"You're The One" 60's song, Scott Free & Casey

[Casey H]

Hello there peers...

Hot off the press! First ROUGH!! mix of a 60's pop song by me and Scott Free​. Vocal by Shane Searles. Looking for all types of feedback to make it work as an era piece for Film/TV. Mix? Relative Levels? Making production not sounding too modern? I'll post some a la's. Thanks!

https://soundcloud.com/caseyh/youre-the-one-60s/s-63CmS

Some a la's:

https://youtu.be/ZeuYdkxS7DA This Diamond Ring, Gary Lewis and the Playboys

https://youtu.be/W-7QHWJOzbE You Were On My Mind, We Five

https://youtu.be/jvIVJWwBKcY You Baby, The Turtles

Thank you Scott and Shane!

And thank you all in advance for your feedback.

Best,
Casey

PS THIS IS A FIRST ROUGH MIX

[cassmcentee]

I really dig it Casey!

[jonnybutter]

Hey Casey

Sounds like you all nailed it! Won't comment on the mix since it's rough. Only thing I notice other than that is that the opening guitar hook could be stronger. Maybe you have some alternatives in mind or on muted tracks? On those post Beatles 60s singles, the opening (usually guitar) lick tended to be fairly memorable somehow, melodic, like on "This Diamond Ring" and "You Baby", or just arresting (opening chord of 'Hard Day's Night', eq trick on "I Feel Fine"). First impressions are so big in a short pop song! The Beatles /G. Martin really brought that to the fore, dispensing with the throw-away intro and hooking you in right away. And everybody copied them of course!

Just a thought. What you have works just fine. Maybe it's better to *not* be too arresting for this use. You have more developed instincts than I do on that I'm sure. But from a pure pop POV, something more melodic or hooky in the intro would contrast nicely with the relatively restricted rhythmic and interval range of the vocal melody. Prototype: 'And Your Bird Can Sing' - very active but short intro, and then simple, laid back vocal melody.

anyway, this sounds good already and I hope you get some good action with it. You probably will!

[Casey H]

Thanks. And we DO welcome comments on the mix!

[cassmcentee]

Okay Okay...
One mix comment...
I want to hear the "right side chorus guitar" a little louder and thicker!
How's that Casey?!?
Love this tune!

[jonnybutter]

we DO welcome comments on the mix!

Sorry, you said that in the OP didn't you?!

Sounds over compressed a bit. Maybe it sounds that way to my ear because it's mashed hard like a period piece, but has a fuller range harmonically than a real 60s song (lower lows and higher highs). Also, the guitars sound perhaps too distorted, not clear or jangly like they would be [EDIT, or MIGHT be] in 1965. And the organ is in the same range as the wall of guitars, so it's just sort of over loading that area harmonically. Mix is definitely not bad, but seems too crowded during vocals.

More contrast between vocal lines and the little bits between lines would be good, or just pulling guitars etc down a little during vocal parts? 60s songs, I think, were compressed/limited hard, but there was a lot of contrast.

nit picking! Good stuff!

[Casey H]

Thanks Johnny!

Yea, I need to listen more but I thought maybe instruments were competing too much with the vocal. Also, maybe slightly too compressed. I'm not the mix guy; Scotty is the genius there. He'll be reading!

Much appreciated!
Casey

[jonnybutter]

Thanks Johnny!

...I thought maybe instruments were competing too much with the vocal.(...)

Casey

Everything is in the same range - guitars, vocal, organ. And I don't know if it's too compressed or it's just the effect of all that loud low low bass and high treble smacking me in the face the way it wouldn't on a 60s recording.

But as I say, it's a pretty decent mix already, so I know I'm picking nits. Looking forward to hearing it as it progresses!

[burpo]

You guys are way above my white-belt status,
but as a long-time record collector,
I hear early Who (The Kids are Alright) and Hollies.
If this is the first mix, I'm sure the final will be flawless.

Great stuff. Congrats to all involved!

[lesmac]

Fantastic! Sounds like a hit from back then so I'm sure its gonna go places. I'll just way in with what I heard after reading Jonny's posts on congestion. I noticed the bass had little definition on the grot box speaker but the lows were there on the big ones. Yeah maybe just a few things cleaner from that period? Hth
Les