“On A Cold Chicago Day”  > > > > Cathy Wilson, Robert Baitinger, Ray Bertram, Donovan Plant collab w/SoundClick link

Mar 21, 2010, 08:28 PM

Hey everybody - it’s a total blast to be getting to roll our new duet out this evening.  Technically, this song has been in the works since mid-November when Cathy Wilson first shared it with Robert Baitinger…suffice it to say, A LOT of work’s gone into the creation/production of this song from everybody that was involved in it.  There’s a sizeable story behind this piece, some of which can be gathered from reading through the credits below…I’ll share the rest in a subsequent post.  We all hope that you enjoy the song - and as always, comments welcome.

“On A Cold Chicago Day”
http://soundclick.com/share?songid=8908660

On A Cold Chicago Day

Verse 1:
I’ve always been a loner, makin’ my own way
Enjoying all the freedom, of being where I want to be
And time is what I make it, all night and all day
The past is gone, today is here, and tomorrow is a-waitin’ for me

Chorus:
I’m free as a bird on the wind, I’ve got my wings I’ll fly
Up to the hills and down to the shores and through the spacious skies
And I never dreamed that meeting you would make me feel this way
Oh I found love oh so true, on a cold Chicago day

Verse 2:
I met him in Chicago, a cold winter day
He was so strong and handsome, and his eyes were the brightest blue
Yes I knew in that moment, love had come my way
He stole my heart, held me close, with his love that felt a-oh so true

Chorus:
I’m free as a bird on the wind, I’ve got my wings I’ll fly
Up to the hills and down to the shores and through the spacious skies
And I never dreamed that meeting you would make me feel this way
Oh I found love oh so true, on a cold Chicago day

Bridge:
The winter winds they blow, outside it’s so cold
Inside I’m warm, you’re mine to hold
Chicago streets, we won’t forget
Where our lonely hearts once met

Chorus:
I’m free as a bird on the wind, I’ve got my wings I’ll fly
Up to the hills and down to the shores and through the spacious skies
And I never dreamed that meeting you would make me feel this way
Oh I found love oh so true, on a cold Chicago day

Ending:
I’d always been a loner yes love came my way
Oh I found love oh so true, on a cold Chicago day
Yes I found love oh so true, on a cold Chicago day

Lyrics/Music: Wilson & Bertram/Wilson, Baitinger & Plant
Cathy Wilson: vocals
Donovan Plant: vocals, acoustic guitar, telecaster, harmonica, dobro
Robert Baitinger: drums, bass guitar, acoustic guitar, strings, e-guitar, e-piano, piano, tambourine, shaker
Production: Cathy Wilson, Robert Baitinger, Donovan Plant

“On A Cold Chicago Day” (c) 2010 Cathy Wilson, Robert Baitinger, W. Ray Bertram, Donovan Plant

Mar 21, 2010, 08:29 PM

Cathy Wilson initially wrote the music and the lyrics for “On A Cold Chicago Day” as a solo project under the working title “Tomorrow Is A Waitin’ For Me.” When she shared it with Robert Baitinger, he quickly saw strong potential in the piece and suggested that she team up with me and that, if we could, maybe turn it into a duet. As Cathy and I were working and reworking the lyric towards Robert specs, Robert was busily working on the production from his end, frequently amazing us with how he could seemingly whip up tracks overnight - though we both knew A LOT of work was going into it from his end, too.  Then Donovan Plant was invited into the project to provide contrasting male vocals for Cathy’s vocals - and whatever instrumentation that he might also be able to supply toward lifting the production up even higher. Donovan was consequently able to create and provide some of the most engaging guitar/dobro and harmonica tracks for inclusion into the resulting end-production.  And as Cathy and Donovan will confirm, Robert’s always great to work with: very patient, very easy to get along with, and always willing to do whatever he can to make a production work from his end.

Cathy initially shared her concept of the song with Robert in mid-November, and just 5 months later, here is the finished demo for you to hear. And, as Robert will tell you, the ultimate production of this song was a true 4-way team/collaborative effort in which everybody involved added their own significant portions, all working together and in collective harmony, to produce the song that you are listening to here. Donovan sang a completely different melody which was a lot of work on his side. Cathy suggested where the final touches that the production needed were necessary, so even the production was a joint effort. Robert says that he always finds it amazing how we can manage productions of this magnitude and complexity remotely from all over the world without ever actually seeing each other, sitting in the same room/studio, or even talking on the telephone.  Well, okay, this time Cathy and I cheated a little bit and had a few phone conversations…we had a ball doing it, too lol

We hope that you like the song - comments welcome.

Mar 21, 2010, 08:30 PM

And everybody’s links….

Cathy Wilson

MySpace:
http://www.myspace.com/songwriterc7
CD Baby:
http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/cathywilson
SoundClick:
http://members.soundclick.com/cathy+wilson

Robert Baitinger

Official Website:
http://www.robertbaitinger.de/robb.htm
MySpace:
http://www.myspace.com/songwriterrobertbaitinger
SoundClick:
http://members.soundclick.com/robbi007

Donovan Plant

MySpace:
http://www.myspace.com/zerosareeverywhere
SoundClick:
http://members.soundclick.com/donovans+songs

Ray Bertram, Co-Founder

BCC Global: The Back Country Connection
CMB Page:
http://www.countrymusicbroadcasting.com/artists/backcountryconnection.html
SoundClick:
http://www.soundclick.com/bands/default.cfm?bandID=866548
MySpace:
http://www.myspace.com/thebackcountryconnection
YouTube:
http://www.youtube.com/Thebackcountryconnec

Mar 21, 2010, 09:21 PM

Ray,

I really like the music and production but I’m not feeling the “Cold Chicago Day” part…Everyone that I’ve ever talked to that is from Chicago didn’t seem to like country music. Blues and Jazz maybe, but not country. Chicago is a big city. The song flows well and really works as a duet also. I just wish that you all would have picked a different city for the hook or did something different musically. Whenever I read the title, I was thinking in my head of hearing something with a little more jazz, blues, or swing to it. That’s the feel that I imagined from reading the lyrics. This is just my opinion and I may be wrong but I was hearing a Michael Buble’ big band swing style as opposed to a modern dobro and tele country music Nashville style. Anyway, congrats on a great collab and keep up the good work!!! Talk to you in a few!!

-LeeAndrew

Mar 21, 2010, 11:30 PM

yes~~Ray,
i truly adore this song !!
God Bless,
Shari

It’s an excellent write!!!

Mar 22, 2010, 12:25 PM

I’d like to thank Cathy, Ray and Robert for allowing me to work on this.  Because Cathy and I werent able to rehearse together it made Robert’s job that much tougher.  He not only added sustain and pitch correction to my vocals but somehow he got us “together” when I know that in the rough mixes I could hear that we were not in sync or in the groove. 

Lee:  Thanks for the comment.  My friend also had a problem with the Chicago part.  He said that when he thinks about Chicago he thinks of it as cold and not a place for a love story.  I dont agree.  If a song is a story (and this one is) then it can take place anywhere that the author decides.  Might be fun to do a Buble version of this just to see though.

Mar 22, 2010, 01:57 PM

Hi guys,
this reminds me a bit of Irish Folk Music :).

Boah, Cathy, I had no idea that you have such a fantastic voice… Gosh… wow.

This song is brilliant, you guys made a great job. Cool!!! Amazing… the only thing is… when Cathy and Donovan sing together, Cathy is a bit tooo loud, so I think… but the rest is brilliant.

The best track I´ve heard in this forum in ages!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Mar 22, 2010, 02:58 PM

Hey Donovan,
you said it might be fun to do a Buble version of this song. I think so too. Do you want to do it?

Robert

Mar 22, 2010, 04:37 PM

Hi everybody,
I kind of liked the idea of creating a jazzy version of this song so I just did it. I didn’t discuss this yet with Ray, Cathy or Donovan so I might have to take this one back down again.
Give it a listen if this is what you guys were hearing:

http://www.soundclick.com/bands/page_songInfo.cfm?bandID=701955&songID=8916332

Robert

Mar 22, 2010, 05:04 PM

Hey LeeAndrew,
thanks for giving this one a listen. I liked your comment regarding the jazzy version you were hearing. I pasted something above that I just quickly did a moment ago that might fit what you were thinking about. Hope you like it.
Thanks again for listening.

Robert

Mar 22, 2010, 05:05 PM

Hi Shari,
thanks for giving this one a listen. I appreciate it very much. Glad you like it. Cathy, Donovan and Ray did a great job.

All the best
Robert

Mar 22, 2010, 05:06 PM

Beautiful work people.
God Bless you all,
Shari

Mar 22, 2010, 05:07 PM

Hi Martin,
thanks for the comments. I’m glad you liked this one. I’m going to pan Cathy to the left and Donovan to the right. Maybe that way I can get the vocal volume to sound better.

Take care
Robert

Mar 22, 2010, 05:10 PM

Just to make sure you don’t miss this, I’m pasting the URL of the NEW jazzy version of this song here once again:

http://www.soundclick.com/bands/page_songInfo.cfm?bandID=701955&songID=8916332

Mar 22, 2010, 06:04 PM

Hello Folks,

I’d like to thank Robert, Ray and Donovan for coming together on this song ‘for me’.  They gave up their personal time after working hard all day at their paying jobs and were so positive and fun to work with.  You just can’t put a price on that!  I think of how much went into this song…which includes the thought process…like, which word or phrase will fit best, or should it be this piano or that piano etc.  Then when that is set, the task is to implement those thoughts into a tangible format.  I could never do what these guys did; for instance, the guitar that Donovan put down was ‘brilliant’ and something I could never do.  Everytime I hear that, I am mystified…through all of this, I found out that Robert has the patience of a saint, after all I put him through, Donovan is Mr. Guitar man who created guitar, dobro and harmonica tracks from scratch and Ray was they guy who kept it all upbeat and extremely humerous ‘for me’.  I feel that I have three good friends for life.  Thanks guys!!!!

Mar 22, 2010, 06:10 PM

Hi Shari - thank you for listening to this song and as you have said, words ‘are’ powerful.  Thank you for the positive vibe!

Martin - I am not a fan of my voice - but, I’ve been hearing from folks (like yourself) who like it.  This will help me in the future too.  :)

Cathy