Hi everyone,

I'm getting close to finishing up the charts for the songbook, and realizing that I'd like to have some simpler compositions to make it suitable for relative beginners. Then the other day I found the dbx dubbing master of my first solo release, whispers, and thought one of these tunes might be just the thing...

So I've put all the tracks up online, looking for some input, and also just for your enjoyment:

http://members.aol.com/stickist/whispers/



The recording quality's not up to today's standards by any stretch, and I was a pretty young player when I made the tape (23), so there are some questionable arrangement ideas, mainly I'm just interested to see if there's one song in particular out of the bunch that you'd like to learn.

I've already transcribed "Sunday" in the Stick Book, and for this book I have already written charts for "Adrift", "Where Are You Tonight?," and "Blue Ridge," as well as a complete-with-solo transcription of "Softly She Walks" from Stick Figures.

This means the poll is between:

"Chasing Thoughts"
"Del Mar"
"Requiem for Persephone"
"Ariel"

I think I'll save "Big Meadows" for some other project....

I really appreciate any feedback you may have.

I Voted for "Del Mar" I'm a big fan of simple tunes with strong melodies and I think this is a great little vignette. It also provides a simple enough bassline for beginners and intermediates, while providing a nice and challenging chordal melody in the B section.

It's great to hear your early works Greg. you have come a long way as a player and arranger but many of these tunes are just wonderful. I'm looking forward to "interpreting" some of my favs of yours. I plan on learning a few and then making them my own. Can't wait for the songbook.

Brett

I am going to have to second Brett's nomination of "Del Mar", great job.

BTW, Brett if you read this I'd like to thank you for turning me on the Edwin Gordon's rhythm solfege. It has been very helpful.

-Curtis

P.S. Greg, I hope to be one of the first to purchase your songbook when it is ready. Thanks for doing it.

Hi Greg
One more vote for Del Mar.
It's incredible how skilled you were after only 2 1/2 years of Stick playing (errr... don't misunderstood me, you're still)

I'll break ranks and vote for "Requiem for Persephone"

Glenn

Thanks, guys, for all the kind comments. I'll make my decision in a couple of days.

Keep the votes coming!

So far I have charts for:

Adrift
Blue Ridge
Blues for Ayman
Blues for the Status Quo
El Chicle
Cross Country
Goya's Dream
The Offering
Quince Street
Sangre de Cristo
Softly She Walks
Where Are You Tonight?

There will be a CD with the book with the recorded versions (probably a new one for "Quince Street," and also one for "Blues for the Status Quo"

And each song will have a couple of exercises to help get you ready to play the chart.

If all goes well, it should be done by the end of March. If it sells well, I might do a version for another tuning, but this one will work for 12-string Classic, Baritone Melody 10, Deep Baritone Melody 10 and MR 12-string (deep Baritone 10 and MR 12-string will have to play everything two frets higher on the melody, but it will work).

There will also be "lead sheet" style charts so you can play the tunes along with other musicians if you want.

I am so very looking forward to this. The more you share the sweeter the deal is getting. Where do I send my money?

OK, OK, I can wait.

-Curtis

Hi Greg, I can't wait to get a copy of your new songbook , man, its gonna be great! I know its not in the line-up here but if you ever get the time, [like I told you at the Ann Arbor seminar ] your performance of ''goodbye pork pie hat '' [japan]...is just the best!. I never get tired of that cut. So don't forget the classics. Maybe a ''mini book'' one day..great stuff Greg . .....Tony D.

I vote for Requiem for Persephone!

Great tune!!

Uht Oh...

The decision is becoming tougher.

Curtis