Sitting On The Dock Of The Bay Covererd by Robert Gray & Ryo
Vocal & Acoustic Guitar / Robert Gray
Other Instruments & Mix & Video Edit

This time, we present Sitting On The Dock Of The Bay by Robert and I, Ryo.

This song was co-written by Otis Redding, one of the best R&B singers of the '60s, and Steve Cropper, my favorite guitarist.
I think it's probably one of their most famous songs.

This is a vocal and guitar only performance that Robert uploaded to his channel last year, with my performance added later.

The key was different from the original, and it was played at a faster tempo than the original, so I changed the performance from the original.

Here is a link to the original version performed by Robert
   • Sitting On The Dock Of The Bay  

Robert's YouTube Channel
   / @robertgraymusic  

I was in charge of the electric guitar, gut guitar, bass, drums, keyboard organ and string parts. I played all the instruments myself except for Robert's acoustic guitar. I haven't done any programming.

Things I thought about when arranging
・Match Robert's atmosphere and his version.
As you can see, Robert plays very delicate and beautiful music.
That is, his music has an "introverted beauty".
　
・At the same time, include as many of Steve Cropper's phrases from the original song as possible. Since the key is different, the atmosphere is different from the original song, but I still wanted to incorporate that phrase. 　

・In order to keep the arrangement from becoming monotonous, the drums should be changed midway through.
・ Adopt a pattern that changes to a snare in the middle of the first stick.
・The bass part should be played simply.
・I tryed using a gut guitar to blend in with the rhythm section and overall atmosphere.

・I played the drums paying close attention to the nuances of the high hat.
I worked on it to the best of my ability as a non-drummer.

・The rhythm incorporates a slight bossa nova rhythm.
・Add a lead phrase played on a gut guitar to match the final whistle.

・Do not use the wind instrument arrangement of the original song, instead add your own strings 　but keep it simple.
I love that song in the original song, but using it would make it more R&B, so this time I changed it to strings.

・Add an organ to the bridge section. However, add it to the extent that it does not become excessive. The aim is to create a subtle excitement through changes in Leslie's rotation. 　

・Add a little triangle as an accent.

The drum video showed a cable that I didn't intend.
It's a BNC cable for SDI. It keeps swinging from the beginning to the end of the song, like the pendulum of a pendulum clock. lol

That's how I tried it.

【Equipments】
Mixer : Yamaha DM1000
Audio I/F : RME Digital Face

Guitar :2 Gretsch 6120W
Fractal AxeFX2XL Fender Champ Tweed 5F1
　
Bass　History Fujigen　
Fractal AxeFX2XL /

Godin
RODE NT2

Recording & Using DAW Cubase Pro 12
VST Instruments Perform by Ryo V-Drum　→　BFD3
UAD Satellite
Mixing & Video Edit by Ryo
Cannon XF105 × 2

Lyrics

Verse 1
Sittin' in the mornin' sun
I'll be sittin' when the evenin' come
Watching the ships roll in
And then I watch 'em roll away again, yeah

Chorus
I'm sittin' on the dock of the bay
Watching the tide roll away
Ooh, I'm just sittin' on the dock of the bay
Wastin' time

Verse 2
I left my home in Georgia
Headed for the 'Frisco bay
'Cause I've had nothing to live for
And look like nothin's gonna come my way

Chorus
So I'm just gonna sit on the dock of the bay
Watching the tide roll away
Ooh, I'm sittin' on the dock of the bay
Wastin' time

Bridge
Look like nothing's gonna change
Everything still remains the same
I can't do what ten people tell me to do
So I guess I'll remain the same, yes
You might also like
​don’t wanna break up again

Verse 3
Sittin' here resting my bones
And this loneliness won't leave me alone
It's two thousand miles I roamed
Just to make this dock my home

Chorus
Now, I'm just gonna sit at the dock of the bay
Watching the tide roll away
Ooh-wee, I'm sittin' on the dock of the bay
Wastin' time

Outro
Whistling