Buc McMaster Posted April 14, 2020 Share Posted April 14, 2020 Once the restrictions are lifted (safely I add) it is my intent to spend some time busking on the Galveston seawall...........find a nice bench in the shade of a palm and knock out a few tunes for tips. Being retired now I'll certainly have the time.........question is, do I have the hutzpah. 😶 Given that plan, I've been trying to build the repertoire a bit and I started wrecking this Steely Dan tune yesterday. It's come along somewhat but as this video demonstrates, it still has a ways to go if it's to survive the cut. It's quite difficult to sing and that may, in the end, be the factor that gets this one nixed. Secondly, I question is this song belongs in a buskers quiver............is this a tune you would take notice of if you were strolling the beachfront? Here we go, warts and all................ Big Blue Texas; Gibson 80/20 lights, half step down; JB pick; raw audio from iPad (no additional EQ or processing) 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MorrisrownSal Posted April 14, 2020 Share Posted April 14, 2020 (edited) courage! Make sure someone squeezes ya good for those high notes! My first reaction before i listened was "oh man that is a tough one to cover with a band, let alone solo.... the harmonies make it... " Then I listened, and realized there is one guy who can pull it off........ That be you. Well done.... YES i would notice it. I would notice it because it is different. Edited April 14, 2020 by Salfromchatham Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
j45nick Posted April 14, 2020 Share Posted April 14, 2020 Buc, being a huge Steely Dan fan, you've done a superb job on the instrumental part of this. It's really hard to compete with Donald Fagan's high end, and you are pushing the limits of yours here. Hard to know if this will work as a busking tune, since it may be virtually unknown to younger folk, despite it's history. Your solo instrumental arrangement here is just about perfect. I miss Fagen and Becker, and still have Aja and Gaucho on my mobile devices. Those are two of the best jazz/rock fusion albums of all time Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
75 Hummingbird Posted April 14, 2020 Share Posted April 14, 2020 Nice job Buc , laying it all out there ,and doing just fine ! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fortyearspickn Posted April 15, 2020 Share Posted April 15, 2020 Out .. standing ! It's a classic for a reason. I'm thinking anyone with any taste at all would love it. Ending needs more... something... ! 🙂 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
uncle fester Posted April 15, 2020 Share Posted April 15, 2020 Liking it Buc, especially thinking of where it's going to go after you run through it a few more times. With respect to being a good busking toon, to me depends on the intent of the busking. I'd be happy playing outside, and being part of the atmosphere. If you get a few coins even better, but if not no worries. Since raking in the dough is not my first concern, I'd be more likely to play what I want vs play what I feel is a good busking toon. And I think people will respond to this one. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Old Cowboy Posted April 15, 2020 Share Posted April 15, 2020 A whole lot better job than I could do, Buc, and a great song as well. Smooth the vocal a bit, and get out there and raise some folks' cultural awareness! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Buc McMaster Posted April 15, 2020 Author Share Posted April 15, 2020 Thanks, friends, but the vocal here is pretty weak..........very weak, in fact, and a good example of singing from the throat, which I am often guilty of when first learning a tune. Lots of things going on in the learning process and until there's been sufficient reps some aspects don't get full attention. As the instrumental part becomes more ingrained and automatic the vocal starts getting more attention and improves (at least to the point where no further improvement can be had!). After another couple dozen reps yesterday the vocal is much improved and I do think this one will work out okay. This take? I'm with Nick: the instrumental arrangement is good......the vocal is not even close. But it's coming around! Thanks for listening! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dhanners623 Posted April 15, 2020 Share Posted April 15, 2020 Once you have this down — and I think you’re 97-percent there, frankly — this will be a crowd-pleaser. Your high notes may not be “perfect” but they are genuine. I’ll take “genuine” any day of the week. A crowd, particularly on the Galveston sea wall, cuts a busker some slack. They’re appreciating the entertainment. You’ll be great, Buc. Just make sure you have some Ray Wylie Hubbard on the set list. Maybe some Shake Russell, too.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jinder Posted April 16, 2020 Share Posted April 16, 2020 This is great...I'm a huge Dan fan and appreciate how serpentine the arrangements of these songs are. I enjoyed the vocal, personally...it feels assured in places and vulnerable in others, which kept me rapt as a listener throughout. Always a joy to hear you, Buc. And the Blue Bird of Texas of course! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Murph Posted April 16, 2020 Share Posted April 16, 2020 I've busked on Broadway in Nashville a few times just for fun. And it's a 2+ hour drive. I've also been to Galveston beach. It's perfect. Do it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fortyearspickn Posted April 16, 2020 Share Posted April 16, 2020 Just don't play that old Glen Campbell song. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fretplay Posted April 16, 2020 Share Posted April 16, 2020 I thing it is interesting and different enough to busk but you did a wonderful job on it anyway. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Twang Gang Posted April 16, 2020 Share Posted April 16, 2020 I would say do it. Not sure what the crowd along the beach there is, but to me it is a highly recognizable song, yet one that few people cover so is worth some props for doing it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
northcntryblues Posted April 18, 2020 Share Posted April 18, 2020 I really, really liked this. I would definitely stop and listen to this. Just not something you hear very often with just guitar/voice. I really like your arrangement, probably my favorite thing you've done since you blew me away when you did 'Being For The Benefit of Mr . Kite' on the uke. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dhanners623 Posted April 18, 2020 Share Posted April 18, 2020 On 4/16/2020 at 3:48 PM, fortyearspickn said: Just don't play that old Glen Campbell song. He could do "Galveston" the way Jimmy Webb wrote it -- slowed w-a-y down. It really turns it into a different song. There are some videos on YouTube of Webb doing it. In one he talks about how Campbell took his anti-war song and sped it up, but I think Webb made a lot of money off it so he didn't complain too loudly. I've got a song about the Galveston hurricane Buc could cover if he wants. And there's always, "Wasn't That A Mighty Storm." I actually rode out a hurricane on Galveston once. Got stuck in an elevator for 8 hours. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Murph Posted April 18, 2020 Share Posted April 18, 2020 6 hours ago, dhanners623 said: I actually rode out a hurricane on Galveston once. Got stuck in an elevator for 8 hours. Ouch. I rode several out in Lake Charles years ago. I was stuck there for 12 years..... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cougar Posted April 21, 2020 Share Posted April 21, 2020 On 4/14/2020 at 1:06 PM, Buc McMaster said: raw audio from iPad... Man, you've got that positioned right. Mix of guitar and voice just right! I always dreamt of busking back in the 60s, Donovan my hero.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MissouriPicker Posted April 22, 2020 Share Posted April 22, 2020 Busk the seawall, Buc! And do that song. That song will get the attention of people, because it’s different from what buskers typically do. I can’t recall anyone around here doing it. And I agree with Jinder—-your voice is vulnerable in the right places and strong in others. Besides, your rhythm guitar playing is strong enough to grab and hold the attention of people passing-by. You sound good on it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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