2024-Aug-17 - Dancing In The Rain
This week's randomly selected song is Dancing In The Rain, song #4 from disc #2 of my latest triple CD extravaganza It Was All Just a Dream. It's the perfect day for this song, as I'm sitting here typing this to the gentle sound of rain. 🌧️
Dancing In The Rain has evolved quite a bit from its initial release on my 2017 album Juxtaposition. In fact, considering that I re-recorded all of the guitar and bass parts for the 2022 Juxtaposition Reimagined release, there is not a single part of this song that made the cut from the original release. Every single part was re-recorded, replaced, or removed. In addition to new drums and a punchy new mix, the final version of Dancing In The Rain has been infused with a new piano part that is so integral to the song that I can't imagine the song without it.
Dancing In The Rain started as many of my songs do: just a simple motif on guitar. I showed the idea to my father-in-law, and he remarked that it reminded him of the sound of the rain. So the song started it's life being named Rains Over Keaau, but I ended up feeling like that didn't quite capture the carefree sound of the song. But I wanted to keep the idea of rain in the title as a tip of the hat to my father-in-law. Sadly, my father-in-law would never get to hear this updated version, but the song has become my permanent tribute to him. He was one of my biggest fans and an amazing support -- not just of my musical endeavors, but in every way. I miss him more than I can articulate with words, and this will always be his song.
Dancing In The Rain features just a couple guitar parts. There's a strummed acoustic guitar throughout, which is my Ibanez Guitars AE. I used a blend of the piezo pickup with a mic'd line as well, using my Aston Origin mic. All of the electric guitar lines were played on my Sully Guitars US Custom 622 through my Mesa Boogie Mark V:25, mostly on the Fat voice, but with a few lead bits on the IIC+ 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!
❤️😎🎸