Sambo Yojimbo

Dalton to the Death

2008-09-16T11:55:00.001-06:00

I think when all is said and done, if we want our music to be taken seriously, we may need to rename our band "Dalton to the Death."

Harmonica

2008-05-11T10:49:00.002-06:00

I have a harmonica now with a "How to" CD. I need to make some songs with that and my guitar. It's been awhile.

playing with wizard power

2008-03-29T22:41:00.002-06:00

This song is stuck right now. It may need an inspirational moment to be completed. Still, it's a showoff of what Sambo Yojimbo is doing when it's not doing too much.

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sonata is final for now

2008-03-16T23:21:00.002-06:00

66666666666666666666

a few pics from recording

2008-03-16T00:25:00.017-06:00

Track-laying for the Raingutter Sonata
.... .... ...... ... ..... . ..... ....

Father Luke and Son Cole5

Hayley5
.

The Raingutter Sonata

2008-03-16T00:13:00.004-06:00

This piece is pretty near completion. I may fix my singing to not be dual voice, and I may work on a few proper bridges, but it may as well be a final song on an album. Thanks to the Dalton family for putting their guitar (Luke) and their voice (Hayley) into it.
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ride that new wave

2008-03-03T23:18:00.003-07:00

let's get a fresh scent wafting on these breeze. this be a teaser promo for the new song tentatively named dream ninja or wizard power? my mic is lent out for another day plus i ain't no lyrics at this point, so the ice block sound effect is filling in the vocals section and the piano is feeling like itself again. if your name is kevin walker or you just don't like to be teased, then don't click the houndbite.
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apologies to sambo yojimbo

2008-03-03T10:01:00.004-07:00

Luke, here's the one song that I am so sick of hearing and working with. Also, I figured something out about the way drum loops work on garageband—and it basically means that there are more drum tracks available than I thought, except that we recorded it at too fast a tempo to use them. I guess I've learned relatively a lot about recording in 2008, sorry that it has come at the expense of my brother and my dad.
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update B4 march

2008-02-27T10:51:00.006-07:00

Mostly to Luke:
Last recording weekend was good, but mostly in the way that it helped me learn some new rules and regs for recording so that future sessions can be more productive. I will hopefully get a new version of Less Than Love, or 4-Slyce never had it so nice, up soon. I definitely think I have some good keyboard flair coming on for it.

As for Tonight at Craig's. I must admit I think I like the song without guitar. Once I get Hayee to sing the girl part I'll see. The guitar seemed to work well with the singing but I didn't like how it went with the song as a whole. That gave me the idea that it would be cool to have two versions of the song (keyboard and guitar). So you should think about having a version that is just guitar (and fake drums) with you singing. I think that would be cool, since the guitar vs. the keyboard is pretty starkly different. What do you think about that idea?

I'll post some audio soonish for you to base opinions on.
//Creent

The Les Victim March

2008-02-19T22:56:00.002-07:00

Another take on an old song. I've gotta say, it's not my favorite version. But it's progress in the sense that it gets me closer to the sequencing that I would like to call final.
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written and performed by melon dalton

2008-02-09T18:33:00.001-07:00

Simple Notions

The Wall (Closer to Me)

The Man

Good for You

The Shimmering Fields

What Can I Do?

streaming?? you gotta be dreaming!!

2008-02-02T20:41:00.001-07:00

So, I think this is A-OK. No more music videos unless I feel like it. (Same song as below, what's important is that it's a streamed, straight mp3.)

sweet direct, directed

2008-01-26T22:02:00.000-07:00

I spent my weekend working this out. Now alls it really needs is (big-time) Luke to write a guitar part for it and play it, and it also needs Luke and girl to sing their parts instead of me. I'm pretty happy with it; I hope the recording quality shows at least at all in this youtuber.

Notes:
• The dual voice that you hear is my attempt at stereo with one mic (i.e. I sang each part twice—once into the left input and once into the right input—the syncing could be better)

• Drum tracks make me feel like I'm not a real musician. Also I guess I've never felt like a real musician anyway—except in my marching band outfit. The drums are obviously not real drums on this song.

• There are a few other singing mistakes/imperfections on this song that I will wait to change for when we have guitar and girl.

• The direct TRS line from my keyboard to preamp worked great, but it also worked like the singing (for stereo I had to play each part twice).

• After watching the vid, I think the up in quality still shows.

learning! reading! spearminting!

2008-01-24T14:57:00.000-07:00

things are slow-going on this here web manifestation of our musical progress, i know. but if you only knew how excited i've been being and getting while reading tim crich's Recording Tips for Engineers: for Cleaner, Brighter Tracks. it is giving me great ideas of how to record the necessary instruments for dalton family music.

tim crich's recording tips should directly affect the recording session that i tentatively have scheduled next week with my father nathan huntington dalton for his life's work of acoustic guitar songs.

and thanks to both zachary ray carr and tim crich i will finally see that a direct line into my computer (or at least into my preamp) will be far superior to MIDI ports that translate to garageband sound effects. that is exciting. the cable i buy for such quality may look like the following:

reinforced crotch stride

2008-01-16T09:14:00.000-07:00

this is just that type of stride forward i made the other night with a cold voice. the format is getting pretty close, of course we are still waiting for the right moment to inject some emotional guitar. and no sitcom ending! but also kind of no ending.

And enjoy some pictures stolen from hanyon's wedding bash.

*see if you can tell which parts are designed to be sung by a girl.

sound booth

2008-01-11T00:25:00.000-07:00

This is what the sambo yojimbo sound booth recording closet looks like from standing in the doorway with a camera.

somebody stop me

2008-01-02T09:45:00.000-07:00

i feel like someone should tell the story of how i'm already re-creating that song posted below with the necessary improvements. It has already earned an excellent new vocal part that features a boy-girl singing dialogue. It's gonna be great. Not that I'm disappointed in that first draft below (though I am a bit embarrassed and amused by the sitcom ending, that may need to go).

rough stuff

2007-12-27T23:02:00.001-07:00

here's some more rough stuff tumbling out my recording closet. let it serve as the following: a warning, a first test use of my microphone (which is still not near perfection since my work computer won't let me access the control panel on it), a medley of opening directions for a song i remembered at 5 a.m. on december 11. Luke at it.

hold that thought

2007-12-25T09:17:00.001-07:00

Though there are many girls all with pretty girl voices, after last night's Christmas Eve program I decided if Sambo Yojimbo ever records a song with a pretty girl vocal part, we should try and get Wawa to sing it. Wawa means Laura. Laura Dalton.

rudimentary no more

2007-12-17T12:10:00.001-07:00

Here are 2 reasons why Sambo Yojimbo's recordings are going to sound like quality work from here on out:

Sterling Audio ST55 Large Diaphragm FET Condenser Microphone

M-Audio MobilePre USB Portable Audio Interface

5+ minutes of hit music

2007-12-13T09:38:00.000-07:00

this song goes out to 4-Slyce because 1) he was one of the mastercraftsmen of it and 2) he requests that I keep this site up to date for his viewing pleasure. In all honesty the reason I hesitated to post this is the lyrical content, but I can easily and honestly disclaim that.
*Disclaimer to sexy exies: These lyrics were written a year and 3 or 4 months ago (August or September of '06). And that, really, should be all the explanation necessary if, by chance, an exy sexy listens to this song. Nobody is going to be stopping anybody's wedding.
*Final tip: Make sure you put on the right headphones for this song. If your headphone selection is anything like mine then you own some headphones that only play my vocals and not Luke's, and you own headphones that play both of our vocals (use the both-vocal ones). Luke does very well in this song, and I am loving it lots of times.

Microphone

2007-12-07T14:36:00.000-07:00

Maybe I'll buy this one.
THE AKG PERCEPTION 100 LARGE-DIAPHRAGM CONDENSER
.......................................

PROGRESS

2007-11-24T16:25:00.000-07:00

we're doing perty well with e-mail, phone and man-to-man. we may not need this site after all.

Accepting Squealing Guitar

2007-11-13T14:50:00.000-07:00

Here is a new cut of my original.

It is the chill version (no 2nd voice part). Luke, do you remember those wicked guitar squeals that you wanted to add? How are those sounding in your mind? They sound good in mine. For the 'nother version, click the Broonhead link and go to the Nov 01 Christmas Morn vid.

Hit Homework

2007-11-06T15:46:00.000-07:00

Lucas, I want for you to listen to this song—one of my favorites from Broonhead (me & 4-Slyce)—and see if you can figure out how to play the same guitar. Could you do that? Be honest, what do you think? Supposedly these are the chords used::
D#minor C# G# A#
D#minor C# G# F# F

I'm thinking of adjusting the lyrics to these::

//PROLOGUE//
His name was Russel, and he was sitting at home. Sitting in amazement, but more like disbelief, of his not knowing before that the task would be a whore galore. He was wondering, thinking and even pondering, realizing the power within—the power of love.
He never wanted more than love.

//SINGING//
I never wanted more than love.
The most I’ve wanted is enough.
I wanted you to shut me up—
with whispered words and quiet touch.

I never wanted more than love.
About the same as anyone.
Never at odds with my feelings,
never at odds with my first thought.

//CHORUS//
He’s a simple man with sexy-exies
Try that on for size
Try that on, 4-Slyce
4-Slyce—has never had it so nice

//SINGING MORE//
I never wanted more than you.
It felt so right((back))when it was new.
Now I get less by wanting more.
This less-than-love won’t see us through.

Less. Than. Love. Won’t. See. Us. Through.

Fuller Length Feeling

2007-11-05T23:22:00.000-07:00

This time the song is fuller. In this track I try to feel out the chorus a little bit, but I have no idea what notes to set it to, and no idea whether it could work. L, give me some feedback. I like the song this way with more breaks between piano notes—obviously we'll need to throw in some keeler guitar. Full 2 minutes.

The video is 2004 in review.

more the same

2007-11-02T11:00:00.001-06:00

I don't know exactly what new this version offers anyone, maybe—
it's instrumental
it's on a keyboard drumtrack
it's all recorded, no garagetracking, so it proves I'm getting better at actually playing keys.

I pulled out the Hohner harmonica and started trying to learn it. I played "When the Saints Go Marching In."

Oh, and the reason all these clips are about the same length is that my keyboard memory is only that long, so when I record a track it can only be that much.

Caught Me a Cricket

2007-10-31T15:48:00.000-06:00

I got the electric up here now. Just needs an amp and a second string and then it's ready. Hope you're stoked.

Shiney's Working Hard

2007-10-30T14:34:00.000-06:00

I've been putting a lot of thought and time into our first hit, All That Time, and, just like 4-Slyce's ideas, I think it will be totally acceptable. Here's some filler in the way of lyrics thus far. i have sort of worked out a chorus, well, the beginnings of one I should say.

You had all that time
It’s really not fair to those of us
Who work the nine to five
Then come home to the kids
And a screaming wife

I think you’re out of line
For keeping house all day alone
It’s like you’re riding pine
For a JV level home
That controls your life

You got the TV on
And your eyes are glazing o’er
You’re thinking of a blonde
—one of two that you let go—
And how she’s really gone

She’s your sacrifice
To this time-wasting vice

I hear the clock. Tick.
It means another meeting’s dragging me out the door.
Your skin is so. Thick.
Good ideas bombard you but they just fall to the floor.

I guess I had my time
And I ended up alright
I work a nine to five
And come home to the kids
And my lovely wife

PS I really like You Don't Feel Like Home to Me on The Good Life's new album, Help Wanted Nights. And Keely Aimee is good too. Those two songs made the album worth it to me.

One More Take

2007-10-23T12:02:00.001-06:00

This might help you envision the song a little better. Just a short clip that we can work from. Still has a long way to go. I'm glad to see you're keeping up.

The New Song

2007-10-23T11:09:00.000-06:00

The C and A chords sond good so far, but I need to figure out an A# and F sounds ok. Does the singing go with the music. When I play C and A with the music it sounds good, but a little off with the lyrics. I'll need to figure a few things out, but I think we are on the right track. Keep up the good work. I'll try to see if I can figure out how to post a music video.

All That Time ¿progress?

2007-10-22T13:52:00.000-06:00

This song never went too far, but I have a belief that it could. See the original clip from the Broonhead site. Then see the next track I just laid down to give an idea of musical notes and such. L, see what you think and weigh in. I've been thinking of ways to redirect the lyrics as well. Ideas for guitaring on this sucker? The notes are like, C to A to A# to F and things like that.

(original)

(new track)

the drumtrack is crap and the orchestra hit sound isn't awesome. Again, just an idea and a feeling.

Preparation

2007-10-20T10:58:00.000-06:00

In preperation for this Sambo Yojimbo project I've been feeding myself a steady diet of Broonhead. So don't rush me. I'm almost prepped, you preppie.

I think I might need these notes from Lust of Love:
(Creent's synth notes)
e/g/b-
d/f#/a
(voice progression)
b-.g.e-.b-.g.g.e-.b#.c#.b-

Now to test them out!

Luke

2007-10-19T11:19:00.001-06:00

Updated Songs for Tracklist

2007-10-18T15:02:00.000-06:00

Blackberry
Metal Storm
Somebody's gonna die, somebody's gonna die tonight!
Tazzy boxers
When I remember more I will put them on, so back off me!

I can't find my book of lyrics

2007-10-17T23:12:00.000-06:00

The devil is like the wind//
he's more nothing than he's something//
yet he's nothing that is dead strong//
dead weight is as heavy as the live//
if you think otherwise, you're dead wrong//

something like that

Tracklisting

2007-10-17T18:15:00.000-06:00

»Gooshling Theme Song
»The Ladder of Life
»Little Man Harry
»Robots' Main Function