Its Time (the Last Farewell) with Guenter and Jimmy

The next song in the collaboration project was the first (or maybe it was the second?) song I ever wrote back in November 2012. The song was selected by an artist call Mamaa Saiz (aka Jimmy Gray) who I had met on Streetjelly. Jimmy is quite a star on Second Life and is a wonderful performer and songwriter.

I received this wonderful vocal from Jimmy and decided that I really couldn't do the song justice so I asked our resident remix master, Guenter, to mix it for me. Guenter did the most incredible job with this mix. I am absolutely delighted with it.

Thank you Jimmy and Guenter.

Good song!

nice collab! Let's see if I understand correctly.. you wrote the song, Jimmy sang it and Guenter remixed it? Man, that really mixes up the creative juices, doesn't it? What a great way to introduce variablity into a song writer's sound?

This reminds me of James Taylor's approach. His guitar playing is fairly distinctive, and if all of his songs consisted of him playing solo acoustic and singing, they would very quickly start to sound the same. So he collaborates with other well known singers and musicians who bring their own sound to the mix, and the result is a whole bunch of award winning CDs.

Jimmy has a nice voice, and he brings real personality to the song. Guenter's remixes are legendary... always innovative and unique and excellent... and your songs always have that human appeal. You have your finger on the pulse of universal themes that resonate with most people.

Your idea of making a project CD out of collaborations with other song writers is really working out well! I wish you much success with the resulting product! You certainly are getting a collection of songs that are worth the price of admission!

Another super cool collab.

Guenter - an excellent musical bed for this vocal. Can you list the RTs? Your choices are always so different - and so well thought out.

Excellent mix.

The song sounded very much like listening to a Rod McKuen song - both the vocal and the lyric type.

floyd

Guenter is the re-mix master, and this one upholds his sterling reputation!! Really cool song and cool mix. I really love the tone and texture of the vocalist. Another wonderful collab!! Take care. Greg

Joanne, this is another good write. Guenter, the mix and production is outstanding. Jimmy nice job on the vocals. This collab project just keeps getting better and better. Tom

Hi all,

thanks a lot for the positive comments referring to my
mix.
I'm proud Joanne chose me for that and Jimmy furnished me a fit occasion with his voice.
The instrumentation is:
RealDrums-JazzFunkGroovin^1-HHSdStk,HHSnr
RT1636_ Bass, Electric, JazzFunkBreezy Ev16 075
RT1637_ Guitar, Electric, Rhythm JazzFunkBreezyC
RT1639_ Piano, Electric, Rhythm JazzFunkBreezy Ev
RT1648_ Guitar, Acoustic, Soloist JazzFunkBreezy
Kontakt5 Ooh Choir (last two measures)
EZDrummer Latin Percussion starting with measure 49.
The "ethereal ooohs" as Jimmy calls them are six tracks with Joanne's voice.

Guenter

Pat pretty much said what I was thinking. I did have one question though, Joanne is that you doing the backing vocals?

Really enjoyable listen. Josie, this is really a very good write as one of your first attempts. I looked through past User Forum postings to see if you had recorded and posted your original version but did not see it. For comparison, I listened to some of your other early submissions (that are still available to listen to), your work was very much in the folk genre. I had to chuckle when I saw you had listed this version on SoundCloud as a folk genre tune.
I think some of the folk genre purists searching SC may be a bit startled....
But, I really like the way this turned out. Everything came together so well. You made all the right choices here and Jimmy's vocals gave you a good foundation to work with.

Guenter did an incredible interpretation and mix for you. I don't think it could have been done any better. Great job Guenter... great job.

Joanne : that was a good song
Guenter: excellent mix as usual form your good self
Jimmy: great vocals.

It is turning out to be a mega project

Well done

Alyn

Scott – Thanks so much and welcome back to the forum.

Pat – Even having the approach compared to JT is a great honour! Jimmy certain has a lovely voice and I think Guenter has done it justice. The collection of songs I am getting is simply amazing. The worth of something like this should not be under estimated. I am working to do something worthwhile with the resulting product but will let you all know if and when it happens.

Floyd – You are spot on with your comments regarding Guenters well thought out choices. I am going to have to google Rod McKuen
Greg – Thanks so much

Tommy – Better and better indeed! Thanks

Guenter – It has been a pleasure working with you on this.

Jim – Yes the backup vocals are mostly mine. Guenter sent me a few vocaloid tracks to try and copy but boy did I battle with that. I couldn’t even get near the top one! So I sent him some done as best I could but they were NOT great. Guenter managed to turn them into something listenable though

Charlie – I put it down as “folk” on soundcloud out of habit. Will change it. I have done quite a few versions of this song over the last few years. Here is one I did with Cheryl Teal. https://youtu.be/3bG1KZIyHZo (Please excuse the video...it is pretty bad!)

Alyn – Thank you.

Hello Joanne, Guenter and Jimmy,

we remember the original version, at least the first version we heard, with Sharon Teal (did we spell that right?).
This is a very nice version too, definitely different, as for the arrangement and sound very well done. As for the vocals however, the previous version appealed to us more. We very much liked the key it was sung in and the harmonies.

Rob & Anne-Marie

Wow! I think the vocals are fabulous and the whole song is not what I expected.
Very smooth but a little unsettling somehow. Great backings and mix Guenter. Cheers.

Super sound. Great arrangement/mix/singer.

I love this version.

And Joanne, I always especially liked the line "salad on the side" - too cool.

Josie

Hi again Josie.

" I put it down as “folk” on soundcloud out of habit. Will change it. I have done quite a few versions of this song over the last few years. Here is one I did with Cheryl Teal. https://youtu.be/3bG1KZIyHZo (Please excuse the video...it is pretty bad!)"

I'm teasing about the song genre 'folk' on SoundCloud tho' some purist may truly sound off if they don't get what they expect. You can point them to the YouTube video if they get too loud... and...
blame Guenter. Tell them you sent him a simple folk song and he created a easy listening masterpiece... ;=) [Teasing here too]

But seriously, this is but another example of how good your songwriting is and demonstrates the different and varied levels how it can be interpreted.

I'm impressed.

Charlie

Great collaboration you three!
Everything sounds wonderful
to us. And, Guenter, yields
another master mix in a LONG
string of them.

Enjoyed it -- a lot.


J&B