Hi Everyone.

Listening to Alyn always makes me think I should try to write something a bit different, so here goes.

Thanks to PG Music for the Realdrums and the acoustic rhythm and also for the Powertracks mixer, without which I couldn't have done this. I ended up with three sub-mixes each with eight backing vox tracks, each assigned to sub-groups and each with a separate EQ, compressor and reverb. The drums, lead guitar, bass and main vox all had their own effects patched into the channel inserts. The main output buss had a balancing amp inserted. I have copies of all the major DAWs, but the Powertracks mixer is still my first choice. It's brilliant.

Thanks also to William Shakespeare for helping with the lyrics.

You may find the guitar solo a little disturbing and indisciplined. I was about to record it when I got an email asking me to renew my TV licence. I've seen at first hand how much money the TV companies waste and I don't watch much anyway, so I really hate paying out for the licence. I think it maybe shows in what I played.

DON'T GIVE UP
Sometimes when things seem strange
You look around but nothing's changed
There's nothing new that's going down
And nothing lost that might be found
There's just one thing you've gotta do
Any time you're feeling blue
Don't give up - on a good thing.

And if you find love's labours lost
Don't ever try to count the cost
If nothing's lost and nothing's gained
Then everything will stay the same
There's just one thing you've gotta do
Any time you're feeling blue
Don't give up - on a good thing.

Everybody knows that it's so unfair
You've got a good thing going but it's going nowhere
You've got to take her in your arms, you've got to kiss her and then
You've got to pick it up, take it, make it work again.

Hey, if you've got time to listen, many thanks.

ROG.

Real retro sound.
Late sixties early seventies.
This a great song.
This will stick around the forum for awhile.
Love it.
Rob.

ROG,

Thanks for the mention.
Great tune, I like undisciplined guitar solos 'cos that is how I do them myself...just go for it!!!

Same with the song writing!! And it seems that Powertracks was a god send in your mixing with all the busses etc.
A DAW is only as good as the user and in your case Powertracks is the best!! Good work!

Ole Bill Waggledagger had a knack of writing good words didn't he?!

Really enjoyed the tune, had my feet tapping all the way through

Alyn
ps BBC TV licence eh!! don't start me off on a rant LOL

ROG
You've nailed it. Great rockin' tune. Harmonies worked especially well. Great!

Rog,

Great sound! I could hear Blondie doing this in the late 70s... Excellent!.

Bob

Good job on this one. I enjoyed the guitar solo so I guess a little TV rage helped out. I always look forward to the high quality productions you and your students develop. The work of you and your students is so consistently good. I enjoyed my listen.

Charlie

ROG my friend!

I love your stuff! You have some mystery ingredient I can't define, but whatever it is it makes your songs totally infectious.. they all have this captivating groove about them.. and this one has it too!

Using the mixer and its subgroups and busses effectively is something I need to know more about. Ever consider making a tutorial on the topic? I have Power Tracks, but it would be the same for RB.

My only disappointment is the lack of a stick figure man playing the awesome guitar at the end of the song. (He could even include some gratuitous rage at the BBC...)

ROG, What a great sound! The background vocals are just fantastic. Now that is a MAD guitar solo. It works. I too am one who has yet to explore subgroups and busses, but after listening to your great works, I need to seriously step up my game. Great song and the production and playing is out of this world. I am a fan. Tom

Great vibe!! I hear a little Petty, a little ELO, and a whole lotta ROG. Fun, rockin' track. BG vocals were killer. Great job all around!! Take care. Greg

Massive sound really suits the laconic vocal delivery.
The guitar solo suits the song perfectly in my opinion.
Cheers.

Hi ROG

This is certainly NOT "Much ado about nothing".
We think this is one of your best so far. The arrangement has got a very nice groove. The backing vocals are great, so is the lead.
This thing kind of reminds us of Tom Petty. Very very nice!

Rob and Anne-Marie

ROG,

I said it before, and again I get this Byrne vibe!
I'm a great fan of Talking Heads, and you're right up there!

What strikes is your perfect production, I have a long way to go to reach this kind of finishing. So, if you feel like giving some hint on my next one... don't hold back

Listening a third time... Love it!!!

Fred

hi rog love this right from the beginning everything well put together awesome work thanks for shareing really like little man missed that one

Super harmonies! and a great chorus!

Thanks, Rob.

I do tend towards the retro, but usually more the 80s!
Glad you liked it.

ROG.

Hey, Alyn.

Thanks for the review. Pleased that you liked it, but after hearing your latest, I still feel I'm playing catch-up in the originality stakes!

So... back to the drawing board.

ROG

Trevor, Bob, Charlie.

Many thanks guys, for the positive feedback. I really value the comments because I'm always riddled with self-doubt when I post a new song. You've improved my confidence in this track.

ROG.

Pat and Tom.

Thanks for listening and the kind words. As I said above, My self-confidence is never good until the first reviews come in and I really appreciate your comments.

If I get time I'll have a look at a tutorial for the RB/PT mixer, because it really is such a useful piece of kit. It works very much like the old studio mixers which I grew up with, which is probably why I like it so much. When you get to know it well, it's so versatile and yet so simple and intuitive. It's always there, ready to work without having to configure anything or load templates and if you're on a 1080p monitor you can see everything you need up front. Does this sound like I'm trying to sell it to you?

Once again, thanks for the reviews.

ROG

You have a great head for harmony arrangements, they sound like ELO. Loved the song.

Greg - Petty and ELO? Both big favourites of mine so thanks for that. A lot of sweat and tears went into all those BVs, so I'm really pleased you thought they worked.

RichMac - Laconic? Yeah, I like that, thank you. Glad you approved of the solo, too. I wasn't sure, but left it in to see what others thought.

Thanks for the reviews, guys.

ROG.

Rob and Anne-Marie - I can always live with being associated with one of my heroes, Tom Petty.
Plus, I always think that if you need help with the lyrics, go to the best! Many thanks.

Fred - You flatter me with references to Byrne and Talking Heads. That guy is SO talented and innovative I'm honoured to be mentioned in the same sentence. Thanks for the kind words.

ROG.

OH! YEAH!!!

Awesome. You've topped yourself with this, ROG!

The opening guitar riffs (both sides) grab ya right off the bat...

And...SWEET drum sound! That snare CRACKS! YES!

I always love your vocals - and these are your best ever... Crisp, clear, immediate... Excellent harmonies...

Good write. Very catchy.

LOVE the solo! Fire!

This sounds great CRANKED!!! This one goes right to the top...

Excellent start to finish - and from every angle.

floyd

Eric
Gruverider
Will Rockwell

Hey guys, many thanks for taking the time to listen and for the positive reviews.

It's always good to get feedback.

ROG.

Floyd, my friend. You are just too kind.

I'd just like to make it clear to everyone that I don't pay you anything for these reviews!

I really admire your own work, so it's particularly nice to get a thumbs up from you.

Many, many thanks.

ROG.

"And if you find love's labours lost
Don't ever try to count the cost
If nothing's lost and nothing's gained
Then everything will stay the same"

There's a helluva lot of truth packed
in those four lines. Man, this is a
terrific rocker. I'm not gonna try
and date it or suggest who it sounds
like. It just rocks. Great write,
vocals, scorching guitar and a
strong mix. And it's heading
for our Soundcloud playlist.

J&B

Hi, very nice song and great guitar solo.

which guitar and which effect are you using in the song?

Hello.

Hi there J & B.

Many, many thanks for your exceedingly kind review. Much appreciated.

ROG.

Hi Sergio.

Thanks very much for listening and the positive review.

I'm lucky to have a few nice guitars which I've had for many years, so I didn't pay collectors prices for them. The one I'm using here is a 1959 Fender Telecaster. The overdrive effect is a VST plugin called California Sun and then there's a PG Echo on it as well (Guitar Medium Trails).

Glad you liked it.

ROG.

Loved everything about this one, Professor!


Regards,

Bob

Rog,

I think this is my favorite of what I've heard from you so far. Everything just fits together so well. Outstanding job on the background vocals. I like everything about this one.

Steve

I think it's great. Loved the vibe.

Josie

Bob
Steve
Josie.

Many thanks to you all for taking time to give it a listen and for the kind words.

Much appreciated.

ROG.

ROG,
Great song. Strong performance.
SD

Hi SD.

Many thanks for listening and the positive comment.

ROG.

Hi ROG,

I've been busy doing Pat Pattison's Songwriting Course so have only just heard this and I must say that it is excellent. I really love the harmony vocals contrasting with the Talking Heads style vocal. Guitars also sound great including the solo.

Overall top notch!

Rec