Thanks to Scott Yee's request and song inspiration, here is my my live, one-pass, arranger recording of CRAZY LOVE.

This has been an excercise in learning how to use the G70 too. I now know a lot more about the G70's strenghts and shortcomings. Overall there are numerous more strengths. This song took several practices to understand better how to start and end songs. As you can tell, the ending is still not what I want but I think I'm close and when I play it live on the job it should end correctly.

The vocal drop-outs you hear toward the end are me trying to check or set up the next transition. I'm not as pleased with my harmonizer work on this take, but it's a one-take recording.

I understand tht I can and should use several tracks to properly record this song as I want. I would put the organ on a separate track and would probably use a little piano too. I was so busy while playing this song that I totally forgot to use the upper 2 and 3 voices as I planned. I also did not adjust the arranger volumes as I did on the first, so drums and bass are a little quieter. But I've spent too much time and frustration (see my previous threads) just getting thru this song.

My thanks again to Scott Yee whose rendition of this song inspired me to do an alternate version. Stylewise they are not that similar, but I think you can compare the two keyboard arrangers for sound quallity.

The nice thing I can do on the G70 that would take too much time to attempt on a Yammie is, I can change the instruments in the style with a touch of a button using the Cover feature. But the Yamaha was easier to maneuver around, for me (PSR2k).

To take a listen, click on the weblink and then go to Crazy Love. Feedback accepted, just no tomatoes...

http://cassp50.googlepages.com/links


[This message has been edited by cassp (edited 09-12-2007).]

Hi cassp

Usually I don't listen to the uploads of songs at forums, but now and then it happens.
I have to say I like this sound, and for one reason or another.. it made me think of
"The Band" when listen to your perfomance.
There is something in this G-70 sounds who give me the same "live" feeling as Ketron SD1
and SD5, soft and warm analog atmosphere, not cold/sharp and "CD'ish"

Thank's for sharing, nice performance.

Happy Playing.
GJ

Funny you should say that; I had the same feeling playing it. I recently recorded The Weight using an SMF, but this song has a similar chord structure and feel. Go and lissten to Scott Yee's version (http://www.synthzone.com/ubbs/Forum37/HTML/016160.html); it's a little more pop oriented and doesn't sound as much like the Band. Maybe it's just my take on the song. Thanks for listening

[This message has been edited by cassp (edited 09-12-2007).]

cassp

Gunner Jonny hears " the Band ",.......I hear " Van Morrison "

I really enjoyed listening to this,... The part that I do not understand is, I have been reading your messages about how frustrating you get playing the G70 and I had this impression that you were really fighting the keyboard, to make it work..

WoW !!! I cannot wait to hear your next tune after you master the G70, !!!! This is good stuff cassp !!


From your neighbor in Windsor Ont
Ron

It is, after all, a Van Morrison song. There's so much more to Morrison's music than Brown Eyed Girl. I love the way he phrases his words and the funk in his beats. Yeah, I tried to emulate that.

One thing that I have trouble with on arrangers is finding a style to go with a song like Crazy Love. Maybe that's why I get frustrated, because these things aren't really made for songs like that - and I like doing songs like that. Last night at band practice we tried to put together the Allman Brothers' Midnight Rider - no luck finding even a compromise style. I guess some might argue that you should just use the drum beats; that might be easier, but then I could have bought a drum machine.

Thanks for the compliment. If you're into driving into Wyandotte on the 21st, we'll be playing downtown for Third Friday agaiin from 6-9 pm.

------------------
www.cassponline.com/

Jupp, I just did, and also took time to listen to some of the other
of Scott's songs while visit.

I'm always upright, no matter what, and so I wil be now.

Well, I find Scott's version not as much my style of music as your version.
Also (strictly my personal meaning) I find your way of singing much more
like it comes stright from your heart, emotional, while Scott sounds more
like "reading" the lyrics he sing without give expression to anyting more
than just "technically" sing it.

Happy Playing & Singing
GJ


Btw,
Myself I still sing like a bird, but as you all know:
Magpies and Crows are birds too!

Cass, thanks for giving us the opportunity to hear your rendition of Crazy Love. Enjoyed your take on the song. It's always interesting to hear different member's take on the same song, and in this case, on different keyboards, yet recorded in the same live auto-accomp mode performance manner. Good to hear that you are getting the hang of G70 live recording. Whether one sounds more like the band or not is another matter, and left up to individual opinion and taste.

Ok, for more ease in listener direct comparison & comment, here are direct links to both Cass & my rendition's of "Crazy Love":

Crazy Love , performed by Cass on Roland G70

Crazy Love , performed by Scott on Yamaha Tyros2


Scott

Gunnar at least your being honest....everyone has a right to their own opinion.

Scott, thanks for the kind words. There was no intent at one-upsmanship or anything, and that's just the way I would sing if I hadn't heard your version. I am more of a bluesy singer than you, but I thought your version was very good. Maybe it says something about the styles we choose. As I said previously, a lot of these types of songs are not covered by arranger styles.

As for getting a hang of the G70, a lot of my frustration come from my own stupidity. The rest of the frustration comes from what these arrangers DON'T DO. What they do is amazing, if I would just stay within the parameters.

Hey, anyone else want to make a version of Crazy Love? Let's see how many different styles we can hear. BTW, I used another Live Band style, Night Ballad.

Lastly - Scott, how did you do those links? I want to be able to do that too.



------------------
www.cassponline.com/

GJ...you didn't need to duck...wow..I am surprised..

I do agree with you..I know Scott gives 100 percent and gets an A for effort..

Scott you didn't ask, but I always thought you should work on your "selling the song"..

If you do..You can be in the same class as several other folks here...

Fran,

I can hardly wait to hear one of your tunes.

You DO have a G70 don't you?

You ARE a singer, aren't you?

Come on...don't be shy...it would be so cool to hear you strut your stuff.

Ian the Anxious

PS...Of course you can always give directions to your website if you aren't up to it...

Cassp and Scott,

Great job on the tunes...nice to hear different interpretations of songs, and very kind of you both to share your talent.

Thank you.

Ian

Here we go again

Don't worry Donny...Fran won't put up a song...things are okay....calm down.

It's probably better to hear him at work on his website. http://www.francarango.com/songs.html

Ian

[This message has been edited by ianmcnll (edited 09-12-2007).]

Hey Cassp - GREAT JOB! I really appreciate your Roland guys putting your stuff out here. Why? I have gained an appreciation for the mania. I'm a Yamaha player and I can tell you that 'I get it' (The Roland thing).

The sounds are great and your execution was great. Thanks again CASSP for opening our ears to the truly fine Roland sound.

Scott - Also GREAT! It's obvious why the Yammies and Roland share the top of the heap.


Randy

[This message has been edited by saxxman (edited 09-12-2007).]

The G70 sounds like a live band. very convincing and the organ sounded authentic. The T2 sounded too clean and actually the sounds were not very well balanced. Sounded like a backing track. Of the two the G70 had the best selection of sounds and balance but Cassp needs to adjust that vocal harmoniser setting as in parts it sounded really high pitched and odd.The VH on the yamaha was a much better setting. I liked both but Cassp your voice is obviously suited to this kind of music and your phrasing sounds much more natural and fluid.Scot i admire your work too but it is clear that you have had vocal training and that doesnt work so well in songs like this. There is a rawness and freeness that suits this style of music better and your voice is a little bit too refined. But hey enjoy what you do and so long as people love both musicians everyones happy right ?

Spalding very good observations ..I agree with most of what you say ....as a singer you really have to choose the right song styles for your voice ...& interpret your vocals appropriately changing your tone, tenacity, phrasing, adlib timing, etc, to make it believable & effective, its something that comes from inside your heart not from a teachers lesson.

I agree with your comments as well. Both Scott and Cass are very accomplished and I enjoy hearing both musicians. Listen to Michael Buble perform a standard like My Funny Valentine, then take Rod Stewart singing it. Hmmm, I prefer Michael Buble's rendition, but then again I don't think Buble would sound quite that good if he sang Maggie May.

The G70 sounds great, but listen to the Tyros 2 with Scott singing Corcovado using SA voices. Both instruments are great in their own right.

Stephen, I was wondering if I would hear from you. You make some very good points. And you would be a perfect person to do what I'm about to suggest...

I think it would be great if one person recorded the same song on both keyboards, using similar styles - or even the same style converted for the two keyboards.

Since you have a T2 and a G70, would you be interested? You certainly have the chops and voice to pull this off? You pick the song and style. It'll be great.

Cass, I'll do that, but probably won't get the time to do so until Sunday this weekend.

Casp, Coincidentally, I was messing with a style doing midnight rider on the s900 when I changed which ots I was using, changed from key of A to Em, and wound up with the "improv at the pad" which I submitted a few days ago.
I will record it later today, when voice and fingers wake up more, and show the same style used for midnight rider as was used for my Improv.
As UD says you only need a few good styles to do tons and tons of songs. (paraphrased from UD) BTW I REALLY enjoyed your Crazy Love and will also look for a style on the s900 that I would use for it.
Jim

Cold Cold Heart , written & performed by Hank Williams

Cold Cold Heart , performed by Tony Bennett

Both versions were #1 smash hits for BOTH artists. Viva la difference!

Scott

[This message has been edited by Scottyee (edited 09-13-2007).]

There's certainly something to be said for multiple versions and styles. Not everyone can sound like the original artist, nor should they. To paraphrase our dear Americal Idol judges; you have to make it your own and sell it.

In listening to those two versions, I'm reminded of a George Jones tune redone by James Taylor on disc two of his "Live" CD - "She Thinks I Still Care." I not only think he nailed the song, he did it even better than George. If someone could post those two versions, I'd appreciate it.

I did a YouTube search for 'she thinks i still care' and the results are unbelievable. Good and terrible.

[This message has been edited by cassp (edited 09-13-2007).]

and to paraphrase the 'chairman of the board': "I did it MY way", and dammed proud of it.

She Still Thinks I Care , performed by George Jones

She Still Thinks I Care , performed by Harry Connick Jr.

[This message has been edited by Scottyee (edited 09-13-2007).]

OK, try this

She Thinks I Still Care as performed by James Taylor

Sadly (or, in truth, thank God!) comparisons of arrangers by using converted styles is not a real apples to apples comparison.

The sound itself makes the performance, which becomes the style. Change the sound, and the performance no longer plays to it's strengths. So take a style, carefully optimized for one arranger's sound set, and translate it to another arranger, and you will always have a not so level playing field. And as more and more arrangers add proprietary techniques (mega Voices, 'Live' loops, Guitar Modes etc.) the gap only widens.

I feel that the TRUE comparison test of an arranger's sound quality is simply the comparison of the instrument's ROM styles, which one hopes are optimized as much as possible to the arranger's sound set. From this, you should get a good feel for how the styles are written (busy or simple, supportive or dominant, etc.) and how the sounds 'sit' together, and whether the instrument has a 'home' or a 'live' feel to it.

POSSIBLY, one could convert one set of styles to another format, and gain that instruments strengths, but usually at the cost of what makes them so good on the original arranger. I for one have never heard a translated style sound as good as it did on the original, unless you are talking legacy styles from back before Mega voices and multi-velocity drum samples became the norm.

And would one actually REALLY want to do that to a whole set of styles? The styles AND the sounds are pretty much integral to each arranger. I think it is better to compare the arrangers pretty much OOTB. It's how the manufacturers, at least, feel they sound their best...

So cassp's same song, similar style comparison method is VERY informative. Perhaps with a similar choice of RH sounds it could be even closer, but I still feel it is FAR more informative than a translated styles comparison, which always favors the original.

JMO, yada yada yada...