Colleen Malone

[David M.]

I posted this on Tim O's site, but haven't seen any answers, so I'll ask it here.

I've played and sang the great song "Colleen Malone" (Hot Rize version) for a long time, singing it in D to hit the high vocal like Tim does. HR does it in E and that puts it just a tad too high for me. The mando breaks in D are fun, but sound alot better in E, so I tried singing it in E.

On the recording Tim sings the verses and a higher part in the chorus. Nick sings the chorus along w/Tim, but lower, more like the verse. The question is when you sing it solo, what do you sing for the chorus, Tim's high part or Nick's lower part? So, is Tim singing the harmony on the chorus or the melody.

I sing alot, but I'm not a "singer", meaning I don't do parts very well. Thanks for the help! http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/mandosmiley.gif

[David Horovitz]

I sing it too and do it in E. I sing verse and chorus in the same register, which, as you've said, is a struggle in itself. I try make sure I'm really warmed up and don't try to force it but just relax. The tune just feels right in E. If you're singing lead, you could have others try to sing harmony below you instead of above. Could make for an interesting sound.

Good luck.

P.S. Another good one in the same vein, if you don't already sing/play it, is Nellie Kane.

[David M.]

Thanks, DavidH. #I do play Nellie Kane in E. #Great song. #I just learned Bending Blades in F. #That's a great one that's really fun to sing. #Still trying to get Tim's mando break figured out. #Almost have Charles' guitar break down, though. #Gotta love Hot Rize.

[bnjrpkr]

I sing all those songs in those keys too.I think the Hot Rize harmony part is below,if I remember right.It takes a "special" tenor to get above the melody.

[JDARTGOD]

Tim sings melody on verses and choruses. (Harmony parts are below Tim on the Choruses - Sounds like a baritone and LOW tenor both under Tim to me.)

[Walter]

I've just recently became a Tim O'Brien fan, and I really like the songs mentioned above. Can anyone suggest a source for the tabs/cords, or a song book that has Colleen Malone, Nellie Kane, or both? -Thanks