Here's a new one guys hope you like it.
All comments welcome.
Rob.

https://soundcloud.com/ironbarkbob/smiling-faces-by-robert-stanley

Smiling faces

The floor boards are lifting the paints almost gone.
Its the place they would dance to their favorite song.
The chairs are all empty the band stand is broke.
I lean against the door frame on my tears I choke.

Old signs are hanging above on the wall.
A notice proclaiming the very last ball.
Swallows are nesting on beams up above.
Though the old folk are missing I still feel their love.

Where are the people I knew as a boy.
Those smiling faces that filled me with joy.
Banter and laughter now seem so surreal.
Compared to this harsh world was any part of it real.

Fill

No longer a two step glides cross the floor.
No sign of a large crowd whose Sunday best wore.
My foot steps they echo as I walk away.
I wonder if others remember those days?

****** Song Summary *************
Title: Smiling faces
File:Those smiling faces.SGU
Key=C , Tempo 130, Length (m:s)=3:10
2 bar intro, 133 bar chorus, from bar 3 to bar 135. Repeat x1 chorus
No Melody
No Soloist track.
Song is saved with Volume, Pan, Reverb, Chorus, Bank0,
Style is _CFPBTFW.STY (FastCtryWltz 2FngerPkGuit[140RS])

RealTracks in style: ~~1122:Bass, Acoustic, CountryWaltz Sw 110
RealTracks in style: 1298:Pedal Steel, Rhythm CountryWaltz Sw 140
RealTracks in style: ~~2054:Guitar, Acoustic, Fingerpicking CountryWaltzBrent Sw 110
RealTracks in style: ~~826:Guitar, Acoustic, Fingerpicking Country Waltz Sw 110
RealTracks in song: 2116:Guitar, Resonator, Soloist CountryWaltzRob Sw 085
RealDrums in style: NashvilleWaltzSw^5-a:Sidestick, Hihat , b:Snare, Hihat
*******************
Written with Band in a Box and Real Band.
Mixed with Reaper

Vocals and solo my self.

It amazes me how each of your songs grasp a style and feel from some time long ago. Your song begins and a movie, tv show, singer or place pops in my mind. This makes your songs very easy to relate to. This has the B-movie/Saturday morning western vibe to me.

Enjoyed this. Good mix and production.

Charlie

Could not have said it better... great stuff.

Bob

Bob, you continue to produce such a wide range of material, each new song with a subtle difference in genre. Thanks for sharing this one.
Trev

They are really kind comments.
Thanks Charlie.
Rob.

Nice country watz, I can relate well to this song. The pedal steel gives it that ole country feel.

Thanks Bob.
Always appreciate your comments.
Rob.

Hi, Rob.

I enjoyed the song a lot. Nice write, good production and singing - the harmony is really nice.

Some small nits: The vocals seemed a bit overwhelmed by the instruments at time, and the fade was a bit abrupt.

You've got a number of lines that feel forced:

I lean against the door frame on my tears I choke.
No longer a two step glides cross the floor.
Banter and laughter now seem so surreal
No sign of a large crowd whose Sunday best wore

But that's a personal preference, so... not really a big deal.

Well done! Thanks for posting.

Thanks Trev.
Appreciate your comments.
Rob.

Rob,

The chorus lifted this song a few more notches!
You certainly have the style and feel for this lovely retro sound.
A good drinking song with a drunken chorus from the boys at the end. LOL

Alyn

A good the-way-things-used-to-be song, Rob. The waltz is the perfect vehicle for it.

You might consider looking for something to replace "on my tears I choke"... backwards phrases will interrupt your listeners...

Your solo is a nice touch. It needs to come up in the mix...

floyd

Hi, Rob.

I quite enjoyed this number. I thought the resonator guitar was a nice touch.

Thanks for the music,
Dan

+1 , Rob I liked it a lot. The steel and reso work well here. How about " As I lean on the door frame my tears make me choke". You've got a good handle on this old time Country genre. Nice one. Tom

Hello Rob,

I like this song, it's got a nice atmosphere and a good chorus. One small comment on the mixing, both lead and backing vocals on the choruses could be a little bit less loud.

Regards,
Rob

+1. Always enjoy hearing you sing them too.

If this were a song with a more modern feel I'd be more concerned about the "choke" line. Good to keep in mind for future writing.

However, if folks are going to start nit picking lyrics, then Rob you should also know you're not the first on here to do that - it's seen on a regular basis and so is using archaic overly poetic word choices where they don't belong - so I wouldn't sweat it too much.

I enjoyed the song.

Josie

Hello Trev.
Thank you for your encouraging comments.
Rob.

Thanks David.
You always give me plenty to think about.
Rob.

Thank you Floyd.
I'll have another listen.
Appreciate your advice.
Rob

A nice waltz. We don't hear that many on
the forum.

I like the as floyd said "way things used to
be" theme. I've tried to write my share of
them often finding it difficult but this is a
fine one!!

We enjoyed it. Nice vivid imagery.

J&B

PS: One tiny nit that you have nothing to do with and
probably just me as an old upright bass player
being fussy. I've noticed with several of the non-
jazz acoustic bass RT's that the notes often sound
unbalanced in gain. I've gone as far as to volume
shape the whole track but often a little compression
will even things out. Not a big deal at all.

Hey Rob.

A great country song, nicely conceived and executed.

As soon as the track started playing I instantly thought of Jim Reeves. Once, many years ago, I stood in on bass in a Jim Reeves cover band and played lots of songs which had just this kind of feel to them.

One of your best in my opinion.

ROG.

Thank you Alyn.
Rob

Hi Bob. You certainly capture that old time country dance feel.
Particularly like the chorus! Cheers.

Thank you big741.
Rob.

Very sweet listen!! Your music is always very appealing-nice melodies and easy to listen to vocals. Another good one! Take care. Greg

Hi Tommy.
Still stoke on a replacement for choke.
I'll put it on the back burner for awhile.
Thank you Tommy.
Rob.

Yes I agree with mixing.
Thanks for your help Rob.
Rob.

Hello Josie.
Thank you for your encouraging words.
I always appreciate your comments.
Rob.

Hey guys.
Since you mention the compression Ive been trying on some of my tracks.
Thanks for the tip.
Rob.

Hi Rog.
I love Jim Reeves.
Especially Millers Cave.

Thanks for your comments.
Rob.

A wonderful sentiment! I love the chorus.

Great Write!

Charlie said it all. We much enjoyed the listen. We particularly liked:

"Old signs are hanging above on the wall.
A notice proclaiming the very last ball.
Swallows are nesting on beams up above.
Though the old folk are missing I still feel their love."

Very nice!!

J&B

P.S. "on my tears I choke" and "Sunday best wore" do break the movement a bit for me. I know rhymes are easier to find this way but it seems to somewhat interrupt the flow. I've bailed on some lines I've written when that was the only way I could achieve the rhyme. However, I know that it is common in poetry particularly of the Victorian era so again this may be just me.

I'm glad its an era I just missed out on.
It would do no harm at all to return to those days.
Thanks Rich.
Rob

Than you Greg for your kind comments.
Rob.

Many thanks Gruverider.
Rob.

Thanks for the advice guys.

Hi Rob,

The waltz was a perfect choice! As I listened, there was a kind of 'floating' effect that the lull of 1-2-3-1-2-3 created. An excellent match for the 'surreal' feeling you sang about in the lyrics.

For what it's worth, I enjoyed the listen. You really are a very productive songwriter. I envy you.

All the best,
Noel

• latest song: Just A Little After Midnight

Many thanks Noel for your kind comments.
Rob.

Another well done song - I agree with the above comments - a couple of beers would go well with this to get you in the mood. --Pete