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Quite a few of you said you wanted to hear more latin Music. Well, here ya go! This is not a final mix, but it's getting close. In a few places, the percussions are still alittle too busy. With Latin Music, I like a lot of very strong percussions...as long as they don't step on each other. There's still a little of that in this mix. I'll get to it as quickly as I can. Hope you ernjoy! And thanks for listening!

Alan


http://www.soundclick.com/bands/page_songInfo.cfm?bandID=276329&songID=8032648

Nice morning wake up song! I like the rhythm except for the crash cymbal which is not convincing!

Hey Al.....a mover and a shaker...you always manage to put together a cool piece of work.....enjoyed it....hope all has been well with you.....I've been out of the loop for awhile....good to hear your music....Bob

Al,
I really like this tune. It's full of energy. Like Colin said, a great wakeup.

I've listened a couple of times now, different days - even different states! Right off the bat I'm hearing Santana but...no searing guitar licks. 8(

In general the production sounds very MIDI to me. It needs more live action. First off the aforementioned guitar. I always do the percussion toys live. It adds some real wood/metal whatever and those tiny dynamic/timing variations and room sound (you've heard my kitchen) that bring a track to life. Besides it's a lot of fun to play a simple clave along with a finished track.

Otherwise - Ariba!
JW

Hi Alan,

This is great! More chair dancing music! I'm working up a sweat. UH-OH! The clothes are coming off!

Ricki

Colin,

Thanks for the listen! Glad ya liked it with that one exception. Crash/splash cymbals and ride symbols are two of the glaring weaknesses of my software. But, it's what I have to work with! Thanks for letting me you liked it. I appreciate that.

Alan

JW,

Tis always a great pleasure to hear from you! Glad it works for you, overall.

The reason you don't hear a searing guitar is that my right hand was inmjured several months ago and is not healing well at all. I have significant troubke trying to grip a pick...or anything small. I tore the abductor muscle in my right thumb...that's under the fatty tissue on the palm side of the hand. I also sprained the ligamet that goes to the thumb...can't remember the name of that one. Also, it appears I have damaged the nerve as well. The therapist told me it's going to be a long recovery because I damaged the three most important components that figure in the use of my thumb. I can do slow lead guitar work and some of the faster work if it is not for a prolonged time. After 10 -12 seconds, I lose my grip on the pick when I'm doing the fast lead work. On the slowewr work, I use my fingers rather than a pick, so no problem there.

And yeah, a lot of my tracks have that "midi sound" to them. it's not truly midi, it's just the tracks that are proprietary and indigenious to my software. My software doesn't typically accept non-proprietary loops. I can use some VST plug-ins with Audacity. Those are the only non-proprietary I can use, other than live input.

To be honest, I had never thought of using live, complimentary percussions, such as the clave you mentioned. That's a great idea! I'll start working on that! Thanks! I do use the "humanize" effect on my non-soundtrack pieces.

Thanks for the kind words and great ideas for me to work on. As I mentioned to you previously, I have picked up something worthwhile from every review you have offered on my musical posts. Thanks a bunch!

Alan

Bob!

So good to hear from you, my friend. Hope all is smoothing out for you and Terri. pleadse pass on my greetings to her.

Glad you liked this. I try hard to make things interesting. Sometimes it actually works! Glad you enjoyed it.

Wishing you and Terri everything good!

Alan

Ricki,

Hey! Glad you liked it. Let's see...sweaty dancing and clothes coming off. I must have done a good job on this one. Thanks!

You're always so much fun with your reviews. I love it!

Alan

Alan,
I didn't realize the situation with your hand was that serious. Sorry to hear.

If you like I could throw down some searing guitar with it when I get home in a week. Not sure quite how to do that online but I bet we could work it out.

JW

JW,

That would be great! The easiest way is to simply lay down the guitar track and convert it to an MP3. there are two ways to go from there:

1. Send as an attachment to an email and I can then mix it into the current version.

2. You could download the track from Soundclick, it's in 128 bit MP3 format, and then mic in the guitar track you perviously laid down. All my tracks, except a couple of collabs, are a free dohnload from my Soundclick site.

Either way would be fine with me. If ya want to do that, I'm more than happy to give you the credit for it. Thanks for the offer!

Alan

JW,

That would be great! The easiest way is to simply lay down the guitar track and convert it to an MP3. there are two ways to go from there:

1. Send as an attachment to an email and I can then mix it into the current version.

2. You could download the track from Soundclick, it's in 128 bit MP3 format, and then mic in the guitar track you perviously laid down. All my tracks, except a couple of collabs, are a free dohnload from my Soundclick site.

Either way would be fine with me. If ya want to do that, I'm more than happy to give you the credit for it. Thanks for the offer!

Alan

Hi Al

I always enjoy listening, golly gosh, you are so talented. I was going to bed soon, but I'm now awake hah.

Hugs
Michele

Wow, just got up and I'm movin' already Al. A great morning pick-me-up track.

Very effective technique when the music stops and the percussion solos.

Best, John

Al,
That will be fun. I'll be back home in a week and we'll do it.
JW

Hi there Al,

Hope this finds you doing well.

Well....this number really gets you up and moving! You always manage to put together the coolest, most original pieces. I always enjoy listening to your work.

I am so sorry to hear that your hand is still giving you trouble.

My best to you (and thoughts and prayers for you and Helen),
Gail

Hi Al

It's a feisty track - I was trying to imagine doing the salsa dance to this, but it doesn't feel quite right and I do think it's the western drums.... Need a conga and djembe.. clave would help. Very lively and danceable no matter. I enjoyed the listen. : ) jm

I dunno - I don't have the best ears for instrumental arrangements but this mix sounded really good to me, Al. Percussion sounded super, imo. I do have to admit that I'm looking forward to hearing it with a searing guitar

Yeah, it gets ya moving alright!

Scott

Hi Michele!

Sorry I interrupted for plans for nighty-night! But, I'm delighted the music was enjoyable enought that it did. Thanks a bunch.I always enjoye hearing from my Aussie friend! All the best!

Alan

JW,

Looking forward to it! Thanks so much!

Alan

Hi Gail!

It is always such a delight to hear from you. Thanks for dropping in on this one. First, thank you for your kind thought about Helen. She's had her ups and downs,but holding as steady as she can. She's been the hospital but twice this year...that's a nice break! And I appreciate the concern for my hand. Initially, it started healing very quickly, far ahead of the anticipated time. But it hit a plateau and has not improved much at all since April. Fortunately, there's little to no pain involved at this point. I just can't grip anything small or grip anything very tightly, regardless of size.

And thanks a bunch for the kind words about my song. I really enjoy doing this stuff (Latin Music). It's a terrific deviation from most other genres because of the percussions. Although I play no percussions to speak off, I've always enjoyed the power and excitement they bring to a piece of music.

Thanks agan! All the best.

Alan

Hi jm!

Fiesty, eh??!! I like that!!!!

I'll relook those drums. It wouldn't be all that difficult to make some changes or additons.Glad you liked it otherwise!

Going back to you "fiesty" comment...I have one coming up in a coupleof weeks called "Psychotic Mangos" that has more energy and rive than this one. I'm still mixing the percussions and trying to addsome guitar to it. I have to play about 6 or 8 seconds at one attempt and then record and then do a lot of cut and paste. Danged thumb! Thanks again. Most delighted you liked it! Wishing you well.

Alan

Alan....well, gee thanks a whole lot.....I just threw my back out
Maybe it was because I was shaking my shoulders so hard...HA.

Now that sizzles, doesn't it? I'm loving listening to your latin stuff.....a very nice departure.

I'd agree on JW helping you out right now on the guitar while your hand heals. Must be driving you crazy. I would hate it if I couldn't play my guitar. I've grown so attached to it. So it sounds like that could be a great team effort with you and him.

Good luck with that......I love the song though....can't wait to hear when the percussion is added(live) and the guitar. It will be awesome. I'll be back then.

Jan

Al,

First off, I am very sorry to hear about your hand injury! That is a real tragedy to a guitarist. It sounds like we will have to miss your incredible guitar work for a long while yet .

It is good to hear you can still produce such terrific music despite the injury (I would be completely soundless). This one got me bobbing my head and tapping my foot again. Great stuff!

Clint

Scott,

Sorry to be late getting back to you.

I'm really delighted that you liked this. I appreciate your very nice words. And I, too, am looking forward to JW's guitar. As soon as he and i get all together, I'll repot this. Thanks again!

All the best.

Alan

Hi Jan!,

Well, aren't you the sweetest thing!! Thank you so much for your kinf words. I guess I forgot to tell about that little deal I have with the Chiropractors' organization! They tld me to keep writing these songs and posting them because people will want to try to dance to them.

I, too, am looking forward to JW's guitar contribution. Should add a whole new dynamic to the song. I'm delighted you are liking the Latin muisc. I absolutely love writing it. To be honest, I get all excited and carried away with the percussions as I'm putting it together. I have 3 or 4 more that need finishing.I'll be posting them off and on over the next several weeks.

Thanks again, Jan. I appreciate u=yur constant support and encouragement. Wishing you well,

Alan

Clint,

As always, its a sincere pleasure to hear from you. And yeah, the slow healing process of my hand injury is a real bummer. I have 3 or 4 collabs that have been in limbo forever and lots of new stiff that I can't finish. That new stuff has a lot of guitar work in it. I do have, however, a coupleof Chicken Pickin' things that I might be able to peice together. Most of the main guitar work was done months ago, but the secndary gu8itar tracks aren't done. I might mix them and post them minus the extra giitar tracks.

Glad ya like this, though. I really like the various Latin genres and subgenres.

Thanks abunch for the nice things you have to say, my freind. I do appreciate them a lot. Wishing you well.

Alan

Al,
I wasn't going to tell anyone that you'd lost your grip. You'll get your nerve back in time.


This one is really going to be cool.

have fun,
John

Al,
I simply could not resist. Hang in there. I'm looking forward to a little more zing in the salsa. JW is up to it.

Keep smiling,
John

Shook me out of my seat, I tell you that. Really made me feel like I was in the middle of the music - great vibes.

Tom

Hi David, at the very beginning, the way it starts it almost sounded like a cd skipping, I know it is the way you started it but I would suggest making a better entry part into it then start the major drums..and the cymbols are a bit too loud, but otherwise the rest of it was very enjoyable.

You are very talented.

Kim

Hi Kim!

Thanks for taking a few minuyes to listen and comment. I appreciate both. Glad you liked it overall, and thanks for the very kind words.

I'll go bacl the beginning and see what I can do introduce the the introduction in a better way. As far as the cymbals, I wonder of there's simply a big difference in our speakers or headphones. Compared to the rest of the percussions (which are intentionally fairly loud), they seem pretty balanced to me on my speakers and phones. But, they do sound pretty cheesy! Artificial drums leave a lot to me desired! But, when i remix it with a new intro, I'll bring them down a bit and see how it sounds. thnanks for the suggestion.

Thansk again. All the best!

Alan

Al,

That is a pretty intense tune! You set the mood and tempo from the very first beat. I enjoyed the ride. Nice work!

Tom W.

Tom,

Thanks a bunch. If nothing else, it will wake ya up! Glad you enjoyed it. All the best.

Alan

Hi Al,
I think it sounds more rock then latin.
I enjoyed it, great job.
Too much tom tom work and not enough latin percussion
makes it lose the feel.
I'm not saying to change it. I think it's uniqe.

Joe,

So nice to hear from you. The backing track I put together for this is actually a Latin Rock composition and then I threw in some Salsa percussions and a western drum fill. I tend to mix sounds within a single piece, often conbining elements of severral genres. So, your ear is very true!

I enjoy the mix and match thing with genres. And your comment about it being unique is exactly what I hope for with these pieces. Thanks validating my effort!

I appreciate your time and your kind review. Wishing you the best.

Alan