August Blues - album project (Sept. 2024)

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August Blues
Let It Go
Wrong Or Right
White Picket Fence
Strange World
Falling Up
Outta My Head
Halfway To Nowhere
Get Gone
Break Loose

"Break Loose"

11/22/24 – this is “Break Loose 2 11-22-24B.wav”

  1. I added harmony vocals to verses 1, 3 and 6.
  2. Brought up level of lead vocal 2dB as per Kevin’s suggestion.
  3. Added harmony vocals to refrain: “Loose . . . I gotta break loose”, except on the tag at the end.
  4. Added compression to the drums (which brought up the hi-hat as per Kevin’s suggestion.)
  5. Added hall reverb to drums.
  6. I copy and pasted tag in ACL4.
  7. When I exported in Cakewalk, I extended timeline to include all of reverb tail at end.
  8. I touched up some sibilant spots on main vocal.
  9. I used Wide Expander preset in Ozone.
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11/21/24 – this is “Break Loose 2 11-21-24.wav”

  1. I added a 5th verse.
  2. Yesterday (11/20), I added Hammond “stabs” plus an organ solo towards end of song.
  3. Redid portions of lead vocal track.
  4. In ACL, I added a tag at the end.
  5. Used Wide Expander preset in Ozone.
  6. [x] Added harmony vocals on 11/22/24.
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11/13/24 – this is “Break Loose 11-13-24.mp3”

  1. Wrote lyrics today (11/13/24)
  2. Rhodes keyboard
  3. VI.ONE Fender bass
  4. Addictive Drums
  5. VI.ONE fiddle
  6. Gretsch G2655 through Fender Mustang amp
  7. [x] Add verse before last verse (11/21/24)
  8. [x] Add Hammond organ (11/20/24)

"Get Gone"

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12/7/24 – this is “Get Gone 12-7-24.wav”

  1. I reduced the delay time on the lead vocal from 13 to 10 in Sonitus Delay.
  2. I reduced the compression on the lead vocal, ‘cuz I could hear some artifacts.
  3. I brought down the levels of both the drum and bass tracks.
  4. I panned the picked guitar to the left and lowered the level.
  5. I panned the rhythm guitar to the right.
  6. I panned the lead guitar to the center.
  7. I think lowering the above levels will make this track less “hot” sounding.

12/6/24 – this is “Get Gone 12-6-24B.wav”

  1. I changed the lyrics. Chorus 2: “Put your best threads on”;
  2. I changed the lyrics: Chorus 3: “Put your sweet face on”
  3. I changed the lyrics: Last verse: ” . . . let’s get goin’, it’s time to move on.”

11/11/24 – this is “Get Gone 11-11-24.wav”

  1. I rewrote the lyrics
  2. Added Hammond throughout and at the end.
  3. Added bass & drums to the outro.
  4. Redid the vocal.
  5. Changed from CD Master to Wide Expander preset in Ozone.

11/10/24- this is “Get Gone 11-10-24.mp3”

  1. I started the lyrics on this yesterday (11/9/24) and finished the rough draft today (what you’ll hear on this demo.)
  2. VI.ONE Hammond
  3. VI.ONE Fender bass
  4. Addictive Drums 2
  5. Two tracks of Ibanez GRX20-JB through Fender Mustang amp 
  6. “Oh Doug! There’s something wrong with my CD, ‘cuz one of the songs cut off all of a sudden!!” [Doug: “That’s the way it’s SUPPOSED to end!!!”]

"Halfway To Nowhere"

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12/4/24 – this is “Halfway To Nowhere 12-4-24.wav”

  1. I tightened up the 2nd chorus. The timing and harmony were a mess—the timing was way off.
  2. I added a touch of reverb to the drums.

11/7/24 – this is “Halfway To Nowhere 11-7-24.mp3”

  1. Addictive Drums 2
  2. VI.ONE Fender bass
  3. VI.ONE studio piano
  4. Yamaha Storia I – acoustic/slide guitar
  5. I wrote the rough draft lyrics on 11/5/24 and then rewrote them 11/6 and 11/7 (I still might make some changes.)
  6. I recorded the music and put scratch vocals on 11/6 and 11/7/24.
  7. I recorded the vocals for v1, v2 and chorus on 11/6. I recorded v3 and harmony vocal on chorus on 11/7.
  8.  Used the wide expander preset in Ozone.
  9. I played an accordion part for the instrumental and ended up not liking it. I then tried a variety of other instruments but nothing sounded right, so I deferred to piano.

"Outta My Head"

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12/3/24 – this is “Outta My Head 12-3-24.wav”

  1. Re-recorded a couple vocal phrases.
  2. Rewrote some of the lyrics.
  3. Brought up piano accompaniment and panned 40% to left.
  4. Panned tremolo guitar 40% to right.

11/4/24 – this is “Outta My Head 11-4-24.mp3”

  1. Addictive Drums 2
  2. VI.ONE Fender bass
  3. VI.ONE Black Grand piano
  4. VI.ONE steel
  5. VI.ONE fiddle
  6. Gretsch G2655 through Fender Mustang amp
  7. Wrote the lyrics yesterday (11/3/24) as:
    V, V, C, V, C, Bridge, C
    But when I got to the studio,  that changed to:
    V, V, Bridge, Ins., Tag
    with a refrain-type verse.
  8. Used a width expander preset in Ozone for mastering.
  9. Put on lead vocal using Behringer B-2 Pro mic with Cakewalk Breverb 2; Sonitus compressor; ProChannel EQ and compressor.
  10. Put on three tracks of background harmonies. 

"Falling Up"

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12/2/24 – this is “Falling Up 12-2-24B.wav”

  1. I rewrote much of the lyric.
  2. I re-recorded the lead vocal.
  3. I experimented with putting on a couple of different types of keyboard, i.e., clavinet, Wurlitzer, Rhodes and straight grand piano, but nothing sounded quite right. I started feeling like I was going down a rabbit hole and risking screwing up the entire song.
  4. I put  a small amount of compression on the drums.

11/2/24 – this is “Falling Up 11-2-24.mp3”

  1. 60s A Go Go drums
  2. VI.ONE (Twang bass)
  3. VI.ONE fiddle
  4. Ibanez GRX20-JB through Fender Mustang amp (two tracks – rhythm & lead)
  5. Wrote the lyrics 10 am – 3 pm.
  6. [—] add some piano
  7. [x] check drums on verse 2
  8. [x] lengthen fadeout
  9. added background vocals on chorus
  10. added scratch vocal
  11. used Center Focus ACL mastering preset

"Strange World"

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12/3/24 – this is “Strange World 12-3-24.wav”

  1. Brought up vocal
  2. Rewrote some of the lyrics.
  3. Re-recorded portions of lead vocal
  4. Added doubling to lead vocal
  5. Added compression to snare.
  6. Brought up 2nd rhythm guitar
  7. Normalized to 85%
  8. Used Width Expansion preset in Ozone

11/1/24 – this is “Strange World Crazy Life 11-1-24.mp3”

  1. Addictive Drums 2
  2. VI.One P-bass
  3. Ibanez GRX20-JB through Fender Mustang amp
  4. Three tracks of guitar – two rhythm + one lead (all through Ibanez)
  5. Wrote lyrics today – started out as “Mad World, Crazy Life”, then “Strange World, Crazy Life” and finally ended up as “Strange World.”
  6. [—] add some Hammond Organ to this.
  7. [—] add background harmonies
  8. Normalized this to 85% in Audio Cleaning Lab
  9. Used Center Focus preset in ACL
  10. Added scratch vocal

"White Picket Fence"

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12/7/24 – this is “White Picket Fence Kevin mix 12-7-24.wav”

  1. I re-recorded the lead vocal track.

10/29/24 – this is “White Picket Fence Kevin mix  10-29-24.wav”

  1. Lowered entire track one step, from “G” to “F”
  2. Fixed “rumble” at beginning of choruses by attenuating the acoustic guitar and replaced the downbeat crash with one that didn’t have a tom hit.
  3. Lowered UMC1800 preamp input on Mic input 1 (vocal seemed too “hot.”)
  4. Added electric guitar to bridge.
  5. Rewrote some more lyrics and re-recorded sections of lead vocal.
  6. Redid backing vocal harmonies in the new key.
  7. Changed Soothe2 preset to “Take the Edge Off”
  8. Lowered lead guitar and panned slightly to the left (30%.)
  9. On Pro-Channel: EQ > Vocals – Lead 02; Compressor > Vocals – Lead Smooth
  10. Ozone mastering preset: CD Master
  11. Fixed rumble at :08 
  12. lowered piano level
  13. fixed pitch on “gold”
  14. fixed pitch on “fair-weather friends”

"Wrong Or Right"

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12/3/24 – this is “Wrong Or Right 12-3-24B.wav”

  1. Removed harmony vocal on 4th verse.
  2. Lowered level of tambourine.

12/1/24 – this is “Wrong Or Right 12-1-24.wav”

  1. I rewrote some of the lyrics
  2. I re-recorded all the vocals, i.e., lead vocal and harmonies.
  3. I fine-tuned the drums, raised their level and added some hall reverb.
  4. I added tambourine to piano instrumental and on the last chorus and outro.
  5. I added piano to the outro.
  6. I redid the bass – using fretless from VI.ONE library.
  7. Used Wide Expander preset in Ozone.

10/22/24 – this is “Wrong Or Right 10-22-24 B.wav”

  1. I lowered entire track two steps from “A” to “F”
  2. I redid bass using Session Bassist – Upright Bass
  3. Redid lead vocal & background vocals (adding a bass vocal track) with new lyrics. 
  4. Raised piano in verse 4.

10/16/24 – this is “Wrong Or Right 10-16-24 E.WAV”

  1. Rewrote lyrics, updated melody on vocal and re-recorded vocals.
  2. Added two-part vocal harmonies on choruses.
  3. Doubled vocal on choruses.
  4. Touched up 1st piano instrumental at 1:11 (and added slightly more reverb)

10/11/24 – this is “Wrong Or Right 10-11-24 C.mp3”

  1. Continued to update lyrics and vocal melody
  2. Changed delay on vocal
  3. Mixed piano out of intro and just kept in last verse.
  4. Removed rhythm guitar from 1st chorus and left it in last chorus where I panned it from center to about 10 o’clock.
  5. Put Soothe 2 on vocals.
  6. Dialed back compression on vocals.

10/9/24 – this is “Wrong Or Right 10-9-24.mp3”

  1. Updated lyrics and melody line of vocal
  2. Added an instrumental interlude before 1st chorus (Ibanez slide guitar.)
  3. Removed piano from 1st verse and added piano to instrumental interlude after chorus.
  4. Added piano to 3rd verse.
  5. Added rhythm electric guitar (Ibanez) to 2nd chorus.

"Let It Go"

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10/3/24 – this is “Let It Go 10-3-24.mp3”

  1. Touched up lyrics and redid portions of the vocal.
  2. Reverb on drums
  3. Put drum roll (snare) + crash right before Bridge.
  4. Put ratchet preceding 4th verse + low drum hit starting on beat “1” of verse 4 and continuing on every downbeat until the tag.
  5. Put ratchet preceding the word “Go” at end of last verse (leading into tag.)
  6. Used *CD Master preset in Ozone 10 for mastering and exported to mp3 at 320 Kbits.

"August Blues"

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12/6/24 – this is “August Blues D 12-6-24.wav”

  1. Very minor change: The opening vocal phrase had a glitch in it on the word “playin'”, and I re-sang it: “Kids are playin’, sister’s wadin'”

11/29/24 – this is “August Blues D 11-29-24B.wav”

  1. I added background vocals
  2. I added “shaker” percussion
  3. I redid a couple of vocal parts
  4. I added reverb to lead vocal
  5. I lowered the level of the lead vocal
  6. I lowered the Hammond lead section

11/28/24 – this is “August Blues D 11-28-24.mp3”

  1. Rewrote lyrics
  2. Re-recorded lead vocal
  3. Redid electric piano intro
  4. Transposed project from “E” to “D”

9/22/24 – this is “August Blues 9-22-24.mp3”