This is an old traditional song that was popularized in the Civil War.  The "Soldier's Joy" was morphine as they were having a limb amputated or some other such painful instance.  However the song is MUCH older than that and comes from an old Scottish ballad about a soldier going off to battle and wanting one more night with his lady.  (As far as I know, correct me if I'm wrong)

Soldier's Joy (Free Download)

Acoustic version of my previous "I am a Thinking Thing" (pretentious philosophy reference).  Used in the recording: 1923 Brambach baby grand, Manuel Rodriguez nylon strung cedar top guitar, Washburn B-9 banjo, home-spun (rebuilt) electric bass, and Abbey Roads drum plug-in used with an Alesis SR-16.  Mics used were an MXL 3000 and Audio-Technica PRO 63 through an M-Audio M-Track Plus into Cubase 7.  Waiting on a Trumpet part.  A real one that is, no VSTs.

I was a Thinking Thing in B flat (Free Download)

All The Coffins Are Empty Round Here (Free Download)

An old standard, this is a simple arrangement for sure, but I just wanted to test it out on a new mic.  Same Instruments as usual: Organ, Auto Harp, Baby Grand, Arch Top, Classical, Banjitar, Mahogany Dreadnaught, and then the same dreadnaught played with a slide.  There are of course some MIDI drums at the end, but the snare you hear beginning near the 1/3 mark is me actually playing a child's snare.  Couldn't help myself.  The picture is of an old relative of mine who rode with the James/Dalton gang. 

Will the Circle be Unbroken (Free Download)

This is a beginners classical piece written by Carulli.  I've always thought about combining western folk and classical so a beginner's piece is a beginning.  Just a couple slides, banjo, and banjitar.  I plan on doing some more in the same fashion: Lagrima, Canon in D, etc.

Waltz in E Minor Revisited (Free Download)

Lagrima is a standard by Tarrega.  I am using a classical nylon strung acoustic, a slide mahogany dreadnaught, and a nylon strung banjitar.

Lagrima Revisited (Free Download)

This is an arrangement of the piece by Pachelbel that everyone knows and has done, and done, and re-done.  However, I wanted to add a "western" feel to it by staying acoustic, and adding a slide guitar, banjo, and acoustic steel string, along with piano, organ, bass, and classical guitar.

Canon in D Revisited (Free Download)

This was just a fun recording to do after taking the summer off.  All the coverage in the media lately made me think back to when this song came out.

Smells Like Teen Spirit Acoustic Instrumental Cover

This has some drums, bodhran, archtop, high strung 6 string, and a slide guitar added to the original clawhammer.

Colored Aristocracy in C demo by Squirrel Jam Zombie Banjo w/ GonzoBeans rthym

This is Squirrel Jam Zombie Banjo's arrangement of Taj Mahal's Colored Aristocracy in C.  He played the clawhammer and some percussion to which I added a little slide guitar, a high strung acoustic 6 string, archtop, drums, and a bodhran.  Sounds like a lot to add but I tried to do it sparingly. Finally I mixed it down and mastered the final proof.   

Colored Aristocracy In C Master by Squirrel Jam Zombie Banjo - accompanied by GonzoBeans

This is a track by Greenwood and Burns accompanied by Martin Kirwan.  The original tune is hundreds of years old and has been through many incarnations.  Greenwood and Burns, among other things, take old traditional songs and weave in contemporary ideas while still maintaining the spirit of the original.  This is a sea chanty that has a mellotron and digereedoo in it.  Doesn't sound like it would work but these guys have played it in a way that you don't even notice they are out of place, because they really aren't, they fit the sound perfectly.  I was given the chance to mix this song and hope I've done it justice.

The Golden Vanity by Greenwood and Burns w/ Martin Kirwan (GonzoBeansMix)

This is a tune written and performed by Martin Kirwan.  He is playing a Northern Indian instrument called a Sarod, as well as the bass, percussion, vocals, melodica, and finger picked rhythm guitar.  More of his music can be heard at  https://soundcloud.com/martin-k-g  TheGonzoBeans mixed the song and played a double neck tenor/baritone guitar, drums, and organ.   

The Ganges Blues by Martin Kirwan

Everything from traditional, folk, bluegrass, rock, metal, electronic, jazz, blues, and classical.  I produce, mix, master, and play the all the instruments on my tracks unless otherwise noted.  Collaborations are welcome. I also do mixing and mastering at Bydand Studios https://plus.google.com/+GonzoBeans/posts/Fft2ui8s66G

TheGonzoBeans

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