2021 50/90 Song Number 48
Not bad. I like the phaser on the guitars in the A section, and I like the wah on the rhythm near the end. That wash of noise underneath is actually a guitar solo that was sort of hiding the slow wah effect so I…
2021 50/90 Song Number 48
Not bad. I like the phaser on the guitars in the A section, and I like the wah on the rhythm near the end. That wash of noise underneath is actually a guitar solo that was sort of hiding the slow wah effect so I…
And the 2021 50/90 Challenge is underway. One down, 49 to go.
This one came quick and easy, which probably means I've written this entire song already but who cares. I like the chorus. I sing an arpeggio. It's almost like I took two years…
The second song started is the sixth song finished. Not terrible, though there are a lot of bad guitar sounds. The rhythm tone is kinda sloppy. The playing is sloppy too, but the tone itself is more noticeable this time. The lead sounds flubby…
This is the first idea I came up with for the 2021 RPM Challenge/FAWM and it very much sets the tone for most of what will follow. It's too long, it is pretty much just an Eminor and a Dmajor... everything is going to sound the same this year…
Nice, man! Love the intro. You got my attention with some really juicy guitar tone and a funky bass part right off the bat. I like the open-endedness of the lyrics. The guitar parts are all really good.
The fascists will be gone from power in four days (barring further coup d'états of course)... what am I going to write about when the adults are in control again?
This was written for the 2018 RPM Challenge. I know all of the guitars used…
This was the title track to last year's RPM Challenge. It's only been 11 months but this is the third different version of this I've done already. I thought this would be the best of them but it probably is not. It's faster and it's in a different…
I think it was the summer of 2016. I was trying to work on 50/90 and I set some rules for myself involving double tracking the crap out of everything and not using any GarageBandy short cuts like direct signal guitars with amp sims and copying…
This was the title track to last year's RPM Challenge. It's only been 11 months but this is the third different version of this I've done already. I thought this would be the best of them but it probably is not. It's faster and it's in a different…
I like this song, and I've recorded it twice now, but I don't think either recording lives up to its potential. I've been in Covid lock down for nine months now so I might just be crazy. Who can tell?
I cut a little out of the original…
I know I should be working on National Solo Album Month, but I'm two timing this month and working on more re-recordings as well. This is the first song for volume three.
I wrote this in 2016 during my June album in a month project. I had…
This isn't the best song I've ever written. I think that one is on the Quarantine Tunes Volume 1 playlist. No, it's not the best but... I'm pretty sure it's my favorite song I've ever written. Not because of the quality of the song, but because…
I really wish I could sing.
This one was written for the 2014 50/90. I remember it clearly. I set up with the intention of working on something else but plugged in my guitar and played this without thinking about it. Well, I guess I was…
I really wish I could sing.
This one was written for the 2014 50/90. I remember it clearly. I set up with the intention of working on something else but plugged in my guitar and played this without thinking about it. Well, I guess I was…
I think I need to take a day off. My ears are turning to mush. I really struggled mixing this and I can't even tell if it's worth keeping or not.
This song was written during my first attempt at doing anything in GarageBand. Prior August…
I think I need to take a day off. My ears are turning to mush. I really struggled mixing this and I can't even tell if it's worth keeping or not.
This song was written during my first attempt at doing anything in GarageBand. Prior August…
What do you think of the mix a few days later? I quite like it. You always get all the parts clearly defined - and I think they are here too - but sometimes I find myself wanting them more "moulded together", which is what is going on here (I think). It feels more like a live band blazing away in a room than it does sometimes.
Happy Halloween. Or should I say, Happy Covid-ween. Har Har.
Another song from 2007's failed RPM Challenge that wasn't finished until 2011. This was also on my short list of songs to re-record when I first thought of this whole silly project…
OK... where's this Duane Moment? Ah! There tis, I hears it... Now, I can do quite a lot of Duane tricks... but NOT those, cool! Btw, I assume, as a fully accredited guitarist, you have the 6 CD Complete Fillmore East recordings? LOL (Actually, I've been really getting into the Dickey Betts side of the stage recently)
A simple little guitar/drum loop that is just an excuse to layer big fuzzy guitar parts in harmony. I added quite a bit of soup onto the harmonies too, and put some backward vocals... just for trippy fun.
The cleanish guitar is a Gibson ES…
A simple little guitar/drum loop that is just an excuse to layer big fuzzy guitar parts in harmony. I added quite a bit of soup onto the harmonies too, and put some backward vocals... just for trippy fun.
The cleanish guitar is a Gibson ES…
I really wish I could sing.
This one was written for the 2014 50/90. I remember it clearly. I set up with the intention of working on something else but plugged in my guitar and played this without thinking about it. Well, I guess I was…
So, what do you think... could it use more wah-wah?
This was written for the 2014 RPM Challenge. The chromatic thing at the beginning had been rattling around in my head for years and years but had never found a home.
The lyrics here…
That plinky little sound in the verses is an organ with some distortion on it. I wanted Jon Lord to play the part but he wasn't available. It's playing eighth notes in the verses and a sustained pad in the chorus. If I remix this I might bring it up. I haven't decided yet.
The sound at the end is actually a grunt of frustration. This is the easiest song every written in all of the history of music and it took me 700 takes to get the rhythm guitars right. I was going to cut it out but when the time came I thought it was funny so I left it there.
The first song completed for the second round of re-recorded Quarantine Tunes. This one was written on the last day of the 2016 RPM Challenge. I had written a bunch of songs saying that people who think the Earth is flat are somehow defective…
It's not a cocked wah, all of those mids are coming from the Klon pedal. I was a scooped mids guy for 30 years before I finally figured out that if I just boost the mids a little the rest of the band can hear me without me cranking my amp until it hurts. Now I overdo it in the other direction. heh
(Remastered 22/10/2021)
And here we go - Edith FINALLY gets it...
Actually, she's been getting it ever since I wrote it on the 29th May. I thought it would take a week or so, but it proved to be more of a fight than I was expecting.
On…
RPM 2k15
vocal by Gregg Todt
is it the medication
that makes her stare off into space?
those little pills in the bottle
grab your collar
smack you in the face
i want to make an appointment to see
that drug, so he will give her back to…
I thought going into 50/90 that I would need to do some quick recordings of really simple arrangements. Maybe just acoustic guitar and voice. Nope, not really.
This isn't meant as filler. This idea is something I noodle on almost every…
So 50/90 is an unnatural forcing of a crap ton of songs in a relatively short period of time. We're half way though and I've learned one thing. I've learned how easy it is to repeat something you've already done. This one sounds a LOT like…
I appreciate wanting to bring the vocals out in the mix more but that would mean someone might hear my awful voice and nonono we can't have that. Not to mention the terrible lyrics. Urgh. Bury those vocals!
I also like having the excuse that as I am a guitar player first and foremost, I naturally want the guitars to overpower everything else.
In all seriousness, I agree the vocals need to come up... I just can't bring myself to do it.
Opening song by Kent Good. We played pretty good in Feb. We are not "chops" players, but i think we rocked this one pretty good.This song will evolve a bit as we break it in live.
Apologies to Peter and the rest of Genesis - from back when they were good - 1974
And the lamb lies down on Broadway.
Early morning Manhattan,
Ocean winds blow on the land.
The Movie-Palace is now undone,
The all-night watchmen have had their…
"Stupid Punk Song" is... well... stupid. I woke up one morning and the entire song, lyrics and all, was stuck in my head. I let it rattle around for a few days before putting it down on my new 8-track. I played it for Break Even once but they…
This is a pre-release of a song from my new album. The song still needs some polish and rubbing. I will change it out once i get done with the final version. The lyric was written a long time ago, of what could or couldn't have been:) Thats the…
Comments on Robert James's stuff
Still like your stuff man.
Killer vibe on this, loving the guitars
nice
Actually, I like the song. Nice beat, interesting vocals, the guitars came out a bit too distorted.
Nice, man! Love the intro. You got my attention with some really juicy guitar tone and a funky bass part right off the bat. I like the open-endedness of the lyrics. The guitar parts are all really good.
Love the chorus on this one... and indeed, what will we all do when the fascist craziness has subsided?
Perfect lyrics for the times we are living in!
I didn’t hear the 2016 version, but this one is really great!!
Great guitar work...really like the tone and sound.
I like this song too!
Great tone! Thanks for explaining it in the description.
Another sonic blast of great tone.
But, yeah, listen to Colleen: "Singing sounds great!!!!"
Although, picking this one at random for another play, this one's got the same live in a room vibe - mebbe I'm talking crap!! LOL
Yeah, this one rocks.
What do you think of the mix a few days later? I quite like it. You always get all the parts clearly defined - and I think they are here too - but sometimes I find myself wanting them more "moulded together", which is what is going on here (I think). It feels more like a live band blazing away in a room than it does sometimes.
OK... where's this Duane Moment? Ah! There tis, I hears it... Now, I can do quite a lot of Duane tricks... but NOT those, cool! Btw, I assume, as a fully accredited guitarist, you have the 6 CD Complete Fillmore East recordings? LOL (Actually, I've been really getting into the Dickey Betts side of the stage recently)
Rocks me ....
Very cool. I think I'll download it and play on a loop for a little while...
Singing sounds great!!!! The guitars are awesome too. Fingers might have bled a bit on that solo I'm guessing...
Comments made by Robert James
That plinky little sound in the verses is an organ with some distortion on it. I wanted Jon Lord to play the part but he wasn't available. It's playing eighth notes in the verses and a sustained pad in the chorus. If I remix this I might bring it up. I haven't decided yet. The sound at the end is actually a grunt of frustration. This is the easiest song every written in all of the history of music and it took me 700 takes to get the rhythm guitars right. I was going to cut it out but when the time came I thought it was funny so I left it there.
It's not a cocked wah, all of those mids are coming from the Klon pedal. I was a scooped mids guy for 30 years before I finally figured out that if I just boost the mids a little the rest of the band can hear me without me cranking my amp until it hurts. Now I overdo it in the other direction. heh
Love the slide! What a great song. No one warns us that vowel sounds matter when writing lyrics, but you nailed it.
Damn it man, each song is better than the one that came before. Nice work. Really loving it.
The acoustic bass sound comes from GarageBand. I haven't been using it much lately, but every once in a while I feel the need.
I appreciate wanting to bring the vocals out in the mix more but that would mean someone might hear my awful voice and nonono we can't have that. Not to mention the terrible lyrics. Urgh. Bury those vocals! I also like having the excuse that as I am a guitar player first and foremost, I naturally want the guitars to overpower everything else. In all seriousness, I agree the vocals need to come up... I just can't bring myself to do it.
I love everything about this song.
Live music! Sounds great.
Have I mentioned that this is the BEST! SONG! EVER!!!!? Because it clearly is the BEST SONG EVER!!!
BEST! SONG! EVER!!!!!
Syd would be proud. Thanks!
Put on a fox head mask and channel Peter Gabriel. Nice!
Hey Steve, I don't think you were there that night. I know i played it for at least Jeff and Dave and they both sort of looked at me funny.
I like both of these songs a lot. Thanks!
Great song! Here's to hoping you add some more.
Some excellent guitar playing! Thanks
I'm so impressed that I can't think of anything complementary to say. Thanks!
Wow!