New Home

So I am really trying to figure out the groove to this, I like the structure, chords, melody, vocals, but the groove I am not sure about, is it too boring? Going for a Motown-ish feel, a vintage pop sound...I think. So what do ya think? New home ver1 by efilsitra

Different Inspirations

I just wrote the chorus of this today, still a work in progress but I like it so far. I am trying to piece these three parts together so I have uploaded them just back to back, this is not how they will be but I wanted to see if they flowed with each other. Any ideas on this one? Anyone reading? :) Come on don't be shy.
Different Inspirations (parts) by efilsitra

Two Different Hearts

Oh break up songs. So far I have recorded two versions of this song. I was originally trying to write a soulful song that was fast, I tend to try to write in a slow groove feeling but every once in a while ya gotta have a fast one. I really like this Alicia Keys tune "Wreckless Love" so the beat was kinda inspired by this, or the rhythm..it's not the same but this was kinda a kick-off point.


Also the guitar rhythm is an easy James Brown rip-off. I picture if it does end up fast that it will be a lot of ride cymbal/bell work and syncopation. I will upload both versions, I like the slow one as well so which is better?

Fast version:
Two Different Hearts by efilsitra
Slow Version:
Two Different Hearts ver2 by efilsitra />

Blind Willie's Bar Lyrics and Audio

"Blind Willie's Bar" or "Spent My Whole Life" (working titles)

Verse

Amaj7 G

I'm sitting here at ol' blind willies bar

Kinda funny how i've outlived willie by this far

This place was once a diner,1979 

When willie bought it out man this place was a dive

V2

He had some aspirations fixin up the place

Soon enough his wife had left and didn't leave a trace

Coming into the bar yeah willie was a mess

I was drinking Heineken that year but i digress

V3

There's a girl in the corner I think that she's fine

That son of a bitch Eddie is testing out some pick up lines

He always gets the girls, the  young ones too

If I had a girl like that you know I wouldn't know what to do

Chorus

F Am D7 Am F Am D7 Am G

I've spent my life in this place

I've seen it struggle and I've seen it  do great

Heads split open, I've seen birthday cakes explode

drunks crying in their drinks they don't never want to go home

This is kinda what I have so far, mostly I think these lyris are going to be in the song with some edits possibly, I like them so far though.


Here is the rough demo so far:
Blind Willie's Bar by efilsitra

*update*
Here is the second version with the drums laying into more of a reggae groove, trying to keep it really simple. The chorus is interesting with the snare being not in a typical backbeat but I feel it still works.

Blind Willie's Bar ver2 by efilsitra

Blind Willie's Bar

This is one of the first songs I started working on with this project a while back. I had my good musician friend Justin Campbell join me when I was first showing these songs to people. I wanted him on drums but he ended up doing some great bass lines, I feel that I was not really ready yet though and things kinda fizzled out. Later when I was doing some rehearsals with Jimmy Castoe and Charlie Scott Justin filled in on drums once and it felt a ton better than those early rehearsals. Over all I know now I am in a much better place and can't wait to get these guys playing these tunes again, once they are more woodshedded out. So annyway, this song has a working title of "Spent My Whole Life" or "Blind Willie's Bar". This is a story song in the point of view of a bar fly, I guess you'd say. Just picture that guy sitting at the bar who's bar stool is shaped to his butt. He has seen it all and this is his story. I kinda based it so far around Ruby Tuesday on Summit in Columbus, Ohio and some things I have seen there and experienced. I am trying to put as many real references as I can in here. I will post the lyrics next and then some audio in a bit.

Won't Talk To Me Version 3

Version three is trying to go a little more straight back to the Bill Withers-esque beat. I also love G. Love and Special Sauce's drummer "Houseman"...he does a lot of beats like this one..that are probably inspired by Bill Withers tunes, ha. Here is a great example of a Houseman groove:

Rhyme for the Summertime (album version)
Won't Talk to Me Version 3 by efilsitra

Won't Talk To Me Version 2

Second attempt at drumming was inspired by the Donny Hathaway tune "Little Ghetto Boy" I posted earlier, I was listening to it today (the cover version on the Roots/John Legend album like the one I posted) there is a really cool bridge (i think it's the bridge) with a beat that I really like. Check minute 2:57 it's right there
Also maybe a little old school Wailers/Bob Marley ala this....oh I love it.
It feels like the traditional reggae beat wasn't quite there yet..and the music felt more soul/r&b than anything..at least to me.

Won't Talk to Me Version 2 by efilsitra