Blue and Broken

This is a remix of my first vocal offering which I originally released over 10 years ago. Some of the original (free) VST's have faded from existence so I worked with a few of my current favourites and one new one. By now I had switched to a Strat guitar and this is undoubtedly one of my better, more fluid leads. At the time, I was also experimenting with keyboards and was really just getting comfortable using two hands (rather than 2 fingers). Also at this time, I was getting comfortable using Cuckos Reaper. As for lyrics, they just came from the mood of the tune. Everything is drawn from life experiences, so a "cut and paste" of some old, but not forgotten, memories. I'm not sure why I chose the 3rd person to express these images. 

Broken Dreams
---------------------

[INTRO/SOLO]

You wake up from a nightmare ...
Or was that real?
Somehow you can't get out of bed
Fingers too numb to feel.

Sun coming through the window
But there's no heat.
Now, the silence is deafening
Not a sound from the street.

[SOLO]

Sweet smells from the pillow
As you turn in bed.
Memories of warm embraces
Filter through your head.

No matter now, the bed is cold.
The covers are all grey.
The memories still linger
Of a love that did not stay.

[OUTRO/SOLO]

:: Words and music copyright Rick Engler

Image courtesy of MS Word Clipart
Drum sounds courtesy of Free Studio Drum Sounds and 9th Wonder Kit
Microphones: Apex 185
Keyboards: Casio WK-110 with built-in voicings
Fender Princeton Chorus Amp
Fender Stratocaster Blacktop Guitar
Boss ME-70 Multi-effects pedal
Analog to Digital: Steinberg CI 1 USB MIDI Interface
Mixed in Cuckos Reaper on a PC
Remixed using Reaper with a Focusrite Scarlett 2i2 and a Shure SM58.

Broken Dreams

Broken Dreams (Original)

It's all about constant change, both in life and in music. As for the music, the original goal was to make use of panning to illustrate the "walking on by" at the beginning and end of the song. The second phase was creating a fuller sound without having various parts drowned out, or in some way, channel my inner Phil Spector.

The finale is the sound of footsteps walking by and then the shutting of the door as the song ends. End of a relationship. End of the song.

Maybe the best relationship advise I can give is: if you love someone, set them free ... don't quote me, quote Sting. :-) This is sort of my "resigned to my fate" version. I've been on both sides of that fence. I've walked away knowing it wasn't going to work out (long term). Sadly, I've been on the other side knowing the pain of love lost. But in the end, I didn't really lose anything that was mine to lose. I could go on and talk about how a true love is neither possessive nor jealous but hopefully, the song makes that point clear.

Original Mix using Reaper v4.x
Remix using Reaper v7.x
VSTs:
- Voxengo OldSchoolReverb
- Blue Cat Chorus
- FocusRite Red 3 Compressor
Image courtesy of FreeDigitalPhotos.net
Footstep Sound FX courtesy of freesfx.co.uk
Drum sound bytes courtesy of Free Studio Drum Sounds and 9th Wonder Kit

Just Walk On By
----------------------
Just walk -- walk on by
No need to tell me another lie
Keep it to yourself (I tell you)
Just walk on by ...

That's what I said -- keep on walking
You don't need to do any more talking
What you say just don't matter
Just walk on by ...

[Solo]

You say that you love me, ain't that right?
So where were you all last night?
He he! That really don't matter
Just walk on by ...

So many years, I've been holding on
Now you don't want to say: "So long."
Well, you know I hate long good byes, so
Just walk on by ...

[final solo]

[footsteps as she leaves and shuts the door
thus closure to the song and the relationship]

... you know I hate long good byes.

:: Words and music copyright Rick Engler

Reflections

Just Walk On By

Just Walk On By (Original)

Somewhere I read that SoundCloud is the DIY of the music world.  Very true for most of us wannabe (famous) musicians.  For those who were lucky enough to spend years in an actual sound studio, maybe this is a slam dunk. For the rest of us, it's like being the Wright brothers before they fully understood the science behind aerodynamics much less get a machine to fly.

I have learned a lot in 2018 thru 2019 while playing at small, local venues.  It's a lot easier to sit back in a "recording studio".  I do put that in quotes since, for me, this is just a couple of microphones connected to a DAW which is connected to a computer with some multi-track software and some free plugins to enhance the finished product.  I believe there are about 5 unique disciplines to learn which include: playing an instrument, singing, doing both together, using a microphone, connecting with the audience.  I have much more respect for stage performers now, especially solo artists. Now, if one adds the discipline of recording engineer, well then, you have a well rounded musical background. 

I do hope that you enjoy some of my tunes.  I'm always happy to hear from listeners who have something meaningful to share, even when it is not particularly flattering or in someway odd.  I'll even try to answer any questions you may have.  Remember that you are never too old nor too young to create and share your music and/or share your knowledge.

Blue and Broken

BluesmanRick