I love Mackies colourful lyrics.
We changed the original title from "3rd rate romance" as I thought it may have been a little degrading.
"A one night romance" sounds like maybe it could have been kinder experience or maybe not.

Vic

https://soundcloud.com/vic-arnold/a-one-night-romance


A ONE NIGHT ROMANCE
© 2021 Mackie Humphries & Vic Arnold

I remember bright neon lights.
Still hear those blues playin' through the night
in Memphis where we met by chance,
she had me thinkin' a lifelong dance
She hooked me in with cat green eyes
then led me on with jaded lies
Had me believin’ by midnight
she had found her Mister right.
But ...
CH
All my friends knew she’d deceive
In mornin’ light she’d up and ... leave
but this cowboy's still ridin’ high
A one night romance needs no goodbye

BR
I weren't the first. Won't be the last
out of the shute a movin’ too fast

GUITAR SOLO

CH
Even my friends knew she’d deceive
In mornin’ light she’d up and leave
One more cowboy still ridin’ high
A one night romance needs no goodbye

BR
I’m not the first won’t be the last
out of the shute a movin’ too fast

CH
Even my friends knew she’d deceive
In mornin’ light she’d up and leave
One more cowboy still ridin’ high
A one night romance needs no goodbye

Vic and Mack, nice job. The acoustic sounds good, song is good, the vocals good but might need some clarity, im not hearing the words, might be too much verb. But, the electric guitar does not sound like it belongs in the song. I guess it has to be used sparingly. It actually sounds like somebody playing in a room, and then somebody is playing a recording of an electric guitarist at same time. I guess cause its too busy, and using too much technique for this particular song.
.
lf Striving for authenticity.

I enjoyed listening and I like the lyrics. I agree too, i always try to convince myself it was HER problem not mine. As I sit the next weekend, watching Ole Sitcoms...

Thanks FDEMETRIO,

Hmmm! Mackie mentioned that he couldn't quite make out the words.
To me they sound clear but maybe because I know them by heart now.
I have some slap back on vocal and instruments and a little small room verb over the whole mix as I do quite often.
I will now revisit the thing to see if I can improve.

Vic

Well, lol... I disagree. I love the lead guitar in this! The acoustic needs some clarity, I like to hear the strum. I think the VOX just need someone with a higher register, same problem with my VOX lol. Overall great feel to this

What makes guitar solos great and contributers to a track is when they are based on the melody. They are variations of the main melody in many cases, otherwise, you're just jamming, which works if your up there playing Johnny B Goode with five other guitarists.

But as of yet, BIAB doesnt have the ability to draw up a guitar solo based on a melody, maybe it will one day. Simply tap out your melody on a keyboard, and ask for a guitar solo, i gurantee you it will be better than a generic already done one. Probably could do it with all instruments....give me a sax line based on on this main melody.... voila there it goes.

I wouldnt doubt they will do this at some point. For now, i think you gotta make the guitarist hang low in the track

Thank you Japov.
I did a little more on the mix. Hopefully it improves. Can't do anything about the vox though. I'm stuck with that.
There are two acoustics in this played alternately. In the verse and bridge it's a baritone and they change over for the intro and chorus.

Vic

You're right about that part of BIAB, Fdemetrio.
In this case though I was introducing the blues guitar because of the situation the guy was looking back on. "I still hear the blues playing through the night".
Sort of a distant wistful memory in his mind.

Thanks again for your thoughts.

Vic

And that's how it's done folks.
Outstanding collaboration guys.
Vic your adjustments to the track must have been spot on because it sounds great.

Brother Mackie does know how to lyrically tug at the old heart strings.

a bridge suggestion:
"wasn't the first. won't be the last
out of the shute movin’ much too fast" dropping (I + and)
I dig the electric guitar coming in on FAST.

Nice work on the chorus. electric guitar tucked in nicely and the cool vocal harmonies.
Well done indeed.

Hat's off 2U gents

Hi Nelson.
Your comment was music to my ears.
I like your suggestion to cut out the "I" and "and" in the last bridge.

Yes, Mackie does have a way with lyrics.

Vic

Hey Vic/Mackey,

I enjoyed the tune and especially did like the lyrics. I like your arrangement Vic, but I'm not sure if I'm hearing the original or tweaked version. As far as the lead guitar, I think IMO, I'd pan those lead guitar answers and licks about 50% right keeping them out of lead vox corridor. Having them panned will give them their own space and keep them more supporting. I'd then bring main lead solo in from the 50 to about 25% R which allows enough presence with the solo yet keeping it near the R placement of the answers. I am a fan of 3D mixing. I also usually reduce lead guitar answers about 3-5 db less volume than main lead guitar solo. Of course, JMO--use or lose.

Hey guys, enjoyed hearing you two work together. Mackey good seeing you back in action!

steady-eddie

Neat song. I enjoyed it. When I heard "All my friends knew she’d deceive," my mind half registered "All the Federales say LOL

The electric guitar didn't sound out of place to me. I did find the words hard to make out in the first line, but only there.

Oh, and I think Third Rate Romance is a better title. More distinctive and descriptive. I don't think it's degrading at all. After all, there's two involved in a "romance."

Hi Ed. Thank you for keeping me company on here. :-)
I must say your sugg for panning the lead surprises me as most sources say to leave the lead at the centre because they aren't playing at the same time generally as the vox.
However, I decided to give your idea a try to some extent and re-uploaded to Soundcloud. Maybe you could have another listen.

Thanks again.

Vic

Vic,

You are right about about most sources say lead tracks should be kept centered and about the same volume as the lead singer's vox. I think on certain songs this is fine, and on most of my earlier productions followed that general rule. I then started hearing lead tracks that weren't always centered which made me experiment. That rule IMO, is based on the fact that the lead riffs are not being played during the main vocals and that lead guitar conventionally thinking deserves center stage! Well, I just disagree that has to be and is only a general rule. When you pan it, you'll still have the volume and presence. I think having it's space off center 25-30% gives you the effect of where the lead player is standing on stage..........the front man has the center--lead guitar amp on one side or the other usually. Play with it, every mix arrangement can be custom--there is no one % that is standard IMO. I like the "guitar answers" not to be as present as a lead solo, as they need not be "featured" as a solo should be--more so "spice." All JMO--nothing I'm saying here is gospel--find out what YOU like-- your own mix arrangement is your blueprint.

I'll go have a new listen now. For me Vic this was a small tweak, yet a huge improvement in making the guitar "feel integrated" and "real" within the mix. I felt like the lead player off to the side of you singing, steps out a bit at solo and closer to center--perfect. No right or wrong I suppose, but my ears really liked this move--and the whole song arrangement/performance as well.

steady-eddie

Ahh Gavin.
I thought "All the federales" after I'd recorded it too.
I'm glad you like it anyway, apart from the title.

I thought about the title again, however "third rate" still sounds undervalued to me.
A "one night romance" could have been an absolutely amazing experience or not. A "third rate romance" can only be "third rate".

Thanks for the listen and comment though.

Vic

Thanks again Eddie.

I panned about 40 and about 12

Vic

All--

Vic has a way of making a lyric come alive--I always feel comfortable with him making one of mine into a good song--JPF comments also help!

Thanks everyone for constructive feedback!

Mackie

As the corny old saying goes, Mackie.
The pleasure was all mine,

Vic

Well done guys!

Best, John

Thank you John.

Vic