Talking About Songwriting: What’s Wrong

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In yet another installment of my occasional “Talking About Songwriting” blog, let’s take a look at “What’s Wrong,” another track from our recently-released CD, “I Heard You Twice the First Time.”

The basis for “What’s Wrong” came to me while I was in the shower. I typically wake up most days with an “earworm;” a song – or just a portion of one – usually from my distant past. It usually stays with me for the better part of a day. This one was an early Beatles’ rockabilly-ish number, “Slow Down.” Of course, all I could remember was the intro lyric: “Come on pretty baby, what’s wrong with me?” That lyric rattled around in my head all day, but I forgot about it a couple days later.

A couple of weeks later, I was fooling around with the guitar and banging-out some barre chords, and started playing the basic rhythm from Slow Down, but was misremembering the lyrics, and that first line came out, “Come on pretty baby, what’s wrong with you?” Of course, I really didn’t remember any of the other lyrics, so I was free to “invent” a new story line, one that revolved around a scene that we’ve all encountered at one time or another, one in which we’ve obviously upset our love interest, but aren’t quite sure why… and they’re not telling, either! And that was pretty much all I needed.

A couple of verses – and a bridge – later, and I had sketched it out. A few days later, I grabbed an acoustic and shot a quick video of myself playing it all the way through, to document it, with the intention of looking at it later and fine-tuning the lyrics and the overall structure. It was a couple of months later that I actually got around to revisiting it, tightening up the structure, and getting it ready for the studio. And the rest, as they say, is history.

Here it is… hope you like it!

What’s Wrong
@2016 by David Z Orban, all rights reserved. BMI

Come on, pretty baby, what’s a-wrong with you?
You know I love every little thing you do…
I love you each and every single night and day…
Tell me, what did I do, to make you treat me this way?

What’s wrong?
Won’t you tell me what’s wrong?
Come on, baby, what’s wrong?
Oh, won’t you tell me what’s wrong?
You know, I can’t make it better if I don’t know what to do…
Come on little girl, the rest is up to you

SOLO

I’ve known you pretty baby, since I don’t know when…
And since we’ve been together, you’ve been more than a friend
The good times keep getting better, and our future’s looking bright…
So why don’t you please tell me why you’re tryin’ to pick a fight?

What’s wrong?
Won’t you tell me what’s wrong?
Come on, baby, what’s wrong?
Oh, won’t you tell me what’s wrong?
You know, I can’t make it better if I don’t know what to do…
Come on little girl, the rest is up to you

SOLO

Well, you can’t make an omelet without breaking some eggs…
And it’s hard for me to argue, when I’m looking at your legs
I don’t know what I did, and I don’t remember when…
But if you let me slide this time, I sure won’t do it again!

What’s wrong?
Won’t you tell me what’s wrong?
You know, I can’t make it better if I don’t know what to do…
Come on little girl, the rest is up to you

What’s wrong?
Won’t you tell me what’s wrong?
Come on, baby, what’s wrong?
Oh, won’t you tell me what’s wrong?
You know, I can’t make it better if I don’t know what to do…
Come on little girl, the rest is up to you

My Top 10 Blues Songs of Ever…

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Dave Orban's Top Ten Blues Songs of All Time

Dave Orban’s Top Ten Blues Songs of All Time

Boy, this one was a tough one… I sat down to put together a list of the songs that first got me into the blues, along with the ones that have had the most impact on my development as a musician. I really wanted to narrow it down to 10. And as you might imagine, that wasn’t particularly easy.

My very first exposure to the Blues (with a capital B) was hearing the Paul Butterfield Blues Band‘s recording of “Walkin’ Blues,” way back around ’67 or so. My older cousin, the late Jim Horner, was in a band that played some blues and soul music, and his band mate, Preston “Perky” Harrison was the guy who turned me on to Butterfield. Before that day, I had never heard anything as soulful as that harmonica, and it launched my into the blues orbit that I occupy to this day.

In any case, here they are – in no particular order – the ten blues songs that have had the most impact on my development as an appreciator of the blues, and as a blues artist:

  • I Can’t Be Satisfied – Muddy Waters (1947 recording)
  • Walkin’ Blues – Paul Butterfield Blues Band
  • Long, Tall Mama – Big Bill Broonzy (1932 recording)
  • Crazy, Mixed Up Kid – Little Walter Jacobs
  • Big-Legged Woman – Freddie King
  • Frosty – Albert Collins
  • Sittin’ on Top of the World – Chester Burnett, aka Howlin’ Wolf
  • Long Distance Call – Muddy Waters
  • Hard Times – Ray Charles
  • She’s Dynamite – B.B. King (1948 recording)

Of course, Muddy gets “two” in this list, as well he should… even if Willie Dixon actually wrote many of the songs that Muddy is known for. And, the list of songs – and artists – that these tracks led me to is infinitely longer, and covers a wider range of styles. But these were the ones that started it all, at least for me.

Here’s a Spotify playlist with all 10 songs (by 9 different artists):


So, how about you? What are some of your favorites?

Talking About Songwriting: Dallas

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In another installment of my occasional “Talking About Songwriting” blog, let’s look at “Dallas,” another track from our recently-released CD, “I Heard You Twice the First Time.

Back in the late 80s, I was a marketer for a corporation that manufactured – among other things – a line of high-end, fine dinnerware and giftware. As a result, I spent a fair amount of time on the road with one or two colleagues, attending trade shows and conferences around the country, where we would hawk our wares and our services. Our daytime hours were extremely busy, but evenings were generally left open, to provide an opportunity to unwind. You know, “Work hard, play hard.” Which we did. And the story told in “Dallas” is a reasonably accurate account of those times. When composing the music, I approached it as a rhumba, which provided a nice “bounce,” setting the stage for a humorous take on the story-telling in the song.

Here it is… hope you enjoy it!

Dallas
@2016 by David Z Orban, all rights reserved. BMI

Once upon a time, in the Lone Star State;
Longer ago, than I care to relate…
Workin’ on the road, gets old pretty quick…
when the sun is hot, and the air is thick…
In Dallas… Yeah, Dallas, Texas…
Well, I ain’t inclined to tell all the things that went on… In Dallas, Texas

From 6 in the morning, to 6 at night…
No time to think… got to keep things tight…
Do this, do that, and that other thing, too…
Might sound like fun… well, maybe, to you…
In Dallas… Yeah, Dallas, Texas…
Well, I ain’t inclined to tell all the things that went on… In Dallas, Texas

End of the day comes, it’s time to wind down;
Hop into a cab, see what’s happenin’ down town…
Head over to a little club, for a drink and a view…
Lookin’ to see what there might be to do In Dallas…
Yeah, Dallas, Texas…
Well, I ain’t inclined to tell all the things that went on… In Dallas, Texas

The dance floor was crowded, there was loud music, too…
I spied a sweet little thing, and she spied me, too…
She was pretty fine lookin’, and she sure could dance…
And it weren’t no surprise, she was lookin’ for romance
In Dallas… Yeah, Dallas, Texas…
Well, I ain’t inclined to tell all the things that went on… In Dallas, Texas

After a couple’a drinks, I seemed to hit my groove…
After a couple more, it was time to make my move…
Things was heatin’ up, she was wild and free…
That’s when she handed me her hotel key… In Dallas… Aw, Dallas, Texas…
Well, I ain’t inclined to tell all the things that went on… In Dallas, Texas

BRIDGE

Well, when in Rome, you do like they do…
I guess that applies to Dallas, too…
Life in the fast lane, it ain’t for the feint…
Oh, it is what it is, and it ain’t what it ain’t…

SOLOS

Well, the next day came, way too early and quick…
the maid poundin’ on the door, and me feelin’ sick.
My wallet – and my pants – they were not around…
and my Lone Star Miss, was no where to be found
In Dallas… Yeah, Dallas, Texas…
Well, I ain’t inclined to tell all the things that went on… In Dallas, Texas

I tried to get up, but it seems I was cuffed…
But at the very least, it seems my pillow was fluffed…
Now, I’m not the kinda man that’s too easy to trick…
But here I was, just-a holdin’ on to my… uh… thoughts…
Of Dallas, Dallas Texas… Yeah, Dallas, Dallas, Texas…
Well, I ain’t inclined to tell all the things that went on… In Dallas, Texas
Yeah, Dallas… Dallas, Texas…
Well, I ain’t inclined to tell all the things that went on…
In Dallas, Texas Yeah, Dallas… Dallas, Texas…
I just wish I could remember all the things that went on… In Dallas, Texas