The ShadowMusic Web Community

Get your Hankies out!!
Recently, my old friend Paul George Shaw posted a lovely Sound File of The Merseybeats “I Think Of You” elsewhere- and as I do, it got me thinking.
Written by Peter Green, aka Peter Lee Stirling, a Brummie, its a great tune with relatively simplistic chords. SO – here is a completely different Arrangement at a much slower pace than the original, and with some revised chords, as befits such a melancholy song.
It started of with me creating a Band In A Box RealTracks backing track with drums, Bass, acoustic guitar, electric guitar, Pedal Steel, piano, and cello. It was soon apparent that to get the right “feel”, the “character” Intro and the signature riff it needed a midi Keyboard, specifically a Piano.
Who better to turn to than John Stallard of Cubbyhole Studios and fellow Warwick Shads Club member- https://www.youtube.com/user/CubbyholeStudio
John not only played the Piano lead intro and infills to perfection, he also created tracks for Vintage Phaser piano and Cathedral Strings, all of which served to enhance and improve the way I had thought to Arrange the song. Thank you, John, for putting up with me whilst I explained what I was after – your execution of my weird emails is Perfect! lol!
I hope you like our “alternative” version of “I Think Of You”
http://app.box.com/s/teplhstausulcf9zg2xo6qaneg12mooc
cheers
Ian and John

Great stuff Ian and John, very pleasant to listen to and good all round production, regards gary

very nice and pleasing arrangement. Liked it a lot, Congratulations

Tony

Hi Gary and Tony
many thanks for dropping by and taking a listen.
Your comments are much appreciated.
cheers
ian

Hi Ian

That's a wonderful version of I Think Of You, really enjoyed it.
I have got Paul's backing and was planning to play the version we all know but you have stopped me in my tracks after hearing this one, just beautiful

Bob

Well done Ian and John. That's very pretty. I like the chord sequence very much. The instrumentation is rich and varied and, inasmuch as you can compare it, probably matches the Shads mid-70s period.

Hi Ian - this is a really nice arrangement and recording of "I Think of You".

Very much removed from the Merseybeats and it has an excellent laid-back feeling.

Hi Bob - Thanks for your kind words. Music is not a Competition, mate. Post it! I got that "standard" Merseybeats BT from Paul too and I recorded it and then I had this idea - - . lol!
Hi Iain - thank you. Is this the first Warwick Collab, I wonder? I loved working out the chords and John did a masterly job in translating my gibberish into "real" music for his tracks.
Hi Roger - given the quality of your music and arranging, that is praise indeed. Many thanks. Yes - quite different in style. I always thought that the Merseybeats were too "happy" about it. lol!
cheers
ian

[quote="Stratpicker"Is this the first Warwick Collab, I wonder?[/quote]

Certainly the first since Jimbo's time, I'd say!

Neil Sedaka's original recording of "Breaking Up is Hard to Do" was a jolly, up-tempo affair which, on reflection, was at odds with the subject of the song. So, when he recorded it again in the 70s as a slow, thoughtful ballad it made more sense and was a vast improvement.

I think the same reasoning applies to this excellent treatment of "I Think of You". Good thinking Ian!

Graham