I thought I'd try something a bit more Country this time. I've played lots of country sessions over the years, but never written much, because my voice doesn't really suit the genre. Anyway, this is what I did. Some songs can be on my computer for months, but this one took a little over an hour from starting to write to the finished product, partly because I'm using some RTs at last!

The pedal steel is an RT and the drums are RD. The piano is a midi supertrack with bits of my own playing spliced in and the guitars are mine - acoustic for a change. All the vocals are me, as you can probably tell and the BVs are me too, as the girls are still in exam mode.

I don't know if my pal Floyd would call it country, but here it is -

MEMORY
Years keep rolling by and my memory gets a little lazy
The days run one into another and sometimes they get a little hazy
My friends say I'm doing ok, but sometimes I think I'm going crazy.

Sometimes in conversation, I forget what it is I want to say
I forgot to gas the car up and got stranded way out on the freeway
Then I switch on my computer just to see what day it is today

But since you went and left - and left the house without a trace
I still remember what it felt like and every feature of your face
I can't forget your golden hair, or your careless laugh that filled the place

I can't forget your brown eyes, I only wish I could
And the softness of your skin as you put your hand in mine I know I should
And If I could erase the memories, I still don't think I would.

Always interested to hear what you all think. Oh, and it's not autobiographical!

ROG.

Hi Rog!

I like the brief delay at the end of each verse before you sing the last word. It builds tension slightly before the payoff which in turn makes the conclusion of the verse more satisfying to my ear.

I also really liked the parallel between all the things the main character forgets as opposed to the one thing he can never forget. Well done.

Two verses in a row start with the phrase "I can't forget your...", and that might be more powerful if you found an alternative phrase for one of them.

I like your unique voice too.... its perfect for this song!

Good mix of RTs and your own playing... the combination is mutually enhancing.

Anyway, I just woke up and my brain is having a hard time finding words, so I'll stop there. I thought it was a very impressive one hour production! I'd be happy to come up with something as interesting after a week or more!

ROG,

excellent as usual.
An hour eh! I thought half a day was fast for some of my songs but an hour...I am impressed and I like the vocal slide at the end of the lines.

Your genre is Country and Eastern (side of England):>)

I thoroughly enjoyed the song

Alyn

Enjoyed the song. Good choice of instruments. The lead seemed a little low (or the backing tracks too hot)in the intro of the song but mixed in better as the song went along. Your vocals fit the song very well and I think you did excellent on the backing vocals.

Charlie

"...And If I could erase the memories, I still don't think I would."

What a great ending!

A solid write, ROG. Let's call it Alternative Singer-Songwriter...

Love your vocal (as always). Nice instrumentation. Excellent fills with the acoustic. I'll go with Charlie - that the lead could come up a hair... Everything else about the mix is spot on.

Great OOOOOOOhh's!!!!!!

Thoroughly enjoyable - has several listens, phones and speakers...

floyd

Hey Rog, as you all know by now I,m mostly a fan of Jazz and some Pop, but also I'm able to recognize a well done tune when I hear one no matter the genre. This one is a keeper all around!

Regards

Mike B.

+1

This sounds like a cross between Dylan and county and I mean that in a very good way!

Hi Rog,

nice arrangement.
I like the Oohs and Aahs.

Guenter

Hi, Rog !:))


A really nice tune you´ve written !
And your handling of it was most
enjoyable both playing and vocals !:))
I liked it very much !


Cheers
Dani

I see someone else made a Dylan comparison. That was the first thing that came to my mind. This is a great combo of playfulness and depth, which I love!! I once heard a successful songwriter say at a conference "Everybody sings and everybody writes, but not everybody tells the truth, and the truth is what moves people." This may not be autobiographical but it has an honesty about it which is touching and really works! Great work! Take care. Greg

An interesting parody Rog. Quite fun. Amazingly written and produced in one hour. Wish I could do that! Cheers.

Wow! I really love this one! I just love your vocals here, that sort of drawl, rough thing you've got going on; and the lyrics are tight.

And the vibe of the acoustics with the piano and the perfect drums to drive it!

And the "Ohhh's".

It has a wonderful throwback sound - a great nostalgic vibe!

much enjoyed!

What a cool and original song!
The lyrics, the tone of your voice and your way of singing kind of reminds me of Tom Petty...

Regards,
Rob

Ditto to:

1) Dylan
2) great Ooohs
3) nice pauses before adding last word of phrase

Great vibe and production.
-patrick

Hi Pat. I'm always pleased to see your name on the list. Working so fast on this one, I hadn't realised I'd used that phrase twice, or I'd have done as you suggested. Glad you noticed the little delay at the end of the lines - it started out as just a place to breathe, but then it became a feature. Many thanks for the positive comments.

ROG.

Hi Alyn. I can't claim to do them all in an hour, but sometimes you just get lucky and things flow. I love the "Country and Eastern". Vocal slides I use a lot - it's a way of finding the note when you'd missed it! Thanks.

ROG.

Thanks, Charlie. Glad you enjoyed it. You may have a point about the lead during the intro, though it was intentionally low. I wanted the intro guitar to sit as part of the backing, so as to give me more chance to bring up the volume for the proper solo. Maybe I'd do it differently now, with hindsight.

ROG.

Hi Floyd. Many thanks for stopping by - always value your input. As I said to Charlie, you may be right about the intro. It's really nice to find someone who's a fan of my vocals after years of more negative comments! Glad you liked the oooohs as well - there's eight of me in there somewhere. Phones AND speakers, that's the way. Thanks again.

ROG.

Hi Mike. Yes, I know you as more of a Jazz person, so I'm even more flattered that you had a listen. Many thanks for the kind words and pleased you liked it.

ROG.

Hi Mario. A cross between Dylan and Country is a description I like. Many thanks.

ROG.