A Cold Hearted Woman
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wo30oIqL5X0

Keith Forrest: Vocals, guitar, bass, piano, mandolin
Frank Pratte: Mix, video editing
BIAB - Resonator guitar solo, 2010: Guitar, resonator, soloist countryworkingrob EV16 090

Programs used: DAW Reaper, guitar Amplitube5, EZDrummer2; All from Reaper Cockos: EQ, Compression, Multiband compressor, Limiter, Reverb

Keith and I collaborate in various ways, in this case, he did the writing and recording. He sent me the stems I did the drum programming, mix, and video editing. He asked me to add a slide guitar solo, then he gave a shot at a mando solo. We weren't completely happy with it. BIAB came to the rescue and absolutely aced it. I used the Reaper BIAB plugin and the multiriff feature giving me 7 takes at the solo, used the 1st half of take 5 and the 2nd half of take 6.

Keith and I played in a band back in the 80s, we hooked back up a few years ago and collaborate between California and Florida.

Frank,
Excellent tune! Well played & produced. Nice vocals!
Thank you for sharing.

Misha.

This is right up my alley.
I like it.

Good vibe, I like the driving guitar riff, all the instruments sound great!

I think the main vocal could be brightened up just a tad.

moto

That's pretty cool.
Nice mix and the vocal sits perfectly in it.
Well done on the drum programming...it sounds pretty natural.

I did read somewhere that PG Music would rather not have their performers named outside the forums.

Hi Frank,

Yes this is right up my alley also.

It has a very cool swamp blues figure/backing which then moves into an Eagles country bridge and chorus with vocal harmonies.

I don't think these harmonies are necessary - just stick with your voice which sounds fine.

I like the way you also break the song up with a vocals only section later in the song - top marks. Many a song writer on this forum could take note of this desire to entertain the audience.

Excellent effort - look forward to hearing more of your songs.

Best Regards
Nigel

Wow, The Eagles have landed. This is an amazing production, Frank & Keith. Excellent choices on the multi-mando, too. Love the dynamics and the chorus really elevates the thrill. Masterful write.

Misha, thanks for the listen and encouragement.



Moto, thanks for the listen. That guitar riff, I added a few bars at the beginning so it could play by itself and be highlighted.

In that version you heard, the vocals are brightened up quite a bit in the individual track and there is some brightening in the Master channel. I like to tread lightly for a natural sound. I attached images of the brightening I did and did notice something, on the vox I have one eq before compression, I usually use two eqs, the high pass filter before compression, and the brightening after compression. I'll go back and change that and see what happens.



Ray, thanks for the listen. Drum programming was an overstatement, not sure what term to use. EZdrummer midi drum grooves come in style folders with a bunch of variations and fills and intros. You put them together in a timeline in chunks, sometimes the chunks are 1 bar, often 4 bars, 9 bars, 12 bars etc. They are performed by studio musicians and are not quantized, sort of like super midi. I spill these into a track as midi and from there I modify, often by subtraction, sometimes addition like cymbal hits. Once you get the hang of it, you can really customize it to fit a song.

I edited the video to remove the credit of the BIAB artist. Feels strange to not give credit.



Thanks for the listen Nigel. I have to say that I like harmonies in this style of tune, I think it's idiomatic to the genre especially on the acapella break near the end of the tune (not completely acapella as there is the sidestick and kick on the downbeats, I'd still call it acapella though.)



Thanks for the listen. That BIAB solo came from a Resonator guitar comping the multi-riff feature.

Excellent intro. Super vocal. Loved the groove in the backtrack. Well done..

An impressive delivery, great vocals including the backings, and a neat hook sitting in the background throughout.

Plenty to like about this number.

Frank & Keith,

A terrific listen. I got completely "lost" in it. Everything "works". Very much enjoyed this.

Nice vocals. Good mix.

fj

Tony Joe meets the Eagles with a Doobie Bros hint thrown in.

As Gregg used to say everything is hittin’ the note.
- vocal/instrumental performances
- lyric
- melody
- mix
- video

The complete package … well done.

Enjoyed it!

J&B

PS Comping solo RTs is a technique we’ve often used. I’m surprised more folks don’t employ it as like your example it enables the RT to do more than just play generic riffs, i.e., it tailors the solo to your tune. It’s also helpful in getting the “right” segues from rhythm RTs into vocals/solos.

Nice groove, universal theme.

nice character vocals.
i like the backing...and the break later on.

very good lyrics/inventive song.

best to you.
om

This sounds great. Mix, vocal, guitar, everything. Love the riff.

Somebody mentioned The Eagles. I hear that.

I think I know that woman in the video.

Hi Frank,

On Youtube a message appeared your video has been removed. So I couldn't hear your song.
Will it be back?

Hans

This should be fixed now.

Wow, very impressive indeed!

First of all, very good song, that riff is hypnotic. Guitar sounds great as does the vocal.

Loved your mix!

You asked what kit I used for the song I just posted. I *think* I just used the basic kit, but I may have swapped a couple of pieces in from a different kit. I’ll check in the morning when I fire the studio back up again.

Which kit did you use if you don’t mind my asking? And did you do additional processing after the fact?

Really enjoyed this one, looking forward to hearing more from you.

Hi Frank, it does!

I enjoyed your song. Like Dave said, an hypnotic riff. From the kind I like very much!
And your vocals are outstanding. At first I had some (little) doubts on the first chorus, but as the song continues it was great. A bit a pitty it ended so sudden, and too soon. This could have going on for some more time. So I listened it again.
Everything is ok. Sounded 'radio ready' as I learned you have to mention it, if it is classy!

O, and I'm still listening now, again...
Hans