A new song from Scott/Robert.
This one started with a bluesy shuffle from Scott I nudged towards folk rock.
To sum up the lyrics: "go West not so young man,even if its the last thing you do".
Our newly minted Spirit Level survived a test here due to Scott`s unflappable nature and generous forgiveness of the late changes I threw at him: thanks pardner!!

Book Of Days

Style is _RIDER.STY (Rider Americana Shuffle)

RealTracks in style: 1583:Bass, Electric, TexasBluesRockShuffle Sw 130
RealTracks in style: 3106:Guitar, Electric, Rhythm AmericanaFolkShuffleSyncHighBrent Sw 120
RealTracks in style: 3105:Guitar, Electric, Rhythm AmericanaFolkShuffleSyncLowBrent Sw 120
RealTracks in style: 3126:Mandola, Rhythm AmericanaFolkShuffleSyncAndy Sw 120
RealTracks in song: 3129:Mandola, Background AmericanaFolkShuffleSyncAndy Sw 120
RealTracks in song: 3145:Fiddle, 5-string, Background Folk68ChopsAndy Sw 060
RealDrums [in style:BluesRockShuffle^1-a:Snare, HiHat , b:Snare, Open HiHat
Scott`s Guitars:
Les Paul R9 and Gretsch Duojet
Effects Eventide H9 and JRocket Archer
Amp Marshall 1974x




Book Of Days


there`s a house with no fence around blissful
in three sleeps on the rise of a hill
Annie shall know it always was closest
to things the Ordainer wills

I grew old you pretended not to notice
taking you down dead end dirt roads
please find enclosed it sticks in my throat
my request not that I`m owed

carry me always westering
the river carries the sky
read me a page from the book of days
in a child`s dewdrop eyes
my love beyond all parting
I`m satisfied

all is prepared for your reception
I hear footsteps running room to room
axle creaks rise above these defeats
you`ll greet that Oregon dawn

carry me always westering
the river carries the sky
read me a page from the book of days
in a child`s dewdrop eyes
my love beyond all parting
I`m satisfied

chisel my wish in stone
wind take this song from my bones

carry me always westering
the river carries the sky
read me a page from the book of days
in a child`s dewdrop eyes
my love beyond all parting
I`m satisfied

© Robert Cordrey April 2020

Robert & Scott,

A very enjoyable song. Interesting lyrics, a really interesting melody.

A super cool sounding BAND. Very original sounding. And Scott's guitar fits in perfectly. Some of your best guitar work, I think.

A nice vocal, too. And a good mix. Cool song.

I like it.

fj

Very good guys, you have developed your own signature sound I think.

You haven't done a song yet that I didn't like, keep them coming!

Very nice! I really like the lyrics, they paint a nice vivid picture.(I grew old, you pretended not to notice...)

I agree with Floyd, really nice guitar work. Love the intro. And your vocals sound great.

Thanks for sharing this.

Steve

A wonderful song with interesting story in the lyrics, and well sung, Robert. Man, Scott really lifts the whole production to a very polished level.

Evocative lyrics bouncing along to that very homey beat. Definitely a 60's 70's light rock vibe to my ears. I really enjoyed this.

Thanks Floyd; this is a nice Biab style to begin with, though I take the credit for adding the fiddle chops... and give Scott all honours for delivering such cool solos and support guitars.





Dave,
This lockdown has been quite productive for writing and focusing on music; we do have more coming!



I`m glad you got the story, Steve;thanks for your comments.



Robert

Spirit Level

Nice work all round, lyric, vocal, guitar (nice whammy) and overall production.
Really nice melody on the chorus, and I enjoyed those harmonies.

Very strong work.

Peter

Marty,
I thank you for that and agree- Scott came through (twice really as mentioned in the intro), blazing on this.





My inspiration for the band sound came from a couple of celtic folk rock bands - The Waterboys & Runrig.I hope we captured a little of that feel.
Thanks for your positive comments.

Robert

Thanks everyone for checking out the song. Really glad everyone has enjoyed it.

Sounds great guys!

Love the vocals. Awesome guitar as usual. Super lyrics.

Thanks for that Peter- I like the whammy thing Scott throws in too!



David,
I`m still not quite there with how to process vocals for the rock numbers, but I appreciate your likes on this.

Robert

That's certainly different.

Kinda draws you in wanting to hear where it's going.

This is a very fine tune. The lyrics read like poetry. Beautiful vocals. I love the electric guitar. A well played electric guitar is my favorite instrument and this meets that definition.

I really love this. Beautiful lyrics, understated but brilliant music and performance. Started my morning the right way with this - thanks!

Hi Robbert and Scott,

This is a really nice song!
Very nice vocals and a gorgeous lead guitar.
Like it very much and 'I`m satisfied'!

Hans

Thanks again everyone for the awesome comments.

"This one started with a bluesy shuffle from Scott I nudged towards folk rock. "

Yep, and a bit toward a melding of Jefferson Airplane and the Dead to our ears.
Airplane in ambiance and the Dead with that bounce in the rhythm.

We really liked the write and particularly:

"I grew old you pretended not to notice taking you down dead end dirt roads please find enclosed it sticks in my throat my request not that I`m owed"

Your vocal delivers the whole feel very effectively and, man, that guitar is wonderful.

You guys have found a great niche on the showcase!

Enjoyed it.

J&B

Thanks Captain!




Thank you for that- much appreciated!




Beginning your day with our sunset song and saying such nice things- thank you!



Hans,
We aim to please; thanks for your listen.


Robert

Very enjoyable shuffle, the chorus is really nice and catchy, the solo is very beautiful. I can really feel the Celtic influences you mentioned and also I can hear Thin Lizzy, especially in Scott's guitar sound and playing. You have found your own style, I'm just amazed how much creative and very productive collaboration there's on this forum. I'm already waiting for your new songs

Janne

J&B,
I can hear that Grateful Dead feel now that you mention it.
I tried to give the lyrics a little of the period language- thanks for singling out those lines and Scott`s fine guitar on this.
The Spirit Level plan to keep filling up our little niche!





Janne,
I figured you`d pick up on the Celtic rock influences ( I never heard much Thin Lizzy for some reason so will check them out). You won`t need to wait long to hear from us again- we have more coming.
Thanks for your listen and comments.

Robert

Spirit Level takes interesting turn...
Love it! Very cool progression. Lyrics...Robert did you happen to find 18th century manuscript of a unpublished poet at a yard sale and redacted verses a little? Do not know how you come up with such good lyrics. Scott's playing works beautifully. I like the part where vocals follow his guitar line. Quality stuff! Congrats to both of you!

Misha.

Really nice sound, guys. A strong vocal, lovely guitar tone and catchy chorus.
(I was quite a fan of the Waterboys, Robert, but haven't heard a lot of Runrig. Will check them out.)
Regards,
Leon

That`s funny, Misha- just so happens I`ve read quite a bit of Lit. from that period;no yard sales, I shop at the library!
I`m very glad you enjoyed this.



Thanks for the listen, Leon. The Waterboys seem to be quite unknown over here;Mike Scott is one of my favourite vocalists and he wrote some wildly spiritual rock songs too.

Robert

The lovely Marshall makes a lovely sound. It does make the song lean a little to the right though as there's nothing as solid and constant as it on the left.
Lovely song...I was expecting it to be folkier from the intro.

Robert & Scott,

It's very rare for you to send the Bluesy Shuffle to us.
Very Enjoyable!
And your originality is also packed in this shuffle.
Your vocal and Scott's Guitar are very nice.
I am very happy to hear such music from you sometimes.

Best regards.

Shigeki Adachi

Again thanks everyone for taking the time and checking out the song. So glad you liked it. Your comments are very much appreciated

Wow brother!
This kind of put in the mind of "House of the Rising Sun" in the beginning.
But then as I got into your lyrics, it felt more like something Ray LaMontagne would have written.
You have a way of painting a picture with your lyrics.
Good, strong vocals also.
Thanks for posting your song.
I enjoyed listening to it.

The lyrics would fit as an Americana acoustic song; I like the blend of acoustic/electric we came up with in the end ( the chopping fiddle & mandola are still there in the background).
There is a bit of a lean on the mix- good ear! Something to bear in mind if we do a retake.




Shigeki,
The blues shuffle is more part of Scott`s comfort zone than mine- one of the nice learning opportunities these collaborations present.
Thank you for your positive comments!




Thanks Bawb- I guess I should blush when admitting I`d never heard of Ray LaMontagne- good singer!
I appreciate your listen and comments.

Robert

Really cool song!! You guys really have found your sound!! This song just flows so nicely.....love the groove and the mix! Great!! Take care. Greg

Thanks Greg. We have been having allot of fun with the song production. So glad you liked the song.