Musicians Collaboration Studio

Virtual Music Studio => Finished Works => Topic started by: DangerousDave on March 12, 2008, 03:35:24 PM

Title: The Bandits These Days
Post by: DangerousDave on March 12, 2008, 03:35:24 PM
Here we are with my first completed collaboration!  This is a song that began about 15 years ago as a punk-rocker inspired by the early 1990's music Mo Tucker, former dummer for the Velvet Underground.  I can't do much with it acoustic solo, but I hooked up here with a bunch of awesome musicians and created this VU-meter-busting full band version.

Special thanks to Jerry and Walter for their rock-solid drums and bass, which laid a firm foundation early in the recording process, to George for thinking up new electric rhythm guitar chords that added to the song's feel, and to Mark for his smokin' lead guitar.

The Band:
"DangerousDave", Decatur, Georgua, USA: Acoustic guitar, harmonica, vocals
"Jman", San Diego, California, USA: Drums
"bp1964", Torrence, California, USA: Bass guitar
"Guitar George", Scarborough, North Yorkshire, United Kingdom: Rhythm electric guitar
"mlc", Houston, Texas, USA: Lead guitar

The Song:
The Bandits These Days
Words and music (C)2007 by David Langford Smith

Daddy always said, "Work hard and save.
If you can do that, you'll see better days.
Give A hundrend-and-ten. Go the extra mile,
But watch out for the ones with the alligator smiles."

I clock in on time every day.
But the good life feels like it's a world away.
Save a little when I can
In the company stock savings plan.

Chorus
The bandits these days don't have to carry guns.
They just talk fast then they turn and run.
Is it greed or are they insane
To think it's all just a game?

My house is what they call a manufactured home.
The floors are plywood. The walls styrofoam.
One paycheck away from living in the car.
Someday they'll go and push me too far.

Now they say this job is gone
Just deal with it and move on.
Stock savings plan, it's worth nill.
But the CEO will take a hundred fifty mill.

Repeat Chorus

New politicians won't change a thing.
They slap your hand. They dance and sing.
They say one thing and do the other.
Thank you sir, can I have another!

Machivelli would sure be proud
The way they talk, so smooth and loud.
It's not the people who are in command.
But the men who grease the palms of their hands.

Repeat Chorus
Title: Re: The Bandits These Days
Post by: bp1964 on March 13, 2008, 12:16:26 AM
Thanks for letting me play on your song, final mix sounds good!
Title: Re: The Bandits These Days
Post by: CosmicDolphin on March 13, 2008, 03:46:49 AM
Cool - I like the way you panned the vocals !

CD
Title: Re: The Bandits These Days
Post by: DangerousDave on March 13, 2008, 07:22:20 AM
Cool - I like the way you panned the vocals !

CD

Thanks, but I really don't know what I'm doing as far as mixing and mastering.  The vocals were double-tracked and I started out putting them at 10% left and 10% right.  But it seemed like the mix needed something more panned 100% left and right.  The vocals stand out a little better that way, but I wonder if it sounds funny in systems that don't have that much stereo separation.
Anyway, Thanks!
Title: Re: The Bandits These Days
Post by: NickT on March 13, 2008, 08:45:36 AM
Sounds like you guys had fun recording this.

Nice job.

Nick
Title: Re: The Bandits These Days
Post by: mlc on March 13, 2008, 12:18:55 PM
This was fun! Thanks Dave - sounds great!
Title: Re: The Bandits These Days
Post by: Bassic_Soul on March 13, 2008, 09:56:17 PM
I had never taken the time to read through the lyrics on this, very well said. Sounds good guys. 8)
Title: Re: The Bandits These Days
Post by: Studioplayer on March 14, 2008, 01:08:47 PM
Yep, Nice job guys. Great lyrics. Glad you got this done. Do more !!  :)

Dave
Title: Re: The Bandits These Days
Post by: Jman on March 14, 2008, 07:19:45 PM
Thanks for including me DangerousDave.... it was fun... J 8)
Title: Re: The Bandits These Days
Post by: jeff on March 14, 2008, 07:26:56 PM
I like the spaciousness of the verses. Cool Harmonica :)

Jeff
Title: Re: The Bandits These Days
Post by: mistermikev on March 23, 2008, 01:39:24 AM
VERY NICE.  Tells me a story... sucks me in... catchy.

great guitar intro.  very nice riff.  good for you.

all around nice.
nice harmonica solo.
lyrics are really good!
Title: Re: The Bandits These Days
Post by: AvMo on March 24, 2008, 07:37:51 PM
Great job on mixing the vocals?  Great depth!  Nice hot guitar licks too.

Mo
Title: Re: The Bandits These Days
Post by: DoozerDan on March 28, 2008, 01:42:12 AM
Cool stuff guys, sounds great.  8) Love the guitar solo.

Dan.