Really appreciate the feedback, it's always gives me such a huge confidence boost to know that other songwriters dig my work, thanks very much indeed.
The thing is I'm not really a heavy rock fan at all, I was never into Purple, or Zep (Michael Tadman who sat next to me in Biology was mad on them), in fact I have only heard 'Stairway' and 'Smoke' and nothing else, I was, however, more into Jimi, I loved the way he ripped everything apart, a black guitarist with 2 posh white blokes, a 3 piece, no rhytmn guitar, the way he used his left fretting hand thumb...and of course his lyrics and that voice....so soft, not like screams of AC/DC or Zeppelin.
I was partly inspired to do this by the intrigue of tecnically how to capture a live gig, and partly by the somewhat surprising response to 'Woolway', I honestly didn't you it would go down too well here.
From a technical angle this song was indeed a challenge, The drum programming (fxpansion BFD3) was quite difficult (I could never play like that!) especially the fills (I was always a sucker for triplet fills), I also wanted to make it sound convincing as a live gig, didn't want to be too slick, a few mistakes here and there...
@Paulski - No knocks on the door yet, would you like a copy? only nineteen shillings and sixpence.
@Bostonfan2 - Cheers man, yeah I would have given anything to see Jimi (My boss at work saw him..), might do another 'gig that has never been' any ideas?
@shadowfax - Honestly, was there a Purple/Hendrix gig?, really? When was it? I 'll have to google that....
@Neil C - Thanks, I 'spose a screaming vocalist would fit, I'll put my feelers out to a few on the forum...How about you Neil, you'd be welcome.
@Jamie - Thanks, I honestly didn't make any attempt to sound like Zep, as I don't really know any of their stuff, so that was completely by chance Jamie, which bits sound like Zep?, so I can at least be aware of the sound.
@PaulyX - Glad you like the backstory, I enjoy writing them, to me they are as much of the experience (no pun intended) as the music...The crowd was one area thet I was particularly unhappy with, in fact there are 3 crowd samples, 2 were free downloads from a fx site, and the 3rd was part of Hendrix in the West (recorded from my phone directly inot my mic!) intro to the band on God save the Queen, I can alwys hear the differences, and it still bothers me, so glad they didn't put people off, I know now you'll be listening out for them...
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@montydog - Hi Monty, lovely to hear from you...I thought it was a tad short in places
, I did wonder about making some of the Hendrix numbers a bit longer...felt a shame to stop on 'Red House'. Glad you liked it.
@Bill Saunders - Blimey you're too kind, I just love playing, and making music...it was done over a 5 week (period just before Christmas, I'll explain how the sounds were achieved, maybe it'll help others here. Slowish bpm, although live gigs are usually faster than albums, due to nervous energy, and the fact that the songs are so well rehearsed by then that they are just easier to play faster.
Organ is an Arturia V collection 7 Hammond B3
Piano is a just a std piano from my Korg N5ex synth
Drums were BFD3 heavy kit which I customised (there are 2 snares) and re tuned, there was a bit com ACME XLA3 compression and Soundtoys Decaptitor (marvellous thing that is in small doses) on the drum buss.
Bass Yamaha RGX 350 though an Amplitude Ampeg Sim
Amp sims - Purple bit = Strat & Waves PRS Supermodels Archon and Dallas, Purple Solo = Yamaha SG 1000 & Amplitude 4 Mesa Boogie Triple rectifier, Hendrix Bit = Strat (Fender fat 50's pickups, selected in neck position)- plugin alliance bx_rockrack 800 clean channel, just pushed, used automation to change the level of the gain when he starts the solo, did try to use a Amplitude 4 Wah fx but that didn't convince me at all!
I tried a few amp sims to get the Hendrix sound right, and I was completely surprised that the PluginAlliance (UAD) won the day. I would have expected the Amplitude to be more suitable, as a result it went up in my estimation quite a bit.
On the Master buss there was smidgen of bx_townhouse compressor, then Elysia Museq M/S EQ, just sparkling up the sides a tiny bit, and trying to keep the bass fequencies focussed in the middle, Lexicon MPX Native for the concert hall Verb (the amount was crucial for the concert hall sound, and took a few tries to get it right), and the Sonnox Inflator after that.
For those who don't know, the Hendrix songs there are: Power of Soul - Live at Filmore East, Castles made of Sand, Red House - Hendrix in the West and If 6 was 9, and the outro is sunshine of your love by Cream, which Jimi completely nailed live on the Lulu show on the BBC.