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Hey guys. Thanks for all of your help in motivating me to get this song done. Well, it's finished (for now ). I'm pretty happy with it although I'm still picking it to death. We did the best we could with what we had. It's still being pitched for the movie and I also submitted it to a few listings including the most recent Travis Tritt listing which wanted some honky-tonk country rock songs. Let me know if you like it and if you think it's worthy of a forward at least. Thanks! http://www.soundclick.com/tcartermusicit's the last song at the bottom

I'm not fond of "hittin' the nuts," as a title. sorry. the piano is a little too loud in a few places and might not even be neccessary at all. the harp is great, but a little too loud and dry (for me)in places as well. But the song, kicks A$$. And it sure sounds like the right vibe for Travis Tritt. Hey I was listening to a Christmas CD the other day and it included a tune buy John Anderson. Does anyone know if he's till kickin the can, and has anything new buy/listen to?

I like it! Makes me want to play poker. I'm with sgs4u, I wouldnt miss the piano.

That's a pretty crankin'tune. I like it. The line King takes my queen by surprise felt a little out of kilter in meter... compared to gona be a marvelous night.... the track sounds good as a demo....and more ... if Nashville wants you, they'll re-record it anyway.... I sent a song on the same listing,....but rewrote some of it last night....ArkJack

Toncart , You created a good ol' Tritty - ditty, that's very ala T-R-O-U-B-L-E sounding.Aside from a planetary shift , and/or Travis heading in a " New Direction " I'm sure the sound will be on mark with the listing.Broadcast concerns : I'm gonna join you in picking it to death, assuming nothing's final... till it's cut. If I'm mistaken then forgive me .. but there seems to be a problem with the vocals getting lost in the mix (not always in the front when they should be ) . Also the lyrics, at certain points, are difficult to comprehend ( a " marbles in the mouth" kinda thing ),and a few syllables fall a bit behind in time -as well. But, the most obvious problem is with the awkward meter rush on the line " I've already taken stock " . ( all are easy fixes ). The real problem is with the piano... If this is the best " honky tonk " you could get, well it might be unnecessary. He enters the meter late , and adds nothing but a odd plunk to the overall sound canvas. I'd let the harmonica shine, as it does, and relegate the honky tonker to basic chords and simple turnarounds- as quietly as possible.Aside from that ( and in spite of all that ) It's a fun listen . Good Luck !!!! ( Tony) Toncart . RanG

I agree with you RanG. To be honest, I'm pretty ticked at my singer right now. He did all of the recording on this and left me in the dark. I wanted to be there for the vocal tracks and for the mix, but he did it without me and I think the song suffers. Some of his phrasing on the vocal lines were not what I was using and they sound rushed or awkward. And frankly, the piano sounds like someone is just slamming their fist on the keys. NOT what I wanted or asked for. My singer is pissed at me right now because I brought these issues to his attention. As good as a singer he is, I couldn't believe that he couldn't hear how bad the piano was. He thinks it's great! I should have been there for the mix and for the final vocal track to make sure everything was perfect. He wouldnt return any of my calls on this and wanted to do it all himself. I can't understand why he would sabbotoge this opportunity. I'm really frustrated. What could have been a great song turned out to be less than that. I was pretty disappointed in the whole process. I spent so much time writing on this and when I approached my guy to record and sing this, he was so excited and all for it. Somewhere he became overwhelmed and threw in the towel just to get it done. He literally ripped my head off when I told him that the piano would not work and that the harmonica was a little loud. He said "I'm done with it!" I'm dumping the song and all the tracks. I've put 25 hours into it and I'm over it!" We would have had it done in less than half that time if he would have included me in the process. It was my freakin song!!!!! I just don't get it. All I can do now is submit it as a demo.

sucks suck sucks, what a lousy situation for you. Whenever I start anything new with anyone, I will remember your story. I've always tried to get at least a minus mix of every song (no vocals). As a producer/writer who pretty much does all the recording(except for the singing) I will now insist that my clients are given all their tracks separately, as well as a minus and/or TV mix, even when clients might not know why. Thanks for posting, sorry it turned out so wrong for you.

I'm just screwed because it's his voice and studio. I can't sing like that and I don't have the access to record like that. I just write the songs. I feel like we were almost there and he just gave up on me as far as the quality we were shooting for. I honestly feel like he may have sabbotoged this project anyway. He did some work years ago for Tri-Star for a movie and they didn't use anything, but they are a big studio. He told me that he didn't want a movie with only a $500,000 budget to reject him on this. I told him that they surely would if we didn't send him our best. I think he wanted an excuse because unless he's deaf, how could he not hear that the piano was not right? He's such a good freakin singer though. I don't understand how he missed some of the phrasing. Like I said before, he kept me in the dark. I called him everyday and wanted to be there for mixing and the vocal tracks, but he did it without me. When you do something like this, you need many, many ears to get feedback. He didn't want anyone else. URGH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!Looks like I'll be sending my demos to Nashville and paying $500 a pop to get them done. Bummer.

Quote:I'm just screwed because it's his voice and studio. I can't sing like that and I don't have the access to record like that. I just write the songs. I feel like we were almost there and he just gave up on me as far as the quality we were shooting for. I honestly feel like he may have sabbotoged this project anyway. He did some work years ago for Tri-Star for a movie and they didn't use anything, but they are a big studio. He told me that he didn't want a movie with only a $500,000 budget to reject him on this. I told him that they surely would if we didn't send him our best. I think he wanted an excuse because unless he's deaf, how could he not hear that the piano was not right? He's such a good freakin singer though. I don't understand how he missed some of the phrasing. Like I said before, he kept me in the dark. I called him everyday and wanted to be there for mixing and the vocal tracks, but he did it without me. When you do something like this, you need many, many ears to get feedback. He didn't want anyone else. URGH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!Looks like I'll be sending my demos to Nashville and paying $500 a pop to get them done. Bummer. Ton-Have you submitted this song to the movie producer/music sup. yet? If not, maybe you could get the session files from your friend and have another studio do some touch-up work to bring things up to spec.Andre

I have had another listen and though the piano is clunky and the tone is wolley and the playing is hardly inspired (piano that is)the feel of the song is there and that will sell it or not.The vocal phrasing?!this is Country, not German Leider.The geetar is great. Don't get downhearted ton!!!