No Fault Zone

What’s a girl to do?

Thanks to PG Music for all the possibilities and to Peter for the guitar tracks and to all who take their time to listen. Comments are always welcome.

Janice: Melody/Vocals/Arrangement > RodesNT1 > Scarlett 212 to Logic Pro X > Nectar 3 or Waves CLA Vocals

Peter: Guitar solos, rhythm, fills and arrangement

Bud: Lyric, arrangement, tech stuff and Janice photo

Bass: RT 2287 Acoustic, JazzSwingRonWalking Sw 140 > Waves Bass Rider > Neutron 3

Organ: RT 2729 Rhythm BluesShuffleMike Sw 130 > Neutron 3

Guitar: RT 558, Acoustic, Rhythm Jazz Freddie Sw 140 > Waves CLA Unplugged

Drums: RD PopShuffleSnareGroove > Waves CLA Drums
Doubled snare: from above RD >Neutron 3

Mastering: Ozone EQ > Ozone Multi-band Compresser > Ozone Maximizer > Ozone Tonal Balance > Logic Pro X Loudness Meter

No Fault Zone
© 2020 B. Merritt, J. Merritt & P. Fulham
Lyric on SC

Hey!

Is this a cool song, or what? Janice's voice and that walking 4/4 acoustic bass line sell this one immediately. I'll be redundant and repeat how much Janice reminds me of Susan Tedechi ... somewhat in vocal character and more so in her style and delivery, particularly phrasing and accenting.

And Peter simply nailed it with those savory licks. I always enjoy his work. And that guy who turned all the knobs and managed all the tech stuff knows what the heck he's doing. Not sure who scribed the lyric, but a tip of the hat to him or her.

The mix has everything exactly where it should be ... a full soundscape but not at all cluttered. That organ has some real nice fill.

Loved everything about it. I'm writing this on my third listen. Yeah I like it more than a little bit! Still tapping my feet and chair dancing (not a pretty sight!).

Best to all of you. Please take care and be safe.

Alan

Nice!
Good song............vocals are well done and mixed just right.

Guitar work gets a thumbs up.

You guys delivered another winner!

Hey, glad you liked that bass! I (Bud) used to play a lot of that style. We all three appreciate your remarks. And we’re glad you liked the lyric. Another of Bud’s silly little ditties

Y’all take care also. We’ve been hunkered down since early spring.

Thanks again,

J&B

Janice and Bud (and Peter):

Great vibe right out of the gate . . . and what a great hook—love that chorus! And really enjoyed the write, terrific lyrics. Your usual excellent production tops it all off. Very cool tune—great work by all involved!!

Best regards to you each,

Deej

Glad it worked for you Cap’n.

Thanks!

J&B

Hi Team,

I got a very 1950s vibe from this one.

Everything about it fitted the era perfectly for me and I loved
the walking bass line and Janice's relaxed, swing vocal delivery.
Peter's guitar work was super, but I might have preferred a slightly
more jazz-style tone to fit with the vibe of the smooth backing track.

Great arrangement and mix as always.

Excellent.

ROG.

Janice, Bud, Peter...

As always, top-shelf music.

The BAND is in top form. Bass sounds great. The acoustic is PERFECT (often an overlooked or over accentuated part of a full mix). Drums are seamless. Organ is tasty. Peter's guitar work fits in like a seasoned part of this band. (One of my favorite leads from him).

A superb mix.

"Preacher told me I gotta change my ways
Ain’t gonna happen, no matter what he says
He’s just spouting that holier than thou tone
Forget it Rev, I’m looking for a no fault zone
No worries, no warnings, it’s a no fault zone
Not gonna say I’m sorry, not gonna brag on how I’ve grown"

Nice. Great refrain!

Deb is sitting here. She just said "How does she DO that!? She has THE GREATEST voice!"

I'll leave it at that.

fj

PS - nice album cover!

Hi Bud, Janice and Peter,

What a lovely, cheerful song! (Despite what happens in the lyrics)
I do liked the modest way of singing in it with the very nice harmonies.
Again, no complains at all on any part of the song. So no expertise from me is needed here ;-)
I can only say, take a good sip of whatever booze you like and enjoy your earnings for this very good job you did.
I drink a rum and coke at this moment so I can toaste with you!

Hans

Hi Janice and Bud,

I had such a hard time pinning this song down! It sounded kind of 50ish. I heard shades of Patsy Cline, while at the same time Shania Twain. Although most of the instruments are labeled as "jazz", it sounded like an old country tune coming from the guy who owns the best sounding radio in town...

You folks consistently put some really good sounding and unique tunes. Thanks for posting, I enjoyed the listen.

Thanks DJ. Glad you liked it and thanks for mentioning the write!

J&B

Hey ROG, thanks for everything! You can blame me (Bud) for the absence of a more jazz like solo. Peter sent me a lot of tracks including a jazzy solo and I picked this one. So it ain’t the guitar man’s fault

Thanks again for your continued support!

J&B

Love this tune. Another awesome vocal Janice. Love the bass lines in this tune. Peter just nails the guitar in this tune. Another awesome production as well Bud. Love the magic you put into the song. Well done

What a great song. What a great recording. What a great mix. Outstanding hook line "no fault zone". Wonderful guitar playing, as always, Peter. I really liked this song.

Hi team
Great lyric and mix, sensational vocal by Janice and I reckon you picked the right guitar track from Peter, Bud. Just wonderful.
Regards,
Leon

Sounding like Dan Hicks and the Hot Licks to me, loved the jazz element, and Mr. Guitar was up to the task. Clever lyric and it got my foot going. Love that Ron Carter Walking Bass. Excellent work, folks!

Hi Janice, Bud & Peter,

where to begin.... that is so fantastic in all aspects:

- a great 'flowing' song (I know it's not easy to write something like that)

- awesome lyrics

- Janice, that was another highlight - got the feeling that this song was custom-made for you. The BGN of the 'No worres' part is an extra treat!

- Peter: lovely work in the guitar, fits like a glove

- Bud, said it before; 'Don't know how you manage to get that sparkling and crispy sound over and over again - but I sure love it endlessly.

So incredibly good !!!!!

Take care,

Stefan

I'm glad it isn't a jazz solo - the one you chose has Pete letting rip with some cool licks and a bit of expression.
The narrative is great fun and the melody is perfect as is the performance.
Better than a bought one I'd say!
Class act!

Hi Bud,

Just to clear up any misunderstanding, it was only the tone of the guitar which
I might have changed, not the solo which I thought was great. I've always respected
Peter's playing and had no problem with what he did this time. What I was saying is
that I might have mellowed out the guitar track to fit better with the 50s vibe which
I could hear. Basically, just running off some of the top end on that track.
At the end of the day, it's a great song and I was just being picky!

Cheers,
ROG.

Not picky at all! I love these exchanges. For me it’s all about sharing ideas, etc. we value your thoughts ... never hold back!

Bud

YES!!! Love the groove happening with this one.

Vocal arrangements are GREAT! Love the BGV's. Janice reminds me somewhat of Imelda May on this one, the phrasing mostly. Very, very good!

Peter's playing is right in the pocket of course, as per usual.

Great mix, Bud, also as per usual!

Lovely stuff, well done guys and gal!

Rog
The original concept was quite a bit jazzier than it turned out.
The remnant of the original approach is in the chord progression, if you listen you will hear the solos are over a jazz blues progression whereas the vocals are not. I liked how Bud evolved the song and kept elements of the original. The jazz guitar take will have to wait for the outtakes on the "Box set" ......

Peter

Well mr jane you offered complimentary remarks on every objective we tried to reach on this production. The three of us are very appreciative of that. We don’t take such support for granted. And Janice had only “wow” to say when she read Deb’s comment!

So big thanks!

J&B

And a small batch bourbon toast back to you ... accompanied by a thanks for your nice comments!

J&B

Hello Janice and Bud,
Jazzy atmosphere that puts us directly in the mood. Jani's voice, always so sensual, still pleases us as much. The lead guitar and the Hammond organ reinforced this warm atmosphere. The mix is ​​great. Well done.

Kindly regard

Dero13
alias JaniJackFlash

Very catchy timeless feel-good song, a bit sinful story but an independent woman singing about choosing her own way is a modern subject Playing, singing, mixing and selecting the right RTs are once again flawless.

Janne

A very catchy song everything coming together nicely with an excellent vocal, that bass and Peters guitar shinning throughout

Credit to the engineer for putting it all together as well.

Enjoyed the listen.

J&B and Peter,
That chorus is really well done;lyrics cleverly tongue in cheek and a cool swinging melody to match.Janice puts her unmistakeable quality ( like she`s right across the room singing just for you!) into the vocals and harmonies.
Its interesting to read all the different genre places this sends listeners... and it seems you had a few choices style wise to pick from ( with a gypsy fiddle,like Tunemonger, I could have heard Dan hicks in this).
I like the choices you made and Peter`s fine contribution.

Robert

Great, great, great as usual!
It's a strong song with a terrific vocal and a wonderful Band (love that guitar Peter).
You guys just keep pumping out marvellous tracks.
Stay well,
Mike

Thanks! Those are very kind words. We had a hard time pinning it down also and went through several genre permutations. We are happy you like where it landed!

J&B

Thanks for listening and commenting Scott. We appreciate your support,

J&B

Janice & Bud!! You guys always bring a good-feeling smile instantly after pushing the Play. Wonderful lyrics and a top-notch production. This forum has some of the best music I've ever heard, and you guys NEVER fail to please. Peter, you guitar is so very tasteful. Excellent all around!!! And now for all the things I could say to make this better:

And we really liked your comments!

J&B

Yessiree. Another breezy, swinging tune, with Janices sultry vocals and Peter's tasty guitar contributions. I gotta say, when I see Janice and Bud on the label, my expectations are already high and you never disappoint. I really enjoyed the lyrics and the story about the No Fault Zone. Great guitar work on there Peter!

You folks make great collaborations - looking forward to more

Thanks Leon and appreciate you mentioning the lyric especially given what a wordsmith you are!

J&B

Thanks. I had not thought about Dan Hicks but yeah! I used to listen to the Hot Licks a lot. Need to revisit. Glad you liked the lyric and bass.

J&B

The thing about you producing so many quality songs is that I get to expect it from you every time I click on a new song link. The amazing thing is that you never disappoint.

Janice is, well, Janice. 'Nuff said. The production is crisp and clear as a bell. Nothing more to say - another top level production! When are you guys coming down from that top level you keep maintaining? haha. Doesn't look like any time soon, at this rate - thank goodness. Sincerest, most genuine congratulations!

Thanks Stefan for listening and taking the time to write words that put a smile on our faces. We appreciate you!

J&B

A No Fault Song!!! Catchy, fun, and written/played/sung/produced to perfection!!! A truly tasty treat!!! Take care. Greg

Well that was nice to read! We always value your input and appreciate your time to express those thoughts. Went down real well with the morning coffee!

J&B

Hi, Bud & Janice & Peter !:))


This is absolutely superb writing
sung, mixed and produced !
Absolutely one of your best
co-ops I am sure of !:))

WOW !

Cheers
Dani

I really like that title. It's one of those titles that makes you stop and want to listen to see what that song is all about.

What can I say, Janice's singing and Peter's playing is once again primo.

The instrumentation seems to be a slightly different direction than your usual, which sounds good: I just thought it was a change.

Masterful mix.

Thanks Dave. It’s cool that you mentioned Imelda May as we are fans. Love that show she did with Jeff Beck. Thanks for all!

J&B

Thanks for the kind words. They are appreciated!

J&B

Thanks Janne! We appreciate your insight.

J&B

Great groove for sure and the vocals are excellent and never disappoint!! great guitar chops and excellent mix love it. thanks for sharing Eric

Thanks for listening and glad you liked it!

J&B

Thanks Robert. We were indeed all over the map initially deciding where this would land genre wise. We're glad you liked it and Janice is most appreciative of your comments about her vocal. That "right across the room" vibe is what we strive for!

J&B

Thanks Mike. That is appreciated!

Take care,

J&B




We appreciate the spin and the supportive comments. Speaking of smiles you put one on Janice's face when she read this!

J&B

J&B, every time I think Janice's vocal work couldn't be any better, you guys come along and keep raising the bar! This really sounds great! What a mix...its as good as it gets! Peter's guitar sounds better than ever to me! Take care, T

We appreciate the time to listen and even more so the nice review!

J&B

Thank you! We always appreciate your support!

J&B

Peter keeps coming through.

Thanks y’all!

J&B

No surprise this getting so much attention

J&B + Peter,
Very good in all respects. Your creative drive is amazing. I just do not understand how it is possible to come up with such quality in such a short period of time, without cutting any corners. Enjoyed it very much. Thank you for sharing.

Misha.

P.S. If it is not a secret...How long did it take team to do this from start to finish? Was it a simpler tune that was done some time ago and you expanded on idea, or you started from scratch?

Thanks for those thoughts. It was a bit different with the bass in particular. BiaB and Peter give us a lot of options! We appreciate your comments on the mix also. Glad the title got your attention!

J&B

J&B





Thanks for everything Eric!

J&B

PB&J, The decision to use the Acoustic Bass and guitar was a wise one. It gives it a timeless feel. Another great lead vocal and the harmonies bring it up a notch. A great title with some fine lines in a perfect write for the genre. Peter's fine guitar lines spice up the production. Mix is spot on. Another good one in a long line of collabs. My best to all three of you, Tom

Thank you Eric!

J&B



Thanks Torrey. Much enjoyed your latest!

J&B




He’s the man!

J&B

Thank you Misha. We always appreciate your support. For most of our productions the work flow is: Bud - lyric - rough progression > Janice - refined progression on her guitar > Biab for Band & arrangement > All tracks to Logic Pro > Rough mix to Peter for input > Janice - vocals > rough mix to Peter > Peter- guitar tracks > Bud/Janice/Peter - mix ideas > Bud - mix and mastering.

Janice is a one take vocalist almost always. When she’s ready she’s ready. Peter sends me a boatload of tracks in very shorts order. And I settle in to the final mix. It’s hard to say how much time. Janice and I spend much, much more time hiking, mountain biking and trail building. We work the music thing in amongst them. We are retired so that helps. Really hard to put a time on it. It’s more like an hour here and there. We don’t obsess over it. I appreciate your interest and wish I could be more specific.

J&B




Thanks Tom. That is most appreciated. And big thanks for mentioning the mix! It’s great to see you back on the forum.

J&B

Great arrangement and mix. Love the amazing vocals and guitar. Wonderful and catchy song! Excellent work. Cheers, Todd

Hi. I'm late to the game so I'll probably just be repeating what everyone has already said. A lovely warm vocal, sitting beautifully in the mix. The band style absolutely fits the song. The mix is harmoniously balanced, with some very tasteful guitar work. Very enjoyable.

Oh wow, such an uplifting tune alongside with mellow and sweet voice! Arrangement is top notch and guitar really good. In those dark times it brings us back to the "good ole days"!! Congrats to you, Janice/Bud/Pete!

To think that I almost missed this masterpiece.

WOW this is top shelf all the way. When you three get together I know I am in for some of the best ear candy around and you did it again. This just one outstanding collaboration.

Thanks Todd

J&B




Thank you,

J&B




We appreciate it!

J&B



Thanks Mario,

J&B