Due to this pandemic, Scott (Mudcat) Walyor and I started goofing off by sending each other individual tracks of music recorded in our iphones, then used a cheap app to mix them into a song.
Here is our first one, called Early in the Morning. Jo was in the other room having a wine social meeting on her computer with her girlfriends. I put on the headphones, and sang into my iPhone. I hadn't warmed up and my voice started out really rough, which I ended up liking because it sounds like I just woke up - hence - Early in the Morning.
We promised not to try to polish, only one or two takes will keep it fresh. Scott opened with a guitar quote that sounded like the "Aunt Jamima Pancakes" ditty- again fitting for a song called Early in the Morning. Then his chicken clucking guitar solo is classic and fits the whole early morning theme.
I reverted back to my childhood instruments for this song. For percussion I played spoons, maracas, guiro, and a box. I also use to play polka songs on the harmonica with my Dad and haven't done much since, so was pleased the blues harp worked out.
Enough said, here it is...
Early in the Morning!
Next, we wanted to try something we'd never played before and what's better than one of my favorite Willie Nelson songs, Angel Flying Too Close To The Ground?
The singing was harder than I thought. I have a few off notes, but hey, Willie won't care.
Playing drums that slow is also harder than it seems, so easy to speed up. Wasn't sure what I was going to do with the harmonica but it worked out.
My cousin Ken graciously sent me a track where he harmonized on the last chorus.
Scott totally nailed Willies style on the guitar. He also played bass and added some strings through his midi keyboard, all of which are new things to learn for him, so making this was a challenge and a really fun song for us.
Angel Flying Too Close To The Ground
Jo and I like Bob Dylan's Tom Thumb's Blues, especially the Handsome Family's version, so we asked Mudcat to take a stab at it. He sent me his tracks with guitar and bass, and Jo and I tried our hat at singing the verses.
Jo's first take was real whispery, which I liked but she didn't, so she redid it, which I really like too.
I played drums without a hi-hat and used the maracas instead, which gives it a more whimsical shuffle sound.
Mudcat never played slide guitar before, but gave it a try and it's incredible.
I used my Dad's old Echo harmonica for the intro and throughout the song to sort of replicate an accordion sound, and added some blues harp in places as well.
Tom Thumb's Blues
