Mystic Chords

This is a start from scratch re-mix, new fx and new mastering chain of our post from seven years ago.

Within Abraham Lincoln’s March 4, 1861 first inaugural address he used the term “mystic chords of memory.” That line stuck with me and eventually morphed into a song write. floyd generously joined in and as with all our co-writes the result made me feel like a bit of a writer. To ice the cake Tom (tommyad) made the whole mystic chord theme shine with acoustic / electric guitar tracks and floyd provided a tight vocal harmony part.

This is one cut from a recent album release of floyd & Bud co-writes. If you stream (and are interested) it’s on all the major platforms. Just search on Janice Merritt and the title is MerriJane.

An oft told tale of the washed up musician but hopefully with a new twist or so. Comments are most welcome. Thanks for your time. And thanks to floyd, Tom and PG Music.

Janice: lead vocal > Rodes NT1 mic > Nectar
floyd: harmony vocal > Nectar
Tom Adams: electric and acoustic guitar solo/fills
Bud: mix, master, etc.

Drums: RD N’ville Even 16 > CLA Drums
Overshot cymbal added at tag > CLA JJP Percussion

Bass: RT 1036 NortherRockBallad Ev65 > Waves Bass Rider > Neutron 3

Fiddle: RT 594 Pop16s Ev65 Outside Ev65 > Waves CLA unplugged

Mastering Ozone Dynamic EQ > Ozone Vintage EQ > Ozone Imager > Ozone Limiter > Logic Pro X Loudness Meter

Mystic Chords

V1
endless gigs...endless roadhouses...
he never quit... he never counted the losses...
night after night... of near-empty rooms
sometimes just a bartender, him and his tunes
 
Ch
now no more crowds... no more cheers
he turns the radio up... downs a few more beers
in the corner, a battered Martin left for dead
while mystic chords of memory play... in his head
 
V2
behind the barn, the bus gathers dust
a Silver Eagle gone to rust
a million miles...a thousand towns
to find a stage, a pickup band, that elusive sound
 
Ch
but no more crowds... no more cheers
he turns the radio up... downs a few more beers
in the corner, a battered Martin lies dead
while mystic chords of memory play... in his head
 
Bridge:
sometimes he still hears that roar
an ovation that makes his old heart soar
 
Ch
but no more crowds... no more cheers
he turns the radio up... downs a few more beers
in the corner, his battered Martin.....dead
while mystic chords of memory play... in his head
mystic chords of memory play

© 2015-2022 B. Merritt (words) & floyd jane (words/melody)

Wow, that was a terrific write! Tear your heart apart as delivered by Janice. That Martin's gotta be worth some bucks, though. Song definitely left a mark. Great job, all!

Love everything about this. Vocals are great, mix is awesome, fiddle is sweet and sad, guitar riff fits nicely.

he turns the radio up... downs a few more beers
Great lyric.

I'll have to come back later..soundcloud is throwing little glitches as I listen and there're few things worse than being interrupted whole listening to Janice & Floyd.

Hi Guys,

Very nice all round.

I must admit I was waiting for the bass to come in and power the song along in the second half. No instrumental solos?

Excellent mix otherwise.

Best Regards
Nigel

Leaving a mark is what it’s all about. Thank you!
We much appreciate you saying that as the song has been special to J&B for years.
BTW, Janice has a 1943 D-18 that was inspirational for the song also. It could tell some tales I'm sure.

J&B

Yeah, this is great you four!

Great idea redoing an older song, I've done quite a few with Chris over the years that I would like to redo someday, I have much better tools now, not to mention better knowledge. One of these days

Excellent vocals (always enjoy hearing Floyd and Janice sing together) , and the mix and write is spot on.

Also found the song over on Spotify and gave it a like and a listen.

The Janice Merritt channel is one of my favorites to play while driving. Floyd Jane is another. What a great sound guys. Tommy Adams! Bud, great idea for a song, and great job turning those words into something we can relate to. You guys can please ALL the people ALL th3e time. Man, I'd love to get my hands on that battered Martin. Ok, I think I gotta go for a ride. Thanks.

Hey I remember this song from a while back! I still see my comment!!



It still sounds great and y'all did a wonderful job. I will have to check out the album!

Hello together
A great collaboration
Sounds excellent
Really very successful song
Many greetings
Andi ;-)

We appreciate that! You kindly remarked on everything we tried to achieve. Can’t ask for more. Thank you!

J&B

Hi Janice & Bud,

Beautiful melody very endearing. It's always well done. The choirs are splendid. Very very well done. I enjoyed it.


Kindly regard
Derochette
alias JaniJackFlash

One of your very best.

I agree with everything that has been said thus far.

All I can add is "you all are so darn good together and better than most everything on the radio today". For those in the southern USA it is "ya'll are so darn good together and better than most everything on the radio today"

Loved it.

Thanks for listening!

J&B



Thanks for the nice comments Dave and for checking it out on Spotify. It’s interesting remixing something from years back. As you mentioned I too hope my skills have grown a bit over the years. If nothing else the technology has certainly grown!

J&B

It's better to burn out than fade away. NY.


I've known a few people who fit nicely into that song's storyline. They did it because they loved the music but never got out of the hole in the wall honky tonk bars.

Nicely done with the song. Everything fit nicely and was done well.

Really cool revisit of the song Bud. I really loved your collabs with Floyd and Tom. Excellent mix. Janice's vocal was so clear and present. Such a lovely blend of voices with Floyd's harmonies. Well done.

Very nice, I love those vocal harmonies. And the guy on the guitar has good taste, he plays everything you need but nothing more.

Perfect, sparse arrangement that gives everyone room to shine.

Thanks for all of that Marty! Glad you liked the lyric and, hey, Janice’s ‘43 D-18 keeps us reminded of this tune. It’s a survivor.

We appreciate your support!

J&B

J&B and Floyd...what a beautiful well written song!...super melody and track...I love the instrumental at the end and fade...the whole track is so clean and crisp...so well done...but I would have expected nothing less from you guys...so, so very nice...there's a sad peace that surrounds the story you're telling and the title is haunting in and of itself...really enjoyed this effort from you guys...stellar!

Janice & Bud,

This is absolutely beautiful... I must have missed this the first time around.

Such beauty in the way Janice delivers the vocal. Sweet production - glad you brought this one back around.

So excellent.

Bob

Thank you David!

J&B




Thanks Andi. Glad you liked it!

J&B

Hats off to y'all. Very good song, and it all starts with the song - great team writing. Everyone shined here, but a special kudos to Bud - you really did a great job at putting all that talent together for terrific production. Just excellent.

Hi all,

Great song.
Choruses are spot on.
Outstanding lyrics.
Two thumbs up!

Rob and Anne-Marie

Bud and Janice
Whats most amazing about this brilliant song is that I first heard it 7 years ago, that went way too fast.
Always one of my favourites, great performances by all involved and a wonderful melody.
Great vocal, excellent mix,lovely guitar hook and floyd always sounds superb with Janice.
Excellent.
Peter

A beautiful phrase gave birth to a truly beautiful song. Outstanding work by all concerned.
Regards,
Leon

Thanks for listening and the nice comments!

J&B



Glad you liked it.

J&B

Hi, Janice, Bud, Floyd and Tommy !


What a wonderful tune so
delicately performed !
This is as good as music
gets !


Congrats to all involved !

Cheers
Dani

I recall this from its release years ago. It's just as fantastic second time around. First rate write, arrangement, production and performance.

Janice, Bud, floyd and Tom,

Nice collaboration!
Everyone's country spirit is exploding.
I can hear the true value of Janis' vocals in such slow ballads.
Enjoyed my listen a lot.

Best regards.

Shigeki Adachi

Thank you Mario. And we appreciate the translation for us southern folks!

J&B

Exceptional write. Sounds like a hit song to me.

"in the corner, a battered Martin left for dead
while mystic chords of memory play... in his head" Great lyric hook!

Vocal is wonderful (as I have come to expect quite a while ago)

Thank you Herb. And yes we also agree with NY regarding the burn out vs fade away sentiment.

Glad you liked it!

J&B

Thanks Scott. Starting from scratch with this remix was a lot of fun.

J&B

Thanks to everyone who mention my part(s) in this...

My favorite music partners.

A song for the still inspired has been in all of us!
Gorgeous vocal rom Janice, which, with the plangent fiddle puts a lump in the throat.
Great harmonies, crystal clear production and, above all a very, very good write; well done to everyone involved!

Robert

We all appreciate that! And sparse is good … nearly all the time in our book. Abandon the mix when there is nothing left to take away.

J&B

Minimalist but excellent.

What a wonderful review to respond to over a cup of morning coffee. You are very kind in your comments and they are much appreciated by all of us.

Thank you!

J&B

Hi Janice, Bud, Floyd and Tom.

This is absolutely stunning listening. Everything about it fits together perfectly.

I don't know if it's possible to create music any better than this.

All the very best to everyone,
Noel

J&B ( and Floyd)—

Wow, now that’s well done. Love the simplicity of the arrangement—those strings just resonate. Crystal and compelling vocal ( with a nice harmony in that chorus). Outstanding collaboration all!

Best regards to you all—

Deej

Thanks Bob! We always appreciate your supportive comments.

J&B

Thanks from us all and I (Bud) appreciate the mix comments.

J&B





Thanks y’all!!

Bud

Thank you very much Peter. Yes those years have flown by. That was the year you joined in with us on our first J&B & Peter collaboration!

J&B

I remember this one! One of my favs then and now.
Josie

We appreciate that Leon and, yes, it was a beautiful phrase as was the entire speech.

J&B

When coming this late to the party, all the cake is gone, the punch bowl is empty, and all the napkins are in the trash can. Not much left to say that hasn't already been said.

So, how about "Just WOW!"?

Alan

I really like this one all the way around! Great details in the lyrics and great lift to the chorus! Well done on the vocals and production as well.

Thanks Dani!

J&B



Thank you Charlie! We had hoped you would hear this remix.

J&B

Thank you very much!

J&B

You are very kind and we all thank you.

Glad you liked the hook also.

J&B



Robert, that is all very nice of you and inspiring. And thanks for commenting on the fiddle.

Much appreciated!

J&B

Thanks. Our goal

J&B




Firstly, it’s great to see you back on the forum!

Secondly, thank you so much for your kind comments. We had a lot of enjoyment re-mixing this song - particularly with the newer fx chains.

Welcome back!

J&B




That is greatly appreciated Deej. We are all about simple arrangements and thanks for mentioning that.

Thanks for all!

J&B

Thanks Josie. Glad it’s still a fav!

J&B

Thank you Al!

J&B



That is much appreciated. Thanks for the time to listen and comment.

J&B

"...him and his tunes"

Y'all hit it out of the park.

Standing ovation.

Scott

Thanks Scott. Nice to see you back around!

J&B

J&B, Floyd and Tom,

This is one great sounding track! You can never go wrong when you've got the combo of Floyd and Tom helping on a project! Janice, the vocals are awesome as always! Tom's guitar work is stellar...he is a super talent all aspects of musical production! Floyd's harmony always blends well with Janice! Bud you are pro as proved once again with the way you assembled this one! Enjoyed it!

Thanks, Torrey