A Beginning

DWL

No artwork

Get Flash to see this player.

Description

We've been struggling with an opening number for the musical and everything I did just sounded crap. When I spent a week with him in Spain recently Graeme suggested a marching band and dropping out most of the words to the first song.

So I got out my banjo shoved a cloth under the strings and became a marching band.

The 2nd part is something posted before but it's been slightly remixed although the vocal still needs doing.

Graeme's vocals didn't work out too well as I forgot some important leads and couldn't monitor what he was doing.

OK excuses over with.........

Leave a Comment

You must be registered and logged-in to comment.

Song Stats

Hits: 1042
Comments: 33
Fans: 13
Plays: 113
Downloads: 82
Votes:
Uploaded: Sep 29, 2007 - 09:49:31 AM
Last Updated: Sep 29, 2007 - 10:01:09 AM Last Played: Nov 22, 2009 - 02:47:31 PM

Song License

Creative Commons License:
Attribution-NoDerivs-NonCommercial

Song Actions

Keywords:

march (24), snare (10), LSD (7), acid (32), sitar (18), mice (2)

Hardware:

Banjo, strat, acoustic guitar

Software:

Comments

sloparts

sloparts said 789 days ago (September 29th, 2007)

Well it's a beginning
I love the marching band. Maybe we can get it booked for the Macy's Thanksgiving Day parade in New York next year.

The song just seems to flow from one to the next. You got a really mix on the vocals Dick, but may need just a few db more when it gets into the meat of the song. The vocal track sounds compressed some and seems to lose a little of the dynamics because of it.

I have no idea what the harmony parts are saying at the end of the song, but that bay just be my defective ears.

Go for it Dick, sounds pretty damn good to me.

Ed

Check out my latest song called Just a little Something

DWL

DWL said 789 days ago (September 29th, 2007)

Thanks Ed
this was really an experiment to see how the various pieces would fit together. We have an idea of a continuous work with linking sections and no silence.

The vocals were a mixture of a first take and a poor take in Spain where the equipment (or lack of it) let us down so it will be re-recorded.

I was pleased with the marching band as well. Totally stupid using a banjo but it seemed to work (after a fashion)

Thanks again.

Cheers

Dick

---
I'm really a 25 year old guitar god but an evil witch trapped me in this podgy middle aged body.

Check out my latest song called A Good Night's Sleep with Macferret, Sir Dennis Crowther and Pete Young

Rebsie

Rebsie said 789 days ago (September 29th, 2007)

Coming along nicely I'd say
Nice to see the opera take another step towards fruition. I enjoyed this. There's a bit of a disparity between the very crisp drums at the start and the deep reverb on Graeme's vocal, which is not a criticism, it just makes a bit of a sonic jump from one section to the next. The transition into the next section is sweet though. I think it works well having the a cappella section in there.

The 2nd part I'm already very familiar with as I've been listening to it on a CD for the past month! I like the sitarry bits you've added to it though. Is it my imagination or is it a mixture of the old vocal with a new one, or have I had too many drugs? I like the original Bait vocal but I do agree you've got a better one in you. And the psychedelic freakout bit at the end is a nice addition too.

Good going, Dick. It's getting there!

Check out my latest song called Amongst The Colours (w/ Luna Trick)

DWL

DWL said 789 days ago (September 29th, 2007)

The scene is
a marching band in the street. Our hero's mother who is heavily pregnant gets sudden and severe labour pains. She panics and looks around her. The nearest open door is a church and she rushes inside. The vicar phones for an ambulance but she gives birth before it arrives. A lone chorister stands at the far end of the church and sings what you hear. Perhaps I should have painted the picture before ;-)

You're right, there is a far better vocal to be done. Next time we'll do it before midnight and a bottle of brandy and with the right equipment!

Thanks for your support.

Cheers

Dick

---
I'm really a 25 year old guitar god but an evil witch trapped me in this podgy middle aged body.

Check out my latest song called A Good Night's Sleep with Macferret, Sir Dennis Crowther and Pete Young

DWL	DWL said 789 days ago (September 29th, 2007)
	and yes it is a mixture of old and new vocal and can you save some drugs for me? Cheers Dick --- I'm really a 25 year old guitar god but an evil witch trapped me in this podgy middle aged body. Check out my latest song called A Good Night's Sleep with Macferret, Sir Dennis Crowther and Pete Young

peacepiano	peacepiano said 789 days ago (September 29th, 2007)
	Begining Marching band is perfect. I like the psychedelic idea also, but is there any other psychedelic in the musical? The musical is pretty eclectic so this could work. I like the layering at the end, very '60s :) Thanks Bill Check out my latest song called I Should Have Known

DWL	DWL said 789 days ago (September 29th, 2007)
	Wow man, like thanks more psychedelia? Hmm depends what you mean but we do have a few numbers that get a little strange........ Thanks for listening :-) Cheers Dick --- I'm really a 25 year old guitar god but an evil witch trapped me in this podgy middle aged body. Check out my latest song called A Good Night's Sleep with Macferret, Sir Dennis Crowther and Pete Young

peacepiano	peacepiano said 672 days ago (January 24th, 2008)
	Aha You changed the name! You changed the beginning. But seriously, I need to get all the songs in one place, now that they are mostly done. Still enjoy this one too. Check out my latest song called I Should Have Known

echoroom

echoroom said 789 days ago (September 29th, 2007)

Problem i have..
... is i'm so in awe of what you're creating, i struggle to be objective.
The marching opening is great, and then the naked vocal sounded odd, but grew on me... almost sounds like an islamic chant.

The rest is excellent - great lyrics, and the track has a kinda 'Who' feel to it. Some of the vox should be re-done, but the emotion is all there. The ending is excellent - really powerful.

a great opener.

steve

Check out my latest song called Deeper (w/t Racerat)

DWL	DWL said 788 days ago (September 30th, 2007)
	Thanks Steve! Comments much appreciated but I'm a little worried that your impeccable taste and musical pedigree somehow deserted you when you made them ;-) Cheers Dick --- I'm really a 25 year old guitar god but an evil witch trapped me in this podgy middle aged body. Check out my latest song called A Good Night's Sleep with Macferret, Sir Dennis Crowther and Pete Young

blackhole

blackhole said 789 days ago (September 29th, 2007)

a few things....
The damped banjo is a great idea and sounds good, but I'd be hard-pressed to march that fast (without chemicals....)

The segue from the marching band in the church -- try fade out the drums as they wander away, maybe fade up the in-church voice -- my $.02 worth...

The last half is strictly brilliant, way listenable, I love it, engaging, driving and compelling, beautiful fade there. Wish I'd written it!

Yes, your describing the setting made it all come into focus for me.

Check out my latest song called Burrito 10

DWL	DWL said 788 days ago (September 30th, 2007)
	Too fast??? lol Interesting comments Mr B and I think I might try a fade on the drums as well as the big cymbal in there designed to cover up the join. Thanks for listening. Cheers Dick --- I'm really a 25 year old guitar god but an evil witch trapped me in this podgy middle aged body. Check out my latest song called A Good Night's Sleep with Macferret, Sir Dennis Crowther and Pete Young

Vic Holman	Vic Holman said 789 days ago (September 29th, 2007)
	where it begins the affected banjo really comes of well. Like how this goes into different directions. a mini opera within a opera. the rockin section is a great 70's badfinger meets traffic, slick! Check out my latest song called November

DWL	DWL said 788 days ago (September 30th, 2007)
	Slick? Blimey, from the master of layering that's high praise. Are you and Steve doing the same drugs? Thanks Vic Cheers Dick --- I'm really a 25 year old guitar god but an evil witch trapped me in this podgy middle aged body. Check out my latest song called A Good Night's Sleep with Macferret, Sir Dennis Crowther and Pete Young

echoroom	echoroom said 788 days ago (September 30th, 2007)
	no drugs.. .. as i threw the last lot out ... always a mistake. There's humble, and then there's not realising that you're talented and creating soemthing special. You're in the latter, then. Check out my latest song called Deeper (w/t Racerat)

Rebsie	Rebsie said 788 days ago (September 30th, 2007)
	HEAR HEAR!! (About Dick's songwriting I mean, not the drugs.) Check out my latest song called Amongst The Colours (w/ Luna Trick)

Rebsie	Rebsie said 788 days ago (September 30th, 2007)
	Actually ... ... er ... Steve, can I come round and scour your bins? Check out my latest song called Amongst The Colours (w/ Luna Trick)

DWL	DWL said 786 days ago (October 2nd, 2007)
	oo er missus... ................... --- I'm really a 25 year old guitar god but an evil witch trapped me in this podgy middle aged body. Check out my latest song called A Good Night's Sleep with Macferret, Sir Dennis Crowther and Pete Young

michael2	michael2 said 789 days ago (September 30th, 2007)
	wow what an ambitious piece of music. i have no problems with the transition to the vocal; and i love when the acoustic comes in. really nice. Check out my latest song called Behind Enemy Lines (w/Bud and Particle Dots)

DWL	DWL said 788 days ago (September 30th, 2007)
	Thanks Mike, I'm pleased you enjoyed it. I'm still not 100% with it but it can only get better :-) Cheers Dick --- I'm really a 25 year old guitar god but an evil witch trapped me in this podgy middle aged body. Check out my latest song called A Good Night's Sleep with Macferret, Sir Dennis Crowther and Pete Young

bud	bud said 786 days ago (October 2nd, 2007)
	OK - there's some cool stuff on MJ and some really talented people - and then there's this number that changes the whole field. All three parts are complete and compelling and work together to create a memorable trip. Part three is particularly mind blowing. I'm in awe. Check out my latest song called try not to think

DWL

DWL said 786 days ago (October 3rd, 2007)

I really have to step back
as I can't judge myself. I wasn't sure why I posted this as I wasn't happy about it and as I told one MJer I was going to pull it.

Thanks Bud, great to hear your very generous comments and I think that now I ought to shut up and go with the flow :-)

Cheers

Dick

---
I'm really a 25 year old guitar god but an evil witch trapped me in this podgy middle aged body.

Check out my latest song called A Good Night's Sleep with Macferret, Sir Dennis Crowther and Pete Young

paul f. page

paul f. page said 786 days ago (October 2nd, 2007)

The opera...
Dick,
I love part 2 of this movement...with the soft guitar and the laid-back vocal. You have a real talent for gluing all sorts of contrasting styles and instrumentation together. Very VERY appealing to my ears. I can't think is such grand dimensions and I admire you for your ability to keep all of this straight and to make it so compelling... My only crit would be with the clarity of the lyrics. My hearing isn't so hot anyway, but I would like to be able to listen without a libretto. Just a thought. .... I am writing as I listen, too...boy, this is an impressive piece. Kudos...and more kudos. Wow.
Peace.
Paul

Check out my latest song called Double Etude

	said 784 days ago (October 4th, 2007)
	This Is Amazing ...each of the different pieces flow so naturally into each other. There's also a warm, intimate sound that's as big as a Roman coliseum... how in the world did you ever did you manage that? Very surreal, epic sound that just works flawlessly. I feel like a teenager listening to 'Tommy', in my headphones late at night with my head filled with visions.

bonnieprincejohnny	bonnieprincejohnny said 784 days ago (October 4th, 2007)
	Banjoed. Man - where's the banjo solo? It's a glaring omission Richard. I kid thee not. Sweet lyric and melody though.Trippy vocal. Be cool. Check out my latest song called twenty seven

	said 784 days ago (October 4th, 2007)
	Wow man! Well done! The banjo-drums trick is genius! Love the vox solo near the beginning. Lovely the music that follows...man this is very creative. I could easily sit and listen to a whole album of you doing this sort of thing...The change-up midway is excellent. Bravo! Kudos! Encore! Be well!

Komrade K

Komrade K said 782 days ago (October 6th, 2007)

Fabulous intro
A banjo you say? Sounds incredible. This is a very ambitious piece and you've pretty much hit it (I think you've rightly identified the areas that could benefit from tweaks). There's a lot of diverse elements but you've succeeded in making it all hang together - I was more than happy to go with the flow and let the music lead me where it wanted to go. And at the end I felt like I indulged in a substance or two!

KK

Check out my latest song called Ye Mariners All

paddler	paddler said 781 days ago (October 8th, 2007)
	Definately A corker - great retro feel,those 2 chords on the guitar are my favourite - dunno about you nut I learned em from that song 'pusherman' by steppenwolf.Big number to start off on it could come back as a theme at the end too.Cheers Dick - Rich! Check out my latest song called Tiger Flame (Halloween Challenge)

paddler	paddler said 781 days ago (October 8th, 2007)
	I didnt mean to call you a nut just then - it was supposed to be but - its cos I'm typing with one hand cos its bloody freezing --- Ribbit to the limit put your whole heart in it Check out my latest song called Tiger Flame (Halloween Challenge)

davisamerica	davisamerica said 763 days ago (October 25th, 2007)
	nice surprise this one is fairly new here and struggeling to get round to so many sites...figured i needed to vist one of the masters. really cool even before intended tweaks! hats off!! Check out my latest song called No Son(egobandit band)

DWL	DWL said 759 days ago (October 29th, 2007)
	One of the masters I think you must be confusing me with Vic Holman et al. ;-) I really appreciate the comments. Cheers Dick Check out my latest song called A Good Night's Sleep with Macferret, Sir Dennis Crowther and Pete Young

Doug Somers	Doug Somers said 726 days ago (December 1st, 2007)
	How wonderfully fresh What a cool mix of styles and sounds that works!! You say it was an experiment but it sounds to me to be either very craftily conceived or you are living in inspiration city .... or both. Great tune Dick! Really enjoyed it!! Cheers, Doug Check out my latest song called Desiree (MJ Space Race 2009)

dirigent	dirigent said 592 days ago (April 14th, 2008)
	A Beginning Way cool, like this open-air-feeling :-) Bravi, well arranged stuff, very enjoyable!!! Check out my latest song called Autumn

Fan List

bud

Artist Info

Name: dick langford

Been playing guitar for longer than I care to remember (or so said the witch) Never very interested in music at school (what would I have done with a good teacher?) so it was surprise to find I had a little talent. My latest project is a rock op... [see more]

Check out some of my other songs:

Genre Info

Psychedelic music is a musical genre inspired by or attempting to replicate the mind-altering experience of drugs such as cannabis, psilocybin, mescaline, and especially LSD. It is not rigorously defined, and is sometimes interpreted to include every

More songs in Psychedelic:

Chat

bug67	56
drakonis	62
Feter	41
hackneybloke	0
MarkHolbrook	21
PsalmsProgressions	3
scaustrita	12
sloparts	27
VicDiesel	45