Video & comments: https://youtu.be/71Ab4PSo2CU
Recording sheets and details: link
Recorded between Feb, Apr 2018
Backing tracks: link (Audacity project)
I toyed with the idea of recording this song since early 2017. I got an audio only version ready by summer 2017 yet I was pretty underwhelmed by it being audio only. I felt that I'd find it more interesting if I could also watch the performance in detail as opposed to listening only. Maybe the visuals could somehow redeem a bit the lacking audio. I previously tried recording video directly to my PC using an HD webcam, but it was always tricky to set it up. I thought that getting a dedicated hardware for the video would simplify the workflow. This turned out to be indeed true because I could frame the picture easily with the help of the camera's rotating display. Also, starting and stopping the recording was the touch of a dedicated button. When recording my screen is busy enough already with the DAW software and the sheets. Having yet another video recording window is not something I wished to deal with.
The rerecorded audio was stereo this time, sounding fuller than the individual mono tracks.
A fairly convincing solo. The original recording has a fairly short one. One day I'll record the live version from the band's Live from Gatorville 30th anniversary concert. That is the best version of this song that I know of: an extension to the song with a lot of beautifully sounding lead guitar.
I practiced it and kept recording takes during several months. I tried getting closer to Petty's soft timber and hitting the high notes from the chorus. This final version 1.5 is the closest I could get to at this time.
The summer bass line was muddy, hacked together from some root chord notes, uneven, mono and without a video. It's still my second clumsiest instrument (the voice takes the distant lead). That's why I wasn't really looking forward to re-recording it. But one night I managed to practice it enough to finish its recording in about 3 takes It's fairly decent as I got lost only once within the tabs.
A groovy rhythm, literally. The song is slower paced and I tried focusing on the patterns for the hi-hat and cymbals while keeping the kick pedal busy. It is a truly enjoyable drumline.
A simple line benefiting from a great piano sound. I used my favorite Maverick sample from Native Instruments and it certainly didn't disappoint. I tried making the piano a bit livelier in the outro section. The triplets from the outro were new to me with the challenge being to keep an even pace during the repetitions.
Strings play a significant role in establishing the atmosphere of this song. So I found something that was close enough and called it a day. Note to self: study more these long chords that create the atmosphere and sound wall.