My cover of John Rzeznik's wonderful song written for the movie soundtrack, "City of Angels." 

Dennis Asselstine: Vocals, Acoustic, Wired Guitars, Mandolin, Keyboards; Caleb Asselstine: Bass Guitar; Robin Lubert: Violin; Fred Patalone: Drums; Recorded at FatDog  Productions: Sound Engineer Chad Nesrallah; 

Our cover respectively kept to the spirit of the original work, since the essence of IRIS is such a tasteful, haunting but melodic classic.  
- Mechanical licenses: CMRRA and LoudR.  

This cover is the beginning of recordings and new writing that will see the completion of the album ÙnResolved, as part of my bucket list and healing.



Iris  (Cover - Dennis Asselstine)

Just 15 (1992)
This song, Just 15`` came to me in a dream.  It`s a tragic yet realistic song about tragedy and the hardship for the lives of prostitutes woman, men, children and more recently aboriginal women and children that have went missing or have been taken from us.  It`s a story about a man who lives in an apartment below a young girl in the said trade.  He hears her come and go, until one evening she does not return.   And he drives out in the area she worked, to look for her only to find a tragic ending of her life.  
I wrote Just 15 in Calgary Alberta in 1990-91, at the HighLander motel and recorded it on a 4 track around 1992 in Cold lake Alberta.  I played it live with the band Ransom, a cover band I worked with at the time while in the Canadian Forces.  John Andre and Dale`s playing live did it much more justice than my home recording.   The song was entered in the Alberta music project by a local radio station and aired as part of the 5% Canadian content coverage.  At the time a couple recording companies asked me through the radio station manager for another copy professionally recorded to submit to them .  Unfortunately, I couldn’t do this due to limited finances, while in the Military posted at CFB (4-Wing) cold lake on private salary, was a modest income and no access to a professional studio.  
Today, many years later old military friends from that era and area and family members (Dad, brother,  and Sister) ask for copies of the song but I only have an mp3 made from a tape recording .. both of which are very poor quality.  Therefore I will be re-recording it in on my Album Unresolved in the near future...
Original recording:  I used a Korg O1W/fd for the sounds, string and drum sequence and a Fostex 4-track to capture voices and guitars.  It was a lot of fun and work bouncing tracks and playing live for the final mix.  This was long before affordable computer recording, and yes Its a little rough. .. Either  way… its here to abuse your ears until its recorded well.
The story is important and although fictional, unfortunately real today.  The tragedy and abuse to these women and in particular missing aboriginal women today, is a national tragedy without enough visibility and help by our Government and by the people that should love them the most; their own communities and bands.  
I greatly appreciate any feedback from my musician friend before I record this again.

Dennis

1992 Cold Lake

Just Fifteen (1992)

I recorded this cover of Leonard Cohen's Hallelujah for my Mom as Christmas gift, in December 2016. The vocals, piano, strings, and guitars are my work. It was beautifully mixed by Chad Nesrallah (Recording Engineer www.fatodogproductions.ca) with his hand in the string arrangement and drums. Drums were provided by my cousin and music comrade Dan Anderson. The video of the studio work, was created by my friend Glenn Torresan, (www.hangar13.com ). It was a fun and unique gift to give to my mom; Carolyn Ashton, who loves music so dearly and it was a wonderful memory for me to work on this little project with such talented, kind and humble friends, Chad and Glenn.

To Mom, my family and to all those that I have loved, lost or have done wrong in any way.
Dennis

Hallelujah - Cover By Dennis Asselstine

I was fortunate to be a recording subject for a recording engineering class held at fatdogproductions.ca
I chose this song to commemorate a fine group of musicians that I worked with in a touring band called Ransom during the 90s. We played packed clubs in Alberta.  The song was also a good choice for the class because of its familiarity to everyone , and for the complexity allow for experience of microphone placement for acoustic and electric guitars and and drums, as well as mixing various instruments, while having a popular well known track as a reference.
I have played most instruments and vocals except drums, played by Antonio Audet.

Cover - Wanted Dead Or Alive

Part-time.. musician, singer + song writer.
Full-Time.. paying the bills with other skills..
Thanks for viewing! ;)

  


dvasselstine

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