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ROAD WEARY BLUES It's been a while I know! Please forgive my absence! I have been doing a lot of travel foreign and domestic. Also a lot of time spent on doctor visits all contributing to a lack of inspiration to create music. Excuses, excuses I know. Anyway I decided to force myself to sit down and come up with something hopefully worthy of your time to listen. This is one I had an idea for a few years ago and decided to re-write lyrically and melodically! It's a song for the trucker, salesman, or perhaps a musician out on the road chasing a dream or just making a living while at the same time sacrificing a home life. I've been there and lived it! Trust me the genesis of this one was painful and written with tears! I sincerely thank you for having a listen. The Bandcamp upload allows up to 10 listens without forcing a purchase decision! BIAB Organ - 2692 Rhythm Modern Pop Slow Mike Ev75 (Used in the pre-chorus and chorus sections) Drums - Ez Drummer 3 (with lots of editing in the grid editor) Piano - Ez Keys2 Me Vocals Bass All guitars electric and acoustic Organ (verse and solo sections) Synth loops - stock Studio One loops Road Weary Blues Words and music by Torrey Bliss/Ron Helm ©2025 Glass Gate Music BMI Two lane road late at night Moonlight shining down through my window bright Rays of light penetrating my soul I want to quit but the wheels still roll Been on this journey since I don't know when Can't remember where I'm going or where I've been Distant neons fixed in my gaze Glow in the dark illuminate my way If you care to know Hear this tired old soul I don't want I don't want To sing these road weary blues Take me home out here I've learned When you think you win sometimes you lose Loneliness is the admission fee The price I've paid to chase a crazy dream I must untangle from this web I weave Nothing good here now that I perceive I hear a voice that I used to know And it'll never let me go The indecision my heart endures Has made the way out feel so unsure Though the road goes on I'm just standing still I don't want I don't want To sing these road weary blues Take me home out here I've learned When you think you win sometimes you lose I don't want I don't want To sing these road weary blues Take me home out here I've learned When you think you win sometimes you lose
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Torrey, welcome back! Very cool song. That opening bass is a real grabber, but ALL the playing is first rate. Super vocals. Very reminiscent of the late period Beatles, especially the BGVs and instrumental. Nice that you can grab a feeling and whip it into a very enjoyable tune. Hope your health and travel commitments allow you to stick around!
Last edited by DC Ron; 08/23/25 08:57 AM.
DC Ron
BiaB Audiophile
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Too many guitars (is that a thing?)
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Torrey,
I've been away quite a bit lately since Di passed away - just getting back to it the past few days.
This is a little different from what I was expecting based on the song title and description. But it's really good! I was expecting something a little more country bluesy. But this works just fine. Pleasant surprises are always a good thing as far as I'm concerned. The vocal layers just sing to perfection, both literally and figuratively. The prominent drums stood out particularly good for me.
This is a terrific production with your always impeccable precision. It was a great listen. It's nice to have you back on the site. Your music is always a real treat.
Your music is always among the best on the site. No exception here. Welcome back!
Alan
BIAB 2024 Ultra Plus-all StylePaks*Win11*32GB DDR5*Rhyzen 9745x*AT 2035 Mic*Peavey Nashville 112 Amp*Ibanez ART120* Acoustic/Electric/Washburn D200S Acoustic*Stromberg Monterey Jazz Guitar Loops: https://aldavidmusic.wixsite.com/bestmusicloops
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Another fantastic Torrey production. The song is ace as well.
The only nit: the vocal seemed a little sibilant in the 1st verse.
The solo - Beatlesque while being original....excellent.
Cheers
rayc
"What's so funny about peace, love & understanding?" - N.Lowe
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Warm welcome back, Torrey! What an excellent song to return with. Loved the mix start to finish: the ethereal intro, the Pink Floyd-ee vocals, the Beatle-esque Ahs, the harmonies, the sentiment (to which I can relate). The only wee critique I have is that it sounds a little pitchy at "Answers not found bring questions in my dreams Beyond the horizon where they're never seen". Hope you're back for good and more.
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Torrey,
It's so great to hear you again. Love this song and the outstanding production. You always have an excellent blend of textures & layers within your mixes. Everything fits together so well.
One of your very best vocals as well. Passionate and sung with such conviction.
Bob
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What an excellent song, Torrey! Great lyrics and production. What do you use for mastering. That's the one area I have no experience of, but I've been disappointed with results form both Audacity and the recent Soren AI Mastering as nothing sound better than the original mix. Different, but never superior.
Some favourite Waoist Adages:
#1: Play on the Way.
#13: Ask not for whom the flower blooms, it blooms for you.
#58: Bring consciousness to it.
#63: On the road to effortlessness, effort must be made.
#92: Be Love Now, the rest will come on its own.
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Torrey, welcome back! Very cool song. That opening bass is a real grabber, but ALL the playing is first rate. Super vocals. Very reminiscent of the late period Beatles, especially the BGVs and instrumental. Nice that you can grab a feeling an whip it into a very enjoyable tune. Hope your health and travel commitments allow you to stick around! Thanks so much Ron! It's always great to hear from you! TB
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Hi, Torrey. Welcome back! I really like the chorus - catchy and classic country rock feeling. I was wondering why people were mentioning The Beatles until I got to the guitar solo.  To me, the words feel a bit cramped in the verses. Then again, my kids complain that my own songs are too slow, and I'm wondering if I'm just allergic to word density. You've given me something to think about. Good to hear your music again! 
-- David Cuny My virtual singer development blogVocal 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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Torrey,
Great to hear from you again. Sorry to hear about the doctor visits, I'm in the same boat. You're a master musician, singer, and producer, you're working so far over my head it isn't even funny. I love the intro on this and the chorus was fine. I hate to say it, but the verses were just too busy to my ears. I've never heard that on any of your songs, they've always been gems. I loved the Beatle nod on the guitar solo. Was that "Glass Onion?" I'm probably wrong. Great to hear you again, what a sonic master you are!
Windows 11, Intel Core I5 10400, 16 gig ram, Scarlett 2i2, Sony Acid Music Studio 10, BIAB 2020 UltraPlus Pak
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Torrey,
So great to hear a new one from you. I think its sounding pretty brilliant. Love the melody and the chorus is catchy and killer. Busy lyrics . . . hmmm, maybe in just that first verse, though I’m not sure I would have picked up on it as much had I not read your comment first. Anyway, you can likely edit out a word in one or two of those lines (e.g., “Moonlight shining through my window bright”; “Perpetual motion of wheels takes a toll”; “I forget where I’m going or where I’ve been”)—all just suggestions to winnow out a syllable . . . but in the end go with what works for you. You know better than anyone.
If this is a work in progress, then the end result is going to be fantastic . . . because it’s already pretty excellent.
Deej
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Torrey,
I've been away quite a bit lately since Di passed away - just getting back to it the past few days.
This is a little different from what I was expecting based on the song title and description. But it's really good! I was expecting something a little more country bluesy. But this works just fine. Pleasant surprises are always a good thing as far as I'm concerned. The vocal layers just sing to perfection, both literally and figuratively. The prominent drums stood out particularly good for me.
This is a terrific production with your always impeccable precision. It was a great listen. It's nice to have you back on the site. Your music is always a real treat.
Your music is always among the best on the site. No exception here. Welcome back!
Alan Thanks Alan! You are always such an encouragement to me! TB
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Really enjoyed this...that intro was quite cool! I read your reaction to the "crowded lyric" comments before I listened, so I was prepared for it. I wonder if, in a song built this way, if the busy melody line in the lyric is maybe an unexpected element that the listener reacts to, like "why is he crowding all those words/notes in there?"--before hearing the entire song. If you were asking for a brainstorming suggestion on what to do about it (I realize that you're NOT asking that), I would suggest how about telegraphing the "busy lyric line" idea before the vocal starts--like a brief statement of the melody line with a guitar, to kind of set up the listener for what's coming. Anyway, I'm not really suggesting any change, just thinking out loud about how/why your song might get that comment. It's so professionally produced, with great performances, and a real nice lyric. I"m always inspired by such high-level work as this! Glad I spend the time to listen in!
Windows 11, Intel Core i5-8600T 2.3Ghz, 16 gig ram, BIAB 2025 MegaPak, SampleTank 4, Keystation49 Kybd, Neewer NW-800 mic
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Hey, Torrey. Good hearing you --always. Love the title of your channel, but there's nothing shabby about this road. Man, you have such an exceptionally good voice, and I LOVE your harmonies. You really build your songs with so much to enjoy. Excellent job on all instruments --I especially like you choices on bass. Man, I know what you mean about EZD. I almost always start from scratch with an empty grid, making sure the drummer only has two hands. hehe
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Another fantastic Torrey production. The song is ace as well.
The only nit: the vocal seemed a little sibilant in the 1st verse.
The solo - Beatlesque while being original....excellent. Thanks Ray! Your comments always carry weight for me! This is a WIP and over the coming days I plan to tackle some of the sibilance issues, but it's a very time-consuming effort to deal with them all! TB
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Hey Torrey this is a really great production and an excellent tune.
It has all of those classic Torrey elements and the fantastic guitar and the excellent vocals but a little something extra and new. I can't quite put my finger on it and don't know how to articulate it but it has a very intricate fabric, that dazzles in a new way, but doesn't ever leave the genre that you're very well known for.
Just an all-around fantastic production man I really enjoyed it.
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Torrey, I loved the intro and choruses. The backing tracks are spot on. Outstanding job on the guitars, bass, and organ; you are a very talented multi-instrumentalist. To nitpick I thought there were to many words in sections of the verses. Not enough to ruin the song but just enough to be distracting. However that is just my opinion and others may or may not agree.
This is a very good song.
My boss calls me "the computer".
Nothing to do with intelligence. I go to sleep if left unattended for 15 minutes.
64 bit Win 10 Pro, the latest BiaB/RB, Roland Octa-Capture audio interface, a ton of software/hardware
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Warm welcome back, Torrey! What an excellent song to return with. Loved the mix start to finish: the ethereal intro, the Pink Floyd-ee vocals, the Beatle-esque Ahs, the harmonies, the sentiment (to which I can relate). The only wee critique I have is that it sounds a little pitchy at "Answers not found bring questions in my dreams Beyond the horizon where they're never seen". Hope you're back for good and more. Thanks for listening! I don't know what "pitchy" means, but you may want to read the lyrics again if so inclined . This is a work in progress that is constantly changing. TB
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Torrey,
It's so great to hear you again. Love this song and the outstanding production. You always have an excellent blend of textures & layers within your mixes. Everything fits together so well.
One of your very best vocals as well. Passionate and sung with such conviction.
Bob Thanks Bob! You are always such an encouraging voice! TB
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What an excellent song, Torrey! Great lyrics and production. What do you use for mastering. That's the one area I have no experience of, but I've been disappointed with results form both Audacity and the recent Soren AI Mastering as nothing sound better than the original mix. Different, but never superior. Thanks for your comments! On this one I used multiple instances of the EZ Mix product making some slight adjustments to the available controls within.TB
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