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The "A" Demos !!
by: Michael G. Strickland
Here is a FREE way to share some of my (as yet to be released) CD entitled "A". I've decided to post some DEMOS (i.e., NOT the finished product.. so the quality will only be minimal) to get my feet wet with YOUR feedback. [ email me ]
To keep it small, these files are in RealAudio format and will require you to upgrade to the G2 player if you DON'T have it already.
If YOU wish to put your music on the web, I suggest you get the RealProducer program from www.real.com too! I took a 17 meg wave file and condensed it to only 529KB on: "I'm In Love With My Radio" as listed below.
The players on the "A" project reads like a "who's who" of some of the best Memphis "local legends" as well as some REAL HEAVY HITTERS that are internationally known.
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AND.. BEFORE YOU SAY ANYTHING.. ALL LEAD VOCALS ARE "SCRATCH" AND ARE SCHEDULED FOR RE-RECORDING. ;-)
The 1st offering here is: I'm In Love With My Radio. Lyrics
I seldom listen to the radio (because I feel that there's TOO much talk.. even on non-talk radio), but there was a time when I did. Now days, listening to CD's & Mini-Disc's are supplying my "listening" musical outlets. The basic idea for this song/story goes like this. Almost every DJ constantly tries to get you to buy something dressing it up by giving useless things away first.. OR else they just try.. badly.. to be cute EVERY MINUTE they are on the air.. etc. With that in mind, I wrote this song as an anthem to those "radio fans" that STILL can't seem to get enough of the stuff. God bless 'em! Eventually (as the song progresses) TV becomes the escape.. yet for the same reasons.
PLAYERS on: I'm In Love With My Radio
M. G. Strickland - Keyboards (the "Yes" sounding orchestra hit thing), Lead & Background Vocals, Radio Noises, Sampling
Greg Theos - Bass (an up & coming "legend" in his own right!)
Bill Marshall - Drums (Bill played for Hank Williams Jr. for about 15 years.. took about 2 1/2 years off.. touring with Jimi Jammeson & Survivor.. now BACK touring with Hank again. He regularly performs with, and is also one of the original founding members of The Bama Band and a past alumni with Larry Raspberry & The Highsteppers.)
Kevin Halloway - DJambe' African Drum
Lonnie Viar - Scripted & Ad-Libed "DJ" Voices, "Johnny Winter" Yells
Dee Dee McCarver - Background Vocals (Ms. McCarver is Jerry Lee Lewis' sister in law. Kerry McCarver-Lewis is her sister.)
Alana Strickland - Party Whistles (Visit Alana's Awesome Arts )
Handclaps featured: M. G. Strickland, Susan Strickland, Rachael Strickland, Ian Strickland, Alana Strickland, Lonnie Viar, Tommy Cathy (..who just happened to have co-produced the 2nd "DC Talk" CD and played bass 10 years with the Christian Rock band "Degarmo & Key".. even performing for the Pope on one of his visits to the USA! Tommy plays bass on several tunes on the CD.. none here among the demos.. BUY the CD!!, & Kevin Halloway)
Song written, produced & arranged by: MGS
Written on 12/07/1992
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The next selection here is: Money Song. Lyrics
Sort of a folk song.. even to the degree of having a positive message! Faced with what seems to US to be NOTHING.. Jenny (though it could be you or me) still triumphs. A fictional song. (There is an obvious "blurb" on the Autoharp track.. The owner of the studio often "messed up the mix" to keep any clients from attempting a release of a "quality" product demo as an actual release. He was fearful that at some time SOMEONE would not pay for the work done in his studio after a CD had come out for sale. A carry over from the 60's paranoia perhaps?)
PLAYERS on: Money Song
M. G. Strickland - Acoustic Guitar, Bass, Accordion, Autoharp, Lap Steel Guitar, Chapman Stick, Piano, Alto Sax, Drums, Jews Harp, Lead & Background Vocals
Song written, produced & arranged by: MGS
Written on 07/19/1983
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This brings us to: Don't Tell Me To Quit. Lyrics
This was the first song I ever had copywritten.. (I'm pretty sure the "Don't Quit" part was subliminal :) This originally started out as a jam song for me and some of my Ft. Pierce, FL buddies (love you Ray, Fred, Glen, Bob & Frank!) back in the late 70's. At that time (before lyrics) it was called "Get Your Fingers In The Jam". Sort of a Blues song.. and since I'm from Memphis.. appropriate enough.. even down to the authentic "Memphis Sound".
PLAYERS on: Don't Tell Me To Quit
M. G. Strickland - Electric Rhythm Guitar, Left-Handed "Wa-Wa" Guitar (yes.. I actually PLAYED this Left-Handed), Bass, Lead & Background Vocals
Larry Lee - Lead Guitar(s) [1st Solo] (Look for Larry on the ORIGINAL "Woodstock" video/audio releases.. or on "Jimi Hendrix :Woodstock". Larry is the 2nd guitarist onstage with Jimi.. a band Jimi called "Gypsy Son & Rainbows". Mr. Lee lives in Memphis.)
Robert "Nighthawk II" Tooms Keyboards (Robert is a "local" Memphis legend. An outstanding keyboard and harmonica player. He is leader of the "Wampus Cats".. a local blues band and a member of the VERY popular "Reba Russell Band".)
James Cunningham - Drums (..also a member of the "Wampus Cats" & "Reba Russell Band".. AND for 2 years, a former member of the "Mike Strickland Band".)
Ben Cauley - Trumpet (Ben was the ONLY surviving member of the ill fated airplane crash that took the lives of OTIS REDDING and The BAR KAYS.. of "Soulfinger" fame.)
Andrew Love - Tenor Saxophone [2nd solo] (Andrew is a member of the WORLD FAMOUS "Memphis Horns" with Wayne Jackson. He has recorded with Jimmy Buffett, Sam & Dave, Booker T. & the MG's, Otis Redding.. and a list of others too numerous to mention here.)
Dee Dee McCarver - Background Vocals (as mentioned above)
Rachael Strickland - Background Vocals
Song written, produced & arranged by: MGS
Written on 02/20/1980
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And finally, my last offering: With Pa-Zazz. Lyrics
This is a bit heavier than the others.. almost a "Led Zeppelin" feel to it. (And NO, I'm NOT saying, "Whip his ass"!!) Be sure to check out Bill's "thunderfoot" bass drum work near the end of the song! My daughter [12 at the time] is UP a bit in the background vocals on this version.. for evaluation.. which causes my lead vocals to be less audible ON PURPOSE.
PLAYERS on: With Pa-Zazz
M. G. Strickland - Acoustic 12 String Guitar, Electric Guitar, Bass, Percussion, Lead Vocals
Tom Ward - Keyboards (Tom was a keboardist/writer for the "nearly successful.. for about a minute" band "The Breaks". They had a regional hit single & LP.. moved to LA.. changed their name to "Drama".. fired a few members at the record exec.'s request.. dis-banded and moved back to Memphis. Tom currently plays for "The Boufounts".. also one of my past "keyboardist" endeavors.)
Bill Marshall - Drums
Eddie Campbell - Lead Guitar (I used to watch Eddie play the local church dances, etc. when I was a kid in total awe of his talents. He's about 2 or 3 years older than me, but we soon became friends.. even to my dating one of his sisters.. {then my younger brother dated his other sister.. small world!} We have worked in NUMEROUS past projects. It was a delight to have him play with me on this and several other tunes on the CD.)
Todd Strickland - Accordion
Rachael Strickland - Background Vocals
Ian Strickland - Vibra Slap (a percussion instrument)
Song written, produced & arranged by: MGS
Written on 03/29/1981
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Thus concludes the "A" demos page. There are 14 songs total.. all written by me with many great performers NOT listed here. The "offerings" here are mixed for certain things to be LOUDER than they should.. on purpose. Week to week I'd listen to the NEWEST added track(s) for careful "scrutiny" of the performance. These particular demos are riddled with mixing mistakes.. NONE of which will be in the final product. I assure you, NO unintentional mistakes will be left in the CD's ultimate release.
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