Musicians Collaboration Studio

Virtual Music Studio => Finished Works => Topic started by: AndyG6508 on August 21, 2010, 11:53:31 AM

Title: Changes (J/Steve/George/John/Robert/Andy)
Post by: AndyG6508 on August 21, 2010, 11:53:31 AM
Hello MCS,

Another song done...with a LOT of help from my friends!!!
This song was written with 70s hard rock ballad-like sounds in mind - with a huge nod to Uriah Heep's work.

The guys came together superbly on the song, with Steve laying an awesome "David Byron" like lead vocal and a bank of lovely harmonies (check out his soaring vocal towards the end), George supplying  solid guitar work with a soulful solo and outro part, John with his usual compact drumming with tasty fills, and lastly, but not in the least, J "Ken Hensley" with his wonderful layers of organs, piano and synth, which helped to sew all the parts together.

Then Robert came in to help out to co-write the lyric and supplied some memorable lines.

Special thanks to J for the stellar work in honing the arrangement and mixing. As we all know, mixing is not an easy task - but J's incredible patience, attention to detail and his innate skills produced a wonderful mix.  Thank you J.

I hope you enjoy listening to the song.

Cheers,
Andy

Personnel:

Robert Depriest: co-write on lyrics
Jay Schankman: music, organ, piano, synthesizer, mixing/production
Steve McAndrew: lead and backing vocals
George Williams: guitars including solos
John Wooten: drums
Andy Gupta: lyrics, music, bass


Changes  (Lyrics: Andy Gupta/Robert DePriest, Music: Andy Gupta/Jay Schankman (c) 2010)

Intro
      Bm                                     Em
Like newly opened eyes that see a first sunrise
  G          A                Bm
I see the world that surrounds me
      Bm                     Em
As I look around I find time is slowing down
      G            A          Bm
And now I am ready for changes

I used to think that speed could give me what I need
Find myself in tomorrow
Why did it take so long to see that I was wrong
I can feel changes in me

Em        A  F#m   Bm
Changes in my life
Em              A   Bm
That help me realize
      Em           A           F#m   A    G
If I opened my mind I am no longer blind
     Em    A   Em     F#m
My eyes see things anew

When you live each day the same yet hope the world will change
You're on the road to madness
You can leave behind regret with that one little step
Turn and face those changes

Changes in my life
And now I realise
If I opened my self I am no longer choked
My heart feels things anew

Em   A
Changes.......
        F#m    Bm
Have set me free
G                  A          Bm
Changes..... a different me
Em   A
Changes........

Outro ad lib : All it takes is a July morning.. :) (Steve)
Title: Re: Changes (J/Steve/George/John/Robert/Andy)
Post by: jwoo10 on August 21, 2010, 11:56:21 AM
Thanks for letting me play too. Everyone did a great job on this one!
Title: Re: Changes (J/Steve/George/John/Robert/Andy)
Post by: AndyG6508 on August 21, 2010, 12:17:54 PM
Thanks for letting me play too. Everyone did a great job on this one!

Thanks John - great playing as usual!

Andy
Title: Re: Changes (J/Steve/George/John/Robert/Andy)
Post by: napoleonboot on August 21, 2010, 02:09:12 PM
Great! I enjoyed playing on this, it came together very well.  :)
Title: Re: Changes (J/Steve/George/John/Robert/Andy)
Post by: AndyG6508 on August 21, 2010, 02:11:14 PM
Great! I enjoyed playing on this, it came together very well.  :)

Thanks George...its always a pleasure to collab with you. The guitar solo and the outro parts are indeed lovely.

Andy
Title: Re: Changes (J/Steve/George/John/Robert/Andy)
Post by: j on August 21, 2010, 02:27:21 PM
Thank you Andy for your kindness and the opportunity to run with this already great song.  :)

With a lineup like this it's almost effortless. You guys rock!
Title: Re: Changes (J/Steve/George/John/Robert/Andy)
Post by: AndyG6508 on August 21, 2010, 07:06:25 PM
Thanks J, as I said this song owes a lot to your efforts. Always cool to have you grace the song with your keys!

Andy
Thank you Andy for your kindness and the opportunity to run with this already great song.  :)

With a lineup like this it's almost effortless. You guys rock!
Title: Re: Changes (J/Steve/George/John/Robert/Andy)
Post by: riggorog on August 22, 2010, 05:45:51 PM
Nice tune guys! Excellent performances by all and great writing. Especially liked the guitar solos :)

Roger
Title: Re: Changes (J/Steve/George/John/Robert/Andy)
Post by: napoleonboot on August 22, 2010, 05:51:03 PM
Nice tune guys! Excellent performances by all and great writing. Especially liked the guitar solos :)

Roger

Many thanks Roger - I'm glad you enjoyed it.

I liked doing the gutar solos on this, they just fell into place in one recording session.  It always turns out well when that happens.
Title: Re: Changes (J/Steve/George/John/Robert/Andy)
Post by: McLovin on August 22, 2010, 06:06:53 PM
Really enjoyed this song guys!  Great job everyone.  Love the big harmonies!
Title: Re: Changes (J/Steve/George/John/Robert/Andy)
Post by: AndyG6508 on August 22, 2010, 08:37:45 PM
Nice tune guys! Excellent performances by all and great writing. Especially liked the guitar solos :)

Roger

Thanks for the kind comments Riggo :)

Andy
Title: Re: Changes (J/Steve/George/John/Robert/Andy)
Post by: AndyG6508 on August 22, 2010, 08:39:25 PM
Really enjoyed this song guys!  Great job everyone.  Love the big harmonies!

Thanks a bunch Jay. Yeah the guys were super, and Steve's bank of harmonies were a slice of 70s classic rock delight!

Cheers
Andy
Title: Re: Changes (J/Steve/George/John/Robert/Andy)
Post by: PVD on August 22, 2010, 08:47:45 PM
Everyone:

Very nice, interesting feel to it, it flows well on the topic.

Paul
Title: Re: Changes (J/Steve/George/John/Robert/Andy)
Post by: AndyG6508 on August 22, 2010, 09:30:52 PM
Everyone:

Very nice, interesting feel to it, it flows well on the topic.

Paul

Thanks Paul for dropping by and lending an ear:). Yes, Robert did come up with some cool lines - he rescued my cliched laden original lyric!!

Cheers
Andy
Title: Re: Changes (J/Steve/George/John/Robert/Andy)
Post by: Mr. Mom on August 22, 2010, 09:40:19 PM
GREAT song Andy!!

I don't think it's an accident that your name appears on so many killer songs. When you surround yourself with this kind of talent, this is what the outcome will be. 8) 8)

I don't know which part soared higher - the vocals or that wicked guitar solo!

I give it 2 thumbs up and both ears wide open. :)

John
Title: Re: Changes (J/Steve/George/John/Robert/Andy)
Post by: AndyG6508 on August 22, 2010, 09:43:52 PM
Hey John,

Thanks  :) - thats really very kind of you to say - but I know I'm lucky to get such talent gracing my songs.
Yeah Steve's vocals and George's guitars are indeed killer, not to forget J's huge keys parts which weave everything together, and John (Wooten)'s immaculate drums!

Thanks again for the listen!
Andy

GREAT song Andy!!

I don't think it's an accident that your name appears on so many killer songs. When you surround yourself with this kind of talent, this is what the outcome will be. 8) 8)

I don't know which part soared higher - the vocals or that wicked guitar solo!

I give it 2 thumbs up and both ears wide open. :)

John
Title: Re: Changes (J/Steve/George/John/Robert/Andy)
Post by: Paulo on August 24, 2010, 05:36:14 AM
I love it... Yeh, if you had Uriah Heep in mind, you got there. The only difference is that George Williams is a better guitar player than Mick Box, LOL...

... The Organ sounds like the mighty Hensley, yes...

... The vox Harmonies reminds me of "Sunrise"...

... Nice mix j... I don't recall hearing you mixing, it sounds great, mate.
Title: Re: Changes (J/Steve/George/John/Robert/Andy)
Post by: j on August 24, 2010, 06:27:02 AM
Thanks Paulo! I don't usually mix as I usually don't have the patience for it  ;D

I'm glad you enjoyed it. It was a lot of fun to work on.
Title: Re: Changes (J/Steve/George/John/Robert/Andy)
Post by: AndyG6508 on August 24, 2010, 07:45:46 AM
Thanks Paulo..appreciate the compliments - glad you like the song :).

Yes, we did set out to make the track as Heep-like as possible, and the guys also put their own stamp on the music.

J spent many hours on the music and came up with a super mix!

Cheers
Andy


I love it... Yeh, if you had Uriah Heep in mind, you got there. The only difference is that George Williams is a better guitar player than Mick Box, LOL...

... The Organ sounds like the mighty Hensley, yes...

... The vox Harmonies reminds me of "Sunrise"...

... Nice mix j... I don't recall hearing you mixing, it sounds great, mate.
Title: Re: Changes (J/Steve/George/John/Robert/Andy)
Post by: Pleasuredome on August 24, 2010, 08:08:52 AM
The trick with this vocal was to emphasize the vibrato as per the Mighty Heep!!!

I love it and I'm only too glad you guys did too.

Thanks for the invite Andy (it's very much an appreciated habit these days!)! :) :)
Title: Re: Changes (J/Steve/George/John/Robert/Andy)
Post by: napoleonboot on August 24, 2010, 12:17:10 PM
I love it... Yeh, if you had Uriah Heep in mind, you got there. The only difference is that George Williams is a better guitar player than Mick Box, LOL...

...


Thanks Paulo. I'm prettier than him aswell.
Title: Re: Changes (J/Steve/George/John/Robert/Andy)
Post by: AndyG6508 on August 24, 2010, 12:47:59 PM
I love it... Yeh, if you had Uriah Heep in mind, you got there. The only difference is that George Williams is a better guitar player than Mick Box, LOL...

...


Thanks Paulo. I'm prettier than him aswell.


everybody knows about the state Im in..i aint pretty cant sing and my legs are thin
dont ask me what i want it for..i may not give you the answer your looking for...oh well
Title: Re: Changes (J/Steve/George/John/Robert/Andy)
Post by: AndyG6508 on August 24, 2010, 12:49:46 PM
Thank you Steve, its always a thrill to listen to your mesmeric vocals!

Andy

The trick with this vocal was to emphasize the vibrato as per the Mighty Heep!!!

I love it and I'm only too glad tou guys did too.

Thanks for the invite Andy (it's very much an appreciated habit these days!)! :) :)
Title: Re: Changes (J/Steve/George/John/Robert/Andy)
Post by: Vincent on August 24, 2010, 03:26:57 PM

Good song...nice job.

 8)
Title: Re: Changes (J/Steve/George/John/Robert/Andy)
Post by: AndyG6508 on August 24, 2010, 04:12:41 PM

Good song...nice job.

 8)

Thanks Vinnie!

Andy
Title: Re: Changes (J/Steve/George/John/Robert/Andy)
Post by: CosmicDolphin on August 25, 2010, 06:03:03 PM
Wow ...what a great song... :)

CD
Title: Re: Changes (J/Steve/George/John/Robert/Andy)
Post by: Pleasuredome on August 26, 2010, 12:29:45 AM
Your last post was a subliminal James Bond moment (number of posts)!!! >:D >:D >:D >:D

The number of posts was 7007 by the way!! 8) 8)
Title: Re: Changes (J/Steve/George/John/Robert/Andy)
Post by: AndyG6508 on August 26, 2010, 10:40:32 AM
Thanks Mark. Glad you liked it!

Cheers
Andy

Wow ...what a great song... :)

CD
Title: Re: Changes (J/Steve/George/John/Robert/Andy)
Post by: CosmicDolphin on August 26, 2010, 05:57:05 PM
Your last post was a subliminal James Bond moment (number of posts)!!! >:D >:D >:D >:D

The number of posts was 7007 by the way!! 8) 8)

I must send less messages  :o

CD
Title: Re: Changes (J/Steve/George/John/Robert/Andy)
Post by: snowdoguk on August 27, 2010, 01:49:23 PM
Cool song gentlemen... well done j on the production side

Mike
Title: Re: Changes (J/Steve/George/John/Robert/Andy)
Post by: Pleasuredome on August 27, 2010, 01:54:42 PM
Thanks Mike, sorry about the IN2U video, it's taken a 3 month back-burner to date!! :-[ :-[

Mark, keep sending the messages bro, you're a busy man! 8) 8)
Title: Re: Changes (J/Steve/George/John/Robert/Andy)
Post by: snowdoguk on August 27, 2010, 01:58:13 PM
Thanks Mike, sorry about the IN2U video, it's taken a 3 month back-burner to date!! :-[ :-[

Mark, keep sending the messages bro, you're a busy man! 8) 8)

No problem Steve, there's no rush..
Title: Re: Changes (J/Steve/George/John/Robert/Andy)
Post by: AndyG6508 on August 27, 2010, 11:38:10 PM
Cool song gentlemen... well done j on the production side

Mike

Thanks Mike for the listen and the kind comment :)

Andy
Title: Re: Changes (J/Steve/George/John/Robert/Andy)
Post by: j on August 28, 2010, 09:53:04 AM
Thank you Mike!