2024-Sep-28 - As Time Goes By
This week's randomly selected song is As Time Goes By, track #14 from disc #2 of my latest triple CD extravaganza It Was All Just a Dream.
As Time Goes By was first released on my 2017 album Juxtaposition. I re-recorded all of the guitar and bass parts for its re-release on my 2022 album Juxtaposition Reimagined. This final version features new drums, new production, and a punchy new mix.
The very first incarnation of As Time Goes By started with the simple repeating 4 chords on piano that start the song. I recorded the chords with a drum and bass groove, and posted the looping progression on my old Facebook artist page. I encouraged my followers who played an instrument to grab the loop and record their own noodling or melodies or whatever.
* A sad trombone playing the womp womp sound * 💔
Nobody bit. Nothing. Even though my old artist page had thousands of followers, I didn't get even a single engagement. 😢
I decided that I liked the progression and groove too much to just let it fade into the ether, so I added the chorus sections and the completely new B-section at the end of the song, and went about writing a melody. The chord progression was already feeling a bit melancholy, so I leaned into that and decided to try to capture the feeling of being at the mercy of relentlessly passing time.
Over the various releases of this song I've refined the melody each time until this final version where I feel like I “got it right”.
For the gear I used on this song, I played the rhythm guitar parts on two different guitars. The first was my 1988 Fender Yngwie Malmsteen signature Stratocaster that I refinished, played through my Synergy Amps ENGL Savage preamp module. The second was played on my wife Marci's Ibanez Guitars RG421, played through my Synergy Amps 800 preamp module. The lead parts were all played on my Ibanez S5521Q through my Mesa Boogie Mark V:25 using the Mark IV voice.
You can listen to this song as well as the entire 44 song collection right here on the website! If you love what you hear and want to support the music I make, please consider purchasing this album on CD or digital download. I will gladly personalize and autograph your copy.
https://chrisstark.com/it-was-all-just-a-dream
Keep an eye out for next Saturday's song spotlight, and as always, thank you sincerely for all of your support!
Love, Aloha, and Rock!
❤️😎🎸