Queen cover - Lily of the Valley

Jorgen · 07-22-2015, 05:43 AM

https://www.dropbox.com/s/6nu2tmlpbz...alley.mp3?dl=0

Keys, bass, electric guitar, vocals... Morgon, ReaperM, you around? It's a very short song and I happen to like it a lot. Any takers?

morgon · 07-22-2015, 12:25 PM

Yes, I dl'ed it, got a bpm or its free time?

Lotsa computer issues for me lately but nearly all resolved now...

Jorgen · 07-22-2015, 04:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by morgon

Yes, I dl'ed it, got a bpm or its free time?

Lotsa computer issues for me lately but nearly all resolved now...

74 bpm, my good man. Forgot.

Well, I don't know what to do with this - the original is a masterpiece. I never thought I ever would do a Queen cover... way above me. Still... you only live once. And Queen seems to be really top notch guys. They never disbanded - always taken responsibility for the art and continued with different collaborations and such. Respect.

Jorgen · 07-22-2015, 04:24 PM

Btw, this song is a perfect example - the original recording - how Mercury worked with backing vocals... I don't think I ever heard something quite like that... he stresses a syllable here, another one there... there's always breath and atmosphere in it... magic.

But we probably should do our own thing - let's see where we end up. I rework my part if an arrangement thing needs it... bring it on.

Key is Ess major... shouldn't be too much of a problem. I've never checked the changes, but they sound alright to me.

Jorgen · 07-22-2015, 04:40 PM

And for the love of God - this is a scratch track... after a few repetitions... will rehearse the thing. I took it up just recently, so yeah, it's pretty raw. But maybe it could spark any ideas?

morgon · 08-08-2015, 08:27 AM

Technical delay, the mp3 encoder not working, then ran out of time. Maybe I DLed the wrong file, will sort it out tmrw.

morgon · 08-08-2015, 09:36 PM

Search for mp3 conversion unsuccessful so far...

Anyone wanna convert this [30 mb] wma file to mp3? -Thanks in advance

https://app.box.com/s/pqdbvwrwaynh943wt41dqll6stm7allm

Jorgen · 08-08-2015, 11:18 PM

Got it - can't wait to get home and have a listen in the cans - that cut ain't too shabby... fancy doing some backing vocals and/or synts?

Should we have drums and bass? What do you think?
Just something that maxes out the thing here and there, even more...?

morgon · 08-08-2015, 11:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jorgen

Got it - can't wait to get home and have a listen in the cans - that cut ain't too shabby... fancy doing some backing vocals and/or synts?

Should we have drums and bass? What do you think?
Just something that maxes out the thing here and there, even more...?

Totally agree, I'll make a start on some bass tracks etc

Afa posting mp3 I guess importing rendered wav back into Reaper 32 bit then render is my new method...

morgon · 08-09-2015, 12:07 AM

I don't mean that I should do the bass, I actually have no ideas for that atm

Jorgen · 08-09-2015, 02:57 AM

Nema problema, I can handle that. iirc it's recorded to a beat, I can midi up something in a kinch or whatever. Can I start tomorrow?

morgon · 08-09-2015, 03:29 AM

Absolutely.

Plus I'll listen again fresh in a couple of days time and see what else I might bring to it.

Jorgen · 08-12-2015, 01:28 PM

Yeah, there's plenty here... I will prioritize this one, I think... what's there is good enough. We wrap it up nicely with a little something, whatever that will be. Bass, drums, some keys. I try to think of some backing vocals too... guitars finished? Boot, you around?

morgon · 08-12-2015, 04:12 PM

Gonna listen today to finalize gtr tracks, so will post stems soon as I wont add much, leaving room for other insts. If there anything of my tracks that gets in the way, no prob, take it out or put low in the mix etc

Jorgen · 08-13-2015, 08:55 AM

I tell you, there's something fishy with simple cut'n'paste midi in Reaper, and been since like forever. I bet it's a simple snap setting or something, it just happens now and then - or the thing is adrift...

Anyways, I did a little midi work, and it's so not tight it's not even funny... I could be me drifting. Maybe I have to redo the audio, or quantize the thing, I must think... and brood...

I have a really great idea for a little intro - I feel it comes on too abrupt, hm?

morgon · 08-13-2015, 10:15 AM

^^I'll see if I can fit a basic drums n bass to it if you like, maybe the grid is a bit too strict for this one bc the performance sounds pretty good to me.

Jorgen · 08-13-2015, 11:59 AM

If you dig the performance, go ahead, one less thing to do. I'm thinking the intro as off the grid, something I just play and/or something... something ... left-field?

morgon · 08-13-2015, 01:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jorgen

If you dig the performance, go ahead, one less thing to do. I'm thinking the intro as off the grid, something I just play and/or something... something ... left-field?

Psychedelic even, SFX and stuff, if its worth doing its worth overdoing, maybe, as they say...

morgon · 08-15-2015, 09:26 AM

Made a start on the drums and bass. Linked track is mp3 this time if anyone wants to check it out, maybe make some suggestions...

Edit] drums n bass a bit messy here and there atm.

[link deleted]

Jorgen · 08-15-2015, 09:45 AM

Screw it. I took a big decision today - as a matter of fact only minutes ago... I'm gonna be an independent music producer, for real this time... I make a record - with what I got... and the Reaper people involved. How about that?

Will listen and get back to you.

morgon · 08-15-2015, 10:09 AM

I pay at least agents fees if you can help me sell this new bunch of songs I got [pop/rock]

morgon · 08-15-2015, 10:25 AM

I'll post an update tmrw night prolly, no net access before then pretty much, cheers.

Jorgen · 08-15-2015, 10:54 AM

No rush, I'm fueling up on youtube.

Jorgen · 08-15-2015, 12:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by morgon

Made a start on the drums and bass. Linked track is mp3 this time if anyone wants to check it out, maybe make some suggestions...

Edit] drums n bass a bit messy here and there atm...

https://app.box.com/s/r3z3b1pgfy282sejx4mznxu6w4hkxons

Man, that sounds absolutely terrible... we'll get there...

Jorgen · 08-15-2015, 12:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by morgon

I pay at least agents fees if you can help me sell this new bunch of songs I got [pop/rock]

Let's throw it into the can and fix it in the mix - it should be doable, whatever... show them good...

morgon · 08-15-2015, 01:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jorgen

Man, that sounds absolutely terrible... we'll get there...

I'll fix it up somewhat and post it later today anyway, see if anything is good etc Starting point, maybe

morgon · 08-16-2015, 03:03 AM

Programming bass through phones is not best practice imo, none of it sounds any good through speakers, I put it aside for now.

Jorgen · 08-16-2015, 03:59 AM

Know what, I just tried to lower the key to Dmajor, that didn't sound too bad. I can easily lay out the harmonies in my usual manner and redo the whole thing - or I redo it anyhow but in the same key, only tighter. I get right to it. No probs. Yeah, lets psych out the thing... does it go a tad too fast?

I did a few edits with stretch markers and the first didn't sound to bad, but the later edits didn't sound to good, so I don't mind anyhow, happens all the time.

Jorgen · 08-16-2015, 08:48 AM

https://www.dropbox.com/s/0rhel0qp9d...major.mp3?dl=0

Yeah, as you can read from the file, it's 70 bpm and Dmajor, only scratch takes to see what I got. Drums, Bass, a little synt - something we can work with?

morgon · 08-16-2015, 10:05 AM

When I mentioned the bass step recording and "none of it sounds good" I only meant the bass [+drums] not the entire thing which is a good performance generally imo except maybe for the odd note here and there. Still, the second version is good too but I don't think the 1st version should be abandoned on the strength of one unfavorable first draft of the rhythm section -I gotta stop posting unfinished stuff!

Sometimes I prefer to leave parts of a song temporarily in a mess simply as a reminder that there was an idea or intention there even if I screwed up the rendition of it. For example I'll often leave a gtr fill that sounds bad as a reminder there should be a gtr fill that sounds good even though at that point the song would sound better without it altogether. A bunch of bad bass notes might still imply some kind of dynamic, the most original stuff has to be beaten into shape imo unless it seems quite hopeless or becomes too drawn out a process for what its worth.

Im a persistence kinda guy generally, my motto is flogging a dead horse can produce the best leather!

but usually I like to leave time between drafts until I've almost forgotten the thing, then I listen back not worrying too much about what sounds bad, but checking if theres anything that sounds good [nearly] even if its only one or two things, then the second draft starts with one or two good things. Of course sometimes I nail stuff right off the bat...

Anyways sorry about the hot air, I'm tempted to try proving my point with that now, which would be a good thing if it comes off, psychology right?

Jorgen · 08-16-2015, 12:34 PM

We can't go wrong.

Cheers. We could do our own Pin Ups, called Pin Through, just an idea. I love a little glam, now and then.

morgon · 08-17-2015, 10:56 AM

2nd redraft does sound much better

, prolly post it tmrw night, I got a few hoops to jump through atm...

Jorgen · 08-24-2015, 09:39 AM

Here's a little something I cooked up in 72 bpm - any suggestions? And that's not the cool intro I was thinking about, but another intro... I'm getting there.

https://www.dropbox.com/s/i4fbnbo6rn...ley03.mp3?dl=0

Garrick · 08-24-2015, 11:26 PM

I like the intro.

shaping up nicely Jorgen and morgon

morgon · 08-25-2015, 03:53 AM

Cleaned up me gtr tracks quite a bit and switched a preset, reduced the drums n bass, idk but I think it sounds much better...

I should fix those chords around the "kingdom" part at least...

Edit] Listening again, this sounds way better than my other posted version, chalk and cheese.

https://app.box.com/s/ky34gkhlnkpoh30z2us2noczv9wsm5vj

Jorgen · 08-25-2015, 01:25 PM

That was cool, I like it. Interesting power-chord attacks, maybe I could do something similar on the acoustic here and there... will listen more.

morgon · 08-27-2015, 09:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jorgen

That was cool, I like it. Interesting power-chord attacks, maybe I could do something similar on the acoustic here and there... will listen more.

Those chords at the end of that section I'll redo that they sound a bit brighter. Idk that the song needs much more added from me, a good balance of everything now imo

ReaperMadness · 08-29-2015, 07:57 AM

You still shopping for bits & pieces on this? I started foolin'' around with it, but I'm not sure if you have a particular direction you're going for, or if it's a free for all. (And I'm at the cottage for the next 3 weeks w/ limited Internet, so it may be a little touch & go.)

Jorg - Maybe I'll tighten up a part I started working out last night and send it to you for audition.

morgon · 08-29-2015, 03:00 PM

You're more than welcome afaic RM, in fact its a main reason I dont put wall to wall guitar on songs that sound to me like more insts is entirely appropriate, cheers.

Jorgen · 08-30-2015, 12:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ReaperMadness

You still shopping for bits & pieces on this? I started foolin'' around with it, but I'm not sure if you have a particular direction you're going for, or if it's a free for all. (And I'm at the cottage for the next 3 weeks w/ limited Internet, so it may be a little touch & go.)

Jorg - Maybe I'll tighten up a part I started working out last night and send it to you for audition.

Oh yes - good to hear from you. Take your time - we'll make something good with this one.