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Expectations (Original)Well hi, ladies and gents, and whatever else lurks out there!!! It's been quite some time. I'd like to blame the hiatus on life in general ... and that's somewhat true, but the truth is, I've been "stuck". This song's been holding up the works for a while ... because I didn't quite know what to do with it. Not one of my best, but it's important ... it's part of my "concept" for the album, and, in fact, it's supposed to be the first song. My previous attempts at it were all kind of ... "meh". Well it might not be the kickest-[*****] (that's a word, right) song ever, but it at least has to not suck. Plus I like it. It's inspired by Chapter 2 in Norton Juster's "The Phantom Tollbooth". I marry it to life in general, because that's what Norton meant to do with it. The first step in its re-imagining was to play up the samba beat. But it still wasn't ... whimsical enough. Well, Expectations itself was modeled after a travel agency/welcome center ... which we associate with vacations, and .., hey, steel drum! Only I don't play, and Band in a Box's midi steel drums are ... well. Let's just say I wish I had someone playing real steel drums here, but this was the best I could do. It was better, but just like ... meh+. It still really needed something. I wanted a ratchet percussion track. Maybe even a samba whistle (it didn't end up with one, but I AM getting one :-) ) and then I stumbled on this "Afro Cuban" jazz style with congas and a bit of Cuban jazzy guitar and ... Well you know what? I think I like it! BIAB-wise, this is a real hodgepodge. Here's the BIAB info as best as I can summarize it for you (I've been toying with different things for, like, a year): ****** Song Summary ************* Title: Expectations File:Expectations Afro Cuban.SGU Key=C , Tempo 120, Length (m:s)=2:48 No intro. 80 bar chorus, from bar 1 to bar 80. Repeat x1 chorus No Melody Song is saved with Volume, Pan, Reverb, Chorus, Bank0, Styles are Style is _SHAKEIT.STY (Shake It Calypso Pop w Shaker),_CBOLGTS.STY (Cuban Bolero Guitar Quartet) SoloistCustom Synth is Hi-Q 001 01 Piano, Acoustic, Grand Sforzando.tgs with midi steel drum patch RealTracks in style: 1174:Bass, Electric, PopCalypso Ev 100 RealTracks in style: 1902:Guitar, Acoustic, Background Bolero Ev 090 RealDrums [in style:SalsaBolero: a: SalsaBolerob: SalsaBolero ******************* I actually play rhythm guitar on this, and the "awesome" (extremely simple) solo is me, too. Well I want SOME of my playing to end up on the album. I'd like to be able to explain what I did with the steel drums, but oh my God. I doubt I can. What you hear is a cross between a midi piano track I patched with a midi Steel Drum in Band in a Box, then I also used that midi track and duplicated it in Reaper with a few styles of steel drum I could locate, delaying some tracks ... trying to get it to sound less midi and more natural. I only succeeded a little. Vocals are once again all me. Lyrics. Song link at the top. Hope you like it. ---- Expectations Phil Leith - Walking Bird Music Welcome to Expectations To the land of the untarnished dream It's not but a pause between here and gone And nothing is quite what it seems Welcome to Expectations Where the glossies are vivid and bright What will you bring for your travels ahead? And what will you leave behind? There's adventure out on that open road And it's likely not what you had in mind Keep an eye out for things you're not looking for Or you might as well be flying blind Welcome to Expectations To make your journey worthwhile Best if your pack is fast and light You can trade a few tears for a smile Welcome to Expectations Now don't you linger too long Lay down your worries, lay down your pen And just start singing your song You can find your own way sure as you go If you don't cling to any one dream If you find mine, it was lost long ago Would you please return it to me? Welcome to Expectations Welcome to Expectations Welcome to Expectations
Last edited by Phil Leith; 08/18/19 05:09 PM.
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Hi Phil. Your hyperlink does not work because the last letter of the word 'original' is missing. I found the track by navigating to your soundcloud page and looking to "Expectations" there. Nice song by the way 
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Thank you, I will fix it.
The URL link icon wasn't working for me so I hard-coded it, and apparently had a typo.
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Your vocals and rhythm guitar add some important warmth to the track. I think you did a good job naturalizing the midi.
Cheers rayc "What's so funny about peace, love & understanding?" - N.Lowe
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It has been a while Phil... This song sounds like a great start for your "concept" album... Its catchy, happy, & bright... And I really like the lines...
You can find your own way sure as you go If you don't cling to any one dream If you find mine, it was lost long ago Would you please return it to me?
Pretty nifty lyrics indeed!
Jim †=☮&♥
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I really adored the lyrics, especially the following:
"There's adventure out on that open road And it's likely not what you had in mind Keep an eye out for things you're not looking for Or you might as well be flying blind"
Great job! Thanks for sharing.
Cheers, Ember
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hi phil great job really nice mix and write and vocal loved it eric
AMD (TM) 5950 4.9 GHz 16Core Processor 64 bit 32 bits of ram windows 10 pro 64 bit os. sound card Antelope ZenQ guitars Ibanez 2202a 1968 les Paul Custom and Cavin ae 185 Guitar boss Gt-100,GT1000 pedal Yamaha HS8 studio monitors
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I like the triple harmony with one duplicating lead vocal words and 2nd doing "oohs" and "ahs".
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Thank you, I really do like choosing the right words and trying to fit them. I'm a lyric guy.
I wish I could take full credit for the lines about finding your own way and "if you find mine" were actually almost directly from the book. I mean, not quite. But really close. It is really quite clever as is the whole book. And the song was written as a tribute to the book.
Like I said it was literally inspired by the short blurb in the book about The Land of Expectations, and I was looking back to this book I'd read many times as a child (and several times as an adult as well) and how much it really fit the story of my adult life. Expectations, where everything's a possibility and you try to decide how your trip (or your life) is going to go, and then the difference between those expectations and what you actually encounter in life.
I've always been a "fly by the seat of your pants" kind of guy, and that has served me well in this regard, after some rough social lessons in early adulthood.
Anyway, see for yourself the bits I lifted from the story to that verse... it's the most direct correlation you'll find between the song and the story other than "Welcome to Expectations".
``"Expectations is the place you must always go before you get to where you're going. Of course, some people never go beyond Expectations, but my job is to hurry them along whether they like it or not. Now what else can I do for you?," asked the Whether Man. Before Milo could reply he rushed into the house and reappeared a moment later with a new coat and an umbrella.
"I think I can find my own way," said Milo, not at all sure he could. But since he didn't understand the little man at all, he decided that he might as well move on -- at least until he met someone whose sentences didn't always sound as if they would make as much sense backwards as forwards.
"Splendid, splendid, splendid," exclaimed the Whether Man. "Whether or not you find your own way, you're bound to find some way. If you happen to find my way, please return it, as it was lost years ago. I imagine by now it's quite rusty. You did say it was going to rain, didn't you?" And with that he opened the umbrella and walked Milo to the car.``
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It's been a while since I've read the book (or seen the Chuck Jones' film adaption), but the song certainly fits the spirit of the text, but stands alone quite well. Good job with the lyrics, and managing to find something that works well for you. One of the things about BiaB is that you've got too much... until you want something exactly some particular way. But as you pointed out - sometimes being willing to try something another way will get you to what you wanted, even if it wasn't quite what you had in mind. Something about setting you're expecations aside or something...  I like the mix, but think the reverb on the background vocals are a bit much. It's not at all a bad sound, it just calls attention to the vocals, instead of helping them sit in the back in the mix. An enjoyable song - well sung, catchy and nice lyrics.
-- David Cuny My virtual singer development blogVocal control, you say. Never heard of it. Is that some kind of ProTools thing?BiaB 2025 | Windows 11 | Reaper | Way too many VSTis.
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Nice work on this - makes for a really unique and enticing listen, and as others mentioned the lyrics are a definitely standout. Some really great harmonies, and your vocals are top notch as well.
Thanks for sharing!
Cheers, Deryk
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Enjoyable and catchy melody, lots of wisdom in the lyrics, definitely a feel good song making me smile  Fantastic vocal harmonies, gives some African mood. And together with that excellent Latin rhythmic background, this is something Paul Simon could have done, but still very original. It's hard not to listen to this again and again. Janne
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"Welcome to Expectations To make your journey worthwhile Best if your pack is fast and light You can trade a few tears for a smile"
Nice positive write.
Nice positive backing tracks vibe.
Nice heartfelt vocals.
NICE!
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! A few of our videos are here on our website: https://www.janiceandbud.com/our-music.html
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Great work on this Phil, wowzers! The arrangement is wonderful to the ears and the mix sounds well polished too. Very captivating lyrics. Looking forward to hear more!
Cheers, Joe
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Very cool song!! The vocals are exceptional and the instrumentation completely fits the mood. Enjoyed a lot!! Take care. Greg
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Loved this tune. Loved the vocal and lyric. The rhythm section on this some was also very cool. Really nice choice of instruments..
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Phil,
A really enjoyable listen. A nice write.
I thought the steel drums sounded quite good. And the rest of the instrumentation fits well.
The vocals are nice, though often get a bit too much in-you-face as the harmonies come in and combine with the lead. The secondary vocals (harmonies and ooohs) need to be "softened" to fall behind the lead vocal - a bit more reverb and delay and a bit less volume.
I like it.
fj
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I enjoyed this. Somewhat Paul Simonish to me with a slight nod to the Ladysmith Black Mambazo days. Very nicely done!
Windows 11, Intel Core I5 10400, 16 gig ram, Scarlett 2i2, Sony Acid Music Studio 10, BIAB 2020 UltraPlus Pak
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Ok! Thanks for all the feedback. I have gone back and addressed some timing issues and toned down the background vocals, which in turn exposed too much verb in the lead vocals. So I toned that down, too.
I'm a sucker for big harmonies that jump out and hit you and I have a tendency to hit you too hard with them :-D
You guys are a great sounding board! I updated the soundcloud file with the new mix, and I think it sounds like it's ready for the album.
I'm getting there! This one had me stuck for ... a very long time.
I've got two Christmas songs I'd like to get out on a single by mid November, though. I'd better get started on them.
This and being a grandpa and having a full-time job! It's such a fun side project, though, I wish I could make more time to devote to it. I guess it goes in phases and Spring/Summer 2018 were an "on" phase.
I'm tryin'!
Last edited by Phil Leith; 08/29/19 03:54 PM.
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You've really lightened the mood with this. Strong lyric, great band, and a playful mix. Much enjoyed.
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Ask sales and support questions about Band-in-a-Box using natural language.
ChatPG's knowledge base includes the full Band-in-a-Box User Manual and sales information from the website.
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Introducing XPro Styles PAK 11 – Now Available for Windows Band-in-a-Box 2026 and Higher!
XPro Styles PAK 11 for Windows & Mac Band-in-a-Box® version 2026 (and higher) is here with 100 brand new RealStyles, plus 31 RealTracks/RealDrums!
Guess who’s back again? That’s right! It’s our XPro Styles PAK’s triumphant return with the 11th edition in this series! 100 new styles are coming your way spread across the rock & pop, jazz, and country genres. And this edition's wildcard genre explores the immense and far-reaching catalogue of electronic music! The included 31 RealTracks and RealDrums can be used with any Band-in-a-Box® 2026 (and higher) package.
Special offers available until August 31st, 2026!
All the XPro Styles PAKs 1-11 are on sale for only $29 ea (Reg. $49 ea), or get them all in the XPro Styles PAK Bundle for only $149 (reg. $299)! Order now!
Learn more and listen to demos of XPro Styles PAKs.
Video: XPro Styles PAK 11 Overview & Styles Demos: Watch now!
XPro Styles PAKs require Band-in-a-Box® 2026 or higher and are compatible with ANY package, including the Pro, MegaPAK, UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, and Audiophile Edition.
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No Xtra Styles PAK is complete without the classic rock & pop, jazz, and country volumes you know and love, and we’ve got plenty to share, with 150 styles spread across too many genres to list! Of course, it also wouldn’t be complete with our special wildcard volume to add a little spice and pizzazz to the mix. This year, because we loved it so much the first time, we’ve decided to make the second iteration of our SynthMaster volume, full of new sounds, interesting genres, and 50 engaging styles, all making use of the diverse SynthMaster plugin! Here you can find genres such as airy yacht rock, sultry electrotango, and even some synth soca funk. Don’t wait, pickup up Xtra Styles PAK 22 today!
In this PAK you can find: dulcet folk ballads, funky gospel country, Brazilian jazz fusion, upbeat 1980s pop, classic Americana, a plethora of breezy bossa novas, indie singer-songwriter, scintillating synthwave, exuberant electronica, and many, many more!
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Video: Xtra Styles PAK 22 Overview & Styles Demos: Watch now!
Note: The Xtra Styles require the UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, or Audiophile Edition of Band-in-a-Box®. (Xtra Styles PAK 22 requires the 2026 or higher UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, or Audiophile Edition. They will not work with the Pro or MegaPAK version because they need the RealTracks from the UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, or Audiophile Edition.
Introducing XPro Styles PAK 11 – Now Available for Mac Band-in-a-Box 2026 and Higher!
XPro Styles PAK 11 for Mac & Windows Band-in-a-Box® version 2026 (and higher) is here with 100 brand new RealStyles, plus 31 RealTracks/RealDrums!
Guess who’s back again? That’s right! It’s our XPro Styles PAK’s triumphant return with the 11th edition in this series! 100 new styles are coming your way spread across the rock & pop, jazz, and country genres. And this edition's wildcard genre explores the immense and far-reaching catalogue of electronic music! The included 31 RealTracks and RealDrums can be used with any Band-in-a-Box® 2026 (and higher) package.
Special offers available until August 31st, 2026!
All the XPro Styles PAKs 1-11 are on sale for only $29 ea (Reg. $49 ea), or get them all in the XPro Styles PAK Bundle for only $149 (reg. $299)! Order now!
Learn more and listen to demos of XPro Styles PAKs.
Video: XPro Styles PAK 11 Overview & Styles Demos: Watch now!
XPro Styles PAKs require Band-in-a-Box® 2026 or higher and are compatible with ANY package, including the Pro, MegaPAK, UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, and Audiophile Edition.
Introducing Xtra Styles PAK 22 – Now Available for Mac Band-in-a-Box 2026 and Higher!
Xtra Styles PAK 22 for Mac & Windows Band-in-a-Box version 2026 (and higher) is here with 200 brand new RealStyles!
It’s time to celebrate! Xtra Styles PAK 22 for Band-in-a-Box® is here, and we've got 200 brand-new styles coming your way!
No Xtra Styles PAK is complete without the classic rock & pop, jazz, and country volumes you know and love, and we’ve got plenty to share, with 150 styles spread across too many genres to list! Of course, it also wouldn’t be complete with our special wildcard volume to add a little spice and pizzazz to the mix. This year, because we loved it so much the first time, we’ve decided to make the second iteration of our SynthMaster volume, full of new sounds, interesting genres, and 50 engaging styles, all making use of the diverse SynthMaster plugin! Here you can find genres such as airy yacht rock, sultry electrotango, and even some synth soca funk. Don’t wait, pickup up Xtra Styles PAK 22 today!
In this PAK you can find: dulcet folk ballads, funky gospel country, Brazilian jazz fusion, upbeat 1980s pop, classic Americana, a plethora of breezy bossa novas, indie singer-songwriter, scintillating synthwave, exuberant electronica, and many, many more!
Special offers available until August 31st, 2026!
All the Xtra Styles PAKs 1-22 are on special for only $29 each (reg $49), or get all 22 PAKs for $199 (reg $399)! Order now!
Learn more and listen to demos of the Xtra Styles PAK 22.
Video: Xtra Styles PAK 22 Overview & Styles Demos: Watch now!
Note: The Xtra Styles require the UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, or Audiophile Edition of Band-in-a-Box®. (Xtra Styles PAK 22 requires the 2026 or higher UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, or Audiophile Edition. They will not work with the Pro or MegaPAK version because they need the RealTracks from the UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, or Audiophile Edition.
Peter Gannon Talks Band-in-a-Box with zplane
zplane recently interviewed Peter Gannon, the founder and creator of Band-in-a-Box, about the software's early days, what sets it apart from AI, how zplane's audio algorithms are used in Band-in-a-Box, and more!
Special thanks to the team at zplane for their continued support.
Check out the full interview here: https://products.zplane.de/blog/peter-gannon-interview-pg-music
Last Chance! The Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Mac® Special Ends Today (May 31, 2026) at 11:59pm PDT!
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Another exciting new addition is the amazing new AI-Notes feature, which can transcribe polyphonic audio into MIDI. View the results in notation or play them back as MIDI, and choose whether to transcribe an entire track or transcribe specific parts like drums, bass, guitars/piano, or vocals. There's over 100 new features in Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Mac®.
There's an amazing collection of new content too, including 202 RealTracks, new RealStyles, MIDI SuperTracks, Instrumental Studies, “Songs with Vocals” Artist Performance Sets, Playable RealTracks Set 5, two RealDrums Stems sets, and much more!
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Band-in-a-Box® 2026 Mac Special Offers Extended Until May 31st!
Good news- we've extended our Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Mac® special offers until May 31, 2026!
Band-in-a-Box® 2026 is packed with major new features, enhancements, and an incredible lineup of new content! The program now sports a sleek, modern GUI redesign across the entire interface, including updated toolbars, refreshed windows, smoother workflows, a new dark mode option, and more. The brand-new side toolbar provides quicker access to key windows, while the new Multi-View feature lets you arrange multiple windows as layered panels without overlap, creating a flexible, clutter-free workspace. We have an amazing new “AI-Notes” feature. This transcribes polyphonic audio into MIDI so you can view it in notation or play it back as MIDI. You can transcribe an entire track (all pitched instruments and drums) or focus on individual parts like drums, bass, guitars/piano, or vocals. There's an amazing collection of new content too, including 202 RealTracks, new RealStyles, MIDI SuperTracks, Instrumental Studies, “Songs with Vocals” Artist Performance Sets, Playable RealTracks Set 5, two RealDrums Stems sets, and much more!
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Check out the Band-in-a-Box® for Mac packages page to find the best package for you.
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