(Doesn't That) Blow Your Mind

I'm going to stop posting my songs in chronological order from here on out. Mainly for 2 reasons: first, like fine wine, my songs/music/recording abilities have improved with time. If I continue to blog about my songs in the order I made them, it's going to take quite some time before I get to my most recent material. Second, 2006 is the year I started working on more than just one song per year. And not having had kept good records of when I recorded my songs at that time, it would be difficult to proceed chronologically.

So today I will begin with my most recently completed song, "(Doesn't That) Blow Your Mind," which I completed in 2012. With this song I was trying my hand at early to mid 70s r&b or soul. Other than most of my vocal parts I believe I successfully accomplished the sound I was going for.

As of the last few years when I started recording the drum tracks at home, I've been recording with the benefit of only two mics. I do have a set of drum mics which I have used on previous recordings. I've recorded with as many as 5 or 6 mics. But as I have compared the recordings made with 5/6 mics to those made with only 2 I have found the ones with only 2 mics sound much better. And so I've been recording with only an overhead Shure 57 and a kick drum mic. That is the case with this song.

In addition to drums, this song features: about 4 electric guitar parts (2 clean & compressed, 1 with wah, 1 with phaser); 5-string electric bass; Nord 73 keyboard (clavinet and Fender Rhodes parts); and several vocal parts.




I think the instrumental minute-and-a-half ending part can stand on its own as a sort of song itself. Featuring a little light improvising on the 'Rhodes' with a few bluesy guitar licks here and there. Could even be a theme for a retro TV show or sitcom. I really like it. There are some moments when everything comes together just right and feels like a group of guys gelling. Check it out for yourself.