'70's disco/funk tune - Dance HJ - Now with Sax solo

  • 38 Replies
  • 2831 Views

0 Members and 1 Guest are viewing this topic.

cowparsleyman

  • *
  • Stadium Tour
  • *****
  • Posts: 2700
  • What would you rather be or a wasp?
« Reply #30 on: October 21, 2018, 07:59:10 PM »
Juat an update, and a great illustration of what this forum brings.

This song now has a sax solo near the end (about 3:43, just after the quiet bit), I always intended there to be something saxy there, but I can't play brass, nor know anyone, then MontyDog cam the the rescue...(Hence the credit in the remix title)

Here it is....hope you like it


Let me know your thoughts.

thanks again

Rich

Bill Saunders

  • *
  • Platinum Album
  • ****
  • Posts: 548
    • https://soundcloud.com/bill-saunders
« Reply #31 on: October 24, 2018, 08:51:32 AM »
This genre was my pet loathing back in the 70s, but like others, I have come to appreciate good music that’s well played - basically from having much more of an open mind! So, not my specialist subject but for what it’s worth...

I totally applaud and respect you for getting out of your own comfort zone, and it’s obvious you’ve put so much time and thought into this. I love the bass groove and the tone, which carries the piece. There are some wonderful discordant moments, and contrasts going on, and despite its length, you keep my attention. The new sax solo is awesome @montydog ! And to my ears, the song is so much better for it. Brilliant production throughout. Very, very well done guys.

cowparsleyman

  • *
  • Stadium Tour
  • *****
  • Posts: 2700
  • What would you rather be or a wasp?
« Reply #32 on: October 24, 2018, 03:33:32 PM »
@Bill Saunders - Thanks Bill greatly appreciated, funny there are a few that loathed this genre, you're right @montydog - That sax fits in really nicely, very grateful indeed to him, 'twas very satisfying to be able to realise the vision for this one. I just missed Kool from Kool and the Gang, as much as I really didn't like them at the time, they seem to 'make' this kind of song.

Really appreciate your comments about the production, that means a lot to me.

The more times I step out of my comfort zone with a different genre, the more I respect each one, and the more I dissect the techniques behind getting the sound (I really respect the Producers behind getting the sound - how brave must they be!) the more revealing it is, for example how to get this bass guitar right in your face, yet allowing everything else to have it's own space, and have that snappy punchy snare, when those 2 things are in your face, you have to move a lot sideways and up or down (frequency wise)

The snappy snare was done by adding a clap at the same time as the snare hit (did you spot it?), which changed the perceived frequency of the snare, then compressed both with a Waves Puigchild (Fairchild 670), you would really miss it on this track.

(Sorry to those of who know this stuff already)
The other thing that was necessary is a well documented production technique that avoids 2 (or more) instruments playing in the same frequency range at the same time, there's a natty free plugin called scan, which shows you which frequencies your track is using, then you decide to EQ maybe the low bits out, either by a High Pass filter (which chops out the Low frequencies completely, a bit like turning up your tone control on your old Dansette record player to full treble) which makes the track sound really thin and frankly awful when played by itself, however when you apply a Low Pass filter (which chops out the High frequencies completely) to the other track, it makes this one sound really awful in a bassy way (Dansette to full bass), but when you bring together they don't clash at all, and when there's a load of other things kicking off in the song then no one is any the wiser, Stanley....

Anyway  Bill thanks again, and to be honest I'm a bit frightened of tackling  Heavy metal, '60's (all on my list...) but relishing the thought of Punk, I want to do a Pistols type thing, full of energy, but where to get a singer? can anyone help?

Hope this helps

Rich


paulb

  • *
  • Guest
« Reply #33 on: November 01, 2018, 03:42:13 PM »
Really like this...For me its a bit like Jamiriquai meets The Orb!

Takes a few iterations to get used to the bass transition (I'm assuming its actually a key change) and it forces you to adapt...almost too challenging (and I bet it might be for some) but after you get it.... you get it.

I love the "mmmm mmmm" vocals...super nice and not all cliched.....

Authentic sounds and authentic playing...

Really interesting..

Cheers!


Paul.

cowparsleyman

  • *
  • Stadium Tour
  • *****
  • Posts: 2700
  • What would you rather be or a wasp?
« Reply #34 on: November 02, 2018, 11:14:20 AM »
Wow, Thanks @paulb - Very kind words, and thanks for taking the time to listen, always appreciated...

I get the Jamaroquai v Orb thing, certainly wasn't intentional, glad you like the mmm mmm mmm, Vox, they were adirect response to HJ saying she didn't like too much talking on her mixes...

Your'e right one needs to lock in to get this vibe, and when you do it's kinda infectious, maybe it was the arrangement plan, I wanted to gradually introduce instruments and hooks, then stop for a breather, then a kind of crescendo at the end...I'd want to dance to this, I was after that invisible thing that pulls you from your seat and on to the dance floor, (just like 'Can you feel the force' did) I hope I got that.

To be honest Paul, I took a lot of care to get the authentic sounds, for example: I chose the bass guitar carefully (I wanted a Precision Bass sound), ensured that I played it so the strings were heard to buzz a bit, to let the listener realise that it was actually a real bass, and I played for the duration, no looping a few bars, then EQ'd in the mix until I got the sound I was after, sometimes it takes ages to get that sound.

Very glad you dig, man.

Rich

Morefrog Jones

  • *
  • Platinum Album
  • ****
  • Posts: 599
« Reply #35 on: November 04, 2018, 10:27:01 PM »
Nice one for trying something different - Its oddly engaging and mesmeric and flows nicely along and then takes you by surprise towards at the end when it goes acid jazz and then into Chic & The Crusaders....A proper mash up of styles.

cowparsleyman

  • *
  • Stadium Tour
  • *****
  • Posts: 2700
  • What would you rather be or a wasp?
« Reply #36 on: November 05, 2018, 09:41:17 PM »
Whato @Morefrog Jones - Dig the name, how did you come by it? Thanks for the listen, I like that very much that you say it's oddly engaging, that's exactly what I was aiming for.

It seems to have struck a chord (2 in fact Cmin7 then C#min7) with a few of you...

Thanks again, I do go into '70's mode when I reply to reviews on here, you dig?

I've gotta go, Kojak is on the telly after LWT Wrestling with Adrian Street and Jacky Pallow, then it's tomorrow World...(Sorry those international forum members....)

aaaaaah

Rich

Rich


cowparsleyman

  • *
  • Stadium Tour
  • *****
  • Posts: 2700
  • What would you rather be or a wasp?