Lately I’ve started working up versions of songs as a sort of exercise for the student - a way to improve my playing and learn about arranging, recording, producing, etc.  i picked this song because in so many ways it represents what I don’t do well.  It rocks, it’s raw, it doesn’t take itself too seriously and it makes me want to move.

This is right on the edge of what I think is ready to share; part of why I’m putting it here is to propel me towards a better rendition.  We’ll see.

Freff once wrote (and I’m paraphrasing with wild abandon here)  that it’s OK to preface playing a song for a friend if you keep the qualification short, and shut up once the song starts playing.  That last part’s up to you (you can stop reading whenever you want), but I do feel the need to point out one aspect of this recording. 

About halfway through I rerecorded a section of the vocal I had been getting wrong.  I mostly worked out the notes, but it was getting close to 1 AM on a weeknight and I remembered that my next-door neighbor had to get up around 4:00 AM! (They later assured me they never heard a thing), but when the voice suddenly drops to more of a whisper than usual, that’s the excuse I’m going with for now.

The drums and percussion are “entered”, but everything else I played or sang.  I did take the time to map out the small changes in tempo that are always part of live (as in “living”) music.

I hope to redo this soon with a new vocal, better mix and a whole lot better drum part.  After that... it’s time to move on.