Song number 14 from Chris and myself, back to the blues for this one

What Could I Do?

This is actually a 16 bar blues for those that care about such things, with a middle-8.

The band:
Drums - BluesRockSlowEv8
Bass - 572
Organ - 673

I played the guitar parts, lead guitar played on a strat and two rhythm guitar parts played on my tele.

Still tweaking the mix, any comments pro and con appreciated!

What could I do (lyrics by Chris Spruit)

Verse1
Some times in heaven
Some nights in hell
dark clouds are raining on me
on a sunny day
kind of trouble sometimes
so dizzy in mind
in case I lose you
what could I do

Verse2
There is no religion
no kind of a spell
there’s nothing strong enough oh no
to heal that pain
if you would walk out the door
Leave me on the floor
in case I lose you
what else can I do

Middle-8
My friends say I’m crazy
but they don’t understand
it would be driving me crazy
would driving me mad
if you would leave me
and walk out of that door
In THAT case , darling
leave morphine on the floor

Solo

Verse3
No I can’t stand it
If you run around
somewhere down the town NO NO
it’s bringing me down
kind of stupid sometimes
unfair and so blind
cause if you leave me
what could I do

Outro/vamp

Song is also up on soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/blue-attitude/what-could-i-do-featuring-chris-spruit

Now that is cool. A traditional 16 bar, albeit not heard as much as the 12, combined with a bridge.
It works for us! Seems like I remember an early Stones song that was similar. Heck given my
ole age memory it might be a common structure

A couple of Tele tracks and a Strat track -- hard to go wrong in our book with that particularly
when they are played this sweet. Love the tone also.

The mix sounds really good on our KRK's. The fine vocal is sitting, to our ears, right where it oughta be
and the drums sound great.

Kudos on a fine production that features top notch playing and vocals!

J&B

Dave,

This sizzles along nicely - I enjoyed everything about it.
Nice dark twist in the lyrics in the middle8:

if you would leave me
and walk out of that door
In THAT case , darling
leave morphine on the floor

On my headset I did think the lead guitar could come up a little on the solo... which is great as I`d expect from you.

Robert

Dave

Great song - superbly played and sung.
Really enjoyed this one.

Peter

Excellent blues tune. Awesome vocal. Awesome guitar work. Very cool tone

I think back in the day you would hear more 16 bar, and also 8 bar blues. These days 12 bar seems to be what everyone thinks of when they talk about a blues progression.

Thanks for the comments on the mix, especially about the vocal! Working with a vocalist is a relativity new experience for me, and I'm always trying to get better at that aspect of mixing.

Great Jammin' Blues!! Guitar parts are amazing-one could happily drown in that sound. Vocal is good. I feel the vocal is a little too wet and buried. Awesome blues!! Take care. Greg

Dave, anyone that likes blues should love this. You really had a wonderful full sound with minimal BIAB backing. Guitars all sounded great and played skillfully! Good work all the way around. Thanks, Torrey.

Hello, Dave

What a cool tune.
Superbly played and sung.
Usually I haven't so often listen to Blues songs, but this song is great.
As Janice & Bud said, it also reminds me of early Stones songs.
Very enjoyable listen.

Best Regards.

Shigeki Adachi

Thanks, Robert!

Thanks for taking the time to listen and leave a comment Peter, I appreciate it!



Thanks Scott, I'm happy you liked it!

Dave/Chris...

NICE "commercial blues" song (that's a compliment, btw). Really "in the pocket" - catchy blues - an accomplishment.

Nice drum opening.

Gorgeous guitar work!

Good vocal. I disagree with Greg (that does not happen often!) - the vocal doesn't sound "too wet" or "buried" to me (just the opposite, in fact) - though perhaps you have remixed (?)... BUT...that is how I would describe the guitar - it sounds "too far away" to me - it is SUCH a terrific guitar track - it should be "up with the vocal" (I think). The bass could use a bit more "punch" (but, that is always subjective). These are, of course, all just suggestions.... 'cause I really like this...

A very good listen...

fj

Thanks for the listen, Greg! Personally I like the way the vocal is sitting in the mix, too upfront and it can start to sound like karaoke. But, I appreciate the comment!




Thanks Torrey! Less is more when it comes to blues I think.

Awesome feedback Floyd, thanks very much!

No, I haven't remixed yet. We have house guests at the moment that is seriously cutting into my music time :p I will check the reverb on the guitar, might have overdid that. I will also see about adding some punch to the bass.

Thanks again!

Very cool indeed Dave, love it. Great guitar work. Great song, powerful sounds.

As you can already see, different ears offer different tweaks! My ears are old, so that influences my small comments on the mix. I found the lead vocal muffled and would up the EQ 'air' at around 12kHz to put a bit of sparkle there. The bass is too quiet compared to the very aggressive kick drum, it sounded a bit like the band had left the drummer to do the mix! I'd try and match them a bit more.

Good stuff.
John

Thanks John! Yeah, lots of opinions, all of which I value!

The aggressive kick is on purpose, I heard Joe Bonamassa use it on a slow blues and I thought it was really effective. But yeah, bass didn't quite match

I have just uploaded a new mix based on some of the comments, added some eq to the bass, also brought it up slightly in the mix. Also backed off on the reverb used on the lead guitar and brought it up slightly in the mix.

Getting there I think! Thanks again to everyone that commented

Dave - nice tweaks! much better bass...and the guitar is SINGING!

+1 to what he said.

Thanks Josie!




Yeah! It is getting there I think, thanks!

Dave, I was going to throw in my 2 cents on the mix but I am so late you already addressed them. All I've got left is great playing and a fine example of modern blues. Good job! Tom

Always nice to hear from a fellow guitarist! Thanks for stopping by and leaving a comment, Tom, I appreciate it!

Superb Blues. That tone is sweet and very nicely played. I agreee this has the quality to be a 'commercial' song. I could quite easily hear this on the radio. Solo has a Clapton, yet modern feel to it.

I think the guitars in the background could come up just a tad on the left hand side.

Nice mix and solid production. Thumbs up!

I like this form of the blues. In fact it's my favorite form to play. Well done ,,,,

Listened completely.... now on the second go through.

Nice mix and sweet smoking guitar tone. Some nice playing too. Nice tasty finger work on that solo... I really liked the licks in there.

The B3 just puts the mix over the top with class.

Crits: I have to agree with Greg about the vox being a bit buried and wet. The vox could use a slightly crisper mix... a tad more on the high end, and a few dB of gain. Nothing outrageous, just a very slight correction. I'm listening on cheap computer speakers and not headphones so that may play a part.

Cool tune.

Another winner! Great vocals and great guitar!

Hi Dave,

Very, very enjoyable. I didn't hear the original post so I can't compare... the version I'm listening to right now sounds perfectly balanced. Through my headphones, every aspect is clear and placed well. As floyd has said, the guitar really sings.... nearly as good as Chris

Please let Chris know that I think she sounds really great on this.

Regards,
Noel

I'm going to be doing a few minor tweaks to the mix this week, funny that you thought the rhythm guitar on the left side was too soft, I was thinking it was a bit too loud in places Maybe it needs some volume envelopes to control the dynamics a bit better. Anyway, should have a new mix in a day or two.

Thanks for taking the time to listen and comment, I appreciate it!

Herb, thanks for taking the time to listen and to comment, I always like hearing from a fellow guitarist!

Thanks, David! Loved your latest one BTW!

Very kind of you, Noel, thanks so much!

I sent your comments off to Chris this morning, I'm sure it will help make her day

Really really really really really loving this song!

This is our "Hot Forum Topic" for today.

Hi Callie,
Wow, thanks! You just made my day with that

Dave,

I'm a bit late to the table with this but I think this is my favorite of your recent work!
Smoking guitar with phrasing that reminds me of the late great Gary Moore in places.
I also love Chris's vocal.

Great work,
Jez

Thanks very much, Jez!

Gary Moore! I wish I was half as good.

Dave. Great sounding drums! Wow! Love the 16 bar blues. Good job. Where's the video?

Thanks, Joanne! I spent a lot of time with the EQ on those drums, I had a specific sound in mind.

Video is here: What Could I Do?