Thanks again for all of the listens and the kind words...
As always i try to respond not only to the questions, but also to explain a bit of my approach and a bit 'how it was done' for those interested....
@5 guys named Lars - Your contribution was bigger than your organ...
@Kafla - First, glad you dig man, I try and make a mini journey out of all the songs I write, the trouble is I get bored quickly, so if I hear a song that I can guess where it's going, it kind of leaves me cold, so I try and keep the interest there all the way through, it might be by adding something different in the 2nd verse, an inversion of a melody line, a different rhythm for lyrics, but, just something to keep me from getting bored.
As for the beep, bobs and fairground noises, that's a direct influence from 'The Benefit of Mr Kite' and the beginning of Queens 'Brighton Rock'. I guess anything goes, don't be scared.
As for the Neighbour line, it bothered me slightly...How can a neighbour be talking to a blackbird? but it kind of works, doesn't it, for that split second logic flies out of the window...just like the bird.
The song was finished in later July, but my listening phase was quite long for this one, I wasn't convinced about some of the mix levels, so I revisited it a few times to get them just right, releasing a song is like giving birth, a uni directional process...It has to be the best it can be, right from the off.
Keep your songs coming Man, they are excellent.
@Binladeda - Cheers Steve - Thought you might go for it...Send it over when your ready, I'm waiting for it....no hurry.
@Grubstar - Hi Ho Silver Lining - well I never, that definitely was not on my mind, I always associate that with 'just before finishing a Party' song, Lead lip trumpet, never imagined to be credited for that, it was a load of fun doing that, and I had to stop myself, doing more and more tracks for that, in fact I think I muted 2 or 3 of the tracks in there..Couldn't resist the 'Blackbird' at the end,partly because of my guitar, it's pretty much the same as what they used..so I knew it would sound alright.
@adamfarr - Hola Adam, Funny you should say that, I actually went for a set of Thomastik strings, (they were after recording this) I wasn't blown away by them, but I can imagine they could last a bit longer. I do prefer the newtones, as they ring like a bell, I was put on to them by Ralph McTell, I phone his office and asked what pre amp and strings he used, as I LOVE his studio tone, he came back and explained he uses K&K pre amps on all his acoustics and yes, Newtone strings...if they are good enough for him...
I did think about the placement of the 'Solo' section, but I remembered the solo in Squeezes 'Another Nail for my heart', and how brilliantly bold it was to have it so early, so it was a nod to the placement in that song, and it seems to work, albeit slightly unusual when one has heard solo sections later on, as the norm.
@MichaelA - Thanks Micheal, yes, the arrangement is a little odd, born out of the rather piecemeal way that it was put together,
@5 guys named Lars had some cracking ideas, he wrote the lyrics for the first 2 verses.
Which mad bit? it's all bonkers man...
Can't have too many outros, I just imagined the guy in the Studio fiddling about (as one does) after the take, and playing that as a bit of a laugh, but it was caught on tape.
@Wicked Deeds - Thanks Paul - the organ bit was a challenge, one for the blinking sound - I couldn't find a Fairground Steam organ VSTi, so i think I used a '60's Farfisa from Arturia's V Collection 7, and lofi'd it with Audio Thing's Speaker (I think).
@kevysc - Thanks for the listen and that you liked it Kev
...Again thanks to all that took a listen, It's scheduled for release on the major streaming sites in mid Sept..without the Blackbird outro, unfortunately...