'Redwing Suite' is a collection of five instrumental pieces from the Tony Banks 'Soundtracks' album.

I had originally covered this via MIDI files back in (around 1999 - can't remember specifically). Most of these are synthesized versions of those MIDI files, except 'Lorca' which I have recorded from only the drums being sequenced - everything else a live recording with a little mixing magic with some FX.

I've allowed the files open for download, but please, if you do download then share the link to Soundcloud - I'm sure they'd love the traffic and my stats improve, too (which, unfortunately includes a bit of ego on my part - hey, I'm only human).

Enjoy.

PS If you don't already have the Soundtracks album and you've enjoyed this, please try to find it and purchase it; I shouldn't be the only one to benefit from these, especially considering I didn't write them.

Redwing Suite

Tony Banks is a fairly heavy influence on my style, so some of these covers are either from his solo work or from his time in Genesis. For aficionados only.

As you can probably tell, the instrumentation is limited to the gear I have (I'm not rich), and instead of all coat and no knickers, it's no coat and no knickers - any trace of talent is luck in this instance.

Genesis/Tony Banks Covers

All of these tracks were written and performed by me. Some dating back to 1995. Not the best stuff or best sounding stuff in the world, but different. Mostly unfinished and I will be re-recording some of these in the future.

The list is not exhaustive but a selection of stuff I have done.

By Me

Maybe time to give the album Calling All Stations some love? No?

Provide your own vocals.

Instruments used:

DX7 (VST)
Padshop
Halion
Groove Agent
Bass Guitar
Ovation Guitar
Yamaha Piano as controller
Wavestation (VST)
Cubase 12 Pro

'Congo' sample taken from the original track, but played around with - everything else either live or quantized!

Bongo the Congo

This is unfinished - needs more than the placeholder drums - there no toms, either! Anyway, Guide Vocal is there and I'm happy enough with that. Most of the mix for Duchess is pretty much there.

Duchess Cover (Unfinished)

As an experiment to see if the music stands up to the original with the vocals, this is my version albeit with vocals ripped from the original song (Spectralayers 9). I've had to re-time the vocals a little bit. I think the second half is more successful than the first half and it's obvious I don't have professional mixing or mastering but for something I've had to figure the music out for myself I'm quite pleased with it.

As this contains original vocals copyright must be respected a bit more than a usual cover. I haven't sought permission for the vocals and I make no claim to any part of this version of the track apart from the instrumentation and arrangement of the backing track.

There is always the instrumental version available elsewhere on my playlists.

Lion of Symmetry (Toyah Vocals)

I have written an application to emulate a guitar using MIDI. There are other bits of software that can do this, but this cost me nothing. This is just an example of an early-stage demo of both the software and a track.

All of this is a standard VST. No special guitar VST.

Turn It On Again - MGTR Sample

Entirely VST - no real guitars were harmed in making this. Guitar tracks created by my own software, hopefully a certain level of realism is achieved, although I can spot where it's not perfect.

The guitar tabs were from a YouTube video (I will post the link when I find it).

Now with added Mellotron choir (slight).
Now with added percussion (shaker/tambourine).

Entangled (VST) (Genesis cover - Karaoke version)

Update to the last version. This has a few more overdubs of guitar and keys. This is probably as close to a final version as I'm going to get, but the overdubs improve some of the weaker areas.

Land of the Living (Work-in-progress)

I don't know if anyone's done a cover of Throwback? Anyway, here's one to fill the void. Full of cheesy 80/90's horns.Strictly (inc) speaking, this one comes under the pile of guilty pleasures. I'm not a fan of the horn sound, either with the original or this one - a bit too eager to try and find a 'Collins' sound, if you ask me. But the bridge is probably the best part of the tune.Please note, I can't mix for toffee and the only effects I use here are some stereo widening and reverb. Also, not done very well. However, it is what it is.

Throwback (Cover) - Cheesy 80's Horns

Instrumentally a cover. Vocally a rip from the original.

It's strange how adding a vocal can considerably change a mix, volume-wise and sometimes other fundamentals. Parts that were high in the mix on the non-vocal version has been lowered and other parts are mixed higher.

Throwback

Throwback (Cover) added vocals from original

Taken from the Redwing Suite, this is a synth version of the MIDI file I did eons ago (thanks to Krissy for sending them to me - I'd lost them a couple of years ago). Short, not too sweet, but listenable.

Death of Abby (Tony Banks)

This is the second track in a cover of Tony Banks' Redwing Suite. All instruments played live as overdubs except the drums which are sequenced originally by myself back in the late 90's.

The sounds used are from the Korg. Although I try to get the sounds similar, I really don't see the point in doing an exact replica; I might as well listen to the original. Still, it's recognisable to those who know it I hope.

Jan '16 - Tweaked the mix and added an octave layer to the porto synth.

Apr '16 - Slight mix adjustment

Jul '17 - Drawbar Organ (subtle) added to 'chorus'

Lorca (Tony Banks)

A slight cover of the Mike & the Mechanics 1991 hit. Just a bit of fun. No vocals. No guitar solo. Nothing on this is an original instrument - pure VST, pure MIDI.

Word of Mouth - BringYourOwnVocalsAndGuitarSolo

Another cover from the Redwing Suite. The parts are played live. I may as well do Lift Off soon; just to complete the suite!

Kid and Detective Droid (Tony Banks)

Lift Off from the Redwing Suite.

This is taken from the MIDI file version I did circa 1999. There are two layers to the main organ sound and the pipes come in separately. The choir is a combination preset on the Korg 01W/FD and this sounds vastly better than the MIDI version.

Lift Off (Tony Banks)

Got a new(er) DAW. A quick test with a re-rendering of a cover version of Genesis' Do The Neurotic (fixing some of the things I didn't like, albeit missing some of the things I did like).

Do The Neurotic (2021 mix)

Very rough cover of Genesis' Domino pt 1 (In the Glow of the Night).

No singing...I promise.

Sequenced parts - drum machine.
All other instruments played live.

In the Glow of the Night (Genesis - rough) [2016]

Another Tony Banks cover from the Soundtracks album. Done from memory rather than reference, it's not an exact replica (what's the point in that).

Done for a bit of fun. It still needs more work on the mixing and effects.

Probably one of my last Banks covers (A few more in me, but I've done enough, I think, to warrant legal action!)

All VST. 

Considering I'm going from memory rather than using someone else's MIDI file, it sounds okay to my ears.

28-Dec-16 - Changes the drum voice and increased the solo lower octave level.

Smilin' Jack Casey (Tony Banks)

One of my favourites...I wish my playing were better but I'm no pianist. Think of this as more adaption than replication; an exact copy is just a duplicate! I am aware of the parts that are different.

18-May-17 - Sorted out the first chord (F/C#)
16-June-17 - Added synth bass
10-July-17 - Synth bass too loud - reduced level
11-July-17 - Adjusted chorus on piano to lower in the mix
14-July-17 - Other synths added - still not quite complete but complete enough
15-Sept-17 - Additional organ and synth bass enhancement
5-Oct-17 - Synth-bass enhancement (slower attack)

Slight mix adjustment since using the new control surface.

From The Undertow (Banks - A Curious Feeling)

Very VERY rough version. The instruments used are not final and merely act as a guide.

I'll Be Waiting (1st - basic structure)

Named after my daughter, but originally written in 2001.

Georgia [2001]

At the risk of ridicule, this is a vocal/piano effort. Not the world's best at either, so be warned.

Taken Over [1999]

Demo - sorry, no vocals as I've still to write any lyrics for it.

Odds are Hard to Call [2011]

In the Light

I first recorded this as a MIDI file back in the late 90's which then ended up on a MIDI hosting website.

This version has been updated for the 2020s. It's still not perfect but I feel an improvement on what was there before.

Do The Neurotic (Genesis Cover)

This is a re-recording of the one I did a few years back. Better production methods and if you know the previous version, I hope you'll agree that it sounds a lot better. Still not a scratch on the original Tony Banks version, but I'm very happy with how this turned out.

Redwing (Tony Banks Cover)

This was recorded in 2002 on a Korg 01W/FD. The sound has deteriorated slightly but it still holds up.

One for the Vine (Genesis Cover)

I wanted to give this a go - writing is a bit of a blank at the moment. Varying degrees of success and failure on this, but as a first try I'm happy with it. Certain things are missing and the whole thing is unfinished. There's no guitar solo either - cuz I'm a rubbish guitarist.

All VST apart from guitars and bass.

The drums are VST, albeit played live with an e-drumkit.
There are some Simmons samples in this!! Gotta love the 80s!

Revisions:

2022-07-13 - Synth Bass redone
2023-02-14 - Added DX7 (Dexed), re-eq of snare and some guitar

Tonight Tonight Tonight (Genesis Cover)

Strictly amateur stuff here, folks. What's mine is distinctly average at best, but there's a few Genesis-and-related covers in here, and also a few Genesis-inspired tracks of my own; I have many more of my own but I'm not sure the world is ready for them(!).

I don't really have any equipment (apart from e drums) younger than 20 years old; I'm afraid it doesn't sound as good as I'd like, but never blame your tools!

I may be ending this account soon. For what I pay I'm just not getting the traffic that I feel justifies it...shame.

Matt Hogg

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