Key Tracks (NEW MUSIC!)

Updated 1/09/24

(Listed pretty much newest to oldest)

Fynn’s & Feebie’s Jingle Cats

We were remembering the tape we had for the kids when they were young, where carols were sung by people imitating dogs. It was, believe it or not, quite charming. Janet suggested I record a similarly-fashioned “cat carol” for Kenny and Amy. But we rewrote Jingle Bells to Jingle Cats, to reflect Kenny’s and Amy’s life with their adorable little ones. I produced the backing track over four days, then Janet and I sang, adding Avery’s contribution later that day. I then made K&A both a CD of the mixed and mastered tracks. We got all this done in the week before the week we left for Christmas in Georgia with Jen, so they got it in time. 🙂 There are two tracks, one in “cat voices”, the second one in normal voices (for posterity’s sake), featuring Janet, Avery and I singing this personalized parody of Jingle Bells. 🎄🎄🎄😊 Already 326 plays on Soundcloud…my second most-popular track to date.

I Gotta Go (Before I Leave) 10/27/23

Invoking the spirit of live Jimmy Buffett best I can. I've had the chorus to this song in my head for several years...I used to sing it before I left for my route. I had to go (pit stop) before I left! LOL I finally decided to write the entire song before someone else did. One of those great country titles. :)

Somnolienta Ensenada

Short version. Contact Ken for full length piece, which is 36+ minutes long. I can dropbox it to ya directly. A lush drone-track, interlaced with gentle sound effects, to help you fall asleep. Built over a 36-minute recording of continuing thunder and rain by Ken on 7/21/23. Copyright 2023 Kenneth A R Mitchell/Sam DeMaranville. Composed, performed and produced by Ken Mitchell (Somnolienta) and Sam DeMaranville (Ensenada). Sam’s piece's beginning appears as a lead-in, and then in its fullness further into the piece, , and then Is woven into Ken’s repeating movements as a companion overlay, three more times over the 36 minutes the full-length piece runs. Mixed locally and remotely by Ken (NH USA) and Sam (KS USA). Mastered by Ken.

I May Quit (But I Never Give Up)

Recorded in 2021, along with Wortsalat, it was only in the past month the lyrics finally came to me. Over the two years I remixed here and there, and added the guitar riff. This song has had a nice run on SoundCloud, with 268 plays to date.

I Picture You Here

Written prior to our marriages, and possibly even our engagement, this 1982 song gets a modern remake. Amazing I can still sing it over 50 years later? I think not!! LOL. THis song is also getting rapid play numbers on Soundcloud…at least 130 in the first 5 hours of release. Very. nice! Up to 281 as of today.

Wortsalat (Let’s GTFOH)

German for “word salad”. The first save for this track was in December 2021, so it took almost two years to finish. During that time, I added a heavy blues riff throughout, and mixed three ad-hoc vocals together to get the one. This song took off a bit on Soundcloud, with 153 plays to date around the world. Quite a jump for me. LOL

Giving Up The Ghost

Graduation

Copyright 2023 Kenneth A. R. and Janet G. R. Mitchell. Written as a graduation gift for our granddaughter, Avery Nicole Mitchell. Given with deep love and pride! :) Performed, produced and mastered by Ken Mitchell. First use of stereo drums using my new drum mics. :)

Will You Marry Me?

Copyright 1982 Kenneth A R Mitchell Written the same morning I engaged Janet...Christmas Day 1982...about 4 hours prior to my very quickly coming up with this engagement song! I recorded this with my children participating in the mid 90s, but this is of course the official version now. For posterity...our kids... All performances live by Ken Mitchell. Single-take on the vocal. Usually the best one, if it works out. :) Christmas jingle bell sampled from a live performance by Kenny Dodge. Working master :)

My Needs Are Simple (Fill The Earth)

Copyright 1987/2023 Kenneth A R Mitchell. This song was orginally recorded in the late 80s. It is one of the few from that period that I consider worthy of a remake. And so here it is, much fuller and richer than the original. It has a distinctive "biblical epic" feel to it...that was my Cohen-esque approach to writing it. I wanted to bring out the true fervor of the lyrics with this one :). All performances live by Ken Mitchell, including Waves CR8 unique instruments, and both real and midi instruments. Mixing and mastering by Ken Mitchell. Thanks to Sam D for always helpful pre-master comments.

Spring Hill (Song For Sam)

Copyright 2023 Kenneth A R Mitchell. This track is a tribute to my dear friend and mentor, Sam DeMaranville. He has been listening to my work since the Garageband days four years ago, and since then has been offering support and guidance as I gain more and more prowess and confidence in Logic Pro. It has been SO VALUABLE to have a professional and a great friend listen and comment to each work as it arrives. The title derives from Sam's hometown, and I have included sounds that encourage the vision of a peaceful hill in spring..including a drone passing by (Sam is into drones LOL so it serves as a tribute sound as well). So this one is for you, Sam, in deep gratitude.

I lifted the duck chatter from a nearby river, and so the only "lyric" is my wife Janet saying "there's always one..." at the very end, referring ti the loud quack quack quack... :).

Performed, built, tweaked and mixed and mastered by Ken Mitchell.

I used the Eno Oblique Strategy cards in some places, but I already basically think like that lol. My wife Janet made a key comment on an earlier "final" mix that resulted in a very substantial alteration of the synth sounds and builds. LOTS of editing occurred LOL

I

Shadow 2022 REMAKE

Copyright 1972/2022 by Kenneth A R Mitchell. Copyright 1972/2022 by Kenneth A R Mitchell. Originally recorded in 1973 with my brother (that is his lead in the intro segment, included in tribute) on the cheapest recorders, this is the redo in digital form. Cool I can still sing it at age 70 LOL. All instruments played live, produced and mastered by Ken Mitchell. Only loops: Freesound.org for the radio sound, and a clip of my own work from the early 70s.

The Time We Lost (prog rock)

Needing another tune for our album, I penned the lyrics to this track and sent it to Dave for music and arrangement. We recorded the basic track live in my studio, and then I added the remainder and polished it. This first version is the hot one.

The Time We Lost (prog alt)

Second of three versions of this song (Dave’s idea for the uptempo! :) ). This has synths as its primary makeup, versus hot guitars in the version above.

The Time We Lost (slow)

This was the original take, the slow version. Almost Cohen-esque. Again, same day as the above two, we laid down the basic track in my studio, and I added the fills later.

LoveTrouble

A remaster of one of Kenny Dodge’s best tracks. A collaboration with me, this is a number one song in any universe but ours. LOL

I Just Stepped On A Rake (Sam D remaster)

My producer friend Sam and I have been taking turns remastering this old gem from the Hidden Album of 2019. I really like what he did here, so am posting it for all to enjoy. My version in this contest is online as well, accessed through the Hidden album on the Recent Works page. :)

Ridin’ Ridin’

A tribute written by Ken Smaldone, aka Kenny Dodge (see below) to a lifelong friend and motorcycle fiend, who has just passed from sudden illness. Ken sent me the basic vocal/guitar track and I built it from there, coordinating with Ken at the end to make it his way! :)

To Love Somebody (Bee Gees cover)

My band played a recent concert I missed due to personal commitments. They sent this Phone rendition of a song they played outdoors to a small crowd. I took that track and did a considerable number of treatments, then added my missing backing vocal and a synth. A few tiny bass edits in there as well.

Mixed Relations Remaster

A complete reworking of my spring release, using newer mastering technology I had acquired since. Many hours of adding/subtracting, listening in spaced time-intervals, volume and EQ adjusts…LOL. I always come as close as I can, but will never be completely satisfied.

Instressentials

My 17-track (!) collection of all-instrumental recordings. These span the entire “current era” output from my studio, starting in later 2018 through today. A few are from my upcoming album, still in progress. Jae’s Waves was my first, written for and at the request of my wife, who thought I should take a stab at Eno-like tracks. She lit quite the fuse! LOL

Side Arteffects

An ambient track built using, for the first time, the famous Eno/Schmidt Oblique Strategies cards...a form of music production tarot that forces one to go against preconceptions. The interventions took this one to a new place, the whole purpose of the cards. This is the VERY near final version after a nice scrubbing and micro-editing on 7/26/21

Eddie Knows 2021 (In memory)

A remaster of my 2018 dedication to a dear friend’s Pug, Eddie. He passed on June 7, 2021, and I wanted to upgrade his original Garageband track to pro standards. Remixed and mastered on Waves Ocean Way studio speakers.

Peace On Earth (for Jae)

My latest for my dear wife. Another ambient track to help to put her to sleep-ah! LOL

Brain Fog

My musical interpretation of the pandemic.

I Vow My Love

My self-penned wedding song. Recorded in 1988, re-recorded in 2019, and now remixed and mastered using Waves Abbey Road software. A classic. I actually sang this live at our wedding.

Consider It Done

Remixed and remastered in Abbey Road and other software, this 1980s gem was re-recorded in 2019, but now, using the same tracks, has been enlivened with professional treatment and literally hours of careful listening and mixing.

Laura’s Garden 2023

Remixed and remastered to bring out all the dynamic beauty of this lengthy instrumental. Perfected using Waves Abbey Road and other software. Hours of careful and deliberate edits to bring this track, originally done in late 2019, to its fullest expression. Features Kenny Dodge in the final lead guitar run.

I Am Healing

A shamanic-trance sonic bath, designed to relax you and allow you to listen to your inner, true self. And hopefully to turn on the healing power of your genetic expression…if you allow it. Originally recorded in 2019, this has been painstakingly remixed and remastered using Waves Abbey Road and other software.

Happy Birthday To You

A re-recording of my proposed birthday gift package, in which you and others add a short, personal greeting which I then insert into the middle of the song. Really effective gift…and unique, a treasure for years to come.

St Paul The Architect

A redo of one of my best songs, recorded as close as possible to the original arrangement. This time, however, Logic and Abbey Road mastering give it a vibrant new and full feel.

Invisiblist

A final entry for the Mixed Relations album about to drop. This is my third ambient track, produced with a variety of software synths, mastered on Abbey Road and F6 software. Released Jan 27, 2021.

Zen “Darkness” (Duhkha)

A companion piece to Shamanic Path, this track invokes the counterpoint to that one…it picture a life where Ego runs largely unhindered. It is the final recording for the Mixed Relations album. Released Jan 11, 2021.

THE REST OF THE WAY

A love/Christmas-gift song to my wife that invokes a Beach Boys vibe in the backing, and incorporates more fully the Abbey Road software I just bought. This is the second-last song for the new album, Mixed Relations…one more to go.

Morning’s Pages

A 14-minute plus piano-concerto for a dear friend. Two “Beethoven-like” movements sandwich a dynamic middle bridge. I didn’t realize the first and third movements had that Beethoven ethos until my sister alerted me to it. LOL

RETURN TO SENDER

My first cover of the new era, also released the last week in December 2020. Of the thousands of songs I know, I felt this the most appropriate, given my recent career. Mastered in part on my new Abbey Road software suite, with a bit of Spector production. MP3 version as downloading is not allowed.

ALL AROUND

This was a project where I recorded the track first, THEN wrote the song. ABBA worked this way, I discovered afterwards. The soft distortion in the vocal is deliberate, BTW.

MIXED RELATIONS (LOVE MATTERS)

One of my latest, and the title track of my next album. This is my “techno” meets “Eno” project. It took over two months to put in place, and is comprised of 36 tracks, most of which are my live playing.

I SEE BLUE

A major tip of the hat to David Bowie, this is a song of love. Try to resist any political implications LOL.

TRUE TO YOU SUE

Written for a lovely, caring and centered fan who has been one of my staunchest supporters. Again, the whole track was recorded first, the song written on top of the finished music bed.

SHAMANIC PATH (KNOWING IS HEALING)

A song celebrating my moving into a shamanic spiritual path roughly 20 years ago. 99% instrumental.

PEACEFUL EASY FEELING

This Eagles cover features my son on his first studio vocal. I sing harmony with him…another first for us two! Although his vocal is going to be redone at his request (and for tech issues), I like the feel of this so much, I had to put it out for now.

LOVETROUBLE

An example of my work with other artists. In this recording, the super-inventive writer Kenny Dodge plays the left-side rhythm guitar and sings. I added all the other instrumentation, mixed and mastered. This is a fabulous rock recording, very tight and dynamic. :)

NEW ENGLAND COUNTRY WEDDING MARCH

My work with yet another artist and ex-bandmate, this is a short and beautiful guitar track which he supplied to me. I added all the other instrumentation, and of course, mixed and mastered.