PG Music Home Forums General Discussion User Showcase Just Say The Word (rock) featuring Janice Merritt

Hello Folks,
A jazz version of this song was posted a few months back. That was the work, principally, of Janice & Bud and was way out of my pay level in terms of musicality and skills. This mix, with a brand new vocal to suit the arrangement, is closer to my stamping ground.
BIAB real track drums, organ, an arpeggio guitar and SMT strings are the backbone of the song. The head, eyes, ears and mouth are all Janice's vocal.I provide some subcutaneous fat with guitars, bass & Mellotron. The skin of this thing is a lyric of retrospect, regret and an awareness come far too late.
I will try to add details this evening as, for the day or possibly longer, renovations prevent me from getting into the music room.

Just Say The Word...rock

This is a mastered version but any/all suggestions/comments are welcome and will be used on the next project.

V1
I can't tell who I'm talking to
All I know is that you're not here
It would be a different time
It could just be I've imagined it
Little seeds of truth
Might hold me here again
I know it could be true
You & I
Were something once.

C1
Just say the word
All it takes is you
To say the words you could not say
So you showed me that there was no way
Spoken truly
Spoken clearly
Spoken voluntarily
That is all it takes
All it takes to end the day.

V2
Our future was so long ago
And I know you were unwilling
It was such a different time
It was not as I'd imagined it
Little seeds of doubt
Shifted you each tiny bit
I know that it was true
You & I
Were something once.

C2
Just say the word
All it took was you
To say the words I would not say
Show me that there was no way
Spoken truly
Spoken clearly
Spoken so carefully
That is all it takes
Takes to say go away.

solo

C3
Just say the words
All it took from you
You spoke the words I would not say
And showed me that I held no sway
Spoken bluntly
Spoken slowly
Spoken so deliberately
Even as you shook
Makes it all yesterday.

V3
Our futures were so far apart
I know you saw the truth
While I hoped for more time
It clearly wasn't meant to be
Little seeds without
Tenderness don't sprout
Yet of this I have no doubt
You & I
Were something once.

C4
Just say the word
All it took was two
To bring a stop to what was not
To show me what I've not forgotten
Spoken truly
And sincerely
Though it cost dearly
That is all it takes
Takes to say a last goodbye.

Different but interesting.
Nicely done guys.
Rob4580

Ray and Janice,

I can't fault anything! It's very interesting hearing Janice in a different genre than usual but wow does she have a strong voice...sounds great here! I really like the mix! Cool song! Ray, you did a nice job with this!

Thanks, Torrey

Thanks Rob.
It was fun working Ray’s fine write into a jazz and rock version.

Janice

Ray, Janice & Bud,

Love the arrangement - Janice really makes it work with a great vocal. The dense mix really stands out with a bunch of textures.

Great guys!

Bob

Hi Ray, Janice and Bud,

A well sung song that had a good band performing on it.
And a very good mix as well.

I heard the first version too some time ago and as I can recall, this one is better for singing.
The former song didn't flow too well in the verses. That made singing more difficult, although Janice is a pro (of course). The melody was more complicated.

In this song the chorusses were very attractive and Janice sang them very well.
Still I wonder if a modulation after the solo part could have given some more tension or variation to the song. Janice could easy have handled that hight!
But as I said, it was just a thought...

Nice work altogether!
Hans

Ray & Janice

Interesting comparing the 2 versions, both are very good. I like that this has an almost progressive rock melody with the vocal cleverly dancing around the chords. Nice bass playing throughout.

Janice is great as always,

Enjoyed this as much as the first version.

Peter

Different! But cool.

Solid track, Ray, and Janice shows that she can handle any genre

Nice!

Thank you Torrey! You are a great rocker so that means a lot

Janice

Wow so different Janice nail it love all the changes in this really great work guys and Bud AND Ray great mixing nice work on the guitars thanks Eric

ray & Janice,

Cool to hear Janice fronting PBX!
A strong, clear vocal (could have been a little less out-front, I think).
Nice harmonies!

The instrument mix is excellent. They each have-their-own-space and are still well blended.
Guitars and Bass sound great. Organ does what it should.
Drums could be just slightly louder.
Overall, a VERY cohesive mix. Sounds great in the buds.

fj

The intro motive reminds me of an old Pink Floyd song, end even when the vocals go somewhere else the song is still kinda Pink-Floyd-ish. I like that a lot!

And of course the vocals are very good, she's a very good singer.
2 thumbs up!

Ray and Janice, this is an excellent song
Great vocal, as usual
Outstanding chord progression
Great use of RTs
Outstanding mix

Two thumbs up

OK. Since you're asking. I may have a few pointers that would improve the mix, the lyrics, and the vocals (and make the song do better at the box office).

At first, I would change all of the following:


Just kidding


This sounds cool! It's the perfect marriage of your 60s/70s-inspired Syd Barrett/Procol Harum/Donovan/Beatle-Esque sound with Janice's strong signature vocals.

An innovative combination that calls out for more. Well done guys!

Rob

Interesting.

Nice job on the mix.

You can take Janice out of her style but you can't take her style out of Janice.

The song has one of those melodies that doesn't lend itself to singing along with easily on the first or second listen. It reminds me of the frustration I used to experience at one church we went to for a time. The P&W music was so off the cuff and progressive that almost no one in the audience was singing along unless on the off chance, they already knew the song. So... it was good to listen too, but not something that you'll be humming in 10 minutes.

I saw a comment on the song above that mentioned Pink Floyd..... pretty spot on from some of their earlier work with Sid Barrett.

Once thing is for sure.... you never ever put something up that is boring, mundane, and common or predictable. And that's actually a pretty good thing. Keep on doing what you do.

This is an excellent song. Janice's voice is excellent in any genre. This song is very different which is a good thing. Really well done.

Thanks Rob,
Different & interesting was my aim so I missed out by this -"but"_ much.

Ta Torrey,
there're a few things in my playing that I'd fix if I were a better player but c'est la vie.
Janice can create a melody & sing across the board I suspect...maybe have a little trouble with Mongolian throat singing but that remains to be heard.

Thanks Bob,
"Janice makes it work". You're right 100%.

Thanks Hans,
we used modulation in the jazz version I think or in the last song we did together. It's an effective tool but comes across as a trope or trick if used too often. I know this was longish and may have needed some relief for some ears but, for my ears, the voice carries me through.