JPF Home Page Forums Lyric and MP3 Feedback MP3 Feedback Forum Taking On Forever (CD Title Track)

Hey Mike,

Don't you get tired of people telling you how great you are?
Oh, all right! YOU ARE GREAT! YOU ARE WONDERFUL! WHEN CAN I GET MY HANDS ON THIS CD?

Love ya,

Ricki

Hey you!

No actually I don't because in my heart of hearts I truly don't believe that or feel as though I am. And I don't believe what I'm told alot

Also I'm terribly hard on myself and have far more insight then I do talent. That insight knows the differences between everything. So I'm as grounded as the next real person.
And I got a huge lesson in humility going on in my life that I honestly really didn't need.

Thankyou for everything my friend
Mike

The CD is only halted by the artwork and graphics on my end.. I'm thinking of the download route as well....

Hi Mike. Your song has blown me away. It is simply FANTASTIC.
I can't find one single thing wrong. And my old ears have been around for 74 years. I have been listening to great songs for as long as I can remember.I'm going back to before the wonderful
Ella Fitzgerald. I don't do music but I have a darn good ear for those who can. Taking On Forever, deserves to be a number 1 hit.
I have herd 3 songs since I joined, and I think J P F has got the most talented people I have heard in a very long time. Your song gave me such a lump in my throat, trying so hard not to cry. Please could you let me know when your CD is out, and where I can buy it. Mike, your voice is so rich and you sing with so much feeling. The young girls were great too. I wish there had been someone like you around, when I was a kid. I loved singing,
but in my day, there wasn't a Mike Caro around. I made the mistake of smoking, and aquired nodules on my vocal chords when I was 58. I lost my voice completely. (Roy would say, that was his most peaceful time)lol. Got to go now,as it is 2-55am over here, so:

Goodnight, Godbless you, and and keep you safe. Roy has told me how ill you are, and I would like to put your name under my cross
as I did with Glyn. I hope my prayers will be answered for both of you. Helen.

Well what can I say, the mix is crap and so are the vocals and the arrangment just kidding mate you blow me away with you writting and arrangments. It makes me try even harder to get your sound when I write.

Man I love this tune you one gifted son of a gun.

Thankyou Tammy, The praise is warmly appreciated and welcome... Since not being able to play out, no gigs for a decade and no label work in seven years and no pitch accept-ions in six years it is WELCOME LOL

The better I get the further it all gets away....

Helen

That was a wonder warm response to my song. It's no number one hit lol but your feelings towards it are My friend Nick who played Accordion on the album (Waves Of The Danube) the CD's only cover song is also 74. I have only known him briefly but he LOVES my stuff it is so flattering when he calls up and asks for a copy of song so he can drive around and listen to it in his car...

His favorites I believe are "Boetticher Blues, "If I Could/Closer" and "Gypsy"

Then I have 13 year old asking for a copy of this songs as well as a few others. They like this one "Right Here On This Earth"
"If I Could" The Brooklyn Song and I Can Do Anything" most of all.
So it is extremely pleasing to me as a songwriter to reach such a wide age range. I feel lucky to have the kids around just as much. I dont have any and that saddens me on a regular basis. So it's nice to see these kids grow up and there great talents as well.

Sorry about your trouble and losing your voice. What a shame. Also wanted to tell you how much I enjoyed working on your song "All It Takes"
It made VERY happy too see you and Roy so happy about it.

Thank you very much for including me in your prayers.
I'm not that ill thank God. Just altered and weakened.
I know there are infinite amounts of people who need it way more than I do, so I pray only for strength and courage to cope.

Thanks & God Bless
Mike

Thanks Andy this was the song i was gonna have you solo on, NOW you can be mad at me LOL.. How killer is the feel of this song to play over? KILLER!!!

I'm gonna agree with your kidding, none of these things are perfect but as a whole, as one they are very effective!
Correction Kacey was perfect!!

Thanks
Mike

Damn Mike. I don't know what to say. I've seen my mother suffer from MS for the last 20 years. Yours although not the same sounds just as frustrating and debilitating as that is so I really feel for you. It must be just as hard mentally to cope with. I praise you even more for getting in your studio and creating this fantastic piece of work.

As for people liking or disliking different parts of a song, I totally know what you mean. You put so many hours into something and then someone says "hmm not so sure about this or that" Aaahh! It's easy to then look more critically at that part but unless lots of people say the same thing then you can discard it as personal preference rather than sounding bad. So having read all the critiques I'd say the song is spot on and your sure don't need to revisit it!!! .

Put your music on the web. Use CD baby and also make yourself a bandcamp page. Get your music on Youtube with a picture of your album as a backdrop and then at least you have done the minimum to get your great music out there. For those of us who like your stuff we can easily start linking you and sending you all over the world.
If you need any help with the artwork or web stuff let me know cos I'm a geek and good with that side of stuff.

Jim

Mike,

Great song! This one has been on my radar for a while now and I just wanted to really have time to listen. You always put out quality stuff and I really appreciate your musicianship.

The girls did great and from time to time I wanted to hear them more. (louder in the mix)

That is not a complaint or critique as the mix is great and blends very well overall.

Listened 4 times so far. Love the build and the first part of the chorus. Very dramatic and heartfelt!

Keep up with music as much as you can (and I know you will) as it obviously has SOME healing power for you. You have lots of talent and the confidence in that talent really shows. Many have talent but I think the confidence can be what separates amateur from pro and you my friend are no amateur!

Ricky

Hi Mike,

I was reading the comments, reading the lyrics and expecting to get blown away and it won't play!!! Well it will play a few notes and stop. I will be back to try it again, everything else has been playing fine today.

Dottie

Hey Sub,

Now that's one great rock/pop song !

Now for the nit picking..... LOL

This song is beautifully layered, both musically and production wise. It has that trademark "air" which you give a tune.

For this tune however, I think it needs to escape Substudio, and be mixed and mastered from an outside source. Why ? It is hovering between retro and modern, production wise, and needs some red lining by a young out there audio engineer. ( Don't look at me, I have hair in all the wrong places ) This is a true studio production piece and would really benefit an outside mix.

Also.... it's the first song ? I'm thinking maybe it should be the last song. It would cap off a really great instrumental album with the only vocal track at the end.

Anyways, which ever way you look at it, it's just a damn great song.

cheers, niteshift

Thanks Jim

Yes it's debilitating. The biggest highlight of feeling good in my life is when I'm able to take a shower for five minutes or so...

And I do appreciate the time anyone puts into a comment regarding one of mys songs. At least they listened to begin with
What people don't know or can't know is circumstances. I try to remember that when I'm reviewing something. If you know them a little better it's easier to get to the points that can really help them.

So sorry to hear about your Mom...
All the best
Mike

Thanks Ricky.

The girls the kids, did a wonderful job. I went back and dealt with there levels a few times. Actually I find them a touch loud in spots for my taste. I did that for them though so they would hear themselves a little better. For me technically the bridge background is a tad too loud the choruses are border line perfect.
The ending section is good. Any louder and the twin lead guitars are gone. Any lower and the impact of the solo singing is gone...

Yes confidence is important. But I trust my experience in most cases. I am VERY hard on myself and VERY humbled everyday in every way.
It's OTHERS including record label music people and players who have put more faith in me than I feel worthy of.

That helps with confidence as well... Even when they say it or pay it I still don't truly believe it or feel really worthy of it.
I worked hard, I have very good insight and I understand people and circumstances very well. I can see past what I know or don't know and what I like or don't like to find the value in something. I adapt very well so people like to work with me and be around a situation with me. Unless they are LAZY then they force themselves to despise me... They want credit without the work...
I unintentionally expose a lot of people.

Thanks man
Mike

Sorry Dot.
Hopefully it will work next time... Thanks for dropping in though.

Mike

Thanks Nite...

It is the last song on the CD.. Like I said "The final track"
Also it is like EVERY song I ever posted here in six years completely DONE!


Thanks
Mike

If George Martin's son, or Paul's young dude said they would remix it, I would say,,,sure, let em since they "asked", and hear where they take it.
Otherwise,,,,it's what Mike sounds like, and should remain that way, period!
Hey Mike,,,,,see ya Sunday if you're clear for studio time. Get those drums tuned for me!

I beg to differ Mr Daubert.....

The song, as presented is way over compressed ( look at the graphic ) and not in a good way.

It lacks mids, and depth of field. it is not clear and precise in it's execution or it's audio quality.

This is a beautifully recorded song which requires the subtle hand of a post production engineer to give it depth and substance. To my ear, a prime candidate for an analogue/digital mix, followed by layback for final mastering.

If I had the money, I'd send it off to somewhere like Universal ( $750 ) where the expertise in their field is evident.

Yes, Sub you are "done" on your part, and the work shown would please a post production engineer no end.

It would make his ears sing.

cheers, niteshift

What you heard Nite, is a an MP3 on that site, which is NOT the sonic quality of the CD that I have, and what I was referring to. There is no comparison of that mp3 to the wav file song on the CD. Nite and Day! LOL

So, I see how you would assume that file on the site is the actual sound of what Mike did.

Mike, how come I got edited out???

Besides, Mike told me the compression he did on it. "Very little". Mike would have the numbers, to show that is the case.

Nite

Don't pay too much mind to John he is very biased and protective of me And I love him like a brother.

Actually almost ALL the songs I hear here or anywhere are blasting in volume over the ones I do .. The compression on this song was minus - 10 Threshold - 1.295 Ratio Limiter - 3.0 threshold.. The one I have on Soundclound may not be the final mastered one.. That is peanuts as I see people go -18 and 4.1 ratio's
But I know for a FACT that I don't over compress my material in it's final stages.. As a matter of fact I was just explaining to one of the kids who I produce... They asked WHY does there songs sound so low compared to all the other songs they have on the the IPOD? I said give me your Taylor Swift CD or whatever it was..

I put it at a certain volume in the studio, it was BLASTING the levels on m y machine were pinned.. But the control knob was half way up.. Naturally it sounded very impressive,, but like many other things I hear today in a short while my ears were hurting and things sounded harsh and brash.. Then I put the work we were doing on... I was able to crank the control room without any harshness whatsoever.. would do the same on any stereo. But I know they need it hotter for today's media... So!

I have heard countless country songs as well HARSH big label releases... Checkout the wonderful song My Town by Montgomery Gentry.. I have to shut it off or keep it really low it's so harsh..
But I don't even over compress when tracking it KILLS dynamics...
My acoustic guitars dynamics come from my hands..

I do agree there are faults in this last song and album,I am rushing a bit to finish the three year CD project...And I have little to no help with it.. Lots of people disappear when money and opportunities do..
But NOT clear in it's audio quality? Is an opinion that I'll have to disagree with. A perfect track/mix? No way..State of The Art? No way!
Unclear? that's nonsense. I haven't done an unclear recording since I owned a 4 track cassette porta studio twenty five years ago my friend.

Anyway I'll try explain why your whole original feedback doesn't work for me.. Why I don't know, lolbut we're friends so I will.
Maybe it will aid you in life in some way or some how some time.
Being able to step outside my own various jobs and work I can totally get what your saying. I know! I know! However where does it end?
See if I ask one question or have one thought I have a hundred more ....How about I do the whole recording outside of substudio, this way I get some different sounds and rooms and gear.. And HELP!
Oh And why not have some other people play instead of me playing twenty tracks or so myself. Also an engineer just sitting there thinking about levels and compression while I'm trying to figure out a bass solo or guitar solo's harmony parts...

I have actually had people come in and I paid them to play things I can play just for a different perspective. Some people who were better than me in many ways, but still I had to scratch there track in many cases as it wasn't what the song needed. Or for some reason or another...
I have even done it with bass, I had players/people say WHY in the world would you have someones else play bass on one of your songs? I get it!

However there is a list of circumstances and reasons for doing things one way or another at any given time. The list and reasons are way to long to explain here so I wont dare explain them all. This will be too long as it is...
But just a quick example of reasoning as too why your suggestions makes sense but also doesn't is..
1- Money!! Who's paying.you? how much? If someones gonna do things so much better than me they will probably need to be paid..

2- Besides who's paying, there's the TIME it takes, Then there's this factor... What kid around here or where ever, that I'm gonna trust with my tracks and my song?
Do you REALLY think the top guy in the top room sits and works on YOUR songs? They put his picture up and he takes the BIG jobs the A Room jobs and the rest are given to interns young people in a room with a computer just like yours the B Room.. I have seen it time and again before.
In my situation I'm forced into things and limited so I'll have to trust my years of recording songs myself plan
Since I was kid I went to various studios and then I went home and bested ever single one of them here... Accept for the MASSIVE ones in NYC and those were all dance tracks, it's real easy to get perfect sound out of machines and midi..

I sent songs from a label job inb 2004 I got. We used a SIX MILLION dollar studio for mixing. Aside from the great vocal sound they RUINED the songs...Actually the label and executive producer had me send them.. Know why? Some kid with pro-tools compressing the life out of every single track... he also thought to use all his toys... effects all over the place.


3- Why spend money outside to mix on ONE song, what about the other 14 songs? How are they gonna blend? See how it works? see how the never getting done starts?

Being a producer the number one thing you need to be is PRODUCTIVE!!!
I can or could not waste anymore time looking for a young studio kid who's gonna take my retro song in which I want to stay totally retro and make it into a modern marvel lol and do not have the juice/energy or patience or resources to partake in such things now. People caring is a BIG key. Sending your song to someone who cares makes all this difference in the world... even if they have [naughty word removed] to work with...
I did albums at Sony when I was signed to Columbia Records and many aspects of it does not sound as good as the CD I'm doing now.. or ones I did five years ago for that matter, trust me on that.

So in theory I agree with your suggestion/thought 100%.. in reality it's a complete 100% no no. I guess I can live with how my recordings turn out.

There's always room for improvement, I know this better than anyone. But when it gets in the way of doing anything, it's no longer an improvement! We must deal with the balance of things we have in front of us and the way things are now and move forward...

An outside mastering house would be a lot more logical and practical and needed, rather than sending houses my songs to mix. Just not a practical idea... thanks for suggesting it though

Hey where's "I Write The Songs"??? No reply is required I'm exhausted..
Thanks again, thought this thread was over but... well almost.

Mike

Over ? Yeah, well almost.

Mike, I've heard a lot of your work, both for yourself and for others. It has a wonderful cleanness which only a analogue studio can do.

In pulling up this track, and playing it beside your previous work, it is 'cloudy' and sonically confused.

I'll say no more, other than to say call it as you see it.

Your bud, niteshift

Compared to the same song I have on CD, that site must have put his 320kb upload to 96kb or even 48, maybe to have more space overall on the site. ??? Nite and Day difference!
I know by comparison that is where the issue lies in the sonic comments.

Blame the site, Nite. I heard it as Mike intended it to be. So far, no one else has.

Mike , why did you pull out the song from Soundcloud ?

Does this mean you are soon ready to release the CD ? :-)

Hope you`ll make it avaiable as download as well .

All the best
Jan

darn, it looks like I missed it

not on SoundCloud anymore.... best wishes to ya buddy!! I didn't read the whole long thread tho -- my laptop battery's almost dead I gotta take a break here too....

take care man - will buy CD when it's out, just tell me where & when!

Linda

There are many roads to go,
and they go by many names,
they don't all go the same way,
but they get there all the same,
and I have a feeling that we'll meet someday....
where the roads come together...
up the way.

I used to sing that song in Up With People
years ago, and youre somg brought it back to me. lovely write mike.~~~~MFB III