This one features the vocal stylings of Janice Merritt and the Pedal Steel Guitar of Tom Adams. All comments/suggestions encouraged. Thanks, Tom


http://tommyadamsmusic.com/music

http://soundclick.com/share.cfm?id=12983821



Style MIDI Instruments are : Acoustic Bass (33),
RealTracks in song: 2167:Piano, Acoustic, Rhythm Country12-8John Sw 065
RealTracks in song: ~529:Guitar, Acoustic, Strumming Hank Sw 065
RealTracks in song: 1884:Piano, Acoustic, Soloist Country12-8John Sw 065 (Bluesy)
RealTracks in song: 1884:Piano, Acoustic, Soloist Country12-8John Sw 065 (Bluesy)
RealDrums: RealDrums in Song: Nashville128^09-a,b:Snare


A Way To Say Goodbye

Happy, Why can’t I be happy

I wish that we could make up

Cause every time I wake up

I find that you’re no longer by my side


Sunshine how I long to feel the sunshine

Warming up my heart

Never spent much time apart

Now everyone sees sadness in my eyes


The time has come for me to find

a way to live and not cry

You’re no longer mine Guess it’s a sign

I need to find a way to say goodbye


Lovers We always made good lovers

Now I’ve come to know

not so long ago

That was easier to be


Memories all that's left are memories

Frozen there in time

That no one else will find

Only there for you and me


The time has come for me to find
a way to live and not cry
You’re no longer mine Guess it’s a sign
I need to find a way to say goodbye

©2014 Thomas Adams/Janice Merritt

Hearing this song, it is easy to imagine the likes of legends Patsy Cline, Buddy Emmons and Floyd Cramer jammin this song together. Great traditional country music performed perfectly and authentically with some live instruments included. Stunning vocals by Janice. This song has it all.

"Happy--- This song makes me Happy ---"


Charie

I agree with Charlie. The performances really stand out on this one. I especially liked the pedal steel throughout. Very nicely done.

-Jeff

WOW Tom, I guess I never realized you played the pedal steel too! Listening to the track I thought to myself "that pedal steel fits right in-seems totally custom" and IT WAS! Really pretty song, and Janice was her usual brilliant self. Great stuff! And, of course when it ended, I had to give MORE another listen-it's one of my favorite independent tracks that I've ever heard. Keep it up guys! Take care. Greg

Bartender.........

I'll have another. Make it a double.

All you need now is low lights, some neon and smoke.

Very Nice.


Regards,

Bob

Well said! I agree 100%


that perfectly sums up the mood this song creates!

man! You two have MAGIC when you tackle a project together! This song makes 100% successful songs in a row!! I bet when y'all look in the mirror your teeth sparkle and everything! And WHATCHEWTALKINBOUT??? Pedal Steel too?? DAYum!! If this was American Idol, you'd be winning in multiple categories at the same time!

And Janice.. do you drink something special to make your voice so smooth?? If so, guard the ingredients with your life!

as always, call me...
"totally blown away"

Charlie, Hey thanks for all that. Those three are some of my all time favorites. glad it made you happy. Tom


Jeff, Thanks for your comments. The steel is a work in progress. I have played for 40 years, but I have been having difficulty getting a recorded sound that I can live with. Thanks again, Tom

Tommy,

have you tried putting a mic in front of your amp when you play? as opposed to making a direct connection between the pedal steel and your audio interface? Speaking for myself, I am NEVER happy with the way my guitar sounds through a direct connection... but with a mic on the amp it loses all the digital rough edges (to my ear anyway)

Greg, Thanks for giving it a spin and for your kind words. And thank you again for all the great things you said about my last song More. I appreciate it. Tom

Bob, That says it all. I'll have another too! Thanks, Tom

Pat, Thanks for all the nice things you have said about our work together. Janice is truly gifted and she and Bud have become great friends. BIAB has given me a lot more than just music. Tom

Pat, I have tried it all on this tone quest. Miked, Direct, Clean, Processed, Preamp only, Miked and direct at the same time, etc. I am now approaching it from a different angle - got a new pickup coming. One of these days I'll get it right. I've got to lose the mid range honk and when I tried to EQ it out it was only getting worse. I have several more songs in the pipeline waiting on steel, but they are on hold until I figure this out. Thanks for the suggestion. Tom

Tom and Janice,
I can see the Patsy Cline vibe....beautiful.
That Janice certainly has a STUNNING voice.

That pedal steel was really nice, you made that instrument talk and cry and it compliments Janice SO well.
Maybe you could try to process it as a vocal, with a "smile curve" on the parametric eq.

Together you make music, in the true sense of the word music.

Alyn

"Pat, I have tried it all on this tone quest. Miked, Direct, Clean, Processed, Preamp only, Miked and direct at the same time, etc. I am now approaching it from a different angle - got a new pickup coming. One of these days I'll get it right. I've got to lose the mid range honk and when I tried to EQ it out it was only getting worse. I have several more songs in the pipeline waiting on steel, but they are on hold until I figure this out. Thanks for the suggestion. Tom"

Tom, your musicianship, writing, arranging and production skills are at the very top of the heap here on the BiaB forum. That being said, the pedal steel is a very complicated instrument utilizing non-standard tuning that I would imagine sometimes even test the skills of industry mixing experts.

With the consistent quality you and then you along with Janice and Bud bring to the forum, in my opinion, your work is of such value to lead me to suggest you consider finding an engineer you could submit wav files to get "that" right sound for your pedal steel. Maybe more expensive than a new preamp or pickup. Your recordings are some of the cleanest recordings here. Just the thought of more of your work on hold in the pipeline compelled me to speak out. Just the very thought.... just sayin' man.......

Besides, it's an easy way to pick the engineers brain on techniques and tricks.

( I'll go along with your judgement on the pedal steel sound you desire but I can't find fault in what I've already heard from you. )

Charlie

Alyn, I agree with you regarding Janice. To me she is beyond compare. Along with her great voice , her sense of melody is another important element to these songs. Good idea about the smile. That has always been my go to setting on final mastering. I appreciate the input. Tom

"Memories all that's left are memories
Frozen there in time
That no one else will find
Only there for you and me"

Nice.

"The time has come for me to find
a way to live and not cry
You’re no longer mine Guess it’s a sign
I need to find a way to say goodbye"

Very nice.

The melody at "not cry" is exceptional.

Everything about this captures that "Patsy thing" perfectly. The arrangement is dead-on. The mix is, of course, perfect.

No one better to sing this type of song! Janice, you nailed this. (But... we all KNEW you would!!!)

Tom the steel sounds great to me. (Cannot imagine how hard that must be to do...)

A great listen....

floyd

Charlie, Patsy Cline? Wow, that is high praise. Thank you!

Janice




Hey Greg, yes! Tom's steel was perfect and really set the mood. And thanks a bunch for commenting on my vocal.

Janice






Thank you Bob. You set the scene very well!
Janice

This is quality from the first note to the last.

The steel tone sounds good. Quite often we are our own worst critics. I felt the same way about my tone and playing for a very long time.... don't give it a second thought. This is nice tone....and I LOVED how the piano picked up and ended the steel solo... nice production call.

Janet's sultry singing style shines on this....in classic Patsy Cline fashion.

As a guitarist, the only thing I felt this was lacking was a nice hot picker to throw in some real fills and half of the solo...... That would have balanced it a bit and not made it so much of a "steel" song. I love using production chops that alternate two lead instruments ... often one per verse on the fills.

Either way, this is a great song.... well done.

Hi Tom,

a great song. Janice's voice brilliant as always.
I like your steel. Can't find anything disturbing
in the sound.
Several enjoyable listens.

Guenter

I clicked the SoundClick link in hopes that this goes to #1 where it belongs.

A stunning production, I love the mix and the song. Radio ready.

Janice, the emotion and dynamics in your vocal, bending those notes, captivating, smooth, wow!

Tom, you too, wow! The RT's are just right and that steel puts this in the big leagues.

Bravo!!

Charlie, Thanks for all those nice things that you said. I sure do like to hear that. That is a good suggestion about the engineer- I know a couple of guys. I will run it past them. Tom

Originally Posted By: JPeden73
I agree with Charlie. The performances really stand out on this one. I especially liked the pedal steel throughout. Very nicely done.

-Jeff


Thanks Jeff!

Janice

Originally Posted By: Pat Marr
!

man! You two have MAGIC when you tackle a project together! This song makes 100% successful songs in a row!! I bet when y'all look in the mirror your teeth sparkle and everything! And WHATCHEWTALKINBOUT??? Pedal Steel too?? DAYum!! If this was American Idol, you'd be winning in multiple categories at the same time!

And Janice.. do you drink something special to make your voice so smooth?? If so, guard the ingredients with your life!

as always, call me...
"totally blown away"


Aw Pat, you are so sweet to say that. The ingredients are the support of Bud and people on this forum in making me feel good about my transition from just singing bluegrass. Thanks again!

Janice


I can't describe how much a comment like this means to Janice. You would have to see her face when I read it to her!

Bud

Herb, I'm glad you like this one. I have been of the school of splitting fills and leads with guitar and steel, but this one I wanted only piano and steel. Thanks for commenting. Tom



Guenter, Thanks for listening and offering the kind words. Tom

Great song, love ❤ the smooth voice of Janet, love the laid back steel guitar.

F

Hello guys,

This is another very fine collab!
Beautiful classic country stuff.
The pedal steel guitar sounds very professional.
and then: Janice's voice.... always beautiful, but this is the best I heard from her so far!

Regards,
Rob

floyd, thank you very much for your kind remark about my vocal. From a singer like you that means so much.

Janice




Thanks a bunch Herb! Tom gave me a great write to work with.

Janice

Hi Tom and Janice ...

Sounds like 1963 all over again! I was a sophomore in high school then ... yikes, I'm freaking old! Janice's voice reminds me a lot of Patsy Cline when she sings country. On this particular song, there's a lot of patsy in her voice, but I also hear touches of Jean Sheppard (a lot less nasal than Jean, though).

Great lyric! Floyd already pointed out the best lines ... couldn't agree with him more! The pedal steel was real nice and the production was spot on! great song and delivery in all respects. loved it!

Alan & Di

Such a beautiful song and vocal! The arrangement and steel playing are also great. Wonderful work!

Thanks,
Bruce

Hi Tommy and Janice !:))


Can it get any better than this ?:))
This is one of my favorites by
you !:)) This is pro made all through !

Cheers
Dani

Scott , It's great that you're back. Thanks for the nice things you've said about this song. Bud and Janice are incredibly easy to work with. Tom

Fred, I'm glad you stopped by for a listen. Thanks for taking the time to comment. It's meaningful to us. Tom

I really appreciate you saying that Guenter....

Janice





It's encouragement like yours that has so much helped me learn to sing these styles. Thank you.

Janice

Alan, We're all getting old. Janice and Bud and myself all love Patsy and that's what we were shooting for. thanks for the kind words.Thanks, Tom




Bruce, thanks for stopping by and taking the time to comment. Tom









Dani, Always good to hear from you. Thanks, Tom

Janice / Tom,

Love this... Outstanding song all around.

Bob

Another beautiful collaboration. Lyrics, singing, playing = awesome..

Bob, Thanks from all of us. Tom



Scott, Thanks for coming by for a listen and commenting. We appreciate it. Tom

Thank you Fred. I much appreciate that.

Janice





Wow! That's very kind of you Rob.

Janice

Hi Tom & Janice, great job on this song, the melody is beautiful, and stunningly sung by the warm voice of Janice. I love the slide guitar, that sound so melancholy and sweet, it is a pleasure to hear you, you play very well. And the mix sounds very good.

When I heard the song come to my mind the idea that I would like to hear it without drums, or rhythm very minimalistic, ... just an idea ;-)
Gracias for your music.

Gotcha Alan -- I was a junior in high school that year

Bud

Alan, thank you so much for saying that about Patsy. She is one of my absolute favorites and it's so nice to be mentioned in the same post with her!

Janice





Thank you Bruce. I do appreciate that.

Janice



Thanks Dani!!

Janice

Thank you Bob

Janice



I appreciate that Scott. It was a lot of fun.

Janice




Thank you so much for your kind words about my vocal! Your idea about just steel and vocal is thought provoking. We appreciate you taking the time to comment.

Janice

Hi Tom and Janice. Sounds like the real thing to me! Cheers.