the one thing that stands out for me is the reverb used on the vocals which George Martin used much more sparingly and of course how the performances were polished up. the actual sound is crystal clear though. i must ask the question; would they have been so big if they had gone with Decca? i don't think so.

Short answer....yes

By chord shape I meant the shape your fingers go into to get the diminished chord. You say the chord I've mentioned is F#dim as F# is the root, well any of the notes in the chord can be the root depending on the key. eg...if you want to add a Cdim when playing in the key of C this shape is the one you'd use. Or A or D# in their respective keys. As a guitarist it seems simple and straightforward to me.

Bill, sometimes it's not so much a talent as a curse. scrabbling around looking for a pen and some paper cos you've heard or thought up a line that sounds like it could be a great hook. every time you pick-up a guitar you're searching for "new" chord sequences. and worse is yet to come....writing a whole song down, having to leave it for whatever reason and when you get back to it the whole thing has gone but for the words that don't fit any other rhythm or tune.  shoot me now!

not a problem Bill, i was laughing as i wrote that reply. then regretted it hoping you wouldn't take offense?

But did you like it Bill?

thanks Peatle. yes we nice guys also get pooped on from a great height by user women. i must add at this point that not all women are included in that statement, my Ann for one, though her predecessor might well qualify. i enjoyed the writing and recording of this song. thanks again.

Jandle. i was and still am suffering with a throat and chest problem and i think my voice is quite hoarse on the recording having had to stop while i coughed uncontrollably. glad you liked it. thanks for the listen

Yes!

I call slow, draggie songs suicide fodder. One or two slow tracks on a CD or live show is ok but not for the whole thing! Which is why the Snow Patrol CD I bought a few years back has only been played once...no hum

pride is a sin....but i don't feel the least bit sinful for feeling the pride and happiness i'm experiencing thanks to you and Dondra and of course Julian.

Many congratulations on Julian and Sara's engagement. it seems your happiness and joy is boundless after the rotten times you've had of late. soak it up my friend and lets hope the joy continues for you and yours.

i don't have a clue what a "Teeter-totter" is?

love from Phill and Ann xxx

hi Jim.  yeah, i had the same idea, that title really works and i thought i'd like to immortalise it in song too! i haven't quite finished it yet, and i might not having read yours, which is great as usual. you got the tag line worked nicely in, which i'm failing at, at the moment. knowing you there's a recording coming soon?

in my primary school days back in the 50's we used to sing most days, especially at going home time. as it was a Welsh school we'd sing in Welsh. also at secondary school we had music classes as part of the curriculum, mainly singing (again in Welsh) and learning music notation, which i paid little attention to. when i got to 15 a classmate brought his guitar in to school and i noticed the attention he got form the opposite sex, so when he put his guitar up for sale i bought it. it lasted about a week before i over tightened the strings and broke it. i used to dream of being a singer but was kicked off the school choir for singing out of tune! no-one complains that much anymore, and subsequent better guitars that i learned to tune properly, helped me to sing in tune....most of the time.