JPF Home Page Forums Lyric and MP3 Feedback MP3 Feedback Forum Friday On my Mind - Cover

Friday On my Mind Cover:
https://soundclick.com/share.cfm?id=13663311

Real Guitars and Keys. I lowered the key a whole tone from the start, so to play it better and to have my peak notes not be extended. I kept it very close to the 1967 original by The Easybeats. I used my own voice sounds though, while keeping to the original phrasing for the most part.

Thanks for any comments,
Johnny

Hi Johnny!

I really enjoyed your very good cover of a great mid 60's pop song that brings back memories for sure. There were a lot of these type "quality/happy/bubbgum-esk" songs from that great era of pop music. I find myself feeling like a teenager again when I hear these songs. There were several groups from that era that were one or two hit wonders. Nice cover, was fun!

steady-eddie

Liked the Easybeats version. I also enjoyed the Bowie version. Now I can add the Daubert version! This is really good with lots of ear candy. Music is terrific. Love the "dits" at 45" and the harmonies. (on "tonight" for ex.)
Love your voice. I did wonder if it needed the double tracking, (or whatever that effect is) I'd be curious to hear that as a single track.
Anyway, love your work; it's fun and an UP to listen .
-Mike

Ah...the 60s...they tell me it was really groovy! I actually remember this song! Sounds great, Johnny! Thanks for the memories.

Ricki

Eddie, Thank you! That song always affected me. When I found my 45 of it in the OLD case my sister gave me from her storage area, I just had to give it a try.

Mike, it is really something for me to have you mention my version in that way. I kept it very close if not on the original, minus my own voice and limitations. Like Lennon needed to hear his voice juiced up in the studio, I am the same way, for my mother always told me, "John, you play much better than you sing". Ha! it is WORK for me to sing anything decent in one take. I sing three tracks of any lead, then omit whatever, phrase by phrase. Sometimes I like the double tracking, so I do that when I KNOW one track alone wasn't that good. I did use a signal track for the start of the chorus. THEN, I quickly found need to also use one or two of the other tracks soon after a line or two.
Playing is so easy for me for any instrument, including drums, bass, etc. It's ALL like having a catch in the back yard, and I had a shot at being a Phillies pitcher back in the day after passing a tryout. Playing anything musical is THAT easy as having a simple toss catch, and is all so obvious to me now. One takes usually, even before I know what I am going to play. Spooky at time how that happens. BUT, a singing talent gene was NOT given to me at birth, "No, not a one"! (Ha! That's a John Candy quote in "Planes, Trains and Automobiles" was when he answered the police officer while sitting in the burned up car with no controls or gauges working). I do vocals that the old fashioned way: I earn it through working my ass off and super-concentrating, line by little line. Even then, I have to song at least three tracks worth, to pick and choose, to blend together the best of my attempts. I mostly feel I HAVE to use two tracks for most of it to maybe be more appealing than one.

Ricki, Thank you! and you're welcome! Yep, those memories are Gold to all of us. I still have that 45 of Friday On My Mind. I am going to be covering other songs from that era I feel. And, it all will keep adding to my skillset. I desire to work pro, to have some career in my Golden years. I already love doing music. That's a given. I also want to be part of the behind the scenes playing on anything for anybody who will then be doing their own pro career.

OR, for anyone wanting any kind of demo, like Sub and I did for you. It's ALL worthwhile and rewarding, no matter the money involved. Just to be doing something in music is a great thing to be doing! I KNOW you feel the same, as we ALL must feel. I just want to hand over some money to Cindy more than not. Is why I keep trying to contact studios and producers. It seems they can;t be bothered with musicians. (?) Programs and loops, I guess rules in the studios now more than ever. Thanks again.

Any thanks to all who just listened. We ALL shine on! (Lennon)

John

John thank you for a very interesting post! As I said, I love your voice. I remember as a youngster when I first got a guitar, (it wasn't even tuned) I was plucking away on one string and finally thought I had the notes to "Why do birds suddenly appear"-just those five words. (Carpenters) Man, I was so excited! I ran to my mother's room and played it. She said: "That doesn't sound like it." LOL! God we're always up against it. Unlike you, I can play but not well. My emphasis is on songwriting because of that, and I'm confident writing good songs. I'm not confident singing-at all. This discourages me when recording because I don't hear back what's in my head, but I will carry on! (because I feel at least I can get a "feeling" for the song across, although I realize the better something sounds the more easily it's accepted) Sorry for the digression on your post. You keep recording, I'll keep listening-fun for both of us.

P.S. I'd still like to hear that verse vocal with a single track. Sorry.

P.P.S. Ironically, I've recently thought about singing two tracks to help my vocal!
I

Yes, (re: your ironic though), the double tracking, for me, has me for the most part liking my vocal a LOT more. BUT, my daughter also said she likes my voice as it sounds with just one track, as long as I HIT the center of the notes! Ha!

I , if brave, MIGHT mix again with one track vocal,,,,BUT, if I do, I will have to select the best sung lines form the three tracks I sang. I already deleted lines not good at all, as I listened to each of the three tracks, to select the best of the lot. I left two decent tracks if they were OK. I DO have some lines in the song as it is now which have just one track of my vocal for that line. (Like the beginning of the Chorus). And one or two other quick phrases. For this song though, I really like the effect of the double and sometimes, triple tracking for some lines or words. Gives is that 60's depth, I feel. PLUS, I don't like sticking out too much bare solo. Thank you though, for liking my voice. It is mostly studio technique tricks of the trade. I dare not tell of my secret formula! haha!

Thanks again. YOU keep doing it all too> Singing included. Maybe use pitch control if needed, (in spots too, on another track once you copy and paste it on another track, (That one line or whatever, if it goes off there). Double track, SURE! I will even copy a good line or so and paste it to another tracks, KEEPING both, while MOVING or NUDGING one ten to 20 "ticks". In Logic Pro x, options are for one tick or ten at a time. The kind of double tracking will result in perfect phrasing and the same pitched notes, while giving that double tracking sound, (once you find the right amount to move the 2nd and copied track to the left or right, (sounds coming before the main track, or after, (as in Pre delay reverb of post).

I have found so many ways to do just about anything in Logic Pro x, by simply trying everything available. And combining things not even mentioned in manuals. Sub told me once a manual of what he knows through trying would be many times the size of the ones that come with gear. Discovery through trying this and that is FUN too.
John

Good stuff John. Your last line is important....

I just watched the Australian mini-series on the Easybeats and was happy to find this cover. Very close to the original, but a bit more powerful. Enjoyed it.

Rick

I wish I could have watched that! Maybe I can find it on Demand or Netflix, etc.

And, thank you for your comment. I just played the 45 of that record again, and I still like theirs better. Plus, they created it! I just copied.

Hello Johnny,


Good work as always.
Such a great time to be a kid.


Calvin


http://www.soundclick.com/bands/0/calvinstewart

Cool cover and great production. I am impressed!

More of this please.

Johnny,

I’ll confess I’m not that familiar with the original (or at least I can't recall hearing it), but regardless this is a fun tune to listen to, and you’ve done a great job putting it together. That you’ve done it all on this cut is pretty impressive. Great job on this!

Best regards,

Deej

Calvin, Thank you!

David, Thank you too.

Deej, And thank you! I spent my teen years playing to many records of many artists in my room: accordion, piano, organ, drums, bass and guitar. That song was one of them I played on all those then, or TRIED on guitar then. My dad would play mandolin for many old songs form the 20's, 30's and 40's, and ask me to just play along to them. That got me figuring out the chords and song structure. Accordion at first, then all the rest soon after. It was the LOVE of hearing and playing music that seemed to force me to TRY to pick everything up fast, for I NEEDED to be able to play along to him, or the records. For the FUN of it all. Now, at almost 65, it is embarrassing to say, so easy to hear and know what is going on for just about any piece of music I hear. For all the instruments, even if an orchestra. I do that kind of tracking too. (An Overture for a producer two years ago), etc. Weird, how it all got even simpler in my 60's. Late Bloomer maybe??? Ha! NOW, if Only I could SING as good as I play! (MY mother would always say exactly that)! Right up until her last few days at 96. I would play at her nursing home and she would wheel up to me at the piano to remind me of that FACT. Truth!