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I Need You Like Another Broken Heart

Intro: 519 Bass, Electric, Pop Halfnotes Ev 120
522 Guitar, Acoustic, Fingerpicking Ev 120
RealDrums, Nashville Even 8,2
405 Guitar, Acoustic, Strumming Ev120
618 Fiddle, Background Allis Ev 120
363 Pedal Steel, Background Ev 085

Then:
520 Bass, electric, Pop Half Notes Ev 165
407 Guitar, Acoustic, Fingerpicking Ev 165
1120 Guitar, 12 String Acoustic, Strumming
622 Pedal Steel, Background, Waylon Ev 176

I Need You Like Another Broken Heart copyright (c) 2015
Curt Young

Last night I read your message
When I checked my telephone
You say you’re back in town again
And you’re feelin’ all alone
You say that you still need me
And you’d like to start anew
But let me tell you Darlin’
Just how much that I need you…

I need you like another broken heart
I pulled my self together when you took my world apart.
Like a dog needs fleas, and a flooded field needs rain,
I need you like the desert needs a drain.
I think this time the finish line’s the place that we should start
‘Cause I need you like another broken heart.

I see you haven’t changed
And you still have a way with words
What you’re lackin’ in commitment
You’re makin’ up with nerve.
Last time you said you’d love me
Until time came to an end
Next day you walked away
And it was only half past ten…

(Chorus)

I think this time the finish line’s the place that we should start
‘Cause I need you like another broken heart.
Yes, I need you… like another broken heart.



I was hoping for a Buck Owens type sound - BGVs on the chorus would have been nice, but I'm not there yet. : )

Comments appreciated!

"I see you haven’t changed
And you still have a way with words
What you’re lackin’ in commitment
You’re makin’ up with nerve.
Last time you said you’d love me
Until time came to an end
Next day you walked away
And it was only half past ten…"

Curt - that is really clever writing!...

"I think this time the finish line’s the place that we should start"... That, too!..

Cool tempo change. Good country sound throughout. The pedal steel could be a bit lower under the vocals - a bit more subtle. It is a good level for its solo. I like the way you had it and the fiddle trading off in the first verse. Everything else fits nicely.

Another well done song.

floyd

Curt, you nailed the classic country sound. Good job and I enjoyed this from start to finish.

Did miss the Don Rich freight train fender guitar and high harmony that would have cemented the Buck Owens sound. But everything else is there and this certainly sounded like a song Buck Owens would have been proud for him and Don to record.


Charlie

My immediate thought was this is reminiscent of the great country crooners like Eddie Arnold....

I like the tempo change. I can recall a number of the old songs that did that.

Very nice chord changes in the progressions. The bass anticipating the upcoming chord is good too.

Clever lyrics. I'm thinking this could have been a hit back in the day.

comments on the mix

I'm in agreement with Floyd on the steel being too loud behind the vocals. With old country, try pulling the steel out (no lead stuff) behind the vocalist. Let the acoustic guitars or a non-lead piano, carry those sections because the spotlight in these old country songs is the singer. Let the steel do fills in the appropriate places between the vocal phrases. Just one example: On the first chorus... steel in after the word "heart" and out on the word "pulled". Quick short fills, swap with fiddle fills, guitar fills, etc.... If you let a "solo" instrument play behind the vocal, be sure it doesn't play loud and that it doesn't do anything that's interesting enough that pulls the listener's ear away from the singer and what the lyrics are saying.

All in all, well done with just a few minor places to make changes. Good job.

Curt,

LOVE the tempo change!
I can't comment on the similarity to other country stars BUT I did like this a lot.
I agree the slide should be down a bit in places but otherwise all sounded good on my system, and played loud.

enjoyed it immensely

Alyn

Floyd,

Your advice is ALWAYS welcome, and your kind comments appreciated. I really need to set up some monitors - all I've got to work with at the moment are headphones, monitors would have to help. Referencing your remarks if I redo this will be a priority and very useful.



Charlie - Yes, that is exactly what I had in mind. Don Rich harmonies and the "Buckaroos" would be the ideal. I'm going to experiment with BGVs, as I would like to include them in most of the songs I put together, anyway.

I really think a female lead vocalist rendition would be even better for this song, given the lyrics. (like a Janice Merrit )But for the time being I have my hands full trying to learn to properly record a male vocal.

Herb,

Thank you for your most excellent advice as well.

I realize this doesn't fit today's sound - and retro is kind of what I had in mind, I guess. I love the old stuff, and don't listen to much mainstream (modern) country today. Maybe I should, and try to update my approach to writing.

I appreciate your help!

Hi Curt,

good old country song.
I enjoyed listening.

Guenter

Yeah man, we felt an immediate Buck/Don
feel here. Very nice take on the classic
sound. We still enjoy watching those
old shows.

Enjoyed it!

J&B

Hey Curt. You have a classic country voice. A real throw back to the old days.
Nicely done.
Rob

Alyn,

Thanks for the kind words. The tempo change was an experiment for me, but surprisingly worked as I hoped. BIAB is such a tremendously versatile tool.

Guenter,

I appreciate your listening. I would imagine it can be kind of painful for someone with an ear for mixing like yours, but I guess my biggest enjoyment is in the writing. Thanks for seeing through the flaws!


Yee Haw! Mission accomplished

Rob,

Thanks!

Fun listen!

I love the lyrics - as others have said, it nails that "classic" country style. If you could pull off that background vocal bit that's been mentioned, that would be the icing on the cake.

I also liked the way you nailed that low note at the end.

Thanks, David!

I actually prefer singing lower parts. Sang bass with a Gospel Quartet for a while & really enjoyed it. More in my comfort zone. I don't care much for the sound of my voice in this kind of stuff. To be honest, I'd rather just write and hand stuff to someone else for the recording.

But glad you liked the song!

So well written. And just love the play on the theme with tempo and rhythm changes to boot!

I was taken back to "Thank God and Greyhound She's Gone" good ol Roy

super song!

wow very good!!!!

Hello,

nice classic country song.
Great voice and rhythm variation.

Hello.
Sergio.