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Backwater

There’re many news stories of late about floods around the world so perhaps this post is topical. Close to 100 years old Backwater Blues (public domain) by the wonderful Bessie Smith is about a 1926 Nashville, TN flood. We changed the chord progression and lightly tweaked the lyric and hope you find it of interest. Big thanks to our music partner PeterF and PG Music. Comments are always welcome!

Backwater appears on our new album Deep In The Domain available on all the major streaming platforms.

Lyrics on SC and as with PD songs we own all rights to this version.
Janice: lead/call back vocals & arrangement
Peter: all guitar solos & RT guitar processing advice
Bud: mix, mastering, arrangement & photo

Vocals: Rodes NT1 mic > Scarlett 212i > Logic Pro > Izotope Nectar

Bass: RealTrack 564 Electric, Blues Monday > Izotope Neutron > Waves Bass Rider

Rhythm Guitar: RealTrack 1924, Electric, Rhythm TexasBluesRockSlow > Neutron > Logic Pro Overdrive

Piano: MIDI SuperTrack 2845 Piano, Rhythm
BluesSlowSwingMike > Logic Pro X Grand Steinway > Waves CLA Unplugged > Ozone 10 Imager

Drums: RealDrums NashvilleSwing8 > Waves CLA Drums

Snare: RealDrum kit file > Waves Torque > Waves Magma BB T

Cymbal: RealDrum kit file > Logic Pro Channel Reverb

Mastering Chain:
Ozone Dynamic EQ > Ozone Vintage EQ > Ozone imager > Ozone Maximizer > Ozone Tonal Balance


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Hi Guys,

Yes Backwater Blues is also one of my favourite Bessie Smith songs and you have done a most interesting version.

Well done.

Best Regards
Nigel


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! have run out of adjectives to describe how good you all are so all I can say is this is another winner!

PS - you know that I love the blues so you know that I would love this!


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It's a song for times.
Very cool renovation.
It's probably my ears today, a bit of a brain pain, that makes things seem a little crisp.
Peter Perfect flies again.
Excellent work team...I really like the stereo image.


Cheers
rayc
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Originally Posted By: NigelSpiers
Hi Guys,

Yes Backwater Blues is also one of my favourite Bessie Smith songs and you have done a most interesting version.

Well done.

Best Regards
Nigel


Thank you Nigel. As long time admirers of her we were pleased when this tune entered the PD this year. Glad you liked our effort in interpreting it!

J&B


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Janice, Bud & Peter,

Wow! That is some really great swinging blues. I love this arrangement.

Awesome vocals - love the lead & background vocals by Janice. So good!

Peter's guitar was on fire and Bud, you have raised the bar again with your production skills.

Great music!

Bob

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Originally Posted By: MarioD
! have run out of adjectives to describe how good you all are so all I can say is this is another winner!

PS - you know that I love the blues so you know that I would love this!


Thanks Mario. It’s always rewarding to hear good words from a blues man.

J&B


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Hi Y'all ...

Excellent! These old Blues numbers from way back are just so powerful and full of soul. And this version has both.

Everything in place and doing its job perfectly. The mix is crisp and so clean. Nobody twists those mixing knobs like Bud! Peter's guitar just cries out the Blues as good as anyone and better than most. Of course, Janice just wails the dickens out of these songs. She sings like a child of the 20s and 30s. She might have been born in the wrong era. But Bud, I'm sure you're delighted and thankful she wasn't!

Nothing but first-class talent here by all song contributors. Another delight for our ears.

Alan


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Originally Posted By: rayc
It's a song for times.
Very cool renovation.
It's probably my ears today, a bit of a brain pain, that makes things seem a little crisp.
Peter Perfect flies again.
Excellent work team...I really like the stereo image.


Thanks Ray. With the mono solo guitar and vocals centered, the stereo drums and piano centered I had only the r guitar to pan. To compensate I used stereo imaging on several tracks and during mastering. Glad it seemed to work.

J&B


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WooHoo! You know it's a good day when it starts out with a new Blues song from you three. I'm not familiar with Bessie's version, but will have to look it up. You guys always make an old song fresh and even better than any other version. Dang, Peter, that is some fine playing --such good feeling. Janice your vocals can't be beat, but I'm curious why you didn't use harmony parts in your response vocals. Bud, you are so darn good at the board. Always a pro result from you three.


Enjoy whatever happens!
marty

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Originally Posted By: rsdean
Janice, Bud & Peter,

Wow! That is some really great swinging blues. I love this arrangement.

Awesome vocals - love the lead & background vocals by Janice. So good!

Peter's guitar was on fire and Bud, you have raised the bar again with your production skills.

Great music!

Bob


Bob, your comments are very supportive and appreciated!

J&B


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Topical indeed. And sadly, only likely to get more so. Fabulous job by all concerned, as always.
Regards,
Leon

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Originally Posted By: Al-David
Hi Y'all ...

Excellent! These old Blues numbers from way back are just so powerful and full of soul. And this version has both.

Everything in place and doing its job perfectly. The mix is crisp and so clean. Nobody twists those mixing knobs like Bud! Peter's guitar just cries out the Blues as good as anyone and better than most. Of course, Janice just wails the dickens out of these songs. She sings like a child of the 20s and 30s. She might have been born in the wrong era. But Bud, I'm sure you're delighted and thankful she wasn't!

Nothing but first-class talent here by all song contributors. Another delight for our ears.

Alan


Al, that is a very thoughtful, positive and supportive review.

Simply the mention of soul is so meaningful to us. That is indeed what the blues is all about.

Thank you so much! And bud is thankful she was not a child of that period unless he was also. smile

J&B


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Hey what a great sounding version y'all!!

I love to hear you sing and play these classics.

Well done!!

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Originally Posted By: BabuMusic
WooHoo! You know it's a good day when it starts out with a new Blues song from you three. I'm not familiar with Bessie's version, but will have to look it up. You guys always make an old song fresh and even better than any other version. Dang, Peter, that is some fine playing --such good feeling. Janice your vocals can't be beat, but I'm curious why you didn't use harmony parts in your response vocals. Bud, you are so darn good at the board. Always a pro result from you three.


Thanks Marty! Regarding harmony Janice says, “well this is the way I felt it.” And her producer said, “hey girl it’s your call.” smile smile

Bud


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Hi Janice, Bud and Peter,

I love what you do with old songs. You bring them back and not only that, you make it a brand new song;
new clothes, shinny shoes and teeth brushed. Excellent!

I think in Ukraine they will all sing along with it, with their boken dams. Maybe in another language, but Janice keeps the lead!
And a month ago we would have done the same in my country as well. Very rainy for weeks, cold and very windy.
But suddenly the weather changed. Very hot, no rain for 30 days. I think it's worse than the dessert now. So make us a song about that.

Beside all this bullshit, my first sentence stays! Excellent

Hans


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Hello Janice, Peter and Bud
My feedback on your song is very short.
It doesn't get any better than this !!!
Perfect performance by ALL involved.
Very impressive
Many greetings
Andi ;-)

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Originally Posted By: Leon1
Topical indeed. And sadly, only likely to get more so. Fabulous job by all concerned, as always.
Regards,
Leon


Thank you Leon. Great to hear from you.

J&B


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J&B+Peter

This is undoubtedly your territory. Excellent musical rendition and ACE vocal performance!
Radio quality mix. Enjoyed it! Being almost 100 years young, very relevant, especially considering current events.
Thank you for sharing.

Misha.

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J&B, Peter...classic in every way...the combo of Janice's sultry vocals and Peter's impeccable guitar are an unbeatable blues team...and as usual the mix and production work are some of the best on the forum! stellar work indeed!! Dan


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