Spend a Little Time With Me

[teleblaster]

I put a rough version of this up for review last week. This represents an almost finished product. Still need a few tweaks on levels, and there might be a few vocal phrases at the end that are scrunched up a bit; either an edit or punch in should take care of that. Curious to hear all thoughts on lyric, music, production performance. I was considering putting a touch of real vibey hammond or Farfisa on the bridges and maybe some sparse Wurli on the verses, but I'm feeling like this might be enough as is?this is the listing: SINGER-SONGWRITER type SONGS - with commercial appeal - a la John Mayer, Colbie Caillat, etc. are wanted by the VP of Music Licensing at a Music Production Company that places songs in high profile television shows and ad campaigns. Lyrics need to be universal enough to fit a variety of scenarios. Songs should have great hooks that can help make a developing story line in a show really stand out and that are still running through your head long after the song and scene are over. Broadcast Quality is needed (excellent sounding home recordings are fine). Please submit one to three songs online or per CD, include lyrics. All submissions will be screened and critiqued by TAXI and must be received no later than Wednesday, May 20, 2009. Here's the 'final' cut with a touch of Rhodes on it: http://soundclick.com/share?songid=7616059And here's the lyric:Spend A Little Time With MeV1:I’m not tryin’, to call you outYou won’t hear me cryin’, no scream and shoutBut if you’re wonderin’ what, this song’s aboutSpend a little time with meV2:I don’t have, a 5 year plan Not trying to be your girl, you don’t have to be my manBut do me a favor, get here, fast as you canAnd spend a little time with me.Bridge:All you gotta do isGet down off that high white horseAnd spend a little time with me.V3:I don’t mind, bein’ aloneBut could you just this once, pick up that telephone?Don’t you have plans that you could postpone?And spend a little time with me*Bridge**Git solo verse*Last verse:I won’t wait, one more daySo you go yours and I’ll go my wayCancel that ticket, don’t board that planeThere ain’t nothin’ you can do or sayI’ve got a new friend, and I’ll be OKI’m gonna spend a little time with meI’m gonna spend a little time with meI’m gonna spend a little time with meThanks MuchErich

[marcblack30]

Erich, this is a great tune, it's sounding really good!i love your daughters voice, they do need to come up IMO, they seem a little low in the mix.i like you idea of the vibey hammond, i'd say the song would stand on it's own without it but i vote for adding it.i love the guit solo! the mix sounds a bit bassy to my ears.i say crank the vox and brighten the mix up a bit.excellent work!marc

[k o star]

Man... Erich...Fantastic Voice!!! Just made my goosebumps stand... Beautiful indeed...I love this break part "All you gotta do is" 3xDefinitely in the genre of John Mayer, Colbie Caillat... etc.Lovely guitar solo...Seriously... I feel this... a hit! IMO...Gr8 song!!! Here's the best part... ...I'm from a totally diff. genre and yet I have to say I LOVE IT!!!-Kel

[toddt]

Hi Erich, excellent song, well produced and very well performed (great voice!).Ditto the comments about boosting the vocals in the mix.Regarding the "last verse", typically I'd expect the contents of that to be a bridge where a song's twist might normally appear, but considering your deadline is impending I would just make very sure you can really hear the "I'm gonna" in the last lines - otherwise the whole twist is lost (I think you alluded to needing to descrunch that part of the vocal anyways).Well done, good luck.tt

[billg]

Man, this is a fantastic song! yup, the vox need to come up in the mix. Also, it sounds really nice and intimate (dry) which is very cool but the solo sounds too wet (reverb? delay?). I think the solo would be more fitting w/out the fx.The song is cool as is although your keyboard idea sounds good also . . . heck, give it a try if you have time . . . you can always revert back to this treatment!

[deantaylor]

Erich,Love it, wish I'd written it. Yep, bring up the vox. I like the way the last 3 lines are phrased now. My only suggestion is consider changing this lyric:from: But if you’re wonderin’ what, this song’s aboutto: ... But if you’re wonderin’ what, I'm talkin' 'bout/aboutDean

[381]

Erich, great job all around, composition, arrangement, covers a lot of ground in 3:00, your daughters voice is fantastic but I could hear it being turned up a bit towards the end few lines (as previously brought up), the bass drum seems out front a bit as well- but that may be my headphones.One thing I can hear from a producer/ arranger point of view would be the electric changed out with a nylon string- but there is absolutely nothing wrong with the electric in there- I just think it would be interesting to hear it as an all acoustic arrangement. Great playing on this one , I would love to read the Taxi review when you get it back- if this can't get forwarded and placed I don't know what can.

[teleblaster]

Thanks All! We definitely have a quarrum for bringing the vox up. Funny thing is I spent about an hour using automation bringing them down a bit, trying to get them just right. But, that's why I need and appreciate this forum so much. I think mixing for this genre is a little bit out of my skill set. I'm also using some different mastering tools that seem to have effected the midrange spectrum different than I'm used to.I'll probably toss a little bit of keys on this and work a bit on the mix tonight, then submit and forget (until the email comes in...)Thanks again,Erich

[teleblaster]

Worked the levels a bit, and added a touch of hammond to this track. I'm just about done with it now. Thanks all for the help and comments, love to hear your thoughts on the latest mix if you have a minute or 2.Erich

[aldicicco]

Erich,All I can say that hasn't been said before is you coulda knocked me down with a feather.Wow!Love the organ bed in back. You could also add a touch of Wurli with it on the chorus whenever. It might just give it an extra dose of funk, and it shouldn't fight with the Hammond.Super job! Lovely voice!Al