redd granite

We are have written music since the beginnings in 1974.  I have written over 400 songs, most of them lost.  Some 50-75 are retained on old cassette tapes, many recorded in bathrooms because the accoustics were better. There are several that were recorded more thouroughly.  See other page for you nerd folks. Many of the songs written were very sophomoric (or is that moronic?), but in between there are a few gems and what we believe are highly publishable things. We give a listen to a few of the better ones, and collectively those that have been recorded in some kind of setting as mentioned on another page about recording.  A few things to remember:

• The recordings vary in time over several different formats and have been translated into MP3 format….so the quality is what it is
• Explanations will be given on each post here (one for each original) as the the circumstances of their writing, when, and some of the things going on in our very little pointed minds
• Lastly, all songs are copyright as noted in the post.

Enjoy. We did in making these songs. I always tried to write for what I felt inside, not what someone or some market wanted to hear. We share some of these songs in our live performances.  Simply click on the title of the song to access the recording.

Banshee

Written by Jay Tracy and Dave Barnes. Copyright 1978. Jay Tracy.

Banshee was an interesting song. Dave and I have co-written several songs over the years.  Some of the best music I have been associated with in writing projects are with Dave.  The story behind this is a bit unique. We were stuck in a rut. Most of our songs both individually and together were about love lost, or some other sappy derivative. So Dave and I made a conscious effort to write about something different. The scene is Dave’s bathroom on 4th or 5th streets in Waco, Texas, near the Baylor campus. We are truly tired of ourselves, looking to break out. I come up with this riff on guitar…..it has a haunting quality. Interestingly, many musician writers do lyrics first. Not us. We mostly have done music first. Now Dave is an Irish guy, with a bevy of knowledge all things English and Irish. He is strictly ions more intelligent than I on a lot of things, this being one. I had no idea what this was about. But the lyrics came quickly when he explained what a “banshee” was. The rest of the song you can listen too, and draw your conclusions. It was also much more rock oriented than we had grown accustom to in our writing. The result was fabulous, and we play it today as a regular in our set list, rarely identifying that this is an original among all the covers we do…..the most honest reactions from the audience may be gaged this way.

Written in a bathroom, recorded on my home studio set up ( refer to page on recording for you geek-nerds out there), this gem ended up sounding like a true demo with the rough edges of a garage band. All instruments are Dave and I, with drums done on a synthesizer.  Come out and listen live, we LOVE playing this song live, and is a true reflection of the writing partnership we have enjoyed for over 30 years……

By The Master’s Plan

Written by Jay Tracy and Dave Barnes. Copyright 1984. Jay Tracy.

OK. To the sap. This song was written primarily by me. But I cannot underestimate the contribution that Dave put into this song.  This was written for my wedding. Interestingly, my wife, who is everything to me, does not remember this. Oh well. There you go. It is what it is. I started the piano part of this…Dave started the guitar. It goes from there. I wanted to capture the fact that marriage and love, with all it’s complexities and challenges, have very little to do with love, whatever that means, to the fact that first and foremost, it must be based upon friendship….and mutual respect. The analogy of the completion of a song, the full circle (which obviously shows up in other writing efforts) is everything. Not said, but implied is the fact that love, is more a feeling that is not easily justified. There has to be so much more. So when I reference hearing the music clear, the music is the friendship that is our love.  I have been wonderfully married to this person I wrote about in this song now, for nearly 25 years.  OK. She is a divorce attorney, and you can accuse me of being afraid of the consequences.  Seriously, I could not have written a more appropriate and beautiful script to this…..we are strong, and every bit of this song has come true………may you experience the same.  It is truly rich

This was recorded at Patrick McGuire studios. Please reference the recording page for more. Dave and I recorded this complete, Patrick played bass……and the result, well, my voice does not quite sound like that today, but I try hard…….

With This Ring

Written by Jay Tracy and Dave Barnes. Copyright 1983. Jay Tracy and Dave Barnes.

Wow. With This Ring. Where do I begin? This song was written for Dave’s wedding, although I do not remember setting out to be that way. Maybe Dave can comment. We started the writing of this in the piano rooms of Richland Junior College, Richardson, Texas.  I started the piano, Dave added guitar riffs, and the song began taking shape real quickly. I cannot remember who came up with the title hook, but once out there, it was obvious. This was /is  the ultimate ring ceremony song at weddings. The song speaks for itself.  The ring is a circle, a never ending self propagating symbol that shows true good things never end.  So it is with Dave and Diane, again, still married and flourishing after over 25 years. Think about the circle, which is alluded to above as well in By The Master’s Plan……it has no start or no end, it just continues. And this is what marriage, or significant others, best friends, or any close relationships should be.

Interesting story on this one. So I performed this live at Dave and Diane’s wedding.  They had the confidence and insistence I do this at their wedding even though I had never played and sang on piano live before in my life.  Talk about going out on a limb……flash to the guy they hire for their organist at their wedding, Dr. Herbert Colvin, former dean of the Baylor University Music School.  And flash to the fact that as an undergrad, I took music theory courses (even though my curriculum did not call for this, I was getting into music) from none other than Dr. Colvin….I went 2.5 semesters before dropping the third class because I could not keep up on the piano labs.  He tried to talk me out of it at the time, but I did not want another “D” or worse on my already stained education degree record. I play at the wedding. No issues, I nail it.  I sing it as Dave and Diane are over the ring ceremony, perfect application for the song.  It is truly a special moment…..then Colvin, after the wedding, comes up to compliment me on that and inquire where the song came from.  I had to admit that I dropped out of his music theory courses as a failure, but look what it brought me……..

If anyone reading this is thinking about getting married, this is the PERFECT song for a ring ceremony of a traditional wedding.  BTW, this song was nearly published by Word publising, the then top Christian music publisher…

For recording, Patrick McGuire studios as well.  I am piano. voice, and synthesizer, Dave is all guitars, and Patrick (wonder if he is still out there) is bass.  the synthesizer part was done on the fly with the time clock ticking…..I am proud of this effort, I do not mind saying!

Dazzling Weasel Faces – The Siren

Written by Marty Floyd. Copyright 1992. Marty Floyd.

What can I say? This one was written by Marty of the Dazzling Weasel Faces.  Check them out at www.dazzlingweaselfaces.com. Marty, by his own admission, does not write many songs.  But Dave and I always felt that the reason was that he was such a perfectionist that he could not stand most things he would attempt.  Well friends, he nailed this one. Inspired by a viewing of Austin City Limits (ACL) back in early 90′s when Garth Brooks closed the entire event with a stunning rendition of “The Dance”, this move Marty in significant ways. He immediately worked on his own song that could share the emotion of the Brooks song. Only Marty has different directions.  He has always been a fan of  the sea…..and some of his significant influences like Ray Thomas of the Moody Blues in his “For My Lady” had as much input as that night. The song started as a beginning, and Marty struggled with the lyrics over the next 6 months.  That is just the way he does it……but the result?  Listen very closely to the lyrics.  The structure, what he is saying, the imagery, I am not certain that I could ever realize perfection to this extent.

Marty is a talented writer and musician…..we just need him to create more gems like this one.  I truly enjoy joining the Dazzling Weasel Faces in live performance, and would love to see more of this song played live.

I am not particular to the recording of this. Not sure of the studio. But Marty is the lead vocal and main guitar, and Dave is the harmony and lead acoustic guitar.