Welcome to our ongoing series The Anatomy Of A Good Song. In this series we aim to highlight a song from a West Virginia artist that sets the standard as to what a quality song should be in regards to the overall feel and sound of a song. That’s not to say all songs should sound the same or are created equally, but these songs are great examples of what is possible. Today we present to you, Savannah by Samuel James! Be sure to follow this outstanding band and, as always, check out our Born & Bred Spotify Playlist for more great WV music!
If you’re not familiar Samuel James you should be. The looks of James Dean mixed with the swagger of Bruce Springsteen and a vocal that is two parts country and 1 part pop, make for an artist with the potential to make it pretty far in the music world. Samuel had been on our radar for a little bit but we truly saw his amazing talent on display when we caught him at a stop of Songs & Stories. Savannah is a great intro to the music of James but be sure to check out his other music to get the full scope of this artist.
Vocals: Samuel has a vocal that immediately puts you in the mindset of nineties top 40 country artists. The melody allows him to really show off what he’s capable of. He knows how to allow his vocal to interplay with the music and delivers the lines in a way that sells the story of the song.
Production: The song was produced by Jamie Peck and the production falls in line with a lot of popular country. The mix is great for whatever media you consume your music through. We personally would love to hear this song on vinyl. The best part of the production is that Samuel’s vocal lays exactly where it should in a mix for a song like this. Everything on this track is easy to for the ear to process.
The Hook: Savannah is one big massive hook. Samuel knows how to deliver each line in a way that gets stuck in your head. But then the chorus arrives and once you hear it you’ll be humming it the rest of the day.
Lyrics: The lyrics are all about the longing for a woman and wanting to get back to her. The lyrics are solid love song storytelling with some great imagery thrown in. Our favorite section of the song does a great job of connecting some classic Georgia imagery to the idea of love.
“Weeping like a willow| ‘Til I found this escape| Now I’ve come to know that Heaven ain’t just a place|Always thought that I’d be saved|Just didn’t think it’d be this way|Whole lot of history hidden in the red clay”
Listen to Savannah below.
Track Credits
Written by Samuel James, Russell Snyder & Joey Adams.
Samuel James – Vocals, Acoustic & Bass
Mike Ofca – Electric Guitar
Gary Jacob- Pedal Steel
J.P. Peck – Drums
Produced by Jamie Peck
Artwork by Heath Holley
Congratulations to Samuel James for writing a great song!
Have a song you think we should feature? Email us at editor@bornandbredmusic.com
