WHAT'LL I DO?

Rick Alexander · Post by **Rick Alexander** » 5 Nov 2006 5:38 pm

I recorded a version of the Irving Berlin classic with my wife Cathe.
This song was published in 1924!
It may sound melancholy, but we had a lot of fun doing it.
Anyway it has Steel Guitar, Acoustic Guitar, Electric Guitar, Classical Guitar, Fender Bass, Piano and Organ.
No drums.

The page with the MP3 embedded is here,
and here is the link to the MP3 itself.

RA

George Keoki Lake · Post by **George Keoki Lake** » 5 Nov 2006 8:43 pm

This is a great old favorite of mine....you and your wife did a superb job of it Rick.
They sure don't compose beautiful songs like this anymore. What I especially liked about the way you folks did it was the lack of artificial rhythm and electronic drum ... ie: BIAB.

Funny musicians joke regarding this song. You know how musicians often change the titles...well this one became known as the "duck" song amongst the guys...

"Waddle, I do!"

Mike Gross · Post by **Mike Gross** » 6 Nov 2006 6:14 am

Rick,

Fantastic job!!!!

I just can't to wait to start programming it to the world on my "Swingin' West" radio show.

MIKE WWW.SWINGINWEST.COM

John Bushouse · Post by **John Bushouse** » 6 Nov 2006 7:50 am

I love this song. Irving Berlin wrote it after Ellin McKay, the woman he loved, was sent to Europe by her father (he disapproved of their romance). He married her the next year.

Al Marcus · Post by **Al Marcus** » 6 Nov 2006 8:24 am

Rick-Nice! I like most of the old tunes, and "What"ll I do" is one of them.

That is one of the tunes I used to play 50 years ago and the Bass Player, Harry, sang it. I used 4 pick grips and it worked real well on E6 for me.

Keoki, yes, those old tunes were beautiful and would make good steel solos. I wish they would bring more of them back to today's world.....al

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My Website..... www.cmedic.net/~almarcus/

Jim Burden · Post by **Jim Burden** » 6 Nov 2006 9:10 am

Rick, you've done it again! Great stuff.
Jim Burden Bullet Bars

Edward Meisse · Post by **Edward Meisse** » 6 Nov 2006 9:41 am

That's exactly the kind of stuff I'm trying to play. I especially liked what you did with the steel in the background.

Mike D · Post by **Mike D** » 6 Nov 2006 12:13 pm

Sounds great!
Linda Rondstat does a killer verion of this song.

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Half-assed bottleneck and lap slide player. Full-assed Builder of resonator instruments.

Ed Altrichter · Post by **Ed Altrichter** » 6 Nov 2006 12:22 pm

I like the angel. Can the left hand be
(artistically) placed on the top of the strings so it looks like she's holding a bar ?

Don Burrows · Post by **Don Burrows** » 6 Nov 2006 2:37 pm

Rick, LOVED IT. Your wife Cathe has a beautiful voice. I wish I would have heard her sing when we were down to see you. You both sound GREAT together. Keep up the good work.

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Don Burrows
Builder of BSG Steel Guitars

Maurie Junod · Post by **Maurie Junod** » 6 Nov 2006 3:03 pm

Two thumbs up Rick. This is a keeper for me.

Thank you very much for posting the links.

Maurie

Ron Victoria · Post by **Ron Victoria** » 6 Nov 2006 4:21 pm

Rick,
This is the first time I heard you sing, all the other clips I heard were strickly instrumental. I'm not familiar with this song, but you and your partner did a nice job. Will she get 10%!!!

Ron

Mike Ruffin · Post by **Mike Ruffin** » 6 Nov 2006 4:41 pm

Rick

That is really great. What talent you two have!

Thanks!

Les Anderson · Post by **Les Anderson** » 6 Nov 2006 5:31 pm

Very beautiful Rick.

Something that always strikes me about the older songs is that both the vocal and the melody will grab people and will hook them.

Another thing, the old songs, whether or not they were written or, intended for a vocal, the melody is also equally beautiful to the ears as are the words in.

It is for this reason that so many of the songs of the past, such as Over the Rainbow, The West, a Nest And You Dear, Vios con dios and so on, when played as a melody in a solo, will bring a very strong and appreciative round of applause from almost any audience.

Once again Rick, beautiful. Maybe consider recording the piece?

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(I am not right all of the time but I sure like to think I am!)

Rick Alexander · Post by **Rick Alexander** » 7 Nov 2006 5:27 am

Thanks George! Now whenever we do this song we can't help thinking about ducks . .

Mike, a CD is on the way to you.
Thank you so much for everything you do.

Thanks for that John, I love a story with a happy ending.

<SMALL>I wish they would bring more of them back to today's world....</SMALL>

Al, I have one big project to finish up and then we're going to do some more golden oldies like this. We're thinking of doing a version of "My Buddy" for starters.

Thanks Jim!

Thanks Edward, that's where the slants come in handy . .

Thanks Mike! I don't think I've never heard her version. In fact, the only version I recall hearing was Nat King Cole's and that was a long time ago.
Cathe knew the song and taught it to me, plus I got a copy of the original sheet music from 1924 on eBay.

Ed, yeah the angel is cool. Unfortunately ceramic doesn't bend so easily.

She sits on top of my rack watching over me . .

Thanks Don! Just come back for another visit and we'll see what we can do.

Thank you Maurie, that means a lot coming from you.

Ron, there are a few songs on my web site with vocals. Just look down the list.
I'll be lucky if I get 10%!

Thanks Mike, I'm sure glad you liked it.

Thanks Les! It's true, they just don't write 'em like that anymore.

RA

Jody Carver · Post by **Jody Carver** » 7 Nov 2006 1:21 pm

Rick called me a few minutes ago and played the cd over the phone, Its really great, I'm going to try to learn to play it too. Great job R.A.

Mike Gross · Post by **Mike Gross** » 7 Nov 2006 1:51 pm

Rick,

Again, it will be a pleasure to play this on "Swingin' West." I also play another very interesting version of this on my show. Actually it is a compilation of "What'll I Do" and Marty Robbins' "Nighttime on the Desert" recorded by Craig Chambers with Tom Morrell playing steel. It will be great to now have both versions to use.

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Mike

Ron Brennan · Post by **Ron Brennan** » 8 Nov 2006 1:18 pm

Rick,

This is a great standard and you both did a beautiful rendition of it. BRAVO!! TX

Rgds,

Ron

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JCFSGC member 2005 "Be of Good Cheer"
"55" Stringmaster D8,
"67" Telecaster,
"60"Fender Concert Amp 4-10's

c c johnson · Post by **c c johnson** » 9 Nov 2006 7:06 am

Happy to see that someone else is playing pop standards other than me. Different bands that I am in understand that I either play them or I'll quit so I play eight to a doz a night. Keep it up. CC

Gary Boyett · Post by **Gary Boyett** » 10 Nov 2006 3:45 am

Great job Rick! You need to add your lovely wife to your next CD.

We want more.

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HSGA & RMSGC member
Play it with "Glass"
Boyett's Glass Bars