AndyB01 Posted October 29, 2022 Share Posted October 29, 2022 (edited) Hi folks - hope you're all keeping well. Here's my take on Gilbert O'Sullivan's timeless (if somewhat depressing) classic ballad from way back in 1971. I've always wanted to have a go at this song - mainly because of the guitar solo. I had to drop the key to handle my rather limited baritone range and it's also a couple of clicks slower than the original. I probably could have coped with a higher key, but I really couldn't face re-recording it all (I know the vocal timing is a little off in the bridge section - I will get around to fixing that). The piano track is well beyond my rather rudimentary chops, so I had to get creative with Scaler and EzKeys to produce this - seems to have come out not too badly but judge for yourselves. Anyway - I hope you like it - nits and crits welcome as always. Alone Again (Naturally) Andy p.s see later post for updated version Edited November 11, 2022 by AndyB01 Added a new version 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
noynekker Posted October 30, 2022 Share Posted October 30, 2022 Great job Andy ! I remember this song, you've done a grand version of it . . . just bring those shy vocals up a tad ? Guitar solo is excellent, such fun was had ? This was a classic song back in the day, you've really captured it well ! Thanks for posting it here. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AndyB01 Posted October 30, 2022 Author Share Posted October 30, 2022 (edited) @noynekker Cheers for the listen, I dropped the vocals as they sounded a bit too loud in the mix to me, but I probably have song fatigue after working on this for hours. I'll have a fresh listen. My Dad never liked this song or Gilbert O'Sullivan - used to he say that he just 'bashed out chords on a piano'. What great chords they were though eh, my Dad should have had a closer listen. ? The other intriguing aspect of this song is the rather sing-a-long, upbeat melody - set against those lyrics - which tell such a tragic story of loneliness, abandonment and loss. Andy P.s. listened again and I agree - I have lifted the vox a few notches (probably overcooked it) ? Edited October 30, 2022 by AndyB01 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bajan Blue Posted October 30, 2022 Share Posted October 30, 2022 Hi Andy i tried to listen, but the link kept saying "This site can’t be reached - Check if there is a typo in https." now this might very well be where I am at the moment , but I thought I should let you know Cheers Nigel Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AndyB01 Posted October 30, 2022 Author Share Posted October 30, 2022 52 minutes ago, Bajan Blue said: Hi Andy i tried to listen, but the link kept saying "This site can’t be reached - Check if there is a typo in https." now this might very well be where I am at the moment , but I thought I should let you know Cheers Nigel It was a dud link briefly Nigel - after I uploaded a new version - but I think it's fixed now; try again when you get chance. Andy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bajan Blue Posted October 30, 2022 Share Posted October 30, 2022 Andy All good now - an excellent cover and a really good guitar solo Cool Nigel 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
steve@baselines.com Posted October 30, 2022 Share Posted October 30, 2022 17 hours ago, AndyB01 said: Hi folks - hope you're all keeping well. Here's my take on Gilbert O'Sullivan's timeless (if somewhat depressing) classic ballad from way back in 1971. Always liked this song Andy - your version is really nice. Thanks for posting. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mark skinner Posted October 30, 2022 Share Posted October 30, 2022 (edited) Great job Andy ! This song has always been a favorite of mine . I always thought it had a very nice and easy to listen to melody line and you covered it Well. The piano and the guitar break were Very Nice. My only crit is the lowered key , and the high pitched vocals was kind of the signature sound of this song. Lowering the key is something I have to do Quite frequently so , For Sure I understand. At some point in the future I'd try doing it higher at least to the point of you having to dig in a little for the higher notes. Only takes a second to raise the key on a midi piano. As it is I enjoyed it Very much. mark Edited October 30, 2022 by mark skinner Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AndyB01 Posted October 30, 2022 Author Share Posted October 30, 2022 Cheers Mark, appreciate the listen, you make a good point about the key - for what it's worth - I agree 100%. It actually came out quite a bit lower than I expected - I definitely have a bit more headroom in my vocal range than this, so I will have a bash at re-cutting it at some point. Easy to lift the MIDI tracks as you say, I'd re-record the guitar though because transposing it using something like Melodyne will destroy the tone I think. I look forward to re-comping the twin-tracked vocal tracks. ? Andy 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PhonoBrainer Posted October 30, 2022 Share Posted October 30, 2022 Well I thought it was great and a real treat to rehear this song. Great chords. Ideas? The nifty guitar solo is at times in front of the beat, which is certainly ok, but as the solo is note-perfect with the sung melody, I found it a bit rushed. You could get away with more rubato in a guitar solo if it weren't mirroring the vocal line. Perhaps. IDK. I liked your vocal, certainly a lower register than the original, but the original as I recall was gratuitously doubletracked, or maybe even triple tracked. super smooth up there he was. What a great project, it's come out very well. Your taste in covers is excellent. cheers, -Tom Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MichaelJohn Posted October 31, 2022 Share Posted October 31, 2022 Nice work on this old classic. I heard it many times on the radio in the car back then. I like the guitar tone and playing. Hit that sweet spot for sure! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AndyB01 Posted October 31, 2022 Author Share Posted October 31, 2022 Thanks Tom - I actually programmed the piano chords into Scaler (so I could play them using key switches to lay down a really simple chord track) and then I used a couple of EzKeys MIDI packs to add some character and embellishments - worked out better than I expected. I tried to keep the guitar solo as close to the original as I remembered it - which pretty much follows the vocal melody. It is fairly busy - it's not particularly difficult to play - you just need to select the best neck position to get the most impact for the glissando transitions (of which there are many). Appreciate all the feedback and cheers for the listen @MichaelJohn, the guitar tone is just my Yamaha SLG200N (yep that's the so-called silent one), DI'd in with a bit of added reverb. I find it to be a great guitar for recording with nylon strings. Andy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jesse Screed Posted October 31, 2022 Share Posted October 31, 2022 Very Nice, excellent work with scaler and ez keys combo. I would have liked to see that workflow. Did it take you long? the song has a lot of emotion is that a nylon guitar Good Job! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wookiee Posted October 31, 2022 Share Posted October 31, 2022 I remember this from his regular show back in the days when we only had three TV channels or was it four. Not bad at all Andy 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AndyB01 Posted October 31, 2022 Author Share Posted October 31, 2022 2 hours ago, Jesse Screed said: excellent work with scaler and ez keys combo. I would have liked to see that workflow. Did it take you long? A few hours. At first I had to get the chords (fortunately some guy on YouTube had done a bar by bar breakdown) and then transpose to the key I wanted. Programming chords into Scaler is OK, you just have to make sure every chord you need is there once, and then do a mapping to the song structure using key switches to change pattern - I wrote a little guide to help. I just routed and recorded this out from Scaler to another VST (Pianoteq), as the Scaler instruments are a bit lame. A quick quantize then import (and humanize) the chord track over to a couple of EzKeys tracks. The noodling piano is one of the jazz ballad packs and the accompaniment is a simple basic arpeggio pattern. Both use pianos in EzKeys (the upright). I had to edit a few inversions where EzKeys goes out of whack but it did pretty well. It took a few hours one evening to get it right. 2 hours ago, Jesse Screed said: Is that a nylon guitar Sure is - a Yamaha Silent Guitar - SLG200-N My wife's favourite guitar - because it makes very little noise. ?? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AndyB01 Posted October 31, 2022 Author Share Posted October 31, 2022 1 minute ago, Wookiee said: I remember this from his regular show back in the days when we only had three TV channels or was it four. Cheers It was definitely three and they were in black and white!!! ??? 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wookiee Posted October 31, 2022 Share Posted October 31, 2022 1 minute ago, AndyB01 said: Cheers It was definitely three and they were in black and white!!! ??? Correct. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Larry T. Posted October 31, 2022 Share Posted October 31, 2022 good work there Andy....enjoy listening to your version....always liked this song from the first time i heard it ???? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jesse Screed Posted November 1, 2022 Share Posted November 1, 2022 21 hours ago, AndyB01 said: A few hours. At first I had to get the chords (fortunately some guy on YouTube had done a bar by bar breakdown) and then transpose to the key I wanted. Programming chords into Scaler is OK, you just have to make sure every chord you need is there once, and then do a mapping to the song structure using key switches to change pattern - I wrote a little guide to help. I just routed and recorded this out from Scaler to another VST (Pianoteq), as the Scaler instruments are a bit lame. A quick quantize then import (and humanize) the chord track over to a couple of EzKeys tracks. The noodling piano is one of the jazz ballad packs and the accompaniment is a simple basic arpeggio pattern. Both use pianos in EzKeys (the upright). I had to edit a few inversions where EzKeys goes out of whack but it did pretty well. It took a few hours one evening to get it right. Sure is - a Yamaha Silent Guitar - SLG200-N My wife's favourite guitar - because it makes very little noise. ?? Excellent, I admire your effort. I think you did a great job! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jim Fogle Posted November 5, 2022 Share Posted November 5, 2022 Very good cover Andy. The vocal doubling is interesting. The guitar sounded nice. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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