Original Songs: Collaboration

Subject: Original Songs: Collaboration
From: James Stanley
Date: 26 Jun 99 - 10:56 AM

It occured to me that many out there may have talent in creating song lyrics and others have tunes without words. Does Mudcat or other sites have a mechanism for people to collaborate on some new songs. I wouldn't mind taking a shot at adding music to some undeveloped lyrics out there.

Subject: RE: Original Songs: Collaboration
From: Rick Fielding
Date: 26 Jun 99 - 11:39 AM

Welcome J.L.S. (if you are he) If you're new to the mudcat, you're in for an interesting ride.
I've collaborated for years with others - but in an odd sort of way. I write lyrics and music, but often get stuck before the song is finished. Now rather than be a good disciplined writer and stick it out for as long as it takes to complete the song to my satisfaction,(which is often a tall order) I'll pass it on to one of my fellow writers to complete it. Not just any writers mind you, but three or four folks who's work I feel is exceptionally strong. It means giving up some control, but usually the end result is very satisfying. Often the work comes back to me in it's newer form and that spurs me to make further changes - so the collaborator may see their contribution lessened somewhat. I always give 50/50 composer credits even if only one phrase ends up being added or changed from what I wrote originally. I must remember that at some point I couldn't complete it the way I wanted to.
Another approach that I have used for many years has been to encourage two excellent poets (and tune writers) that I know to pass their poems on to me. I fiddle, tinker, re-write, and generally mess around til a finished work rears it's head. I guess they both trust me, and I think good songs have been the result. Often the original poem has resulted in two completely different songs (one from the original composer and one from me) with different titles, tunes and chord structures. Every album I've done has had at least 2 songs that are the result of those methods.
I'm a very severe editor of my own work and usually will throw away 4 out of every 5 songs (for various reasons - but mostly because I don't want folks twenty years down the road to hear something that I feel would be dated or corny)

great thread.
rick

Subject: RE: Original Songs: Collaboration
From: The Shambles
Date: 26 Jun 99 - 07:24 PM

There is more interesting stuff on the subject here Songwriting

Subject: RE: Original Songs: Collaboration
From: Rick Fielding
Date: 27 Jun 99 - 10:17 PM

Just a thought on something I read many years ago. Kenny Rogers wrote a book on "making it" in the music business. It's still probably the best guide to being a professional musician I've ever seen. I've managed to ignore 99% of his advice, including this. He said that when he collaborated with someone else (often Mike Settle) he would work out exactly how much each person had contributed to the song, and do the publishing accordingly. ie. Rogers:67%, Settle:33%. Just another reason why he got rich. He took care of little details.

One other thing he suggested (and did) was to buy a Cadilac - ,even if you couldn't afford it, and make sure that every musical employer you worked for, saw it! (heck, I can't even Spell it - I think)