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What are you working on right now?
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Subject: What are you working on right now? From: M.Ted Date: 03 Oct 00 - 02:34 PM Musically, I mean--I am finishing up a guitar arrangement of one of the melodies called "When the King Enjoys His Own Again", and just pulled out a guitar rag that I wrote a couple years back and wrote a nice intro (inspired by that"Can I Play Like Doc Watson" thread)--I also have a very nice little song I wrote about the Vietnam Memorial Wall(inspired by a rather touching post made to the forum last summer) that I am trying to think of something to do with--Oh, yes, and there is a chord/melody arrangement of "Six Lessons from Madame Lazonga"-- these efforts seem much more coherent when I write about them than they do otherwise--god knows if they'll ever amount to anything--("Madam Lazonga" particularly, after a promising start, is threatening to go "bottom-up)-- Anybody else? |
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Subject: RE: What are you working on right now? From: Rick Fielding Date: 03 Oct 00 - 02:40 PM Hi Ted. Working on my shaky fiddle playing. I've programmed the chords and rhythm to The Duke's "Don't Mean a Thing..." into my keyboard, and while it plays over and over again, I try to come up with listenable improvisations. Madame Lazonga?! Hank Snow's Madame Lazonga from "Rhumba Boogie"? Rick |
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Subject: RE: What are you working on right now? From: mousethief Date: 03 Oct 00 - 02:47 PM I'm looking for a "traditional" song to memorize for to add to my repertoire. I thought I wanted to do "Two Magicians" but didn't want to have to go through the rigamarole of explaining why it's not racist ("you coal-black smith") to the audience. I'll gladly take any suggestions.
Alex |
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Subject: RE: What are you working on right now? From: khandu Date: 03 Oct 00 - 02:52 PM A quite different version of Van Morrison's "Brown Eyed Girl". Dropped D tuning, fingerpicked. It is satisfying to me to do covers in an altogether different style of the original. I am also working on one of my originals, "The Entrance"; no lyrics, just a tune with a slight Elizabethan aroma. The "Doc Watson" thread also inspired me to work on "Black Mountain Rag". Doc makes me sound like kindergarten. khandu |
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Subject: RE: What are you working on right now? From: Whistle Stop Date: 03 Oct 00 - 02:55 PM Having just invested some serious money in setting up my home recording studio, I am exploring and refining my knowledge of the recording process. I'm not completely unfamiliar with recording, but always in the past it's been someone else's studio, working either on someone else's music or on a collaborative effort (and always with one eye on the clock and the other on my wallet). This one is MINE -- sorry if that sounds selfish, but it's been a long time coming. I'm having a great time, figuring out how to operate in this new digital world (everything I've done before was analog), trying out different mic positions and combinations, overdubbing complementary guitar, mandolin and vocal parts on songs and instrumental pieces that I had always played solo before, adding subtle effects to enhance presence, mixing down -- basically acting like a kid in a candy shop. I'll be taking next week off from work to dive into this in earnest, and get started on recording my first solo CD. I have no illusions about getting famous, quitting my job, etc. -- this is all about personal satisfaction, and sharing it with any other people who might care to listen. After a lifetime of wishing I had something like this to work with, it's great to have finally gotten to this point. |
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Subject: RE: What are you working on right now? From: Susan from California Date: 03 Oct 00 - 03:06 PM Whistle Stop-- Sounds like a whole lot of fun, and I'm sure I'm not alone in having "studio envy". Experiment and play, and keep us posted!
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Subject: RE: What are you working on right now? From: Little Neophyte Date: 03 Oct 00 - 03:09 PM I am trying to pick out the note to The Flowers of Edinburgh. I am working on the words to Guantanamera with the help of Andres (Escamillo) Working on my frailing speed so I can play Reuben's Train properly. Practicing some fancy licks so when it dawns on me, I can easily slip them in at the appropriate times. Keeping my thumb rested on the fifth string when not in use and making sure my right hand position is correct. And most importantly, I am working on absorbing everything my teacher Rick Fielding has ever taught me. Bonnie |
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Subject: RE: What are you working on right now? From: Whistle Stop Date: 03 Oct 00 - 03:10 PM Thanks Susan, I'll do that. I've spent most of my 42 years green with envy, and I'm amazed that I've finally got tools like this to work with (and very aware of my good fortune). I'll let you know how it goes. |
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Subject: RE: What are you working on right now? From: GUEST,Phil Cooper Date: 03 Oct 00 - 03:18 PM Great thread. I'm working on a guitar duet project with Ken Brown and need to be practicing my bit on the tune "Far From Home" for the next round of sessions. Also working on Christmas stuff for the Bittersweet Christmas Band (me, Margaret Nelson, Kate Early, and Susan Urban). Seems like if you don't have a special seasonal show, you don't work in December. |
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Subject: RE: What are you working on right now? From: Ebbie Date: 03 Oct 00 - 03:25 PM My focus right now is the mandolin. I'd never required myself to learn chords on it before or to do the proper upstroke. So on Mondays at noon, I meet with a teacher for 45 minutes and on Sunday afternoons I meet with a beginning mando player who's just learning to pick tunes. Great fun. Mousethief, that doesn't sound racist to me- have you ever noticed furnace men and mechanics? I would hate to see their sheets! Ebbie |
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Subject: RE: What are you working on right now? From: okthen Date: 03 Oct 00 - 03:28 PM mousethief how about "coalled blacksmith" ? cheers bill |
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Subject: RE: What are you working on right now? From: mousethief Date: 03 Oct 00 - 03:33 PM Okay I'll do Two Magicians. It's really a delightful song. The version I'm used to is the Steeleye Span one, so that's the one I'll do. If I were female I'd do "Me Husband 'As No Courage In 'Im"
Alex |
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Subject: RE: What are you working on right now? From: John Hardly Date: 03 Oct 00 - 04:01 PM I'm working on nailing down fiddle tunes in multiple keys. Also learning mando chords--trying to learn to think in mando instead of having to first mentally translate from guitar. John millring Hardly |
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Subject: RE: What are you working on right now? From: bbelle Date: 03 Oct 00 - 04:13 PM Waltz-time arrangement of "Blue Moon of Kentucky," "Prayer in Open D" using Open D tuning, "On the Old Kentucky Shore," "One Kind Favor" with some new fingerpickings. |
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Subject: RE: What are you working on right now? From: Wavestar Date: 03 Oct 00 - 05:05 PM Umm.. It's not musical, but I'm translating chunks of Beowulf... Otherwise, I'm looking for an appropriate traditional / sounds traditional "courting song" to teach to a friend with a lovely tenor voice who owes a young lady (not me) a song of that nature... Suggestions? -J |
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Subject: RE: What are you working on right now? From: Naemanson Date: 03 Oct 00 - 05:22 PM Mousethief, why not do "Me Husband's Got No Courage In Him"? Doesn't that start with the traditional opening? As I went out one May morning To view the fields and leaves a-springing I saw two maidens standing by And one of them her hands was wringing It's obvious that it's a man singing that song. I am currently working on learning Mabel, and The Greiesley Bride (unaccompanied),and Crazy Man Michael, Christmas In The Trenches, and Shall The Turtle Be Unbroken (accompanied with guitar). I am also memorizing the poem Trouble Brewing by Charles Morris, and relearning Ships That Pass by C. Fox Smythe. |
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Subject: RE: What are you working on right now? From: M.Ted Date: 03 Oct 00 - 05:32 PM "Six Lessons from Madame La Zonga" was a hit for both Jimmy Dorsey (Helen O'Connell on vocals) and for Charlie Barnet(vocal:Mary Ann McCall)in 1940, and, I think, a record that was much played by the college crowd during the great Rhumba craze--you will note that Hank also mentions "Cuban Pete" (He's the king of the Rhumba beat)-- Whistlestop--spill it! What kind of toys do you have in your studio? Also, sad little puppy that I am, I been sitting here trying to hack my way through every tune that you all have mentioned, and I even cranked up the Band-in-a-Box to try to do Rick's thing with "Don't Mean a Thing..."(Thanks for doing it on an instrument that you can't play, it gives the rest of us at least a small chance). I may flip it over to a Rhumba though... |
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Subject: RE: What are you working on right now? From: katlaughing Date: 03 Oct 00 - 05:43 PM Wavestar, there is one I really like on a Sally Roger's CD. It's called "Lovely Agnes;" the guy proposes in it, so it ought to fit the bill. If it's not in the DT or in SuperSearch holler and I'll get it to you. It's a simple quick and pretty one to learn. I have not picked up my fiddle in ages nor have I started on the baritone uke my sister bought me. I am doing good right now at getting back up to speed with my voice. Thanks to Joe Offer, I am now learning a couple of really pretty ones: "One I Love" and "Kitty Alone." WhistleStop, I second that! There are lots of us, I am sure, who'd love to buy your CD AND, know what kind of equipment you settled on. Bonnie, sounds as though you are doing really well! Rick told me you'd be doing this, a year ago! Does he know his students or what?! kat |
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Subject: RE: What are you working on right now? From: okthen Date: 03 Oct 00 - 05:44 PM mousethief have you heard the martin carthy version of twa magicians? i'm not drawing comparisons, or saying one is "better" than other,it's just the first recorded version i heard, and closer to the bert lloyd version IMO. cheers bill |
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Subject: RE: What are you working on right now? From: mousethief Date: 03 Oct 00 - 05:50 PM Haven't heard it. Is it on a Martin Carthy album if so which one if not where?
thanks, |
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Subject: RE: What are you working on right now? From: Mbo Date: 03 Oct 00 - 06:02 PM I don't work on anything anymore besides schoolwork. There is no time for much else. |
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Subject: RE: What are you working on right now? From: bflat Date: 03 Oct 00 - 06:54 PM A few classical pieces for agony and for ecstasy a collection of Kate Wolf songs. Been doing this for a few weeks straight and I stink. Looks like it will be a few more weeks. bflat
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Subject: RE: What are you working on right now? From: Naemanson Date: 03 Oct 00 - 09:28 PM Wesley, I want you to know that I respect you as a person and feel you have the right to own any fancy recording equipment you want to own. We live in a free society. HOWEVER, IF YOU START TALKING TECHIE WITH THESE PEOPLE I AM RIGHT OUTA THIS THREAD! (Just Kidding, of course) |
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Subject: RE: What are you working on right now? From: dwditty Date: 03 Oct 00 - 10:32 PM I'm working on "Just a Little While to Stay Here." a New Orleans funeral march. Geoff Muldaur does it on his CD from a year or so ago. Not the most upbeat piece I ever did, but it sounds purty. dw |
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Subject: RE: What are you working on right now? From: sophocleese Date: 03 Oct 00 - 10:38 PM Trying to play any simple guitar back up to some songs I like, The Robber, One I Love, Lowlands of Holland. Also trying to figure out a bridge for a song I wrote awhile ago. Gotta learn After The Ball for the weekend. |
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Subject: RE: What are you working on right now? From: WyoWoman Date: 03 Oct 00 - 10:46 PM I'm learning to fingerpick "Two-Way Waltz," by Kate Wolf, and sing it AT THE VERY SAME TIME!!!! And to fingerpick "Farewell to the Gold," and to sing it, tambien. And I'm learning one called "Athens Hotel," from a CD by a Denver group called Colcannon -- I don't know the source of that song, but I do love it. And one from the Trio album, "I've been higher than the high sierra ..." I started learning "Go, Leave" from a Kate and Anna McGarrigle tape I had, but I don't know enough to figure out the chords. Likewise I almost know one of Tracy Nelson's, but there's a chord I can't sort out in it, so I'm stymied on both of those. Trying to decide whether to learn "Bold Riley" first or "I am Stretched on Your Grave" from the Kate Rusby "Hourglass" cd. Learning to play songs that don't involve B chords ... In my other life, I'm taking an online course in web design and am learning HTML so I can put together a website to archive my columns and articles ... ww |
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Subject: RE: What are you working on right now? From: richlmo Date: 03 Oct 00 - 11:14 PM My son got the part of Tiny Tim in the musical , " Scrooge " for a church dinner theater. Guess that's what we'll be working on for the next while |
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Subject: RE: What are you working on right now? From: Timehiker Date: 03 Oct 00 - 11:52 PM I'm working up some campfire songs for a family campout sponsored by the historical park I work for. The audience/participants are "regular folks", not the history buffs I usually play for, so I have to remember some of the more conventional songs that I used to play. I've been concentrating on historic folk songs for the last 15 years or so and I'm pretty rusty on the ones that "everybody knows". Take care, Timehiker |
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Subject: RE: What are you working on right now? From: Bill D Date: 03 Oct 00 - 11:55 PM some Carter Family stuff on the autoharp |
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Subject: RE: What are you working on right now? From: Troll Date: 03 Oct 00 - 11:59 PM Just tryin' to stay sane. troll |
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Subject: RE: What are you working on right now? From: CarolC Date: 04 Oct 00 - 12:13 AM I'm working on organizing a weekend of accordion workshops to be held here in Shepherdstown in May 2001. If I can pull this thing together, the classes will be taught by none other than our very own, Skipjack K8. (Who is, by the way, a very good accordion player.) Anyone interested in this idea should be on the lookout for a special thread about it sometime soon. And I'm trying to learn how to play Kate Martyn's Waltz on my box. Carol |
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Subject: RE: What are you working on right now? From: MK Date: 04 Oct 00 - 12:28 AM Young Thing - Chet Atkins Cannonball Rag - Merle Travis as played by Marcel Dadi When Sunny Gets Blue - my own arrangement being developed for fingerstyle. |
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Subject: RE: What are you working on right now? From: okthen Date: 04 Oct 00 - 03:42 AM mousethief it's on Martin Carthy's first album, released 1965,you can hear 30 seconds on cdnow, but this doesn't give a good chance to evaluate the song. cheers bill |
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Subject: RE: What are you working on right now? From: GUEST,murray@mpce.mq.edu.au Date: 04 Oct 00 - 05:03 AM I am learning to play (on guitar) and sing the Carter Family's "Jimmy Brown the Newsboy" and sort-of poking away at "Wabash Cannonball". Art, in his CD "The Older I Get the Better I was", has a Uncle Dave Macon song about Nashville. He plays it on the banjo and I am trying to make a guitar arrangement that "goes"--so far no luck. I am trying to learn a few of Leo Brouwer "simple" exercises on the classical guitar. I had plans to learn to bend notes and play blues harp. I am not really putting a lot of time on it. richlmo: Does your son get to sing "Tiptoe Through the Tulips"? ;^} Bill D: I wish you lived in Sydney. Those Carter Family songs on solo guitar sound a bit thin. Now that I have said all that, what I am trying to do at this very moment is get my callouses back. I spent last month in and out of hospitals and didn't get to play the guitar very much. Murray |
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Subject: RE: What are you working on right now? From: JulieF Date: 04 Oct 00 - 06:50 AM The Jute Mill somg and the Broom of the Cowdenknowels with the folk chorus (group) I sing with and Culloden's Harvest if I can ever build up enough courage to sing on my own (I've only done it once in recent years - I had to have several pints and send my family out of the room). Julie |
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Subject: RE: What are you working on right now? From: GUEST Date: 04 Oct 00 - 08:16 AM Transcribing Ives' fourth symphony just for something to do... Seriously...working on a heavy metal cover of Tori Amos' Pretty Good Year. |
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Subject: RE: What are you working on right now? From: MMario Date: 04 Oct 00 - 09:29 AM posting Henry Purcell's catches to the forum; finding "lost" tunes for the DT. |
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Subject: RE: What are you working on right now? From: GUEST,Pete Peterson Date: 04 Oct 00 - 09:38 AM a) re-learning how to play the mandolin after many years of not playing it b) learning new tunes and songs again, esp. Voodoo Queen Marie and other Holy Modal Rounders songs that I hadn't known before wow! Ted, I can't believe that there is somebody else out there who knows When the King enjoys his own again! You can play it straight or you can put a banjo into gCGCD (double-C tuning) and play it clawhammer style. I played it that way once without realizing what I was doing and didn't recognize it till the third time through-- worked it up & used it in banjo contests for years. courting song-- how about the Shelor Family's "Billy Grimes, the Rover"-- only modern recording I know is New Lost City Ramblers, volume 4. |
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Subject: RE: What are you working on right now? From: M. Ted (inactive) Date: 04 Oct 00 - 10:58 AM Pete--I play it on guitar, in G, standard tuning. Are you playing "When the King... or "The World Turned Upside Down? The tune that I have for that (which I don't play) seems more suited to banjo-- Guest, is that the Martin Carthy version of Ives, or is it the Bela Fleck cover? My Fourth grade art teacher taught our class to play it in a nose-o-phone orchestra, and they wanted to send us all to the Julliard School, but our moms wouldn't let us go, cause it was a school night. |
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Subject: RE: What are you working on right now? From: WyoWoman Date: 04 Oct 00 - 11:07 AM CarolC -- You might want to talk to Chanteyranger re. your weekend of workshops. I understand that he organized a sea song/chantey festival in the Bay Area a few weeks back and everyone who attended kvelled happily about it for days afterward. ww |
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Subject: RE: What are you working on right now? From: Uncle_DaveO Date: 04 Oct 00 - 11:26 AM I'm trying to find other phrasings for a banjo tune I wrote, "Little Dorrie", so that second and third and fourth times through are all different from the first. I am putting into song, with guitar, A.E. Housman's wonderful poem, "When I Was One-and-TWenty". Trying to figure what my guitar treatment will be for singing Robert Burns's "Bonnie Wee Thing". Dave Oesterreich |
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Subject: RE: What are you working on right now? From: hesperis Date: 04 Oct 00 - 03:26 PM Learning Mandolin. Avoiding practising French Horn. Spending too much time on Mudcat. Circle Dancing tonight. Working on a few songs, some of my own, some old friends that I haven't seen for a while and found in the DT. Working on a couple of websites, uploading improvised piano pieces (not folk at all, but still beautiful,) to mp3.com. Pretty much it, for now... |
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Subject: RE: What are you working on right now? From: Kim C Date: 04 Oct 00 - 05:22 PM Oh, I'm just fiddling around... |
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Subject: RE: What are you working on right now? From: CarolC Date: 04 Oct 00 - 07:54 PM Thanks, WyoWoman. Carol |
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Subject: RE: What are you working on right now? From: Wavestar Date: 04 Oct 00 - 08:07 PM Guest - Are you serious about the heavy metal cover of Pretty Good Year? I'd be interested in hearing that. -J |
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Subject: RE: What are you working on right now? From: Mooh Date: 04 Oct 00 - 09:22 PM Set out a week ago to lay a new pine floor in the porch but discovered so much rot I haven't actually got to the floor yet. Maybe tomorrow. New joists and walls are in and if it doesn't rain maybe I'll do some painting. Oh, you mean music? Sorry. How come everyone's learning mandolin? Everywhere I go with mine I'm a hit and I don't want any competition. Just kidding of course. The amazing thing to me is how many people are completely unfamiliar with the mandolin. "What kinda guitar is that?" they say, as if everything is a guitar. Even the country crowd doesn't necessarily know. Sinner Man. This Is My Father's World, fingerpicked in G, after having let it go for a while. Own compositions, including one for Christmas. And generally trying to get my vocals up to par with my guitar work. Oh yeah, and a new band soon to be hatched. So much music, so little time. Mooh. |
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Subject: RE: What are you working on right now? From: richlmo Date: 04 Oct 00 - 10:58 PM After the thread about songs about Fathers, the VH1 show on Cat Stevens, and the Entertainment Tonight show about Cat Stevens/Yosef Islam or whatever his name is now, all I can hear is "Father and Son" and " Moonshadow ". I keep singing them all day long. I don't mind "Father and Son"-Damn good song! I'm trying to work out a lead on ," Walk On Boy ". Not quite up to par with Tony Rice. Murray, don't think the Methodists are ready for THAT Tiny Tim. |
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Subject: RE: What are you working on right now? From: John Hardly Date: 04 Oct 00 - 11:11 PM Mooh, great idea--"This Is My Father's World"--one I haven't tried--I'm on the case! John millring Hardly |
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Subject: RE: What are you working on right now? From: JamesJim Date: 04 Oct 00 - 11:15 PM Working on learning the harmonica (playing while I play my guitar). I think I've made amazing progress, then I hear a real pro play and I have to keep going back to the drawing board. Jim
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Subject: RE: What are you working on right now? From: Lonesome EJ Date: 04 Oct 00 - 11:16 PM Working on taping four original tunes : "Joshua Tree" and "Oh Maria" words/music by me,two words by me music by Woody Hannah,"Marble Halls" and "Desert Line." Also working on my guitar playing.Got the B and the F bar chords down,Wyo,long as I don't have to play 'em together.:>} |
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Subject: RE: What are you working on right now? From: CamiSu Date: 04 Oct 00 - 11:28 PM Since I'm attempting to have the set for "You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown" ready for a Friday evening opening, I am learning those songs by osmosis. In my other life, waitaminute! I HAVE no other life! |
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Subject: RE: What are you working on right now? From: Margaret V Date: 05 Oct 00 - 09:13 AM Hey, Wavestar, how about Burns' "All the Airts the Wind Can Blaw" for your courting friend? It's sweet, and short. WW, I too am working out "Farewell to the Gold" just now. And also am working on "Now Westlin Winds" and "The Fisherman's Wife," and am wrestling with the challenge of not accidentally lapsing into a faux Scots accent! Argggh! I don't WANT to do it, I don't MEAN to do it, but I'm having trouble avoiding it once words like "twa" and "bairn" and "cushat" show up. Send help immediately! Well, back here in America... I am also working on "Calling the Moon," a Dar Williams song sung by Richard Shindell on his newest album. Margaret |
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Subject: RE: What are you working on right now? From: GUEST,Pete Peterson Date: 05 Oct 00 - 09:50 AM lotta mandolin players out there! the tune I have for "When the King" is the one found in Chappell, which is identical to "The World Turned Upside Down" as found in old fifing books. Starts out (in D) A A D D E F# G A F#. . . does that give you enough to know we are both talking about the same thing? I also fingerpick it on guitar out of C position where it sounds much more classical. "The World turned Upside Down" as in the Burl Ives songbook (the one with the red cover for 35 cents when I first got it) is in 6/8 time and completely different and not as much fun IMHO. sorry for the thread creep |
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Subject: RE: What are you working on right now? From: jeffp Date: 05 Oct 00 - 11:00 AM The company I work for is having a celebration of cultural diversity on November 15. I just signed up to do something about Scotland and Ireland. Not sure what yet, but probably a song and a tune or two. They're still looking for volunteers, so I don't know exactly what they'll be expecting from me. Also working on some songs with my wife to sing at an upcoming rendezvous around the campfire. jeffp |
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Subject: RE: What are you working on right now? From: M. Ted (inactive) Date: 05 Oct 00 - 11:17 AM Same one--the melody moves upward, in 4. The 6/8 one moves down, and you are right, it is not as much fun--I play it in G on the guitar, which I tend to favor, because you have that nice open chord to work around. Also, the "B" melody works well there, because you work from the D chord, and have a nice fat, open A string to drone on--Do you play the whole thing as a march? |
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Subject: RE: What are you working on right now? From: mrs_zezam Date: 05 Oct 00 - 11:28 AM "Another Train" (Poozies)... I'm recording some favorite songs on 4-track. This one really requires the lyric, but my singing voice is horrid. So I talked a good friend (long-distance) into helping me: she will tape the vocal part & mail to me, then I will add harmony... hope it works! Trying to write out 4 harmony parts from listening to the recording, but they blend so well, I'm having a hard time to hear the inner voices. After this I want to work on learning the Margaret Waltz. |
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Subject: RE: What are you working on right now? From: M. Ted (inactive) Date: 05 Oct 00 - 01:46 PM It is much easier to figure out harmonies when you know that basic rules that the arranger is using, than if you just listen to a recording and try to guess--I am not familiar with the Poozies, but I think that you might try to contact them--you would be amazed at how easy it can be to find people on the internet-- The old rule of thumb for four part harmony is that the melody comes first, then the bass, and the the other parts fill in--but there are other options--some use a lead vocalist, and have the others sing block chords, some use broken chord--It helps if you try to figure out basically what is happening in the music before you try to plot out the notes in each part-- This is a difficult project that you have set out for yourself--Writing and performing multiple voice music is one of the hardest things that you can do, musically--partly because everything has to be exactly right, or the whole thing falls apart--Good luck!! |
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Subject: RE: What are you working on right now? From: Bert Date: 05 Oct 00 - 02:22 PM I'm working on writing some songs for a musical. I've been watching as many musicals as I can find in the video store. I'm finding out that there are very few good ones. The only two that I've really enjoyed so far are 'Oliver' and 'Crossroads' So far I have two songs defined but not yet completed. I think I'll need between 6 & 10 songs for the musical. |
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Subject: RE: What are you working on right now? From: Lyrical Lady Date: 05 Oct 00 - 03:00 PM Right now I'm working on some Robbie Burns tunes for January, Christmas music for my a cappella group and 3 part harmonies for my other group. In between time I'm painting the living room, laying a new hard wood floor and spending way to much time ( and $$!) on Mudcat! Cheers...LL |
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Subject: RE: What are you working on right now? From: M. Ted (inactive) Date: 05 Oct 00 - 03:31 PM Bert, see if you can find "Gypsy", the made-for-TV version, with Bette Midler(it is true to the stage version, which is what is often not true of with movie musicals) You will not get a good of what makes a good show song from watching a Movie musical--you have to see how it plays to an audience--and you can only do this by going to see musicals-- The other thing is that show tunes have to advance the story of the play in some way, and be entertaining, amusing, and often danceable at the same time--big order-- If you are serious about writing show songs, you have to see shows all the time. That means all the local companies, touring companies, and of course, it is necessary to make the supreme sacrifice and go to New York or London, which is the best place to see shows anymore, once or twice every year(easy if you live near either one)-- If you want, feel free to send me a private message so we can talk. I been working on the music a show for several years, and have the story ideas for a couple others--I am at am impasse, but never am at loss for something to say-- |
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Subject: RE: What are you working on right now? From: Naemanson Date: 05 Oct 00 - 03:31 PM Who are the Poozies? Is "Another Train" the song that starts: The beginning is now, And will always be, You say you've .... And fate brought you defeat. I think that was written by Eileen McGann but she hasn't posted the lyrics in her website. Sing Out! magazine published the words and music to that song in a recent issue. If you want I can scan the pages and email them to you. PM me if you are interested. |
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Subject: RE: What are you working on right now? From: Whistle Stop Date: 05 Oct 00 - 03:36 PM Mooh, I've had the same experience with the mandolin -- people don't know what that funny little instrument is. I'm a guitar player first, mandolinist second, and occasionally when I'm playing out with my band I'll ask the audience if anybody can tell me what it is. Someone generally comes up with the right answer, but the first guess is usually that it's a ukelele. |
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Subject: RE: What are you working on right now? From: mrs_zezam Date: 05 Oct 00 - 04:01 PM Thanks much for your response, M Ted. I'm very new to Internet and searching... found a Poozies website, but not the sheet music. The harmony is block chords. (Even if this link works, WMP is usually too choppy.) I think I've got the melody & bass, it's the other two parts that are eluding me. Maybe if I identify the chords I'll be able to guess what the missing notes are? You're right, this is going to be difficult; but now I've convinced my friend to sing, I've got to keep trying! (My other selections are easier.) Thanks for wishing me well. Naemanson, I just saw what you wrote -- yes that is the one... you say you've lost your chance, that fate brought you defeat written by Pete Morton. will ask you more via PM. Thanks. Mrs. Z |
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Subject: RE: What are you working on right now? From: black walnut Date: 05 Oct 00 - 04:02 PM the dear irish boy, on harp. and better technique. ~'nut |
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Subject: RE: What are you working on right now? From: black walnut Date: 05 Oct 00 - 04:08 PM mrs. z... i love 'another train'! have you heard pete morton sing it himself? it's very different from the eileen's version. not word~wise, but the whole feel of it is very different. i lead it at our song circle quite often....and the harmonies come out wonderful. i like to do it with me singing, and playing DADGAD, and my friend jeff on dobro. ~'nut
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Subject: RE: What are you working on right now? From: mrs_zezam Date: 05 Oct 00 - 04:28 PM Hi black walnut, Thanks for all your info... I haven't heard Pete Morton himself -- could you point me to where I would find his rendition? Where did you find the harmony parts, or did you work them out yourself? If this is something I should ask via PM instead of tying up the thread, someone please nudge me... Internet-newbie-and-Mudcat-newcomer-Mary |
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Subject: RE: What are you working on right now? From: M. Ted (inactive) Date: 05 Oct 00 - 06:04 PM Mary--This is the sort of thing I wanted to bring out in this thread--so post away--best thing is when we get some helpful information out of someone who knows that everyone can use. I love this song, as well, WXPN in Philly used to play the Sally Barker recording, some number of years ago, but I could never find the recording anywhere. You inspired me to check Napster, but the version their was timed out. I did get another Poozies song, and noticed that their harmonies were fairly simple--unison, then a drone on the fifth pops in and a harmony part pops in from time to time that seems stick close to the chord fundamental, only above the melody note. I had an idea that for a multipart arrangement, you could get something close to their sound by starting the melody in unison, then having the voices hang on other notes in the chord as they hit them(4 voices in unison, when you reach the fifth, one voice stays on it, when the remaining three hit another chord note, one stays on that, etc--till you hit the end of the phrase with a big fat chord--if their is a chord change, you just have everyone move to the closest note in that chord to the one they are on). It would be fun to try, anyway---
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Subject: RE: What are you working on right now? From: Jon W. Date: 05 Oct 00 - 06:24 PM Working up speed and clarity on Broonzy's "Long Tall Mama" (on and off for the last 8 or 9 years). I'm not a good musician but I can memorize things like you wouldn't believe. |
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Subject: RE: What are you working on right now? From: Ely Date: 05 Oct 00 - 07:44 PM Always tabbing stuff for dulcimer. Always collecting whatever bit of historical background I find on music. Always looking for new songs and tunes to learn. Always trying to learn to play the guitar (it's going to be a long-term project, clearly). Nothing big, though. |
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Subject: RE: What are you working on right now? From: black walnut Date: 05 Oct 00 - 07:49 PM mrs. z~ (trivia item: in canada, where i'm from, that's pronounced "mrs. zed"). when we do 'another train' at song circle, i sing the verses, and the group sings only on the choruses. people just improvize harmonies that sound nice with the melody of the chorus. the instrumental accompaniments jeff and i just play 'by ear', which is quite something, considering i spent most of my musical life playing classical music from notes on a music stand. i borrowed a tape of pete morton from a friend of mine, who found it in a store here in toronto called The Country Music Store. it might be available by mailorder over the net from somewhere.... ~'nut
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Subject: RE: What are you working on right now? From: GUEST Date: 06 Oct 00 - 09:53 AM M. Ted...it's the John Lennon cover of Ives a la "Revolution #9" off the White Album. Wavestar -- yes, seriously. You take Amos' piano intro (that pretty little run around which the whole song is built) and adapt that to guitar (or two, playing in harmony a la Duane Allman and Dickey Betts). Not too hard to do as she plays mostly single notes with little left hand accompaniment. Add bass about the time she starts singing the words,
Greg he writes letters, Then you add some power chords at the chorus (ummm...let's see, off the top of my head there's a B and an F# and a C# or maybe C#m...and another one I can't access right now...All nicely adaptable because the key of the song reguires you to play barre chords). You take your cue for the power chords from the cello accompaniment. The bridge Well what's it gonna take till my baby's all right (E, G, A) is pretty much heavy metal already. Can you hear it? I plug in and crank up the stereo and play along, and dub in the other parts in my head. The chord pattern lends itself easily to a heavy metal arrangement...most of her songs have an "edge" to them already - they'd be easy material to do crunchy covers of. Maybe it's already been done??? Keeps me off the streets and out of trouble....
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Subject: RE: What are you working on right now? From: mrs_zezam Date: 06 Oct 00 - 09:55 AM ~nut, Thanks for your reply and for trivia (I enjoy learning details like that.) I found lyrics for "Another Train" and the Pete Morton recording in Europe (here), but not in USA yet -- will keep an eye open for it. I wish I could hear your group's arrangement -- it sounds so nice! My background is classical, too; I feel restricted when I need to see notes on paper, rather than hearing 'by ear' what the harmony should be. M.Ted, I believe my sister hears the same Sally Barker (solo) version on that same Philly station (NPR?). I heard that arrangement recently, but still prefer the one by the Poozies (features Sally Barker on lead vocal, but the harmony is much richer.) It's been re-released on a best-of CD. Thank you so much for your idea about the arrangement of voices. I will study your suggestion; I'm seeing more possibilities now. This discussion has been very helpful to me -- it's great to have all this input! Mrs. Zed |
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Subject: RE: What are you working on right now? From: GUEST,Pete Peterson Date: 06 Oct 00 - 10:09 AM back to "When the King"-- yes, I play it as a march. On the clawhammer banjo it comes out Galax-style and sounds very much (on good days) like one of those unnamed Emmitt Lundy tunes -- it has fooled some people into thinking it WAS. |
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Subject: RE: What are you working on right now? From: black walnut Date: 06 Oct 00 - 02:40 PM i found that lyric page, too, mrs. z, but i have my strange doubts about it....it looks to me like something someone wrote by listening to him sing it off his tape/cd, rather than him writing it down himself. for one thing, it says copyright 2000, but eileen mcgann recorded it in 1995 on her album, "Journeys". also, it has some other things about it which just don't seem quite right.
the chorus isn't right, for one thing. the chorus should only read there are a few other things, too, which just make more sense in eileen's version, as printed on her lyric sheet. here's what she sings(eileen told me that she met pete moront on a trip to england, so i'm sure that she got the lyrics first~hand): ANOTHER TRAIN:
The beginning is now and will always be
There's another train, there always is
You feel you're done; there's no such thing
We crawl in the dark sometimes and think too much
I know it's hard when you feel confused ............ I'm not saying that this is the exact version Pete recorded word for word, but it's closer to what he sings than what the webpage quoted, i think, and i also think it just plain sounds better.... strange. i wonder if pete would agree with me?! ~'nut
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Subject: RE: What are you working on right now? From: black walnut Date: 06 Oct 00 - 02:43 PM you all know that i meant "pete morton", not "pete moront", correct? ~'nut |
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Subject: RE: What are you working on right now? From: mrs_zezam Date: 06 Oct 00 - 03:55 PM Hi ~nut, (... I knew.) Thank you for explaining about the lyrics. I figured that italicized part was a formatting error, but didn't know if those other words were the way Pete Morton wrote them. It sounds like you have it on good authority. I've always heard the lyrics the way you have posted them, with the exception of: You can crowd yourself with fears (Poozies say "crown"). I suppose either would fit, but "crowd" does seem better. Unfortunately, I have not heard Eileen McGann sing this. What does she do with the last chord? (In one version I've heard, it is unresolved, in the other it is.) Thanks for all your help... Mary |
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Subject: RE: What are you working on right now? From: M. Ted (inactive) Date: 06 Oct 00 - 06:12 PM Mrs Z, This song seems to appear also on the "Chantoozies" album--did they record several verions of it, and, if so, which album has which version? Pete, The guitar lends itself to doing slow versions of things--I just hooked up my sythesizer guitar and played it through an orchestral horn patch--sounds pretty cool, though I have to go a bit to beat Lesley Nelson's MIDI file at his compilator web site-- |
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Subject: RE: What are you working on right now? From: black walnut Date: 06 Oct 00 - 08:08 PM mrs. z~ did you happen to notice the thread called 'Re: Another train there always is...'? ~'nut |
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Subject: RE: What are you working on right now? From: GUEST,mrs_z_with_no_cooky Date: 06 Oct 00 - 11:33 PM ~nut, Yes, thanks... also a Pete Morton one, did you see? (I'm just learning links, will try to make some tomorrow.) M.Ted, "Chantoozies" is the album I have (good songs). "Raise Your Head" is the retrospective -- from the clip I've heard at those CD sites, I believe they are exactly the same. re: lyrics, there is one other difference -- in the chorus: You can climb aboard -vs- Get up and climb aboard Poozies sing "get up". I always visualize this part as if someone has fallen and needs to lift themself to get on that train. Or maybe "get up" has the meaning to me of "awake and do something", a gentle self-command. I don't like to change lyrics if not original, but this image works for me. |
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Subject: RE: What are you working on right now? From: mrs_zezam Date: 07 Oct 00 - 08:58 AM link to Pete Morton thread
Now that we know there's another thread for "Another Train", shall we go there? (if we have more to say about the song?)
What are You working on now?? (please don't let me be a thread-killer) |
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Subject: RE: What are you working on right now? From: black walnut Date: 07 Oct 00 - 10:12 AM mrs.z~ ya, that's the one the bugs me the most. is it "crowd" or "crown"? i truly think "crowd" makes so much more sense.....that's why "you feel you cannot move". should i have said this on the other thread? i dunno, maybe that's up to M.Ted..... ~black walnut |
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