BLUE SEA, BLUE SKY, BLUE ME to new Backing Track

[Stratpicker]

'Bout time I did something by The Shadows – for a change.
So here's a lovely Shadows number from the “Burns” era – 1965.
Written by John Rostill and Bruce Welch, its a lilting Instro ballad with a neat key change at the end.
However, this version may not be one for The Purists. 1 – I don't have a Burns, 2 – I don't have a DeArmond “Wah” pedal, 3 – I don't have any Strings in the backing. ( but I DO have some other “interesting” instruments though), 4 - I don't even play it like the record. (For whatever reason, I have always played it with an upper register section, so I have now as well.)
Oh – and 5 - this is a NEW backing track, made by me in Band In A Box. Started off as a bit of fun, just messing with the chords, which on Gorans tab are accurate but quite basic and then later on adding variations to them.

So – here's Blue Sea, Blue Sky, Blue Me, Jim, but not quite as we know it

http://app.box.com/s/gs7d76x5nicaf3hogblc

Enjoy – or not.
Cheers
ian

[keithmantle]

Nice one Ian, excellent playing/production, slight Burns tones and Hammond/Leslie cab towards end

[tolo]

Loving the twist....

Especially the accordian samples - giving it a slight 'Parisian' flavour! But also the nice bass runs around 1:53 & 2:29 - gives a lovely new flow to a familiar melody - and the chordal inversions around those runs too. Nice.

My favourite though is the 'organ pull' at 2:13...

Lovely warm tone on the lead guitar too...

T

[Phil McGarrick]

Hi Ian,
That made a refreshing change hearing it played on the higher register - Love the Hammond organ sounds and the accordion - I've always loved the chord sequence in this song it was a great challenge when first learning rhythm all those years ago. You get some terrific backings from BIAB and this one really gives something special to the song - that bit at 2.13
where the key change happens the organ sounds fit perfect. Very well played as always with lots of feeling.
All the best... Phil

[rogera]

A super variation of BSBSBM Ian with some tasteful playing and a nice choice of backing instruments.

Band in a Box has obviously come a long way since I last tried it!

[Stratpicker]

Hi Keith, Tony, Phil and Roger and thank you for y our very kind words.
Keith - hope you are feeling better now and your sadness is less. My thoughts are with you. The Burnsy sound is probably cos its split Neck+Bridge, a Hank special Mod.
Tony - Hope all goes well with you in Jo'Burg. I have used the Accordion before and love to pop it into a BT, just for the difference it makes. I thought a bit of Squeezebox would help with the "Blue Sea" image. Those Bass runs are "forced" in by me by a "trick" that you can do in BIAB to make it follow a certain line and that B3 "swoop" came straight out of "The Box". Wow! The algorithm must recognise how the chords are going and that a keychange was occurring and just put it in, first time out. I could have defeated it, or changed it if it hadnt have fitted.
Playing with the chords was fun too. For eample - Just simply changing things like Gm straight for Gm6 with a E Bass root or adding an E Bass root to the A chord at 2m40s made a nice change.
Phil - Glad you liked it - and that "swoop" at 2.13 - great fun! Its always a bit of a worry when you make a new version of such a classic Shads tune. I love the tune itself but always though that Hanks sound in 1965 was too dry and too nasal for it - IMO only of course. Its a very nice chord sequence and was asking to be messed with - lol!
Roger - Thank you for listening and commenting so kindly. I dont have a keyboard or anything like that so I'm using BIAB2014 and the RealTracks that are now available are just amazing. I'm only scratching the surface compared to some of the Work that gets published on their PG "Showcase".
cheers
ian

[ecca]

I really really really enjoyed that Slocksmojaputinratbagknittedcardiganshilp............
I hate the slavishly copied attempts to emulate the records, much better to put yourself into it as you've done.
What I also liked was that you didn't write 'usual gear' when describing the stuff you used.
It always seems a little negative to me so don't do it.

[Risky]

Nice arrangement Slapsticker

Lovely touch on the strings - you are getting even better in your old age

[Stratpicker]

Hi Ecca - Blimey, I think you liked it!
To me "slavish" copies are fine if thats what you actually set out to do. When I did "Hey Jude" I did intend to copy all of Hanks nuances in his playing because that is what grabbed me in the first place. Its darned hard to copy EXACTLY what another Performer (eg Hank) has done and it took a lot more work than it did for me to blag BSBSBM like I have.
BIAB is like a Sweety Shop for me - so much to dip into and have fun with so no BT from BIAB is ever going to sound like the original - well not from me anyway..
Hi Phil - thanks for dropping by and I'm glad you enjoyed it and so glad you are keeping in touch with SM. You may consider yourself an ex-guitarist but you can never be an ex-Hankie. Once a Hankie, always a Hankie. And anyway, it was YOU who came up with the name IIRC.
cheers
ian

[ecca]

You never quite know which way BIAB is going to take a track when you start playing around with styles.
Excellent creative tool.