Is it good to go back and listen to your old songs?

[Hobbins17]

I do listen to old material that I had signed in last years - once in a while. Usually when I am starting a new collection in a vibe that I have written before.

1. To see if I am repeating myself
2. To see what worked (if it’s gotten placed)
3. To reassure myself that I don’t suck as much as I might think (in those dark and challenging days)
4. To see how my hearing / producing / aesthetic taste has changed and improved.
5. Related to #4 - any things that stick out as obvious “seriously! What was I thinking there”.

Thank you for your reply!
These points are really good!! I didn't even think about wondering if I might be repeating myself! That's a really good point to consider
I found these points really helpful! Thanks again

Leanne

[songmaster]

I once went back to a song I had written 14 years ago. I thought it was pretty good, but it needed to be slightly rewritten. I submitted the new version to a country song contest and won 2nd place and a thousand dollars. SO..I would say yes, take a look at some of your older stuff, because that was when maybe you wrote for the pure joy of it without restraints . If you want to hear the song , it is called " There's A Cowboy In The Convent " on my Taxi page. There's gold in them thar drawers lol!

Tom

[cosmicdolphin]

Never go back.

Unless it got you a placement. Then listen to it like 20 times and bask in your own glory.

[mojobone]

I occasionally mine my back catalog for gold, and not just failed songs but failed mixes, too. It's a comfort to hear my progress, and often letting a song lie fallow leads to greater insight through the lens of experience.