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Song spawned out of brainstorming "interesting sounding" phrases for song titles..somehow "Grifters" popped into my head. Led to the thought, "How about a song about Proud Grifters?" Crazy how ideas get started! I need help with the mix, levels, voice effects, etc...appreciate any feedback!! -------------------- GRIFTERS, WE New to town last Tuesday; Rented the place next door; Making friends with the widow lady; She lost her husband last fall; "How're you doin'?", "Top of the mornin'" "Great to see you today!" Friendly, happy, peaceful, helpful; Giving, loving, neighbors, we. Kind and nice and trusted, As neighbors ought to be; Bet you'd never guess that we've been busted For many a swindler's spree; "Where's she goin"? "Who's she callin?" "Check out her mail-box today" Shifty, shady, takers, fakers; Crazy, hazy, GRIFTERS, WE. Ducked the police, And some palms have been greased, And--voila!--another mark has been fleeced. Call us flimflams or hustlers, But whatever you think we might be: (We are) Grifters, grifters, grifters are we. Grifters, grifters, grifters are we. On the run, this our fun, Art of the con for us; Off to next big swindle, Scamming off the public trust; "How're you doin'?", "Top of the mornin'" "Great to see you today!" Shifty, shady, takers, fakers; Crazy, hazy, GRIFTERS, WE. ====================================== Style: _FNKPLS1.STY. Pulse Funk RD: FunkHalfNotePulse: RT2524: Bass, Electric, FunkHalfNotePulseSync Ev16 100 RT2526: Piano, Electric, Rhythm FunkTremolo Ev16 100 RT2525: Guitar, Electric, Rhythm FunkWahWahChords Ev16 100 RT602, Harmonica, Soloist, Train RT673, Organ, B3 Background Blues RT873, Guitar, Elec, Rhythm
Windows 11, Intel Core i5-8600T 2.3Ghz, 16 gig ram, BIAB 2025 MegaPak, SampleTank 4, Keystation49 Kybd, Neewer NW-800 mic
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Journeyman
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Journeyman
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Hi Tom! Great song - but hoping you haven’t been fleeced yourself!?
I loved the refrain ‘Grifters are we’ - in fact I wanted more of it. Maybe it could be used elsewhere other than verse 1 to develop the song.
I found the band to be on the quiet side compared to the main vocal - as though it was distant while you were up front. I wonder if you could use the main vocal as the benchmark and bring the band levels up while maintaining the clarity of the main vocals? Others might have some better advice on technique of this than I.
There is a section (at the end of the intro before verse vocals start) where the wah wah oscillation of the rhythm guitar is at a different BPM than the tempo, and this has a disorientating effect on the sense of time - but that might be me being OCD. 😳
I have only been on the forum a few months and wasn’t expecting this style from you - so I found it a wonderful surprise from you and an interesting lyrical theme. Well done!
Andrew D
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Tom, IMHO this only has one flaw.
That is the vocal is way to out front; remixing by bringing up the backing tracks should do it. But this is only my opinion and other may not agree.
Great vocal and lyrics.
Great backing band.
It takes courage for a man to admit his wife was wrong.
64 bit Win 10 Pro, the latest BiaB/RB, Roland Octa-Capture audio interface, a ton of software/hardware
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Andrew, Mario...thanks...I lowered the vocal in the mix, per your suggestions. That's the friendly help I was looking for!
Windows 11, Intel Core i5-8600T 2.3Ghz, 16 gig ram, BIAB 2025 MegaPak, SampleTank 4, Keystation49 Kybd, Neewer NW-800 mic
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Andrew, Mario...thanks...I lowered the vocal in the mix, per your suggestions. That's the friendly help I was looking for! Oh yeah! That's sounding good! Andrew D
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Journeyman
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Bravo, Tom!
Another meticulously crafted soundscape providing the perfect launching pad for your vocals. Allow me to confess a certain naiveté regarding the term "grifter," now happily remedied thanks to your lyrical education. Your captivating vocal delivery possesses a wonderfully seductive quality, drawing the listener, (this listener at least), directly into the narrative's embrace. ✔️✔️
Thank you for both the sonic pleasure and the expanded vocabulary. My ears are in your debt. 👋 👍
Regards
Izzy
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Tom, like what you've done to develop and expand your inspirational word/phrase. Super songwriting and vocals. Like your voice best with this sparse FX chain. Very nice, unique band and arrangement. The outro and fade ending are very well done, too.
Great job!
DC Ron
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Too many guitars (is that a thing?)
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Tom,
That's a very cool & creative song. Love the instrumentation and your excellent vocal delivery.
Bob
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Hmmm, I figure mopst grifters are proud of their skills, and surely every single one of them would love this theme song you wrote for them, Tom. It's really cool how you developed all of this with just the one word in your head. Man, those lyrics are perfect. I like the production, especially the harmonica. It's the perfect instrument for a grifter on the prowl.
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Izzy/Ron/Bob/Marty...thanks for listening to my little ode to chiseling, gouging, and fraud!! I think it would make a great TV series!!
Windows 11, Intel Core i5-8600T 2.3Ghz, 16 gig ram, BIAB 2025 MegaPak, SampleTank 4, Keystation49 Kybd, Neewer NW-800 mic
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Expert
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Love the harmonica in this song!
Some favourite Waoist Adages:
#1: Play on the Way.
#13: Ask not for whom the flower blooms, it blooms for you.
#58: Bring consciousness to it.
#63: On the road to effortlessness, effort must be made.
#92: Be Love Now, the rest will come on its own.
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I think the funk treatment is a perfect fit for this lyrical story. Maybe some shoops in the chorus?
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Sounds good to me (after your correction), and it's a really good song, I especially like that you do some spoken parts, and the harmonica of course.
Well done.
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Friends, thanks for taking the time, and for the supportive comments!
Windows 11, Intel Core i5-8600T 2.3Ghz, 16 gig ram, BIAB 2025 MegaPak, SampleTank 4, Keystation49 Kybd, Neewer NW-800 mic
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Wow! Thematically that is one of the most unusual lyrics we've ever heard.
It's very thought provoking to think of grifters from that perspective.
And added to the funky vibe (love the wah wah) it works really well.
Your vocal well delivered the theme and all is supported by a nice mix.
Meanig no mix issues with what we are hearing.
Creative to the max!
J&B
Our albums and singles are on Spotify, Apple Music, Amazon Music, YouTube Music, Pandora and more. If interested search on Janice Merritt. Thanks! Our Videos are here on our website.
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We've just released XPro Styles PAK 10 for Mac & Windows Band-in-a-Box version 2025 (and higher) with 100 brand new RealStyles, plus 28 RealTracks and RealDrums!
Few things are certain in life: death, taxes, and a brand spankin’ new XPro Styles PAK! In this, the 10th edition of our XPro Styles PAK series, we’ve got 100 styles coming your way! We have the classic 25 styles each from the rock & pop, jazz, and country genres, and rounding out this volume's wildcard slot is 25 styles in the Praise & Worship genre! A wide spanning genre, you can find everything from rock, folk, country, and more underneath its umbrella. The included 28 RealTracks and RealDrums can be used with any Band-in-a-Box® 2026 (and higher) package.
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Rejoice, one and all, for Xtra Styles PAK 21 for Band-in-a-Box® is here! We’re serving up 200 brand spankin’ new styles to delight your musical taste buds! The first three courses are the classics you’ve come to know and love, including offerings from the rock & pop, jazz, and country genres, but, not to be outdone, this year’s fourth course is bro country! A wide ranging genre, you can find everything from hip-hop, uptempo outlaw country, hard hitting rock, funk, and even electronica, all with that familiar bro country flair. The dinner bell has been rung, pickup up Xtra Styles PAK 21 today!
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