I'm currently in a temporary situation where I have no studio for recording new stuff. This may be a good thing. Because of all the things I've been learning from everyone on this forum, I've been reworking the mixes that are already in the can. I miss playing live with friends. Here is a live-simulation of Midnight Special, which is in the Public Domain. Stay safe, stay well, everyone!

This song on SoundCloud
This song on YouTube

Style is _TBLZSHP.STY (Texas Blues Shuffle w/ Piano)

RealTracks in style: 1591:Piano, Acoustic, Rhythm TexasBluesRockShuffle Sw 130
RealTracks in style: 1585:Guitar, Electric, Rhythm TexasBluesRockShuffleSol Sw 130
RealTracks in style: 1584:Guitar, Electric, Rhythm TexasBluesRockShuffleBrent Sw 130
RealTracks in song: 422:Guitar, Electric, Soloist Blues Sw 120
RealTracks in song: 3211:Harmonica, Soloist BluesShuffleFieryLD Sw 130
RealDrums [in style:BluesRockShuffle^2-a:Snare, HiHat , b:Snare, Ride

I played bass, sang, and stood stage right.

Since I couldn't really accomplish the sound of a board recording, I changed it to an audience tape

I gave a listen...

Good job Marty....I enjoyed your take on it.....liked the harp addition also.
It has a kind of 50's recording vibe to me.

I have a couple of similar looking train/engine pics on one of my original song videos too...trains are cool.

Well done....

We've enjoyed many versions of this song over years and are
happy to add your's to the list.

And Bud is a fool for steam trains!

All meaning this was a LOT of fun!

J&B

Hi Marty,

Secretly I hoped you would play the CCR-version of this song, but I suppose that isn't in the public domain yet.
But lets talk about this version of the song. You did a marvelous job. I almost could see you playing the lead and -as a double- playing the harmonica and doing the singing. Must be fun to watch. I choose the youTube version hoping to see you performing the song live on stage. Instead I saw a locomotive. But I'm not dissapointed at all. Your performance of this song is like that locomotive; steady but full steam on the rails; the Midnight Special!

Hans

Man, you nailed this one! It did sound like a live version, actually a very live version!

Great vocal with an outstanding mix. Great job on that bass also!

You've nailed the live vibe. Loved the extended solos that fit that very much, both harp and guitar. The loosy-goosy lay-it-out-there-and-have fun vocals are a joy to listen to. Thanks for this.

Excellent, Marty! Your vocal is perfect for this. Love the harp and bass also.

And nice that the audience was polite enough to acknowledge the soloists

Lots of fun!

Haha - love the audience cheers at the end and your acknowledging them - made me really smile :-) But, seriously, there are no words to say just how brilliant this is or how much I've been cheered up by listening to this. You must have worked a lot on this to get this this good, or not, I don't know ... because it just seems effortless - and effortlessly brilliant. Loved it - made me smile and tap my feet!!! Bravo.

Good, good job.
The mix is really solid & "live".
The vocals sit really well in a BAND context as the occasional plosive/sibilant that jumps through would live too - particularly with a reverb on a live mix.
COOL.

Marty...

Excellent!

Dave & ray said all the things that I was thinking... so read those again..

Excellent mix.
Excellent vocal (in the mix really well).
Nice solo choices.
Great live sound!!

Super enjoyable.

"Thank you, Houston, wherever you are..." HAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!

fj

Rocking well, enjoyed the vocals and especially the live feel, great work on the mix - I've been thinking about adding some live feel elements to one of my songs, can you give any tips how you managed to make it so authentic

Janne

A top-notch rendition!!! Vocal is killer.....energetic and loaded with soul!!! Great job of creating the live vibe!! I still remember watching the Midnight Special Rock concerts.... I think on Saturday nights. LOVE THIS!!! Take care. Greg

+1 for what's already been said.

Ha!

Hi Babumusic,

MIDNIGHT SPECIAL - ha, that reminds me of the Sixties when I played it with my then band. The fact that songs I used to play in the past are becoming PD bit by bit doesn't really make my day though - how in the world could those years fly by that fast....

You did a VERY good version of this fantastic song - the live atmosphere sounds almost real.

I really love your voice and the way you're using it. Excellent use of the soloist tracks.

Janice would comment that she got happy feet - yeah, that's waht I got, too. And also shivers down my spine.

Nothing to add: JUST VERY COOL !!!!

Stay safe,

Stefan

PS: Nice video, too - great images of those old trains.

Thanks so much, chulaivet. Yes, trains are cool, the Steamtown National Historic Site is a great place to see them in various stages of redress up close and personal. They have a museum and a roundhouse there, too.



Thanks, you guys, So glad you enjoyed the ride.



Haha. thanks for your comments, Hans. To clear it up, though, it's not the version but the song that is in the public domain. Anything written before 1925 is in. This song actually is so old that it no longer has a composer.



Thanks, Mario. Next time I'd like you to sit in.



Thanks, TangMo. I kinda set it as the last song of the evening where members of both bands filled the stage.

Thanks, Dave. Haha. It's different when the audience acknowledge the solo. Sometimes, when the player is REALLY well know, they get a cheers before they play.



Glad it got you in a happy mood, musician17. Haha. Mixing in the different tracks of audience was the hardest part; the music was as easy, although picking the solos took quite a bit. The bass was done in one take.



NIce! Thanks, rayc. I was hoping you'd stop by for a listen, and knew you would hear those sibilant sounds. You have a great ear, my friend, and thanks for sharing it with us AND helping us with solutions. I used your method for the sibilance, and it sounded fine ---until I added all that reverb. I kept them in just for the reason you mention.



Haha. Thanks for listening till the lights went out, floyd, and thanks for your positive feedback.

Thnkas for the kind words. Hmmm... I remember mixing it "studio" first. Then added a ton of reverb, which is why it sounds more like an audience tape than a mixing board tape. Hope that helps, Janne.



Thanks, Greg. Love your enthusiasm!! You take care, too, man. You know what a fan I am...



Thank you, David. hehe. Just trying to be authentic.



Thanks, Stefan! I've played this one many times, too. Always a crowd pleaser. Having happy feet is so much better than watching the movie. Thanks especially for the video nod --you guys are the master of that realm. Stay safe!