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Posted By: Birchwood A Blues with a sax and Going up! - 07/27/21 10:02 AM
Hi everyone,

I thought it would be nice to make some kind of classic Blues with a sax. Then I noticed some of you also introduced a sax in their song. So I wasn't alone. But I had to do it, because the cats are all at home and not planning to walk away again!

At first I wanted to call my song 'Elevating Blues', because there is an elevater involved in the lyrics. but it became: https://soundcloud.com/user-296497130/going-up

The background singers are from BiaB, as a harmonysetting of my own voice of course. With some help of Mellodyne I was satisfied. But how about you? I hope you like it, but tell me what is good or bad.

The lyrics can be found on SoundCloud, so no need to copy them here.

The technicall info:
Style: BARI_ME.STY, Key E, tempo: 80 bpm
RealTracks: 3565:Bass, Electric, NashvilleRadioShuffleAB Sw 110
RealTracks: ~~487:Piano, Acoustic Sw 85
RealTracks: 2357:Sax, Bariton, Blues Gary Sw 60
RealTracks: 2952:Strings, Jazz Ballad Pads Sw 60
RealTracks: 2674:Guitar, Acoustic Blues 12-8 Brent Sw 65
RealTracks: 1923: Guitar, el. Tex Blues/Rock, sw 60
RealTracks: 1924:Guitar, Elektrisch, Texas Blues Rock Langz 12-8 Sol Sw 60
RealDrums [in Stijl:Blues12-8AndBrushes [Multi]

DAW: Logic Pro X, Mastering Ozone 9

Enjoy,
Hans
Posted By: floyd jane Re: A Blues with a sax and Going up! - 07/27/21 10:30 AM
Hans,

Another excellent song.

A really good arrangement/production. Nice use of stops. Good choice of instruments.

Excellent vocals! Your best ever, I think. Harmonies are good.

Good song. Solid lyrics, nice melody.

Excellent mix - also one of your best!

Much enjoyed.

fj
Posted By: rsdean Re: A Blues with a sax and Going up! - 07/27/21 10:34 AM
Hans,

This is really excellent. Love the instrument choices - your vocal and pacing is great in this. Love it when you push your voice - lots of color there.

Loved it!

Bob
Posted By: MarioD Re: A Blues with a sax and Going up! - 07/27/21 12:34 PM
Hans, this is your best to date IMHO.

Great vocals, harmonies, and lyrics.

Outstanding backing tracks and mix.
Posted By: DrDan Re: A Blues with a sax and Going up! - 07/27/21 12:56 PM
Nicely done. Love the Sax.
Posted By: Torrey Bliss Re: A Blues with a sax and Going up! - 07/27/21 02:54 PM
Nice bluesy vibe in this song Hans! Excellent vocal again! Really good song and I really think you did a great job using the stops at different places in the song! You've got a great voice for these type of tunes! I always enjoy your work! Thanks, Torrey
Posted By: NigelSpiers Re: A Blues with a sax and Going up! - 07/27/21 08:13 PM
Hi Hans,

Yes - I also enjoyed your song from the beginning to the end.

Song - nice chord progression.

Lyrics - innovative and always interesting.

Vocals - I thought they got better and better as the song went on and I got used to the effects on your voice.

BV's - yes they work - maybe a touch loud.

Sax - the right volume but I think it needs a good dose of Reverb - it is a bit dry.

Mix - very very good - lots of light and shade and full of interest.

Look forward to hearing more of your work.

Best Regards
Nigel
Posted By: PeterF Re: A Blues with a sax and Going up! - 07/27/21 09:18 PM
Hans

Really nice. A strong composition, excellent vocal and harmony work and a well constructed song.

Excellent work all round.

Peter
Posted By: Leon1 Re: A Blues with a sax and Going up! - 07/28/21 12:14 AM
Nice bluesy feel, Hans. Very well written and strong vocal. Much enjoyed.
Regards,
Leon
Posted By: Birchwood Re: A Blues with a sax and Going up! - 07/28/21 01:16 PM
Hello Floyd, Bob, Mario, MusicStudent, Torrey and Nigel,

Thanks for your compliments on the song.
A few times (again, as you say) my best ever and even my best mix!
Well were will it end with all those well meant feathers. I start looking like a kind of turkey!

There is one thing I want to say here. I am amazed only two of you express their compliments also on the Soundcloud page. Is it a bit childish or weird to notice? Or is it getting outdated to leave messages or likes if you like that song? I always do this, but maybe that is weird too. I am not a vain person or anything and can easily live with criticism or not getting any remarks (if my songs are bad), but this behaviour feels weird to me. I hope someone can explain it to me.

Originally Posted By: floyd jane
Hans,
Another excellent song.
A really good arrangement/production. Nice use of stops. Good choice of instruments.
Excellent vocals! Your best ever, I think. Harmonies are good.
Good song. Solid lyrics, nice melody.
Excellent mix - also one of your best!
Much enjoyed.
fj


Thanks Floyd! These are very nice feathers for me! I do my best to come a bit closer to your skills ;-) But maybe you can explain?

Originally Posted By: rsdean
Hans,
This is really excellent. Love the instrument choices - your vocal and pacing is great in this. Love it when you push your voice - lots of color there.
Loved it!
Bob


Well Bob, that is very nice of you to write! And thanks for your comment on SC too!

Originally Posted By: MarioD
Hans, this is your best to date IMHO.
Great vocals, harmonies, and lyrics.
Outstanding backing tracks and mix.


Hi Mario, I really appreciate your very kind words (and feathers too!). But can you explain my remark above?

Originally Posted By: MusicStudent
Nicely done. Love the Sax.


Hello MusicStudent, I believe we never 'met', so thanks for dropping by. I am glad you liked it, but i have the same question for you.

Originally Posted By: Torrey Bliss
Nice bluesy vibe in this song Hans! Excellent vocal again! Really good song and I really think you did a great job using the stops at different places in the song! You've got a great voice for these type of tunes! I always enjoy your work! Thanks, Torrey


Hi Torrey, thanks a lot for your words! Make me feel good. One day we sing along, ok? And thanks for your comment on SC too!


Originally Posted By: NigelSpiers
Hi Hans,
Yes - I also enjoyed your song from the beginning to the end.
Song - nice chord progression.
Lyrics - innovative and always interesting.
Vocals - I thought they got better and better as the song went on and I got used to the effects on your voice.
BV's - yes they work - maybe a touch loud.
Sax - the right volume but I think it needs a good dose of Reverb - it is a bit dry.
Mix - very very good - lots of light and shade and full of interest.
Look forward to hearing more of your work.

Best Regards
Nigel


Hi Nigel, That was a good thing to do! To write in separate lines what you think of severall aspects of the song. Floyd does a bit the same! and I listened to you. At first the reverb on the sax. I had a reverbproblem in my mix and turned off everything with a reverb. When the problem was solved I switched everything on, but forgot the sax. It is solved now. Like the bg-vocals; a bit softer. So thanks a lot for that. Beside that, I have the same question for you, I started with. I hope you can reply.


So thanks everyone and beside my little issue I brought up here, I still am very happy with all your comments. I learn from it and enjoy them.

Have a pleasant day,
Hans
Posted By: Ronnie Fields Re: A Blues with a sax and Going up! - 07/28/21 01:29 PM
Great song, I love the sax solo, and the strings add to the fullness of the sound. The lyrics were superb, well done.
Posted By: jptjptjpt Re: A Blues with a sax and Going up! - 07/28/21 11:30 PM
That was damned good. I love the Fx you put on the vocals. You were really belting it out there at the end. The band was tight. The sax was full of mood. Good one.
Posted By: dcuny Re: A Blues with a sax and Going up! - 07/29/21 04:55 AM
Nice blues! I didn't expect the strings, which were a nice addition.

Clever idea, well done.

Sax sounds good, as does your voice.

I like the occasional breaks - really effective.

Thanks for reminding me to comment on SoundCloud - not a habit I've developed yet.
Posted By: BlueAttitude Re: A Blues with a sax and Going up! - 07/29/21 12:34 PM
Very good, Hans, great vocal as per usual, and great sounding track too.

Well done!
Posted By: jannesan Re: A Blues with a sax and Going up! - 07/29/21 01:37 PM
Good classic blues. Your songs seem to have a twist in the end, usually positive, cats come home and elevators go to the sky smile that's good songwriting, hopefully I will learn that way too. Good vocals, sax fits very well.

Janne
Posted By: Derochette Re: A Blues with a sax and Going up! - 07/29/21 04:22 PM
Hi Birchwood,

The sax is excellent. The melody very catchy and well performed. The composition is excellent. Well done.

Kindly regard
Derochette
alias JaniJackFlash
Posted By: cubanpete Re: A Blues with a sax and Going up! - 07/29/21 08:07 PM
Great song all around as usual!

Mike B.
Posted By: Birchwood Re: A Blues with a sax and Going up! - 07/30/21 04:36 PM
Hello Peter, Leon, Ronnie and Jptjptjpt,

Thanks a lot for your kind reaction on this song.
And for whom I may concern please think of what I said about reactions on Sc in my first post to some.
I ask this because I hope to achieve we do it to all songs we say we like. That is all.

Originally Posted By: PeterF
Hans
Really nice. A strong composition, excellent vocal and harmony work and a well constructed song.
Excellent work all round.
Peter


Hi Peter, thanks for the things you said about the 'building' of this song. I hoped to make blues a little less Blue...

Originally Posted By: Leon1
Nice bluesy feel, Hans. Very well written and strong vocal. Much enjoyed.
Regards,
Leon


Hi Leon, I'm happy you feel this way about this song. I had a classical approach to Blues and then gave it a spin so as not to be so dejected.

Originally Posted By: Ronnie Fields
Great song, I love the sax solo, and the strings add to the fullness of the sound. The lyrics were superb, well done.


Hello Ronnie, thanks man! I appreciate this and especially what you said on the lyrics.

Originally Posted By: jptjptjpt
That was damned good. I love the Fx you put on the vocals. You were really belting it out there at the end. The band was tight. The sax was full of mood. Good one.


Hi Jptjptjpt, Yes, that twist towards the end was, as I wrote to Peter and leon, as some kind of reevaluation of the opinion of the main character. Maybe he was the real (emotional) elevator ;-)

Have a nice day,
Hans
Posted By: Will Josef Re: A Blues with a sax and Going up! - 07/30/21 07:05 PM
Hi Hans,

Great song! I'm in love with how your vocal/voice sound... it is just such a pleasure to listen to.

I think you did a very good job with this track!

Will
Posted By: Rustyspoon# Re: A Blues with a sax and Going up! - 07/30/21 09:48 PM
Hans,
Successful tune for sure. Free flowing. Very nice and unusual chording. Neat stops and harmony magic. Solid write in all respects. The only minor thing I believe is vocals are a bit over fx'd. For example you sax parts are way dryer than vocals. I personally like saxes more "airy" than vocals, but that is only my opinion. In any case A+ for creativity. Thank you for sharing.

Misha.
Posted By: rayc Re: A Blues with a sax and Going up! - 07/31/21 07:23 AM
Hans,
COOL fun groove, melody and story.
You seem to be hiding behind processing again. Your last track had a strong vocal that wasn't so FX laden.
I saturate my voice in tweaks and FX but that's becasue I have a weak and unpleasant voice. Your natural voice is strong and clear as well as having presence...bolster it with a thickener, and some EQ, send it to the same reverb you send the solo to but keep it minimal.
Posted By: BabuMusic Re: A Blues with a sax and Going up! - 07/31/21 09:46 AM
A what a wonderful song, Hans. Love the emotion in your vocal. Really cool the way you brought the sax in. It sounds like the guy was standing there off-mic then sauntered to the front to do his thing --very well. Top-notch production, and no one can sing it better. wink
Posted By: Scott C Re: A Blues with a sax and Going up! - 07/31/21 03:05 PM
Loved the groove Hans. Very different feel to this song in a good way. Sax was cool. Another super vocal and lyric. Well done..
Posted By: Janice & Bud Re: A Blues with a sax and Going up! - 08/02/21 04:36 PM
We always enjoy hearing John L sing the blues smile

The arrangement on this tune is standout.
The stops, the builds, etc., really keep you engaged.

Your vocals were really good ... no matter how you did it!

Your almost Elevating Blues lyric elevated our mood on a hot, hot day.
And, yep, the blues can make you happy. Thank you.

Enjoyed it!

J&B
Posted By: Scott C Re: A Blues with a sax and Going up! - 08/02/21 07:10 PM
I would think a very nice lead guitar would fit in here. :-). I may know someone who could add a bass track as well :-). Maybe on the next one.. ;-)
Posted By: Birchwood Re: A Blues with a sax and Going up! - 08/03/21 12:33 PM
Hello, David, Dave, Janne, Derochette and Mike D,

Thanks for dropping by and commenting the song. I will discuss each post individually, so dont worry.
The overall impression you gave me is the song sounds good. That is the nice part for me!


Originally Posted By: dcuny
Nice blues! I didn't expect the strings, which were a nice addition.
Clever idea, well done.
Sax sounds good, as does your voice.
I like the occasional breaks - really effective.
Thanks for reminding me to comment on SoundCloud - not a habit I've developed yet.


Hi David, thanks you gave your opinion on SC too! I hope you can make it a habit. I do it with all the songs I like.
About the strings, well I like strings, or synthesizers with aan orchestral sound and it felt ok to do it in this song. You can't do it with all Blues. Ask Dave! And it is interesting many posters, including you, mention those breaks. In earlier songs I used them more often, because it gave accents. The downside was it breaks the tempo of the song as well. In this song it was more functional, indeed.

Originally Posted By: BlueAttitude
Very good, Hans, great vocal as per usual, and great sounding track too.
Well done!


Hello Dave, I'm glad you didn't mention the amount of fx I must have used in the vocals. As far as I know I didn't use much. Maybe i was a bit hoarse or something, but you had no problems with the vocals, and the other instruments. Thanks!

Originally Posted By: jannesan
Good classic blues. Your songs seem to have a twist in the end, usually positive, cats come home and elevators go to the sky smile that's good songwriting, hopefully I will learn that way too. Good vocals, sax fits very well.
Janne


Ha Janne, I had to smile about you mentioning these 'happy endings' in my stories. some years ago I saw a very nice documentary about Paul Mc. I heard he always did that in his songs. I looked at my songs and saw most of them didn't have these 'happy ends'. In the catsong it was by accident that kind of ending. I nearly had finnished the song in where the cat was dead, but then he entered the house live and sound. So I had to change that end. And in the blues it was intended to have that ending. I am still having a very good marriage. I have a very good imagination too...
If you have that too you will write the stars and the moon into your pocket!

Originally Posted By: Derochette
Hi Birchwood,
The sax is excellent. The melody very catchy and well performed. The composition is excellent. Well done.
Kindly regard
Derochette
alias JaniJackFlash


Hi Derochette, it is nothing compared with your complicated, but very nice sounding music. I only think my vocals are more present than yours ;-)

Originally Posted By: cubanpete
Great song all around as usual!
Mike B.


Hello Mike, I was hoping you would come around too on this kind of song. After all, it's more your natural habitat! Thanks!


Have a very pleasant day,
Hans
Posted By: Birchwood Re: A Blues with a sax and Going up! - 08/04/21 05:39 PM
Hello Will, Misha and Ray,

Took me some time, but hear are my reactions to your nice and kind posts.
I think the post from Will is very good. You give compliments like 'a pleasure to listen to', where Misha and Ray say -kind of- the same, but continue on other parts...
But before you reply in an angry mood to my post; I'm just saying, ehh, teasing. Yes, that's the correct word teasing.
But thanks a lot for listening, leaving a comment on SC and your post here.

Originally Posted By: Will Josef
Hi Hans,
Great song! I'm in love with how your vocal/voice sound... it is just such a pleasure to listen to.
I think you did a very good job with this track!
Will


Hi Will, this is a very nice reply on the song. I read it to my wife and one of my sons. They also think your compliments are very nice. but at the same time they became uneasy. They never said these thing to me. You see what bad people these Dutchies are? And I have to live with them to make these kind of songs! Thanks Will!

Originally Posted By: Rustyspoon#
Hans,
Successful tune for sure. Free flowing. Very nice and unusual chording. Neat stops and harmony magic. Solid write in all respects. The only minor thing I believe is vocals are a bit over fx'd. For example you sax parts are way dryer than vocals. I personally like saxes more "airy" than vocals, but that is only my opinion. In any case A+ for creativity. Thank you for sharing.
Misha.


Hi Misha, I sent you a private post as well, but you must be so busy you haven't noticed it. But it is about the fx-discusion. i also sent it to Ray. He answered. But you lent your wife to him (for singing). No way my wife would have done that (but she can't sing).
About the 'airy' sax: I raised the amount of reverb, but more is not what I like. I want it to feel that sax is near you. But it's a matter of taste. But thanks a lot for your nice and well substantiated comment.

Originally Posted By: rayc
Hans,
COOL fun groove, melody and story.
You seem to be hiding behind processing again. Your last track had a strong vocal that wasn't so FX laden.
I saturate my voice in tweaks and FX but that's becasue I have a weak and unpleasant voice. Your natural voice is strong and clear as well as having presence...bolster it with a thickener, and some EQ, send it to the same reverb you send the solo to but keep it minimal.


Hello Ray, have you read the comment from Will? Are you sure you only have an unpleasant voice? No Ray, I like teasing you, but you have done a lot for me, like listening to my vocal tracks of my (possible) new song. And that I really appreciate, like the discussion in the private post too.


So thank you all and have a very nice day today,
Hans
Posted By: Birchwood Re: A Blues with a sax and Going up! - 08/05/21 05:46 PM
And finally, last but not least; Marty, Scott, Janice and Bud and Scott again,

Very nice responds from you. They gave me a good day, thanks to this (otherwise I could have a nice day as well, but this is much safer).

Originally Posted By: BabuMusic
A what a wonderful song, Hans. Love the emotion in your vocal. Really cool the way you brought the sax in. It sounds like the guy was standing there off-mic then sauntered to the front to do his thing --very well. Top-notch production, and no one can sing it better. wink


Hi Marty, Thanks for this to-the-point review! Still I think you and I have to sing some kind of duet.
And the sax; yes I too had that feeling. Some songs give the feeling you're close to them or a band. We have quite a few musicians in our BiaB forum who achieve this. And I believe it is growing. Are the recorded instruments of BiaB improved? Are we improving? Who knows? But in this song the sax came close to that, I agree with you.

Originally Posted By: Scott C
Loved the groove Hans. Very different feel to this song in a good way. Sax was cool. Another super vocal and lyric. Well done..


Hi Scott, I'm happy you liked it. And I am proud of your compliments on the lyrics too. It is always a lot of work to make them. not only in a language that is not your own, but in general. I think next time I should make a song with a great guitar solo. Are you in?

Originally Posted By: Janice & Bud
We always enjoy hearing John L sing the blues smile
The arrangement on this tune is standout.
The stops, the builds, etc., really keep you engaged.

Your vocals were really good ... no matter how you did it!
Your almost Elevating Blues lyric elevated our mood on a hot, hot day.
And, yep, the blues can make you happy. Thank you.

Enjoyed it!
J&B

Hey Janice and Bud, I'm so happy you mentioned John again. I missed him lately!
What kind words you wrote. I read them to my wife and my youngest son (the older son just became a father, so no time for chit chat). My wife was very pleased. She is calling me John now. My son said something else, but calling me John too. I think he is jealous...
But I was very pleased with the serious parts of your review. I hope Janice will use that elevator-stuff also in her lyrics. While going up!

Originally Posted By: Scott C
I would think a very nice lead guitar would fit in here. :-). I may know someone who could add a bass track as well :-). Maybe on the next one.. ;-)


Hi again, Scott. I am very flattered that you offer your services and those of a bass player. I will accept your offer of course (without a smiley ;-)), although you gave some sleepless nights. I had to think what kind of songs that must be. And... I am already working on a song but there the solo was given to a fiddler. Ray was teaching me on my vocal fx in that one. So I have already one Spirit level around. I let you know soon! and what about Robert?

So, thanks everyone and have a nice weekend soon,
Hans
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