Still trying to write songs

[ducktrapper]

So I was rummaging through a box the other day and I came across a cassette with about 20 songs and partial songs that I recorded on a cheap cassette recorder about 25 years ago. I vaguely remember going through my scribblers and putting all these to a tune and quickly getting them down. I had completely forgotten most of them and some of them really needed forgetting but I have a few things to rework and I may actually have four or five good ideas there. I'm an editor as well as a writer.

Amazing, I've done the same thing. I have a whole shoebox of cassettes that I've browsed thru that I recorded in the late 80's. What's amazing was what I was able to do with multitracking between 2 cassette decks, ping-ponging between the two. Some tracks have 4 overdubs on them and while they lost a bit of quality, they're still amazing to me. Thankfully, I have Amadeus audio software that came in handy to fix the tracks up as far as pitch correction and eq.

Doing open mics has gotten me to write songs with lyrics as opposed to fingerstyle instrumentals.  With my new trigger-finger affliction I need to do more strumming songs instead of fingerstyle and so need to get my singing voice some practice.

I'm very much in the subconscious camp of writing. Just write, spitball a lot of ideas and alternate lines in the margins and review every couple of days to see what bubbles up. I like to use a song to "paint a picture" more or less, of a situation others can relate to. I'm influenced a lot by the Beatles and Neil Young, so I allude to ideas rather than being bluntly literal. I've found that structure is really important and somehow my songs evolve with segments that I can lead into each other and repeat.

FWIW: Here's my virgin open mic set with a song I wrote, "Back In the Day"  https://www.facebook.com/video.php?v=10202730934686895&pnref=story  Apologies if I'm hi-jacking the thread, comments welcome. . .  

Link says content is currently unavailable. I'd like to give it a listen but, if it's anything like Youtube, it probably wouldn't work for me anyway.  

[jpmist]

Link says content is currently unavailable. I'd like to give it a listen but, if it's anything like Youtube, it probably wouldn't work or me anyway. 

Thanks for trying! 

The link was still uploading a few minutes ago so give it 10 minutes or so.

[ducktrapper]

Thanks for trying! 

The link was still uploading a few minutes ago so give it 10 minutes or so.

I'll give it another try later. I like to listen to everyone's efforts and my internet provider says maybe in another year, they'll have a tower a little closer to our house and it will no longer be an issue. Yay!

[flatlander]

And don't forget Water Mellon wine,,,

[flatlander]

Thanks Flatlander although I don't know why that would be in doubt. I seem to get along pretty well with children and dogs. 

     

And don't forget Water Mellon Wine! Dogs are better judges of character than most humans anyway... so your good.

[ducktrapper]

I love that corny old song! Although I'm more of a beer guy, I just dug out my Tom T. Hall CD to have a listen. 

[ducktrapper]

Here's another attempt at songwriting

http://youtu.be/9hT7wT9zp18

Well, apparently most of my youtube problems are more to do with my ancient computer than the internet. I used my wife's laptop and listened to this cut. Very nice Denis. I liked it quite a bit. Didn't hear the Jackson Browne connection but I really like your chorus! 

[Denis]

Well, apparently most of my youtube problems are more to do with my ancient computer than the internet. I used my wife's laptop and listened to this cut. Very nice Denis. I liked it quite a bit. Didn't hear the Jackson Browne connection but I really like your chorus! 

Thanks Tom.  My buddy and I are working on a more complete version of it now.  I did some background vocals, added a second guitar.  He added some strings and drums.  It's coming together nicely.  He suggested a slide guitar part so I'm working on that now.  I'm no great slide player though.  I just need to find a decent lick that I can insert in a few places.  Might release it early in the new year. 

[ducktrapper]

I was going to say, I'd like to hear it with some arrangement. Please share when you do. 

[flatlander]

I love that corny old song! Although I'm more of a beer guy, I just dug out my Tom T. Hall CD to have a listen. 

Well then I'll have to depart a little from topic and tell you my Tom T Hall story. Short version. (it does have to do with a songwriter anyway) He's from my neck of the woods, Olive Hill Kentucky about 40 miles from where I grew up. When I was 15 I hitch hiked over to Olive Hill to meet up with this cheerleader I met at football game in Ashland. Ends up I didn't meet up with her, teenage craziness, and there I was in the small town of Olive Hill where it was about 32 1/2 degrees and raining, hard. So I went up to a house that had a big front porch and knocked on the door to ask if I could just stay on the porch for a while. I told the fellow of my predicament  and he said, "come on, I'll take you back to Ashland" So were driving along and he's singing all these classic country songs to this young long haired kid. Then he looks at me and says "You know who Tom T hall is?" I said well sure. He replied " well my mother has been known to sleep to Tom T Hall's dad. Well I didn't know what to say. He went on "yea they've slept together a lot, in fact he was over there tonight and I'm sure they'll sleep together" I'm OK, well that's interesting. He finally told me that he was Tom T Hall's brother.  Out of the same story tellin mold..

[L07 Shooting Star]

That's a great story.

[Danny]

Enjoyed it.