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I guess I can blame the good folks at PG Music for awarding me the complete set of RealTracks 'cause here's yet another go at some genre bending.

This time we took a Celtic reel rhythm groove, threw in some bluegrass instruments and applied the mixture to an old traditional blues tune. Skip James recorded the best known version of this tune but several other artists have done it and published their arrangements and there is a mishmash of verses -- many of which have appeared in other songs. We tried to string them together in a manner that made it more linear in a story telling sense. We also threw in a sustained chord and a flatted seventh to spice it up a bit. Did vocals and mixing today (too rainy to play outside). I usually let them sit, age for a few days and make mix tweaks before posting ... but what the heck.

Bass: Bluegrass RealTrack 427
Bodhran: Celtic RealDrums track (wood simple)
Guitar Rhythm: Celtic RealTrack (Drones only) 1304
Banjo Lead: Bluegrass RealTrack 591 (multiple regenerations spliced in Garageband)
Banjo Rhythm: Bluegrass RealTrack 589
Mandolin Lead: Bluegrass RealTrack 436 (multiple regenerations spliced in Garageband)
Mandolin Rhythm: Bluegrass RealTrack 432
Fiddle Lead: Bluegrass RealTrack 596 (multiple regenerations spliced in Garageband)
Fiddle Rhythm: Bluegrass RealTrack 594

Vocal: USB Blue mic

All mixing and effects in Garageband.

Thanks for listening.

Bud,

Oh what I'd give to have a vocalist like Janice at the ready. You two are a great team - excellent melodies and vocals, and your matery of RB is astounding. Thx for sharin'.

Your post does raise a question tho - why export to Garage Band for effects and mix?

Bud,

I truly look forward to your posts... to listening to your next offering. Often "different", always interesting and always done to PERFECTION. You have a way with RealTracks like no other. There are a lot of very fine productions on this forum at any one time (it is truly wonderful stuff we are given to work with), but you are in a class by yourself. Typically I will be thinking about "how they went and grabbed that nice track to add", but never when I listen to your songs. I'm too busy listening. and SEEING the band. Always, every song you do - I can SEE the players. That is a true talent.

And THEN... you get to add Janice's voice on top of that!!! An instrument every bit as outstanding as anything in the RealTracks lists. A voice that should be known to the whole world.

This is incredibly good. Incredibly...

I am a fan. Truly.

floyd

Quote:

Bud,

Oh what I'd give to have a vocalist like Janice at the ready. You two are a great team - excellent melodies and vocals, and your matery of RB is astounding. Thx for sharin'.

Your post does raise a question tho - why export to Garage Band for effects and mix?

Thanks!

I'm an Apple guy and there is no RealBand version for the Mac. However PG music has provided a neat interface for GarageBand and other DAWs.

Quote:

Bud,

I truly look forward to your posts... to listening to your next offering. Often "different", always interesting and always done to PERFECTION. You have a way with RealTracks like no other. There are a lot of very fine productions on this forum at any one time (it is truly wonderful stuff we are given to work with), but you are in a class by yourself. Typically I will be thinking about "how they went and grabbed that nice track to add", but never when I listen to your songs. I'm too busy listening. and SEEING the band. Always, every song you do - I can SEE the players. That is a true talent.

And THEN... you get to add Janice's voice on top of that!!! An instrument every bit as outstanding as anything in the RealTracks lists. A voice that should be known to the whole world.

This is incredibly good. Incredibly...

I am a fan. Truly.

floyd

Thanks I really appreciate you noting the "band effect." I think standing behind bluegrass/blues bands for years playing bass gave me a good perspective of the total sound of an acoustic band particularly regarding which instrument should provide a fill and when. At the least I try to do no harm with fills, make them seem not just inserted and hope they support the vocalist.

Very nice Bud. You two are a great team!

Regards,

Bob

Hi Mootsman
Really enjoyed that. Surprising what results you can get from mixing tracks from different styles.
And what a great singing voice.
I know what you mean about the "band" effect - a good and wide stereo spread as if you were listening to a Stage performance without "everything" being D.I'd and PA'd into centre stereo = Mono as happens in many modern Gigs.
Ace!
cheers
Ian

Great voice and outstanding mix.

Guenter

As usual - great performance, tasty instrumentals, and a nice clean mix.

Perhaps there's a case for "real vocals" like this in band in a box Mr Gannon is that doable ? lol

Are we allowed to post covers thought I read somewhere we couldn't or is this piece public now

Regards
D

Thanks.
I don't think there has ever been an issue with your arrangements of songs that are in the PD or long considered traditional or which copyrights were not renewed.
I research our traditional or PD songs via publishers and many other sources to ensure that no one holds ownership other than their arrangement. Many songs that are in the PD are published by the artists that records them; however, that is only for their specific arrangement. I don't think that, for example, recording a Reggae version of a 250 year old folk song would be a cover. And we did that! Cypress Grove has shown up by many artists - many who have copyrighted their interpretations. We first ran into it by the modern bluegrass band Chesapeake. They listed it as traditional and have publishing rights on their rendition. They didn't even mention Jame's name. If you look at it via The Harry Fox agency you'll find find the artists have published their versions - so who knows? But it seems apparent that although originally attributed James there are no issues of infringement with those who have recorded it under their names. However, I would never use the song in any manner w/o giving credit to him. Also several of the verses appear in other songs of that era to further confuse things.

Quote:

Bud,

I'm too busy listening. and SEEING the band. Always, every song you do - I can SEE the players. That is a true talent.

floyd

The "I can SEE the players" excerpt from Floyd's response says it all. Although I too feel the same, I could not have said it any better.

Later,

Hi Bud and Janice,

It's all been said. This is exceptional in every possible way. You've got my standing ovation!

All the best,
Noel

Janice's voice reminds me of Patty Loveless - that's a compliment. Cool song and great mix.