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#660472 - 06/14/21 05:59 PM
[User Showcase]
NEW SONG POST: The Bay
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Registered: 12/21/13
Posts: 6571
Loc: Davis, CA
Veteran
Registered: 12/21/13
Posts: 6571
Loc: Davis, CA
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Hello forum friends. Have been tied up lately with kids graduations, swim meets, parties, and a bunch of stuff.......I though retirement would mean nothing but time. Oh well, it's still good stuff! This is a song that was inspired when my wife and I spent a night in Sausalito on the SF bay for our 35th anniversary. The SF bay and Sausalito are quite magical to me. My dad had 3 boats thorough my young life and the times spent there are among my fondest memories. My dad's ashes were dispersed there about a mile from the harbor where we had our anniversary dinner. The weather was perfect and the scene of the beautiful water with boats sailing by is something I wish I could relive on demand. The next morning, before we went to breakfast, a melody popped into my head. It is not terribly complex or beautiful but I found it meditative, and the lyric that came to me was "by the bay". Years pass, things evolve (or devolve, depending on your perspective), prices rise, restaurants change names, properties change title holders, but sometimes there's a place where your spirit lives, and nothing can change that. Sausalito is that place for me. Did not use a lot of BIAB tracks on this, only Brent's beautiful guitar (If I ever make any money on music, I will owe him a royalty check), and the Vancouver piano RT, one of my faves, played through a Komplete piano plugin. After that long-winded intro, I hope you enjoy. Take care all and be well! Greg https://soundcloud.com/gjohnson-2/baybosespotf
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#660478 - 06/14/21 06:25 PM
[User Showcase]
Re: NEW SONG POST: The Bay
[Re: Greg Johnson]
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Registered: 08/12/04
Posts: 911
Loc: Christchurch, New Zealand
Expert
Registered: 08/12/04
Posts: 911
Loc: Christchurch, New Zealand
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Hi Greg,
This is another excellent song - two in one day!
Vocals - very tasty.
Song - nice chords and good swirly feel at the start with synths, tinkly piano and spartan drums.
Mix - excellent.
I think this song could be taken to another level by dropping the synths and piano after the first verses and chorus and inserting a stronger beat & rhythm section in the middle. Drop it all out after the short lead break, highlight the vocals and maybe just drums and then bring the swirly synths and piano back at the end. Please don't take this as criticism - the song is fine as it stands. But I can see even more potential here.
look forward to hearing more of your songs.
Best Regards
Nigel
_________________________
Nigel Spiers
Christchurch, New Zealand
info@nzacoustics.com
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#660490 - 06/14/21 08:11 PM
[User Showcase]
Re: NEW SONG POST: The Bay
[Re: Greg Johnson]
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Registered: 04/17/20
Posts: 140
Apprentice
Registered: 04/17/20
Posts: 140
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Fabulous song Greg, and yes, very sweet guitar - used very tastefully...
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#660516 - 06/15/21 02:59 AM
[User Showcase]
Re: NEW SONG POST: The Bay
[Re: Greg Johnson]
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Registered: 08/09/10
Posts: 5150
Loc: New York
Veteran
Registered: 08/09/10
Posts: 5150
Loc: New York
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Greg,
This song sounds like a sunrise... A beautiful melody and superbly sung.
Excellent in every way.
Bob
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#660521 - 06/15/21 03:12 AM
[User Showcase]
Re: NEW SONG POST: The Bay
[Re: Greg Johnson]
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Registered: 12/06/03
Posts: 4811
Loc: Sydney Australia
Veteran
Registered: 12/06/03
Posts: 4811
Loc: Sydney Australia
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Greg
Lovely song. Very pretty and well constructed. Unsurprisingly the vocal was excellent and the song filled with appealing imagery.
Very very nice.
Peter
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#660528 - 06/15/21 05:03 AM
[User Showcase]
Re: NEW SONG POST: The Bay
[Re: Greg Johnson]
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Registered: 05/27/19
Posts: 1910
Loc: Dallas, PA, USA
Expert
Registered: 05/27/19
Posts: 1910
Loc: Dallas, PA, USA
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Good to have you back, Greg. Simple melodies with complex memories make for a great song, and you made another great one here. Memories dance by in slow motion. It's one of those songs where everyone is invited to get lost in their own reverie. That's powerful, man.
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#660529 - 06/15/21 05:06 AM
[User Showcase]
Re: NEW SONG POST: The Bay
[Re: Greg Johnson]
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Registered: 02/20/10
Posts: 1707
Loc: Maryland
Expert
Registered: 02/20/10
Posts: 1707
Loc: Maryland
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One of your best melodies, IMHO, I found it very engaging. And of course that great voice gets me every time. Fabulous!!
_________________________
Windows 10, Intel Core I5 10400, 16 gig ram, Scarlett 6i6, Komplete keyboard, Sony Acid Music Studio 11, BIAB 2020 UltraPlus Pak
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#660542 - 06/15/21 06:11 AM
[User Showcase]
Re: NEW SONG POST: The Bay
[Re: Greg Johnson]
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Registered: 11/30/07
Posts: 4344
Loc: Ontario, Canada
Veteran
Registered: 11/30/07
Posts: 4344
Loc: Ontario, Canada
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Hi Greg, good to see you back with a new one! Melody might not be complex to you but it sounds great to me  Mix mix, love that touch of delay you have on your vocal. And yeah, that Brent guitar track is as good as it gets. Lovely song, very much enjoyed.
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#660551 - 06/15/21 06:38 AM
[User Showcase]
Re: NEW SONG POST: The Bay
[Re: Greg Johnson]
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Registered: 08/10/12
Posts: 10200
Loc: Florida
Veteran
Registered: 08/10/12
Posts: 10200
Loc: Florida
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Greg,
What a great opening! That guitar is exquisite and setting it against the strings and the simple drum track is icing on that cake.
A beautiful song! There is Don Henley vibe to it (can't go wrong there!). Super vocal - love the processing...
Love the drum track, too!! Where is that from???
Terrific arrangement. Simple and effective. Nicely mixed. Cool ending.
You make music worth listening to. Many times...
fj
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#660572 - 06/15/21 09:02 AM
[User Showcase]
Re: NEW SONG POST: The Bay
[Re: Greg Johnson]
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Registered: 01/06/20
Posts: 1749
Loc: Illinois
Expert
Registered: 01/06/20
Posts: 1749
Loc: Illinois
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I echo all the previous comments.
I'm a true believer that songs inspired my real life experiences and emotions always deliver the best results.
I've always been drawn to the water, lived on/off boats for over 30 years and that song painted a familiar image for me.
I love the simple structure.
Well written and performed.
moto
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#660736 - 06/16/21 07:28 PM
[User Showcase]
Re: NEW SONG POST: The Bay
[Re: Greg Johnson]
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Registered: 12/08/11
Posts: 6636
Loc: Edmonton, Ab, Canada
Veteran
Registered: 12/08/11
Posts: 6636
Loc: Edmonton, Ab, Canada
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Lovely intro Greg. Guitar was excellent. Another awesome vocal. Loved the lyric. Well done...
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#660747 - 06/16/21 08:29 PM
[User Showcase]
Re: NEW SONG POST: The Bay
[Re: Greg Johnson]
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Registered: 06/05/12
Posts: 1081
Expert
Registered: 06/05/12
Posts: 1081
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Lovely ballad. Great vocals. The recording is so clear. Great lyrics. I lived in the Bay area for a few years in the early eighties and my heart is still captivated by the place. I'll get back there one day.
_________________________
My music can be heard at: The Cracks
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#660769 - 06/17/21 04:39 AM
[User Showcase]
Re: NEW SONG POST: The Bay
[Re: Greg Johnson]
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Registered: 06/05/12
Posts: 15320
Loc: Melbourne, Australia
Veteran
Registered: 06/05/12
Posts: 15320
Loc: Melbourne, Australia
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Greg, another brilliant composition, so absolutely enjoyable, and your vocal delivery is always outstanding. The production instrumentation is simple but absolutely nothing is left wanting.
Additionally, anything related to Sausalito has a special place for me too. It is one of the most memorable locations I have ever visited in the States. I don't really know why, but it was just, well, memorable.
I recall you've written about it previously. Yes, it must be special.
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_________________________
BIAB & RB2022 Win.(Audiophile), SonarPlatinum, Izotope Prod.Bundle, Roland RD-1000, SynthogyIvory, Kontakt, Focusrite 18i20, KetronSD2, NS40M Monitors, Pioneer ActiveMonitors, AKG K271 Studio H'phones
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#660796 - 06/17/21 10:36 AM
[User Showcase]
Re: NEW SONG POST: The Bay
[Re: Greg Johnson]
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Registered: 05/05/18
Posts: 1410
Loc: United Kingdom
Expert
Registered: 05/05/18
Posts: 1410
Loc: United Kingdom
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Years pass, things evolve (or devolve, depending on your perspective), prices rise, restaurants change names, properties change title holders, but sometimes there's a place where your spirit lives, and nothing can change that. I know that feeling only too well, for better or worse. By a fountain, somewhere in Europe, being mine. Beautiful, relaxing song which made me feel as if I was travelling in spirit to special, bygone days. Thank you so much for sharing it with us ... it's one of those that I want to listen to, again and again. The guitar is inspired - and your voice is that classic voice we've gotten accustomed to, time and time again from you. It's somehow even clearer here in the mix, to my ears at least. All being said: congratulations. You are a master of the song genre. Bravo.
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#660831 - 06/17/21 03:42 PM
[User Showcase]
Re: NEW SONG POST: The Bay
[Re: Greg Johnson]
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Registered: 09/02/18
Posts: 1787
Loc: Virginia USA
Expert
Registered: 09/02/18
Posts: 1787
Loc: Virginia USA
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Sumptuous piece. Love the opening instrumentation, which leads into the outstanding vocal and melody.
Great production. Great song.
You should make money off your music, but alas, like me, we don't write modern songs.
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#660843 - 06/17/21 05:26 PM
[User Showcase]
Re: NEW SONG POST: The Bay
[Re: Ezekiel's Storm]
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Registered: 12/27/03
Posts: 17373
Loc: Hamlin NY
Veteran
Registered: 12/27/03
Posts: 17373
Loc: Hamlin NY
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Ditto to everything that has been said. All I can add is WOW what a fantastic vocal. Super instrumentation and an absolutely outstanding mix.
_________________________
You know you're in trouble when you leave a memory improvement class and can't remember where you parked your car!
64 bit Win 10 Pro, the latest BiaB and RB, Roland Octa-Capture audio interface, a ton of software and some hardware
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#660887 - 06/18/21 01:33 AM
[User Showcase]
Re: NEW SONG POST: The Bay
[Re: Greg Johnson]
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Registered: 04/13/16
Posts: 4423
Loc: Cooran Queensland Australia
Veteran
Registered: 04/13/16
Posts: 4423
Loc: Cooran Queensland Australia
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Greg, a nice melody and appropriate lyric.
The arrangement does no damage but it doesn't do much else either.
It's a bit too "filmic" for the song the vocal melody & narrative insist is there.
The guitar solo adds some earth but there's a need for more gravity.
_________________________
Cheers
rayc
"What's so funny about peace, love & understanding?" - N.Lowe
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#660895 - 06/18/21 04:52 AM
[User Showcase]
Re: NEW SONG POST: The Bay
[Re: Greg Johnson]
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Registered: 04/15/19
Posts: 668
Loc: SA, Australia
Journeyman
Registered: 04/15/19
Posts: 668
Loc: SA, Australia
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A very immersive song - sort of washes over you. Excellent on just about every level. Enjoyed my listen.
_________________________
My music may not set the world on fire but if it causes a glow in just one person's heart, it has all been worthwhile 
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#660981 - 06/18/21 04:10 PM
[User Showcase]
Re: NEW SONG POST: The Bay
[Re: NigelSpiers]
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Registered: 12/21/13
Posts: 6571
Loc: Davis, CA
Veteran
Registered: 12/21/13
Posts: 6571
Loc: Davis, CA
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Hi Greg,
This is another excellent song - two in one day!
Vocals - very tasty.
Song - nice chords and good swirly feel at the start with synths, tinkly piano and spartan drums.
Mix - excellent.
I think this song could be taken to another level by dropping the synths and piano after the first verses and chorus and inserting a stronger beat & rhythm section in the middle. Drop it all out after the short lead break, highlight the vocals and maybe just drums and then bring the swirly synths and piano back at the end. Please don't take this as criticism - the song is fine as it stands. But I can see even more potential here.
Thanks Nigel!!
look forward to hearing more of your songs.
Best Regards
Nigel
Thanks Nigel!! You know, I think you're right. If I were going to redo the arrangement, I would go heavier and more conventional in the middle and then draw it back to the sparse synth at the end. Really good suggestion! Appreciated!! Take care. Greg
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#661002 - 06/18/21 07:57 PM
[User Showcase]
Re: NEW SONG POST: The Bay
[Re: Greg Johnson]
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Registered: 04/23/18
Posts: 1319
Loc: Mill Valley, California USA
Expert
Registered: 04/23/18
Posts: 1319
Loc: Mill Valley, California USA
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Greg,
Lovely work! The vocal is the star for me . . . sits really nicely in the mix, just the right touch of reverb and delay. The synth gives this nice body. Pretty song to listen to. Well done!
My best to you,
Deej
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