Songwriter Dan Thompson Visits Nashville To Record Vocal Tracks For His CD Album, 1st single getting radio adds daily, 23 stations yesterday!
Posted: July 6, 2015 Filed under: Client News | Tags: Bill Watson, Dan Thompson, Shawn Conley Leave a comment
Singer Songwriter Dan Thompson of Canada sings his vocal on music tracks produced at Nashville Trax Recording Studios.
Update: 11-4-15:
Hi all! A hit song in the making?
On 10-29-15 Nashville Trax received a request by a program director in the U.K. for a copy of Dan Thompson’s single release, “Miles and Miles” because she noticed it rising rapidly on the European Spin Scan (SOCAN) list. Nothing surprising, we get requests from music publishers, artists and record companies for client’s songs all the time.
But when we forwarded the PD’s request to Dan we discovered that due to Dan’s promotional efforts, the song, produced by Bill Watson of Nashville Trax, is being played on BBC radio, the largest station in the U.K., which has fueled the song’s addition to rotation on multiple stations.
How do you spell r-o-y-a-l-t-i-e-s?
This just in from Dan today:
“Yesterday (Nov. 3rd) Twenty-three traditional SOCAN reporting over-the-air and SOCAN reporting Internet radio stations in the U.S., Canada and Europe downloaded Miles and Miles for airplay use. Good reviews are coming in daily. A screen shot of the report is attached.”
Update from Dan: 12-3-15 “Miles & Miles is #2 on the top 10 Downloads on the STS tracking system. So going great, just need to finish the album!”
New Music Weekly, the #1 magazine serving the radio industry and music business, also did this press release on their site:
“Recording Artist, Danny Thompson is tearing up the air-waves once again with the title track release off his new album entitled: “Miles & Miles”. The current single, Miles & Miles, is receiving airplay all across Canada, England, North Ireland, Sweden, Poland, Australia, Switzerland, Japan and parts of the USA.
The new single has already positioned at 38 on the top 40 up and coming Country Internet Charts by STS USA, and is expected to move to the top 10 in the next couple of weeks.” N.M.W.
Editor’s note: Over the past few weeks Miles has risen from position 38, as of December 24th, it’s in position #3 . It’s also entered the top 40 AC/Hot AC main Charts, at #38 with over 2000 spins.
Exciting times for Dan!
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Bill Watson, of Nashville Trax Recording Studios has produced client projects many ways: sometimes turnkey using session singers, never meeting the client; sometimes having the client in for the entire project from initial rhythm tracking to mix. In this case, Dan came to town for only the vocal session.
Dan sent, via e-mail, the mp3 roughs of three songs he penned to Watson, who wrote the arrangement, hired session players and produced the music. He then sent Dan a music mix to practice with. Dan then drove to the Nashville area from Canada (8 hours and only $70 in gas!).
Shawn Conley engineered while Watson coached/produced Dan’s vocal. The teamwork paid off with results so stunning that Dan has decided to move forward with a full CD album!
Here’s a clip of the song Dan penned for his son, a long haul trucker, who was tragically killed in an accident involving his rig just a few months after “Miles and Miles” was written:
Vocals: Dan Thompson
Drums: Jim Riley (Rascal Flatts)
Guitars: Tom Wild (B. J. Thomas, Mindy McCready, Brenda Lee)
Bass Guitar: Bill Watson (Nashville Trax’ producer)
Fiddle: Jenee Fleenor (Blake Shelton)
Tracking, Mix and Mastering Engineering: Bill Watson, Shawn Conley
Produced/Arranged: Bill Watson
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And please do give a listen to Dan’s song from the same session, “Only Rednecks Do It Like That”:
As well as his traditional country song, “Our Love”:
*These mp3 samples will be louder in volume than most on this blog site because they went through the additional step of mastering.
** Only Rednecks Do It Like That, Our Love and Miles and Miles © 2015 Dan Thompson and are provided as a demonstration of production values only. Any other use violates U.S. and International copyright law. Requests for copies by program directors for radio rotation and requests by other parties interested in recording or performing these songs or using them in TV, film or other commercial use, e-mailed to nashtrax@bellsouth.net will be forwarded to the songwriter and/or publisher.
Pre-Production Started On 10 song album for Blues Guitarist Tony Pizzino. Bill Watson/Jack White co-producing.
Posted: May 5, 2015 Filed under: Client News, Now Tracking | Tags: Bill Watson, blues album, Jack White, Tony Pizzino Leave a commentPre-production has started for a 10 song album featuring blues guitarist Tony Pizzino and singer Grant Anderson. Bill Watson will be playing bass on it, as well as co-producing with Jack White, who will also be playing drums. Tony is flat out amazing on blues guitar and Grant has a unique, totally awesome voice that naturally leans toward blues They’ve both written some excellent songs for the project. Bill, Tony and Jack recorded test rhythm tracks back in August.
Update: This album is in progress. Several songs have been tracked and a Christian spinoff project is underway with a song titled “Finally Free” tracked and rough mixed, and another titled “Into The Light” being co-written by Bill and Grant.
Same day Fiddle Track Over The Internet Via Tracks Online!
Posted: April 15, 2014 Filed under: Client News, Now Tracking, Tracks Online | Tags: 33334, 42nd Street Studios, fiddle player Jenee, Florida., Ft. Lauderdale, Marc Loren, nashville trax Leave a commentMarc Loren of 42nd Street Studios hired us to do a fiddle track (for a country song he’s been working on for one of his clients) through our Trax Online service.
It was a bit of a rush job, we were contacted by Marc in the morning and he needed to mix that afternoon. Our fiddle player, Jenee, happened to be available.
Done deal!
“Her playing is excellent and fit perfectly with this track. I look
Forward to future projects with you.” Marc
If you ever need him and you’re in the Ft. Lauderdale 33334 area, Marc does great work. We look forward to a long and prosperous relationship with him and 42nd Street Studios.
If you need a fiddle or violin track, or any instrument for that matter, text or call us 615-319-8616. Or e-mail nashtrax@bellsouth.net
Vocal Tracks Online Service: Hire a Nashville demo singer for your song production!
Posted: April 14, 2014 Filed under: Client News, Music Industry News, Studio Services | Tags: female country singer tracks online, female singers online, JenniferL Nashville Session Singer, male singers online, Nashville session singer, nashville trax recording studio, singers over the Internet, Vocal Tracks Online Leave a commentTake a quick look at the choices available at Vocal Tracks Online!
06-12-14 For Immediate Release:
Nashville Trax Launches Vocal Tracks Online!
Many self-producers and sometimes even experienced studio owner/producers don’t have the right singer available for a particular song. Vocal Tracks Online solves that problem by offering the client proven Nashville session singers over the Internet who can be added to their work by trading files online that lock right up to their project. It’s easy and it’s smart business!
The producer doesn’t have to “search and hope” by running Craigslist ads and other dubious singer search methods. They can get proven, reliable talent with great pitch and tremendous skills to make their singing choice a “sure thing” instead of an expensive shot in the dark.
Here’s one of our male vocalists, Jason, on a country ballad:
We have both male singers online and female singers online in almost any style a producer needs. If a producer needs a Jo Dee Messina style powerhouse modern country singer, they can Google “female country singer tracks online” and dial right into our site.
Pricing is reasonable and varies according to the singer’s experience; demand for their services; whether or not they do major label work and other factors.
Now Tracking: 5 More Songs for Client Gary Nowak
Posted: February 19, 2014 Filed under: Client News, Client News, Now Tracking | Tags: Gary Nowak, Gasoline, play it again demos, You Tube Leave a comment5 songs just in and confirmed (paid for in full) for Play It Again Demos client Gary Nowak.
We’ve produced several projects for Gary in the past. Recently, he began a business creating professional videos based on our work (so far he’s gone to video with a song we produced for him called “Gasoline” and another titled “Miracle At Work”) and posting them on You Tube. They are filmed by professional photographers and employ actors to lip sync to the recording.
Obviously his enterprise is becoming successful. See this link for details about what Gary is doing:
More About Gary Nowak Projects
Now Tracking : 4 Songs just booked. Yours too?
Posted: February 1, 2014 Filed under: Client News, Now Tracking | Tags: now tracking, Stephene Bouchard Leave a commentWe have been contracted by singer/songwriter Stephene Bouchard of Canada, to record four original songs of various styles, with pre-production charting and rhythm section tracking (drums, bass, piano, guitar) the first two steps in the process of working long distance.
Update: Sorting through the tracks now and the first song is in Stephene’s hands to add vocals. We sent a rough mix of drums. bass and guitar rhythm tracks on a .wav file (via Hightail) of his song “Real Love”. Once back and we can hear exactly where the vocals sit, we’ll add the piano, strings and other overdubs. The mix will be done here.
Update: Stephane has also been forwarded a rough mix of “To Find You” to add vocals to.
Yes singers, it’s that easy to get a pro quality demo or CD over the Internet! Cost? Some of the four tunes are more complex than others but we agreed on an average of only $750 per song! That includes a full day of studio time per song, pre-production work, rhythm tracking, sending files back & forth, overdubs and mixing. Good deal!
Music Project Funding: Silence Is Full of Sound
Posted: January 30, 2014 Filed under: Client News | Tags: Bill Watson, incremental funding, Music Project Funding, Silence Is Full of Sound Leave a comment
My songwriting collaborator, Amesh David and I, have agreed to move forward on a master session recording and video of our pop song Silence Is Full of Sound. I produced demos on 3 songs we wrote together and, this past weekend, we decided Silence is worthy of further copyright exploitation.
We will begin seeking incremental funding within the next 30 days. More details will be posted as they become available. The post will demonstrate the steps you can take to use a good quality demo costing hundreds, such as one made at Play It Again Demos to fund a master project costing thousands.
The demonstration recording of Silence Is Full Of Sound is here third clip from the bottom.- Bill Watson
Now Tracking : Gone
Posted: November 29, 2013 Filed under: Christian, Client News, Now Tracking | Tags: Gone, Jamie Grace, Michael Jackson, now tracking song Leave a commentA second song in queue at Play It Again Demos is by Michael Jackson, titled “Gone.” It’s a wonderful song with some interesting chord and lyric twists.
This would be a song I could hear Jamie Grace doing. I’m excited and looking forward to experiencing what I hear in my head coming to life.
The charts are finished and we’re tracking tomorrow, it should be mixed the first week of December!- b.e.
Update 12-1-13: The rhythm and overdub tracks are cut for Gone, the singer delivered some truly exceptional vocal tracks, now it’s on to mixing which is scheduled for Wednesday afternoon/Thursday!
Update 12-5-13: You can listen to the finished mix version here!
Tracking Now : Rhianna
Posted: November 15, 2013 Filed under: Client News, Now Tracking, Studio News | Tags: Elvis, Jackson 5, Johnny Cash, Little Feat, Michael Jackson, Train Hey Soul Sister Leave a commentAn interesting tune came in this afternoon and since I’m charting a few songs now as I write this, I’ve added it to the upcoming session.
It’s for songwriter Michael Jackson but I’m relatively sure he’s not the same guy who wrote Billie Jean and was a member of the Jackson 5. But then again they say Elvis is still alive and singing somewhere…who really knows? Michael, if you send a pic and you’re wearing a single white glove it’ll freak me out a little, that’s for sure.
Anyway I find it very cool and intriguing that this is one of those rare finds that could be translated in several radically disparate styles, and even more so that Michael has given me permission to go any direction I wish, even though I mentioned Little Feat, Train’s Hey, Soul Sister and Johnny Cash as possibilities. Wow!
Update: The song is charted and we’re ready to begin tracking on it this coming Tuesday. There’s no doubt it’s going to be a dramatic transformation from rough to polished demo. I’m excited!
BMG Chrysalis signs Wynn Varble
Posted: October 1, 2013 Filed under: Client News, Music Industry News | Tags: BMG Chrysalis, Wynn Varble Leave a comment
On September 26th, 2013, Wynn Varble signed with BMG Chrysalis Nashville as an addition to their songwriter roster.
Now Tracking : The Darker Side Of Love
Posted: September 23, 2013 Filed under: Client News, Now Tracking | Tags: play it again demos, pre-production, rockin country, Steve Zodiak, Tom Hogan Leave a comment
We’re finally getting around to the tracking of Tom Hogan’s (a.k.a. Steve Zodiak, his fictitious online name) “The Darker Side of Love” which was the subject of a previous post. It took a while to make some pre-production decisions and get the financials in order.
Love the tune! Uptempo contemporary country with a female vocal and lots of bgv’s. It’s “The Works” level demo ($1,200) so it’s also getting drums, bass guitar, two guitar tracks, fiddle, mandolin and harmonica with the harmonica and fiddle trading licks on the solo section. Steve said, “Make it Rockin’ Country!”
No one has to ask me that twice, LOL. Charts are complete and we’re ready to cut rhythm tracks on this bad boy.- b.e.
10-12-13 Update: Here’s the finished mix.
1 lead vocal track
2 harmony vocal tracks
10 Drum kit tracks (10 separate tracks with each drum microphone getting a separate track, kick, snare, top head, snare bottom head, etc.)
1 bass guitar track
2 split acoustic guitar tracks, panned wide
2 chorused clean electric guitar tracks panned wide
1 distorted rhythm electric guitar track
1 harmonica track
1 fiddle track
1 steel guitar track
1 mandolin track
The Darker Side of Love is © 2013, Tom Hogan, used by permission of the songwriter. If you’re interested in recording this song please let us know and we’ll forward your request to the songwriter and music publisher.
Tom’s comment on 11-17-13: “Thanks for all you’ve done. I’ve nothing to say but good things about the “Darker Side of Love” project.”
How do you like that harmonica work? It adds a lot, eh? And that awesome fiddle trading licks with the harmonica on the solo?
How would you like to be pitching work of this quality?
I can happen! Send us a copy of your working rough mp3 at nashtrax@bellsouth.net and request a quote today!
Pre-Production : What Is It?
Posted: September 13, 2013 Filed under: Client News, Songwriting Tips | Tags: full band demo, limited release, nashville numbers Leave a comment
I’ve set aside 1.5 hours this morning for pre-production on an original song titled “Into The Light” by songwriter Timothy Demming.
Tim ordered “The Works” level demo ($1,250.00) which is a full band demo including lead, harmony and background vocals, a 6 piece band including doubling of tracks where warranted, mastering, and radio ready mix. It comes with a limited release license for up to 10,000 copies to be sold, either via download, CD or other means.
I loved Timothy’s rough and I’m excited to get started!
What happens in pre-production? This is the time production notes are made, the songwriter’s notes are reviewed, the arrangement is created and Nashville Number Charts are written. It’s also when the singer and musicians who will be on the session are chosen.
If I hear flaws in the song’s construction, be it in the lyric or in the music, I’ll shoot out e-mail(s) to the client noting the perceived problems and possible fixes. I realize that what I see as a problem may be something the writer did intentionally and wants to keep, which is perfectly okay.
Common problems resolved at this stage are:
- Extra bars that aren’t needed
- An odd number of bars that need to be evened out so that portion of the song doesn’t feel “left footed.”
- A line that is so wordy the singer won’t be able to squeeze it all in without sounding unnatural.
- A chord choice that doesn’t fit the progression or the melody.
- A melody that isn’t supported by the chords.
- Tempo slightly faster or slower than ideal.
- Weirdness. I can’t explain this exactly other than to say songwriters, left to their own devices without input or guidance, often do strange things, especially in the lyric. For example, they may write a complete song built on a concept that, unbeknownst to them, could also be taken another way they never thought of. Can you spell “sexual innuendo” and place it in parallel to a normal lyric in a sweet old ladies’ gospel song? Not the best idea to let that out in public, she needs some gentle guidance.
Or sometimes a song is just plain weird beginning to end: “What Does Santa Give Huskies for Christmas?” comes to mind. Perhaps there are some questions we just don’t need an answer to. Gentle. Guidance.
I don’t address things like pitch issues, tone or musical ability of the singer and players on the rough. If the songwriter making the rough version had perfect pitch, great tone, could play at session quality and do great arrangements what would they need us for? I expect those elements to be pretty raw, just send in the best rough you can muster. I’ll review your song, not how well you perform it.
Jesus will judge you someday, it’s not my gig : )- b.e.








