[Neil C]

When I read the first lines of the lyrics that Joe posted in the collaboration section in Feb asking for someone to put them to music I was hooked.

I've kept it pretty simple and not tried to polish it so the focus is on the storyline.
https://soundcloud.com/neilconnor-2/the-ballard-of-ojg-master-6-june-2014
Anyway I hope you like it and look forward to your comments and suggestions
 
Neil

[montydog]

Hi Neil,

Great harmonica playing, singing and production. It rolls along nicely and sounds easy and relaxed. These lyrics sound very much like you wrote them which is I guess what attracted you to the song. It's very much in that reportage style that you write in.

I like to hear story songs on the forum and this is a good one.

M

[benjo]

 YEAH THIS IS A CRACKING TALE

 loved the harmonica in this
 put a clear picture in my head
 there were a few words that seemed a little
 fumbly to say but over all really nice collab on this guys

 a well written piece lyrically sound

                   good one guys
                   

[digger72]

Hi Neil,

Good storytelling song. I've always had a soft spot for songs like Rocky Raccoon, so this struck a chord with me.
Not an awful lot i can say. Your playing and production are always top notch. The vocals had your distinctive lilt and charm. The harmonica - quality.

Good stuff.

Digger

[Viscount Cramer & His Orchestra]

Hey Neil, I'm delighted that you decided to do this. I read it at the time and thought that the bloke deserved to have this lyric set to music by somebody. I thought about having a go was too immersed in my own stuff at the time.  Good! I would never have done it anywhere as well as you have.

Has your trademark rolling rhythm and that harp playing is super!

Yes, this is a great story for a song and you've done a great job of bringing it to life.

Nice one.

[Gwyneth Rose]

When I read the first lines of the lyrics that Joe posted in the collaboration section in Feb asking for someone to put them to music I was hooked.

I've kept it pretty simple and not tried to polish it so the focus is on the storyline.
https://soundcloud.com/neilconnor-2/the-ballard-of-ojg-master-6-june-2014
Anyway I hope you like it and look forward to your comments and suggestions
 
Neil

This is such an excellent write and the music was great. Thanks for sharing.

Cheers
G

[TheButcher]

the soundcloud pic to the song is super cool.

I think the instruments fit all very well. the harmonica is my fav.



Tx for sharing

[nooms]

enjoyed this ..good match of words and music,  set kind of traditionally..with nice harp...
good story and love the pic, would work with an old silent black and white movie..
vocals a natural fit and comes over clear tho i think the phrasings a little crowded in places
good sound overall and i admire the way you get that unhurried feel, its quality and common to a lot your songs and always works a treat..

[Jamie]

Hi Neil,perfectly judged accompaniment to the lyrical style. Love the harmonica, how do you do that, when I try to play one it sounds like an asthmatic hippo . Right up your street and sounds like one of your lyrics too. Some words were a bit rushed to fit, but I think you could polish that aspect up a bit.
Nice one Neil!
Cheers
Jamie

[lillypilly]

Great story and lyrics

[Neil C]

Thanks for listening and your comments.
Its great to get positive feedback especially when you writing to someone else's lyrics. I get the point about a couple of the lines being a bit hurried but i wanted to stay true to the original words and tried to sing around them.
And nice comments about feel and the harp playing. The truly odd thing is I really only played very occasionally, maybe not for years. Even over the last couple since I've been active on the forum I only ever play when a song needs it... I wish singing was that easy!
 
Neil

[Boydie]

I LOVE the grove on this

That bass sound is fantastic

I was hearing some female "oooh" backing vocals in places

The harmonica is perfect with a great "hooky" melody

It is great that you have stuck to the original lyric and it is great hearing these lyrics come to life

Great stuff

[Stylus]

  Hi Neil
               Love the Harmonica bass drums in fact all instrumentation.. Your vocals as ever are very relaxed & convey the lyrics terrifically. The  lyrics are very good  & I  like your style bud
                                    Great to hear you interpret those nice lyrics into a song 

                                                                               Thumbs  up!  gr8   Stylus

[Neil C]

Boydie and stylus,
Thanks for your comments. I do enjoy playing the bass and glad the grove and lyrics and all worked. Plus the harp! And thanks to Joe for the lyrics, I think it was his first and only write.
 
Neil

[Paulski]

I like what you've done putting a melody to these lyrics and bringing the story to life. The harp sounds so cool and as usual the recording is top notch.
I think maybe you could have made a few minor lyric changes so some phrases would be more natural to sing, but you've got such laid-back charm in your vocals it really isn't a big issue.
BTW - I know you can't copyright a title, but there is a song out there will a similar one:
The Ballad of Gypsy Jack by  The Travelin' Bluesman
I don't think it is well known so no worries there.
Nice one!
Paul