Request for Comments - Collaboration - Freddie King's "Palace of the King"

"Palace of the King"
Freddie King
Best of the Shelter Years

Some weeks ago, I attempted to record a keyboard instrumental of this tune, but there just wasn't enough melodic content to really fly as an instrumental. This is a great high-energy tune just as it is, but my intention was to do more of a "Blues Brothers" arrangement... up the tempo, rock the drums and give the horns more of a voice.

Whether keeping closer to the original or further developing the concept arrangement, this is a nice tune that should record well. Either way, it'll be a vocal tune and needs a voice with soul, as well as a heavy guitar presence.

Not much work has been done on this one yet, so it's pretty much wide open regarding arrangement, tempo, feel, etc..

Anyone up for doing anything with this one?

Original

Preliminary New Arrangement

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Permalink Reply by Michael Schaefer on November 19, 2009 at 8:33pm

I like the concept. I really dig the way you brought the horns into this. But to my ear, it's a hair fast. Sounds to me like the piano melody part is barely keeping up. That can be tightened up I'm sure. But, I think if you slow it down a hair, it will prove helpful.

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Permalink Reply by Chuck Mayo on November 19, 2009 at 10:24pm

Perhaps so. My original concept was for a balls to the wall opener/closer piece, and the tempo was part of the intensity level I had defined for the piece. As I say, this one's completely open for structural and/or arrangement changes.

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Permalink Reply by Mark on November 20, 2009 at 12:21am

Another vote here for slowing the tempo a bit.
Consider the singer. At this tempo a vocalist would find it difficult to keep up don't you think?
MR