifted it up an octave and both Deej & I had to cut n paste to fill in some gaps as the RT didn't quite cover all chords.
I also added overdrive & tape saturation to it to get a more "Farfisa" sound.
The heavily trem'd guitar solo TR# is lost to me - I can't find it anywhere...I often lose info when I batch export RTs.
Sorry.
Deej wrote an absolute cracker in this one and I had an absolute blast playing along.

This is an absolute blast listening along. Pro-level across the board. Great mix, performance and production.

Charlie

Woah Dark and strong. And top, top, top quality. Bravo, Deej, your voice soars. And bravo Ray, superb arrangement.

I can't believe it. You have at least moments, if not indeed throughout the song, when you sound in the same class as Freddie Mercury here, Deej. I qualify my statement because I know you're too modest to believe me if I say it's for the entire song. But yes ... it's there.

Another song I have to hear again and again to fully appreciate. Hat off, gents.

Deej and rayc,

It's a great collaboration.
I can really feel rayc's color.
It's a true 60's garage band rock tune.
The vocals are more rock-oriented than usual, which is perfect for this song.
Enjoyed my listen a lot.

Best regards.

Shigeki Adachi

Deej & Ray

Top notch work, excellent song, great vocal.
A really great production.

Peter

Deej & ray...

Love the Write!
Good Rock Vocal.
Cool BGVs

No garage band ever had such an intricate arrangement/production. Awesome.
Nice guitars.

EXCELLENT mix. ROCK all the way....

Damn. Good. Music.

fj

Very old and atmospheric, in a positive way.
If someone had told me that this song was by some band from the sixties, I would have believed it for sure.
Reminds me of someone, especially the fantastic vocals, but I can't put my finger on it.
Really, really good stuff!

Deej,

What the two of you have accomplished with this creation is somewhere up in the stratosphere!
You and Ray have reaching a level of musical awesomeness that's breathtaking!
It's a bona fide, first-class 3-D musical experience.
I'd love to see this performed live with a specially created light and video show.
The power of your and Ray's production is immense.

My head is still rattling!
--Noel

The best!! Deej, you can sing anything and make it your own, and what a brilliant idea sending it to Ray. This is so good. Wow, what passion in the vocal, and Ray brings out the best. What a terrific collab. Hi, Ray. Listened a coupole times so far. Man, thjere is so much goodness in there. So full of sun.

Deej and rayc, one of the rock songs I have heard in a long time
Everything is perfect
Great job
Loved it

Thanks folks,
Deej wrote it & I simple played about a bit and sent him things he might, or might not, use.
The construction was his ear...a good one.
I noted a suggestion for a little more bass & given the Soundcloud playback that's probably a good idea.

Bob, DC Ron, Alan, Charlie, James, Shigeki, Peter, Floyd, B.D. and Mario:

Thanks so much to all of you for the listens and feedback. Ray helped give this tune such an inspired sound . . . it was exciting as a result to bring it to fruition. And I'm glad it seemed to work for you all! Some additional thoughts on the specific comments:

Alan: Yes, you are exactly right. At some point I did something wonky to the bass track and had to import the original track ray sent me back into the mix. I think I never quite adjusted the bass to compensate thereafter . . . which is particularly annoying given how good ray's bass and bass runs are throughout the track. I went back in, raised it a few decibels, and re-posted. Hopefully that helps. Thanks so much for catching this!!

James: I've been told I remind folks of certain singers here and there along the way. But Freddy Mercury is a first, LOL!! I'm not sure I hear that, but I'll take the compliment and run with it!! Thanks so much!!

Lastly, ray: You wrote, " . . . I simply played about a bit."? Well, umm, if you say so . . . but your "playing about a bit" helped take this to a level I could never have reached. I can't thank you enough!

Deej

Wow! Such an awesome sound you two created. It blows my mind how you put this all together. Great song. Great vocals. Great love instruments. This is an album worthy track that I would spin over and over.

Great collab, lyrics were terrific and Deej's vocal, of course, was superb. To my ear, the organ was competing too much with the vocal. Otherwise, as I said - great collab!

Great mix and production in this song!

Y’all were on fire on this song.
We agree with you on “Way Wicked Cool!”

Great Rockin' vocals
Fun bgv’s (and now “oh baby, baby, baby” is stuck in Janice’s head)

Powerful drums that are perfect for the vibe.
Ray’s bass and guitar > NAILED!

Great mix with for us a classic rock soundstage, i.e., loud and epic.
Not familiar with the Sonics but will definitely listen to them now.

Love it!

J&B