Blue On Black - The Finished Version:

Inspector #20

Inspector #20

Ambassador of Tone
Fallen Star
Country flag
Not perfect, but I'm not putting things off anymore. Here's the completed song with all the guitars and vocals. Recorded on my bone-stock 2016 Gibson Les Paul direct out through a Blackstar ID-Core 100 Watt Combo.

While technically complete, I still have mixing to do gor volume levels, adding delay to some of the guitar parts and I will likely re-sing the lead vocals because I know I can do better, but at least its no longer a fragment.

Criticism welcome... :-)

Blue On Black - 12-04-2018
 
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I absolutely love the playing, great soloing too! The vocals are cool as well because they have your own style. I hear more of a country sound in your singing.
Who is doing the backing vocal in the chorus? Nice use of effects as well, I like the minimal amount to get what you need...
 
Man what can I say! Just great playing all around, vocals were solid, that was a good song choice for you, I don't know the song personally, everything in the mix just flowed together, right on Brother!!
 
Sp8ctre said:
I absolutely love the playing, great soloing too! The vocals are cool as well because they have your own style. I hear more of a country sound in your singing.
Who is doing the backing vocal in the chorus? Nice use of effects as well, I like the minimal amount to get what you need...
Click to expand...

Thank You, Chris!!!!

I am singing the backing vocals myself...and yes, the country definitely comes out of me, that's for sure. I am definitely going to re-sing the lead vocals, because I know I can do a better job.

I'm playing everything but drums on this track. I even re-recorded the bass once I got the drum track home in Audacity to make it a little bolder and less mid-rangey. For the guitar parts, it's just stock Gibson Les Paul into my Blackstar ID-Core 100 watt, direct out into my Focusrite/Audacity DAW. I did add some delay on the guitar in Audacity, but didn't alter the signal with compression or EQ. Now, if I can nail that tone live...I'm in business.

For the solo, I tried to compose something that takes unexpected turns in the arrangement and takes a few risks. I actually played one of Kenny Wayne's phrases backwards to make it sound different. I also through in a Vernon Reid lick to spice things up.

I suppose it really just is worn out, pentatonic blues, but it's just something so deep inside of me that it just flows.

I'm not a fluid, technical player, but I admire those kind of guitarists with envy. I was given the nickname 'Sledge' by Buck Owens because of my style. I was embarrassed by it for years, but I have finally come to embrace it.

Although the hammer may envision himself as a violin, but he's still a hammer... :-)
 
Session 5 said:
Man what can I say! Just great playing all around, vocals were solid, that was a good song choice for you, I don't know the song personally, everything in the mix just flowed together, right on Brother!!
Click to expand...

Thanks, Session5!!!

I am going to remix things for a little better volume continuity, and re-sing the lead vocals, but the guitar parts are there to stay!!!!
 
Robert Herndon said:
Thank You, Chris!!!!

I am singing the backing vocals myself...and yes, the country definitely comes out of me, that's for sure. I am definitely going to re-sing the lead vocals, because I know I can do a better job.

I'm playing everything but drums on this track. I even re-recorded the bass once I got the drum track home in Audacity to make it a little bolder and less mid-rangey. For the guitar parts, it's just stock Gibson Les Paul into my Blackstar ID-Core 100 watt, direct out into my Focusrite/Audacity DAW. I did add some delay on the guitar in Audacity, but didn't alter the signal with compression or EQ. Now, if I can nail that tone live...I'm in business.

For the solo, I tried to compose something that takes unexpected turns in the arrangement and takes a few risks. I actually played one of Kenny Wayne's phrases backwards to make it sound different. I also through in a Vernon Reid lick to spice things up.

I suppose it really just is worn out, pentatonic blues, but it's just something so deep inside of me that it just flows.

I'm not a fluid, technical player, but I admire those kind of guitarists with envy. I was given the nickname 'Sledge' by Buck Owens because of my style. I was embarrassed by it for years, but I have finally come to embrace it.

Although the hammer may envision himself as a violin, but he's still a hammer... :)
Click to expand...

That is quite amazing the way you mixed the backing vocals. It sounded a little female to me, I thought maybe your mom joined in. Did you use any effects?
I really dig it even more now that I know it was all you!
 
Sp8ctre said:
That is quite amazing the way you mixed the backing vocals. It sounded a little female to me, I thought maybe your mom joined in. Did you use any effects?
I really dig it even more now that I know it was all you!
Click to expand...

No effects. keep in mind that I have long sang backup for a variety of projects, so I can twist my voice to meet the needs of the song...

let me post an isolated track for you!!!!
 
BRAVO ROBERT!
Great job, great playing, great arrangement, great vocals. This kind of reminds me of when I first heard the country version of Black Velvet after being used to the rock version.
 
Sp8ctre said:
That is quite amazing the way you mixed the backing vocals. It sounded a little female to me, I thought maybe your mom joined in. Did you use any effects?
I really dig it even more now that I know it was all you!
Click to expand...

Here's one of Mom's originals (A True Story About A Real Person) that we recorded when she was 72. It's never been mixed down, so volume levels are all over the place, but it gives you an idea of mom's voice...

Crazy Lizzy MP3
 
WavMixer said:
BRAVO ROBERT!
Great job, great playing, great arrangement, great vocals. This kind of reminds me of when I first heard the country version of Black Velvet.
Click to expand...

Thank You, Wavy!!!!

You know what Mom told me tonight??? She said, "Son, I reckon you oughta do up your own version of Stevie Ray's Crossfire..."

I can't find a rock version of it anywhere!!!!
 
WavMixer said:
I had to go back and play that again. I am so in awe of your talents Robert. You and many others here just ooze talent and I am proud to be associated with y'all!
Click to expand...

Buddy, I'm grateful to know each and every one of you. Momma trained me to have a good ear and its been a real blessing and its got me by without really being able to read music all these years.

I love making songs personal. Its by no means a stellar performance or production, but it is "real" and unique I like to think.

You know, almost everyone i know plays so more polished and so much more technical than me. I am in constant awe of those dudes. I know guys who play like they are painting on eggshells, then I come along and knock everything over (in comparison.)

A guy heard this track at the studio today and he asked me about the guitar playing and who I credited with my style. I told him, "Well, I listened to Albert King more than anybody when I was growing up, so I guess I owe Albert a debt of gratitude. "

The dude actually had to Google Albert King...
 
STUDIO OUTTAKES

Isolated Guitar Tracks From Blue on Black:

Thought you guys would dig this. As you know, I play with a very mid-rangey bassist, which allows me to dial up a HUGE rhythm tone, that would normally get lost in the mix with a bottom-heavy bassist. I pulled some of the tracks off my latest home studio effort - The Blue On Black Cover - and put them together in a single sound-file so you guys can hear what I hear in my headset.

20181204_224735.jpg

No pedals of any kind were used on these tracks. Bone stock 2016 Gibson Les Paul into 100 watt Blackstar SS Combo, direct out into Focusrite DAW onto Audacity.

Some delay and reverb were added during mixdown, but you might be surprised at how "dry" I run my guitars.

Enjoy!!!!

Gibson Les Paul Chain Saw
 
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