Just finished this one. I had a total hip replacement in June, and have been out of commission for a couple months. I am doing very well now, back "on my feet" again.

This one is called Recipe For Life, and all the instruments are RealTracks, plus I played some organ, strings and percussion. I programmed the drums using EZ Drummer. All the vocals are me (once again, cheap labor). I hope you enjoy this one...

Recipe For Life

Here are the RealTracks used...
RealTracks in song: ~684:Bass, Electric, PopHalfNotesSync Ev 120
RealTracks in song: 1262:Piano, Acoustic, Rhythm PopShiningHeld Ev 120
RealTracks in song: 1945:Guitar, Acoustic, Rhythm GroovinFolk Ev 085
RealTracks in song: ~1119:Guitar, 12-String Acoustic, Strumming Ev 120
RealTracks in song: 1948:Mandolin, Rhythm PopUpliftingAndy Ev16 120
RealTracks in song: 1669:Pedal Steel, Soloist CountryPaul Ev 120

Here are the lyrics...
Recipe For Life
Words and Music, Copyright Stephen W. Young

A love song echoes in the distance
There's a cool breeze blowing in the night
The little things all make a difference
It's the little things that make it right
Her memory takes her to her childhood
And happy times of days gone by
A little song her daddy sang to her
He called it his recipe for life

A little bit of love and a little bit of honey
A little bit of hope and a little bit of money
A faith that turns nothing into something you see
A little bit of hugs and a little bit of kisses
A table full of kids and a kitchen full of dishes
A little bit of heaven is what we need

It's been seven years since her daddy left her
But it just seems like yesterday
He may be gone, but not forgotten
And she can almost hear him say

A little bit of love and a little bit of honey
A little bit of hope and a little bit of money
A faith that turns nothing into something you see
A little bit of hugs and a little bit of kisses
A table full of kids and a kitchen full of dishes
A little bit of heaven is what we need

Steve,

This song is so pretty. It's easy going and uplifting.

I like everything about it and especially love that chorus.

Welcome back!

P.S. I'm editing this to add that I do wish you'd let the chorus sing all the way instead of the fade out at the end.

Wow, Steve... I don't know what the secret ingredient is, but everything you write touches me right to the core of whatever musical sensibility I may or may not have!

I especially like.. Oh wait, THAT approach ain't gonna work because there's too much that I like to call any of it special!

but some of what I liked is as follows:

I like the way you laid the ingredients for life out on the table
I like informal rhyming of "dishes" and "kisses"... (it works on so many levels)
I like the interaction of the instruments... its very natural sounding
I like the way you made it bittersweet, (whereas the recipe MIGHT have included too much sugar)

I mention only the variables pertaining to this song... the quality of your vocals and mixing has already been established many times before. Apprently those things haven't changed because they're still great!

Thanks for the song and for the recipe!

Steve
What a wonderful song, Steve. Your voice hasn't lost its magic.
I agree with Josie about the ending and on re-reading her post, everything she said!!!

Good luck with the recovery from the op.

Alyn

Hi, Steve !


I have to say WOW too
A wonderful song truly well
produced ! I hope you
will recover completely
after your operation !


Cheers
Dani

Glad you're up and about again Steve.
This is another top drawer composition, touching and very enjoyable. Great production as usual! Nice one.

John

Steve,

Great song and mix. Love it.

Keep em commin'

George

Recipe for Recording, It's the little things that you do so right. Great sounding recording. Well written and sung. I always enjoy listening to your clean mixes. Anything with Paul Franklin on it is a plus. Speaking of Paul Franklin, he and Vince Gill just released what will be the country album of the year. Bakersfield, 10 songs by Buck Owens and Merle Haggard. Check it out. Hope you're feeling better. Tom

Steve,

What they said!

Always nice when you come back to the fold.. good to know you are doing well.

This is no different than everything else you post here. PERFECT in every way. Lyrics, production, mix, vocals... etc.. etc...

I agree on the full chorus at the end. But.. added to that... you should have had several PG-forumites provide harmonies (and unison) to have a big sing-along on the last chorus - that would have been fun...

Not sure if I've ever THANKED you properly. You are the reason that I bought BIAB. Listening to your songs convinced me that it was worth it... so a huge whopping THANK YOU!!

floyd

Hi Steve,


+1

Guenter

Nice song.... I like it a lot.

Great chorus.

Josie,

Thanks so much for your comments and suggestion. I toyed with the idea of completing that last chorus, but then I thought if it was completed, it would have to be repeated. And the song is already 4 minutes long, even with the fade out. Ultimately I went with the fade out. But apparently the consensus says I was wrong! (I am not being defensive, I am just defending myself.)

Pat,

You are too kind, my friend! Your comments are always very appreciated. When are you going to make it to Texas on your PG Tour?

Alyn,

Thanks so much! Your comments are always welcome.

===

Steve

Dani,

Thank you for your kind words. Glad you like this one. I appreciate your recovery wishes!

John (Skyline),

Thanks for your post! Always good to hear from you, my friend! I am recovering nicely. Looking forward to hearing another one from you!

George,

Glad you enjoyed this. Your comments are very much appreciated.

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Steve

Tommy,

Thanks very much! It's good to see you back on the forum! I will have to get Paul and Vince's new album. I am a huge fan of theirs. When I was growing up, I didn't really appreciate Buck Owens that much. The older I get, the more I recognize what an amazing artist he was, and the impact he had on Country music. And of course, there's the great Merle Haggard!

Floyd,

Thanks so very much! I always really appreciate hearing from you. Thanks for your very generous words. I am a big fan of your music here!

Guenter,

Thanks!!! Glad you like this one.

Guitarhacker,

I really appreciate you taking the time to listen and comment! Glad you like it.

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Steve

As usual I'm late to the party and it's all been said so pardon any redundancy.

- great arrangement, uber cool rhyme structure (yep, I'm learning to attend to that!)

- super lyrics that tell the story perfectly w/o getting maudlin

- a nailed mix and instrument choice

- the "cheap labor" did a fine job on the vocals

Janice just commented that it reminds her of the feeling on Jeff Bridges CD that we've been listening to of late...and that is a good thing!

Thanks for sharing.

Welcome back, happy to hear you are well. Now for the song . . . I loved everything about it starting with the exceptional lyric right down to the stellar performance. This IMHO is a very strong song.

Congrats!

Janice and Bud,

Thanks so much for all your kind comments. I will have to check out the Jeff Bridges CD.

Danny,

Thank you for taking the time to listen and comment! Glad you like it!

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Steve

Oh ya, a big +1

PS - I am glad that you are up and around again. I pray that everything works out well for you.

Mario,

Thanks! Always good to hear from you, my friend!

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Steve

Nearly missed this one. I love the line "A faith that turns nothing into something you see" and also the "table full of kids" has got me choked up. Loved it. Glad to hear you are back on your feet and we are all looking forward to more stuff from you.
Regards

Steve,
Glad to hear you're recovering well. Great song and production.
SD

Joanne,

Thanks so much for your comments! Glad this one touched you.

SD,

Thank you for taking the time to listen and post! Your comments are appreciated!

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Steve

Hi Steve,

Everything about "Recipe for Life" is outstanding. When I looked at how long it was, I couldn't believe that I'd just sat through 4 minutes. Time seemed to disappear in the snap of fingers. The way you sustain musical and lyrical interest in your songs always amazes me. Then, of course, there are those wonderfully catchy melodies that flow effortlessly as the song progresses. What a great chorus! Like Joanne, I thought the phrase "table full of kids" was a standout.

It's great to see you back in the forum
Noel

Steve,

Great piece of work!
Your vocals fit the music and the lyrical story so great.

This is hard to listen to after Mario's song tribute.

The story again is so great!
Thanks for sharing!

Noel,

Thanks so much! Your comments are always welcome and very appreciated. Glad you like the song. I was hoping the "table full of kids" line would resonate with some, but you never know what people are going to pick up on when you write something. Thanks again.

Frank,

Thanks for your comments! I really didn't write this song to be a sad one at all. It's coincidental that Mario and I were apparently writing these songs at the same time, and "gone but not forgotten" was a theme in both of them. (His song is a beautiful tribute to the memory of his mother.)

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Steve