Down by the Sea


The Band:

RealTracks in style: 2933:Guitar, Acoustic, Fingerpicking SongwriterFolkSlapQuinn Ev 120

Chris Spruit: Piano, vocal
Marty Straub: Bass
Dave Bell: Guitar solo, BGV

I used EZDrummer2 for the drums and shaker.

Mixed in Reaper with plugins from Ozone and Waves, mastered with Ozone9 and LMC.

Down by the Sea - 2021, Chris Spruit

let's get out of the city
'cause the temperatures rising high
Let us take the car
the road ahead is winding

down by the sea
a cool breeze is waiting
not long a long ride and we'll be
cool down and take our shoes off
feel the mellow breeze
soothing and free

let's get out of the city
the sea is waiting blue
just me and you
in the beauty of the summer
I am so in love with you
let this summer last forever
with you

let's get out of the city
'cause the temperatures rising high
the sea is waiting blue
just for me and you
in the beauty of the summer
I am so in love with you
feel the mellow breeze
soothing and free
down by the sea
with you

so in love with you

All comments welcome!

Dave & Chris,

Wow! This is great!

It sounds like you both went into the studio and cut the perfect "kick off the summer" record. This should be on the radio.

Everything about this is truly outstanding - vocal, mix and arrangement...

Dave, the solo is awesome - what guitar did you use?

EXCELLENT!

Bob

Cool of up beats and a longing narrative with a hint of melancholy.Very good performances all around.

Thanks very much, Bob, greatly appreciated!

The guitar is one I've had for at least 15 years, from a Canadian company called Godin. The model is an A6, although it is very different than the A6 model produced these days.

Here's a pic:

Dave, great guitar - I know the Godin company well. They make excellent guitars.

Back in the 90s I had a Gibson Chet Atkins SST - very similar to your Godin.

Great job again on this song - it's top of the line material...

Bob

ChrisDaveMarty...


Terrific opening - always an important part of a good record. The acoustic-shaker-bass combination catches your ear and then leads you right to the vocal as the center...

LOVE the processing on the drums!! HUGE. They become an integral part of the sound immediately - and notch it up... GREAT snare sound/processing! An additional "signature" for the song (mucho kudos!)

Also love the processing on Chris' vocal. JUST right. It sits in the mix PERFECTLY.

What an excellent solo! I've never been a fan of the sound of a plugged-in acoustic. There is a "plastic" quality to it that I don't care for. But it really works for this. And the fact that it is such a GOOD lead - smooth, melodic, right-for-the-song made me forget that (sounds like an L.R. Baggs pickup?)

Chris' vocal is SUPERB!

Cool song. So good that it should be the song that rockets the band into the mainstream commercial market (like the transition of Fleetwood Mac from Blues bamd to Pop megastardom...)

Cool cover art, too!

Loved it all!

fj

Chris, Dave, & Marty:
All-around great work. Just the thing to ring in these days of summer. (ed)

You two are artists! There isn't one part of this song that doesn't sound pro to me.

For what it's worth I listened to Sade for a reference I was trying to find, came back and listened to this again and you mix is BETTER!

I am curious about the gating on the snare and toms. May I ask what you are using for that? Really well done.

I like this song A LOT. Every. Part. Of. It.

Thanks for sharing your talents!

Dave,

This sounds great. I love it all, and the sound of that Godin is sweet.

The song has kind of a Dire Straits feel to me. Big. Time.

And. I. Mean. That.

Wait. Why. Is. My. Period. Key. Stuck.

Any. Way. I love it. Ah there we go. Problem solved. Whew. Great song man!

Brilliant work by all.

Lovely vocal and uplifting lyric. Solid bass work, superb production work on the drums & the guitar solo was really nice.

A top quality production in every aspect.

Loved it.

Peter

Instantly "absolutely likeable".

As usual, Chris delivers outstanding vocals, and the mix is perfect.

Everything blended together in one very quality production.

I agree with what's already been said: great intro, love the Dire Straits feel, nice groove.

Of course, vocals and guitars are are excellent as usual.

Yeah, what Peter said. Top quality work by you three. Love the little touch of scatting.
Regards,
Leon

Thanks for the support, Ray, greatly appreciated!



Hey Bob,

I just googled that Gibson Chet Atkins guitar, yes, very similar to my A6. I recently ordered another Godin guitar, more of a jazz type instrument, something I've never owned before.
Then just need to get a baritone guitar and I'll have all I need I think

Hi Blue Attitude,

It is a very pretty composition. The voice is pretty. I love the guitar solo. Ez drummer 2 is an excellent vst. Excellent arrangement.

Kindly regard
Derochette
alias JaniJackFlash

Very cool intro Dave. Love the sound of your Godin. Excellent tune. Super vocal. Wow on the solo. Acoustic solos are bare and exposed. This one is so well done. Loved the backtrack. As always Martys bass lines are perfect for the song

Hi Team!

On my third listen, still trying to figure out genre. Blues with a hint of Bossa or Bossa with a hint of Blues?
Both genres are dear to me, so regardless of which facet glows brighter - love it! Bright and light hearted. Excellent input from all members. Cool and different addition to your collection. Enjoyed it! Thank you for sharing.

Misha.

Very nice. My new fav of yours. Love the easy going breezy mor jazzy feel. And I could use a sunny day or two at the beach.

Josie

This song just warms up to you right out of the gate. Very ear inviting. Vocal is tops and the solo fits just right. Great work.

Ah, a real mover, and a fun song to move to --the perfect travelling song. Windows down and shoes off. Man, I love that acoustic, Dave. Very tasteful solo, and excellent (subtle) harmony. Chris's voice... well, I can't say it never sounded so good because she always sings at the top of her class --And she is in a class all by herself.

Chris, Marty & Dave ...

Sounds like Sade and Knopfler happened to meet at a recording studio and had some time on their hands and this just happened - turning those minutes of "downtime" into "funtime".

I was gonna mention, individual things I enjoyed about the song. But I then realized would simple have to link back to the song because everything is near=perfect. Kind of moody, like so many Dire Straits songs as Chris' vocal bring outs that mysterious and captivating vibe of Sade's fabulous vocals.

The drums and that Godin simply shine. And the bass lays the foundation for everything else and does it so well.

Great song and presentation. Excellent!!!

Alan

We hear a most cool blues rock ballad with an island edge ... Janice received a lot of ocean vibes

Chris' vocal is sublime with such a light delicate feel.
The scats are most cool. Nice harmony.

The drums and whoever that bass guy is work together wonderfully.

And perfecto guitar chops for the vibe.

This is a great addition to a mighty fine catalog!

Yeah ... we enjoyed it,

J&B

Fantastic song. Super drums and groove. Outstanding vocal and guitar chops.

This is a great song!

Man, you always write the best reviews!

For the drums I send each part of the kit to a separate track in Reaper so I have a bit more control over them. In the case of the snare I have it going through Neutron3.

I agree about using plugged in acoustics, but don't have a proper environment here to mic them up. I get around it somewhat by using EQ so that the frequency curve from the piezo is similar to an acoustic (read an article by Craig Anderton about doing that a few years ago) then I run it though CLA Guitars or Unplugged. Not quite the same, but not bad. I have no idea what pickup system Godin used on their guitars back then

Thanks as always, Floyd

Hi Dave, Chris and Marty,

When the song started playing I had to think of Santana, Oye Como Va. Same vibe there.
Than you went on your way making that lovely laid back song.
The drums are the only ones 'noisemakers' with a smacking beat once in a while (if you understand what I'm saying here).

You never disappoint me with your songs and you know that.
I always enjoy Chris's vocals. They stay on the same high quality as years back! Admire that and love them. You can tell her!

Have a nice day,
Hans

Hi all great job perfect vocal love the guitar phrases bass is awesome great stuff guys and gals thanks for sharing Eric

Cool tune, literally, with great vocals and guitar. Can't beat it!

Thanks for the listen and comments, Ed, I appreciate it!



Hi Caaron,

We are actually three now, Marty Straub joined us on bass a year or so ago. In addition to playing bass he is also a terrific songwriter and vocalist.

For the drums most of what you are hearing is right out of the box from EZDrummer2. I have made a few changes to the default kit, and a few tweaks to the default mixer settings, mostly to change the amount of mic bleed and reverb. And then I send each part of the kit to a separate track in Reaper so I can add FX to them individually. I used Neutron3 on the kick, snare, toms, and HH, and in the case of the kick I also use CLA Drums.

You made my day with that comment about the Sade song, mixing is something I'm always trying to improve

Hi David,

A couple of people have mentioned Dire Straits. Not hearing it myself, but I was a huge fan back in the day so I'll take it

Thanks very much!



Appreciate that, Peter!

Oooo, I like that opening rhythm guitar. Nice sound.

Chris's vocal sounds really good.

I think somebody might have already said it, but this recording sounds pro all the way: the guitar, bass, vocal, and mix. Good songwriting too.

Hi Chris, Dave and Martym

just the right song after the coldest May for decades over here...

Nice tune, it rolls like the waves (ha).

Chris, your vocal is always great (nice BGV, too, Dave!). Good choice of RTs and BEAUTIFUL work on the guitar..

Marty, could a bass line be any more solid? NO !

Stay safe, y'all,

Stefan

Hi All
IMO "Down by the Sea" has a Sultans of Swing vibe . Always great vocals . The guitar solos on all your tracks are a highlight for me.The "unplugged" sound of the guitar suits this song.Perfect bass. Snare is a wee bit loud for my ears but no biggie. Nice cheerful easy listening song .You guys and gal have a chemistry happening which creates an attractive unique sound .
. Kudos
Gary.

Thanks, Trev!



Thanks for stopping by, David!

Appreciate that, Leon!



Thanks, Jani!



Godin's are Canada's best kept secret it seems, they have been around here forever but haven't made much of a splash globally. I have a new one on order, a semi-hollow body with two humbuckers. Should get it this month sometime

Thanks, Scott!

I’m not sure about the genre either, although Chris thinks it’s Pop.

Nice to do something a little different! Thanks, Misha

You guys did well!

I'm hearing this as a beachy TV show theme song!

Everything sounds great, mix is like a well prepared meal, very tasty!

moto

Nice summer song. Great for cruisin'. Great playing and vocals. Well mixed. Another great collaboration. Good job folks.

Yes, we could use a day or two at a beach also. We are hoping by the end of the summer we will be able to start doing stuff again.

Thanks very much, Josie!



Thanks, TM!

Hi, Dave, Marty and Chris,

This is fabulous.

It transitions from a pure Santana intro into the song song that Fleetwood Mac never wrote.

I've said before that Chris can sound very like Christine McVie (or Christine Perfect as we used to know her)
and this is a beautiful vocal performance.

A terrific backing track with excellent work by Marty, underpinning the whole thing.

Wonderful guitar from Dave, who never disappoints - cool sound from that Godin.

Loved it.

ROG.

BlueAttitude,

Man, do I love listening to your work! Always so clean and magnetic on the production. Terrific write, Chris’s usual stellar vocal, and music backing that so perfectly comes together to embolden the lyric. Like the backing vocals that kick in on the chorus, and that lead guitar is just excellent—had a Mark Knopfler feel to me. LIke this one a lot!

My regards to you all,

Deej

Really appreciate that, Alan, thanks!



Yeah that bass guy is not too shabby!

Thanks, guys!

Appreciate that, thanks, Mario!



Good to see you here, Hans, thanks for the listen and comments!



Cheers, Eric!

Thanks, TM!



Thanks for the listen and the comment on the mix!



I wasn't sure about the BGV so thanks for mentioning that. Good to see you back here, Stefan!



Thanks, Gary!

Appreciate that, thanks!



Thanks for stopping by, jpt*3!



Great review, thanks ROG!



A few people have mentioned the Knopfler thing. I listened to Dire Straits a lot back in the day, one of my favorite bands. Thanks, Deej!

Very nicely done by a killer trio!! I can relate to the concept........I live in a place where Summer days are frequently triple digits and the nearest beaches are usually about 60 in the Summer.....love to get outa here! This is a bit of a different vibe for you guys but VERY well executed!! Everything is so well conceived and played!! Love it!! Take care. Greg

Very kind of you Greg, thanks!