And, finally, the last re-recorded song from last year’s week of three new songs. It’s no wonder that I took a week off from releasing a new song after this week last year. Not only did I put out 3 brand new songs, but I was finishing up the 2 albums that I had just recorded.

But I ain’t making excuses.

So, just like the original version (which you can listen to here for comparison), for this new recording I used an old melody. This time I picked up my old standby, “Step It Up and Go,” that Blind Boy Fuller did. I’ve used this one countless times over the past couple years since I first heard it.

This one turned out okay. I think I like the original better, though. It’s easier and flows a little better. But both need work either way.

So, there ya have it. Three re-recordings in one week (plus one new song and one Talkin’ Headline). Thank the Lord the Barehand Jugband didn’t have any shows this week or I never woulda got that all done.

Since I won’t have a song to re-record next week (because I skipped posting a new one last year), I’ll probably load up some new recordings. I’m gonna start putting together an EP of 5 or 6 tunes to spread all over the city. So you’ll get a little preview of that.

And there ya have it…

“Leavin You” is the next song I wrote during “New Song Week” last year. It’s one of those songs that I didn’t work very hard on. That just came out in a burst of speed and then just kept going. I haven’t put it down since and I’ve played it out pretty much everywhere (or at least every place I play).

But it has changed since the original recording (which you can listen to here). The music part is basically still the same, just maybe a bit faster, but I added a verse after I brought it to the Barehand Jugband to play. And, I changed the title (not that titles matter).

That’s when the song really took off. Got the full horn section treatment. You’ll have to wait for our next album (maybe) to hear that, or just come to one of our shows. The next one is August 3rd at Double Door.

Anyway, enough about the old version. I came up with this new way of singing “Leavin’ You” a couple weeks ago when the jugband was in the studio recording some songs for an EP that we’re putting out. Was just messing around warming up before we laid down some tracks. And I kinda liked what was going on with it.

Then I came up with a new first verse so I could sing it in this new style before kickin into the old faster guitar lick. So the live version of this tune is a mash-up of the original recording, some new added parts, and this new recording.

You can tell I like this song, huh? I just hope I never get bored with it.

So that’s it for today. Come back tomorrow for the last re-recorded song from this week, last year.

Here’s the re-recording of the song I wrote and released this week, last year. It was actually one of three songs I wrote that week in 2010, all kinda on the theme of love. I think I actually thought about calling this one “Love Song.” I’ve been told, though, that it’s not really a love song, but I don’t know what it is then.

Anyway…

Have a listen to the original for comparison. In this new recording I used a guitar lick that I play all the time. It’s called the Lester Flatt Lick. Go look up who Lester Flatt was, okay?

To be honest, I actually kinda had a hard time rewriting this one. The original really gets me still and I didn’t wanna leave that melody behind. It’s simple and understated.

This new one is kinda over-the-top, or something. It’s not the same. But I still like it. Get’s my bones movin.

Also, turns out this one wasn’t “just a test.” There was a jackhammer tearing up the road in the background when I recorded this. Thought I’d just get down a sketch and come back to it later in the night when everything was quiet. But that road drill kinda just settles in nicely to the background, don’t ya think?

Now, everyone go and do the Lester Flatt Lick.

Here’s the tune I released this week, last year. I wrote this one over the course of an entire week…one verse each day, starting on Monday. Then I recorded that verse on a new instrument. You can check out the original progression of this song and then the compiled version by clicking on the appropriate day of the week: Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday.

I did, also, record a cleaner version a few weeks later, which you can listen to here. But it still wasn’t completely done. I added another verse to the end at some point after this recording.

Then the song was finished…or almost. I changed the music slightly after adding that new verse and playing it out a couple times. I think I felt it was just a little boring and repetitive. So I gave it a little more up and down. A little more melody. I don’t have a recording of that, but maybe you’ll see me play it out sometime and I’ll play it like that. It ain’t too far away from the original tune.

This new recording ain’t too far away either. It’s faster and a little bluesier. And the repeating “oughta” lines I moved around a little bit, giving the feel of a chorus.

Don’t know if this works, or if it’s better or worse. Just different. What do ya think?

Okay, so here’s the new version of the song I recorded this week, last year. It’s a patriotic tune. I was doing theme weeks last year around this time and because of Independence Day I did “Songs About America Week.” Go ahead and browse back and check out the other songs I posted.

But, also, check out the original version, which includes a lengthy description of where the song initially came from. It’s a good read for a Thursday morning.

This new one is kinda jumbled up. I combined some of the verses to make new sets of verses and then used the repeating element from the original to craft together a chorus. I think it works pretty well. I at least like the structure of this one and probably will use it on some other new songs coming up.

The music’s similar to the re-record of “I Can’t Help It” that I did back in late May. Of course, that one was on electric guitar, but it’s basically the same idea. Check it out.