Well we are a couple of weeks away from JGC OM 31 and I realised I never dropped my usual Dry Run for my last Community Open Mic. Hardly surprising as the recordings in the run up to the show were full of fluffs and I’d not decided on sitting or standing. And even an hour before kick off I was not a happy
On top of that I had planned to go back to video the triad based rhythm track I had recorded and added to the BT, that I had morphed from the original album track, as provide by https://www.karaoke-version.com/
Given the original belts out at over 150 bpm and the solo has some incredible sextuplets runs at that speed, I dumbed it down to make it playable (to sing with) and took the essence of the solo and threw together something that sounded kinda ok (and lashed it up on this version and at the OM !!) and gave a nod to Roy Z’s stunning solos. The triads were homage to Adrian Smith’s delicate arpeggios that litter the track.
Yes it was also my first attempt of bouncing between rhythm and lead and back again, plus trying to link the vocals seamlessly. Like the jeans with the 4 inch turn ups back in the day, yeah like no one noticed.
Anyway, having confirmed the OM 31 Performers via DM today, I though I’d better review what I’d dropped into the private section of my YT channel for the last one and at least keep my Madman Diary entries up to date.
So as usual there is the normal Madman waffle and subsequent recording. This one was about 6 days before the gig but maybe the best of a bad bunch. Would have been happy if the actual OM had captured the same tonal quality, in spite of a few cock ups !!
No doubt folks will not know the original which came out in 1998 and was the title track of the Bruce Dickinson solo album. It was 2 years after I first started playing and I’d attempted a few of Bruce’s tracks from his non Maiden escapades. That’s the reason I chose my old Squier Affinity Strat that has been heavily pimped from back in 96 !!
Yeah only took me 27 yrs to cover and butcher !! Here is the original for reference and way above my play grade after all these years and likely always will be .
Very good. I didn’t know the song. Your production is very musical; excellent rhythm guitar and a good vocal. You could probably raise the guitar volume a little in the verses and the short solo might benefit from a more obvious backing. This type of music is way out on the boundary of what I might usually listen to and you’ve sold this song to me. Terrific!
I really like what you have made out of the song compared to the original. Very melodic and musical. The tone is excellent and well balanced and your voice fits perfectly into the arrangement. The transition from rhythm to lead and back was nicely done. I’m happy you posted, otherwise I’d probably missed this. Great performance!
Toby I much enjoyed listening to your recording and found the overall production great! I never heard this song befote so thanks to you now I know it and much like it too! Your voice suited so well the song.
I enjoyed that, Toby, really nice to be able to take something like the original and make it work with 1 guy and a guitar. I love the tone on your guitar, and the notes on the solo I found to be pretty cool! Nicely played.
That was excellent Toby. Loved your guitar tone, the reverb was spot on. Cool solo too and along with a super vocal that was an all round great performance. Well done.
Love your version Toby, actually better then the original. Your voice really carries the song well, very cool. Never heard this song, thanks for introducing me!
I liked this, Toby. I like it slowed down a little as you did. Great lead and rhythm. Vocals great. I probably should know this but I heard some harmony in your vocals. How is that done? Double tracked and shifted slightly? Sounded perfect.
Hello Toby,
I haven’t been here for a while, and the first thing I managed to see and hear was your performance!
It’s good you choosing this great song to cover
The wonderful sound of the strat and the excellent vocals are more than enough to capture the spirit of this song! Thank you, my friend!
And I agree with Pamela’s question about the harmony in your vocals. It’s really very beautiful!
Leo
Vocals were through my TC Helicon Play Acoustic, using a preset based on The Doors Light My Fire. So some mild chorus effect going when the vocals were pushed.
Someone mentioned the rhythm guitar being low in the mix during the solo. That will be cause the triads were on hold and only the keys were playing periodic chords.
I used one of the ASAT Teles for the triad “rhythm” with a POD Go Elephant Man delay.
The “strat” was the Iron Gear equipped Pimp (HSH) . This version was different than the OM, where I was chaotically stomping various things on and off. So on the dry run I was just splitting the bride HB at strategic points and leaving the preset I’d knocked up alone. Main feature of the FX was trying capture a sound based on chorusy arpeggios on the original - again all POD Go - Adriatic Delay, Pebble Phaser and Glitz Delay (which is mildly chorusy).
That probably covers all the tech stuff but once again thanks for listening folks.
