Previous Thread
Index
Next Thread
Print Thread
Go To
#678538 10/20/21 10:38 AM
User Showcase
Joined: Jun 2020
Posts: 108
Apprentice
OP Offline
Apprentice
Joined: Jun 2020
Posts: 108
Number Eleven of the Dozen Demos I committed to making and posting this year. (Only those made with BIAB are posted here.) Feel good about my progress yet under no illusion about how much work still lies ahead. It's been more fun than not. At least, that's how I remember it. laugh

Born in a Nowhere Town by Mark Rhodes

Born in a Nowhere Town
Words & Music by Mark Rhodes
© 30 September 2021

I was born in a nowhere town
Nowhere to go, nowhere to look but down;
Best friend's girl became my girl
I learned the wicked ways of a wicked world.

[Chorus]
Nowhere Town: Just can't stay
Nowhere Town: you can't get away
Nowhere Town: Scars run deep
Nowhere Town: The wound you keep.

A two-block strip kids cruise all Friday night
If the cops don't steal your beer,
Carly Sue might treat you right.


Went to work in my uncle's store
He paid too little, I paid myself a whole lot more;
First night in jail was not so bad
Broke the heart of my mom, broke the heart of my dad.

[Chorus]

Carly Sue said the baby's mine, all right
Had to get myself a real job
She didn't care that I worked nights.


A uniform says a lot around here
It's not all good but it's loud and clear;
Daughter might grow up and leave someday
Had my chance, l watched it slip away.

[Chorus]

A two block strip kids cruise all Friday night
Now I'm the one who steals the beer
And Carly Sue's far out of sight.

The BIAB style used here is DRVBRTS Modern Groove even 16s. The tempo is 130. The chords are D A and E. It ends on an A so I tend to think that's the key, but some people look at such progressions as being in E.

Last edited by Mark Rhodes; 10/20/21 10:32 PM.

"If I knew where the good songs came from, I'd go there more often." Leonard Cohen
User Showcase
Joined: Jan 2012
Posts: 3,615
Veteran
Offline
Veteran
Joined: Jan 2012
Posts: 3,615
Hello Mark.
Great effort on this tune.
I particularly liked the guitar riff.
Thanks for posting.
Rob4580

User Showcase
Joined: Sep 2018
Posts: 1,362
W
Expert
Offline
Expert
W
Joined: Sep 2018
Posts: 1,362
Pretty good song. Thanks for sharing that!

Will

User Showcase
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 216
Apprentice
Offline
Apprentice
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 216
Good job Mark. Fun song and a story that grabs one's interest.

Songs posted here do not have to include BIAB tracks. You're a BIAB user so you can post any of your original songs. At least that is how I'm reading the rules and what I have seen in practice here.

Just to highlight a couple of sentences about the use of this section of the forum: (Note the word "If" in the second sentence.)

"The User Showcase is an area where users of PG Music products (e.g. Band-in-a-Box or RealBand) can post links to their original song compositions, for others to listen to."

"If Band-in-a-Box or RealBand have been used, please provide information as to which styles or RealTracks were used."

Last edited by Frankp; 10/20/21 02:34 PM.

Frank

Some tunes from me and my collaborator: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCvGqM6ktMW5ltTnyit1KWPg/videos


Band-in-a-Box Ultrapak 2019, Windows 11, Reaper, Behringer u-phoria UMC404HD, Kali LP-8
User Showcase
Joined: Jun 2020
Posts: 108
Apprentice
OP Offline
Apprentice
Joined: Jun 2020
Posts: 108
Originally Posted By: Frankp


Songs posted here do not have to include BIAB tracks. You're a BIAB user so you can post any of your original songs. At least that is how I'm reading the rules and what I have seen in practice here.



Thanks for explaining that to me, Frank.

I'll go back and add specific BIAB info to my OP.


"If I knew where the good songs came from, I'd go there more often." Leonard Cohen
User Showcase
Joined: Jan 2020
Posts: 3,586
J
Veteran
Offline
Veteran
J
Joined: Jan 2020
Posts: 3,586
one thing i liked is the old skool mono - ish feel .
down the centre.
may be double the vocs in places.
eg 'nowhere town you just cant stay' and at end stealin
the beer etc.

fun song and lyrics.

best
om


my songs....mixed for good earbuds...(fyi..my vocs on all songs..)
https://soundcloud.com/alfsongs
(90 songs created useing bb/rb)
(lots of tips of mine in pg tips forum.)
User Showcase
Joined: Sep 2018
Posts: 3,597
Veteran
Offline
Veteran
Joined: Sep 2018
Posts: 3,597
Good old homegrown rock and roll.

I like that riff too. Is that you playing? I looked up the BIAB style and didn't see/hear that guitar. Good playing.

User Showcase
Joined: Jan 2020
Posts: 1,749
Expert
Offline
Expert
Joined: Jan 2020
Posts: 1,749
I can relate to a "nowhere town".
I was born and raise in a big city but spent every summer in a tiny town.

Just enough reminiscence to bring back memories and just enough modern music to make it work.

well done.
moto

User Showcase
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 8,132
Veteran
Offline
Veteran
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 8,132
Good title, even better write.

Simple arrangement that fits the song well.

Nicely done!


-- David Cuny

My virtual singer development blog
Vocal control, you say. Never heard of it. Is that some kind of ProTools thing?

BiaB 2025 | Windows 11 | Reaper | Way too many VSTis.
User Showcase
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 1,193
B
Expert
Offline
Expert
B
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 1,193
Mr. Rhodes...

How many times have I wondered about the daily existences of people who inhabit small towns I've driven through while making interstate trips by car?

I don't assume your song is autobiographical, so I wasn't expecting it to satisfy my curiosity about small town folk. Nonetheless, I found myself absorbed in your lyrics because they seem to encompass so much life experience in a few verses and a repeated chorus.

You tell a compelling story with music and 'snapshots' of memories that generate interest in (seemingly) quiet lives lived in quiet places.


"Music is what feelings sound like."-- borrowed from a Cakewalk Music Creator forum member, "Mamabear".
User Showcase
Joined: Jun 2020
Posts: 108
Apprentice
OP Offline
Apprentice
Joined: Jun 2020
Posts: 108
Originally Posted By: Ezekiel's Storm
Good old homegrown rock and roll.

I like that riff too. Is that you playing? I looked up the BIAB style and didn't see/hear that guitar. Good playing.


Thank you.
Yes, I play guitar. (There's a guitar part in the BIAB file too.) I play the riffs and most up-front rhythm guitar. (It's all one take.)


"If I knew where the good songs came from, I'd go there more often." Leonard Cohen
User Showcase
Joined: Dec 2013
Posts: 7,052
G
Veteran
Offline
Veteran
G
Joined: Dec 2013
Posts: 7,052
Cool song!! Lots of authenticity in your performance!! Enjoyed it!! Take care. Greg

User Showcase
Joined: Apr 2016
Posts: 7,192
Veteran
Offline
Veteran
Joined: Apr 2016
Posts: 7,192
Nice stop n start track...enjoyed.


Cheers
rayc
"What's so funny about peace, love & understanding?" - N.Lowe
User Showcase
Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 3,022
Veteran
Offline
Veteran
Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 3,022
Totally dug the lofi sound, great work!


Windows 11, Intel Core I5 10400, 16 gig ram, Scarlett 2i2, Sony Acid Music Studio 10, BIAB 2020 UltraPlus Pak
User Showcase
Joined: Jun 2020
Posts: 108
Apprentice
OP Offline
Apprentice
Joined: Jun 2020
Posts: 108
Originally Posted By: bluage
Mr. Rhodes...

How many times have I wondered about the daily existences of people who inhabit small towns I've driven through while making interstate trips by car?

I don't assume your song is autobiographical, so I wasn't expecting it to satisfy my curiosity about small town folk. Nonetheless, I found myself absorbed in your lyrics because they seem to encompass so much life experience in a few verses and a repeated chorus.

You tell a compelling story with music and 'snapshots' of memories that generate interest in (seemingly) quiet lives lived in quiet places.


Thank you! As it happens, my parents are from small towns in Mississippi.(Actually, they lived outside of a small town.) When I lived in New Orleans, a close friend came from a town where all public school students--kindergarten through 12th grade--went to the same building. All the kids in the family got the same school yearbook because they all went to the same school! I remember him telling me (this was back around 2000) that it was only a year or so previously that they got 911 service, which required the naming of nameless roads. He got his father to pay some token sum to have their street named Blue Jay Way.

I've heard stories of small town life since childhood, and I've been involved in a few such stories myself.

Last edited by Mark Rhodes; 10/23/21 08:08 AM.

"If I knew where the good songs came from, I'd go there more often." Leonard Cohen
User Showcase
Joined: Jun 2020
Posts: 108
Apprentice
OP Offline
Apprentice
Joined: Jun 2020
Posts: 108
Originally Posted By: TuneMonger
Totally dug the lofi sound, great work!


Thank you!


"If I knew where the good songs came from, I'd go there more often." Leonard Cohen
User Showcase
Joined: Jun 2020
Posts: 108
Apprentice
OP Offline
Apprentice
Joined: Jun 2020
Posts: 108
Thanks!
I like stop-and-start bits such as a stop-time chorus in a blues or swing tune. BIAB makes them easy to create.

I used to have a hard time keeping time with them, especially at slower tempos, but the more I do it, the more comfortable I get with it. (There's a clam in the first verse here which I hope I can fix with a splice and move; we'll see...)


"If I knew where the good songs came from, I'd go there more often." Leonard Cohen
User Showcase
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 24,286
Veteran
Offline
Veteran
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 24,286
I can relate to this song Mark as I grew up in a small town.

I liked this song. Super job on all of those stops! Your vocal fit this genre perfectly. I liked the backing tracks, especially your guitar licks.

Super song.


Principal: Your child always causes trouble in school.
Me: My child causes trouble at home, do I ever call you?

64 bit Win 10 Pro, the latest BiaB/RB, Roland Octa-Capture audio interface, a ton of software/hardware
User Showcase
Joined: Jun 2020
Posts: 108
Apprentice
OP Offline
Apprentice
Joined: Jun 2020
Posts: 108
Originally Posted By: MarioD
I can relate to this song Mark as I grew up in a small town.

I liked this song. Super job on all of those stops! Your vocal fit this genre perfectly. I liked the backing tracks, especially your guitar licks.

Super song.


Thanks, Mario! I really appreciate that.


"If I knew where the good songs came from, I'd go there more often." Leonard Cohen
Previous Thread
Next Thread
Go To

Link Copied to Clipboard
ChatPG

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.

PG Music News
Band-in-a-Box 2026 for Windows Special Offers End Tomorrow (January 15th, 2026) at 11:59 PM PST!

Time really is running out! Save up to 50% on Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Windows® upgrades and receive a FREE Bonus PAK—only when you order by 11:59 PM PST on Thursday, January 15, 2026!

We've added many major new features and new content in a redesigned Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Windows®!

Version 2026 introduces a modernized GUI redesign across the program, with updated toolbars, refreshed windows, smoother workflows, and a new Dark Mode option. There’s also a new side toolbar for quicker access to commonly used windows, and the new Multi-View feature lets you arrange multiple windows as layered panels without overlap, making it easier to customize your workspace.

Another exciting new addition is the new AI-Notes feature, which can transcribe polyphonic audio into MIDI. You can view the results in notation or play them back as MIDI, and choose whether to process an entire track or focus on specific parts like drums, bass, guitars/piano, or vocals. There's over 100 new features in Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Windows®.

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, XPro Styles PAK 10, Xtra Styles PAK 21, and much more!

Upgrade your Band-in-a-Box for Windows to save up to 50% on most Band-in-a-Box® 2026 upgrade packages!

Plus, when you order your Band-in-a-Box® 2026 upgrade during our special, you'll receive a Free Bonus PAK of exciting new add-ons.

If you need any help deciding which package is the best option for you, just let us know. We are here to help!

Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Windows® Special Offers Extended Until January 15, 2026!

Good news! You still have time to upgrade to the latest version of Band-in-a-Box® for Windows® and save. Our Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Windows® special now runs through January 15, 2025!

We've packed Band-in-a-Box® 2026 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 process 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, XPro Styles PAK 10, Xtra Styles PAK 21, and much more!

There are over 100 new features in Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Windows®.

When you order purchase Band-in-a-Box® 2026 before 11:59 PM PST on January 15th, you'll also receive a Free Bonus PAK packed with exciting new add-ons.

Upgrade to Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Windows® today! Check out the Band-in-a-Box® packages page for all the purchase options available.

Happy New Year!

Thank you for being part of the Band-in-a-Box® community.

Wishing you and yours a very happy 2026—Happy New Year from all of us at PG Music!

Season's Greetings!

Wishing everyone a happy, healthy holiday season—thanks for being part of our community!

The office will be closed for Christmas Day, but we will be back on Boxing Day (Dec 26th) at 6:00am PST.

Team PG

Band-in-a-Box 2026 Video: The Newly Designed Piano Roll Window

In this video, we explore the updated Piano Roll, complete with a modernized look and exciting new features. You’ll see new filtering options that make it easy to focus on specific note groups, smoother and more intuitive note entry and editing, and enhanced options for zooming, looping, and more.

Watch the video.

You can see all the 2026 videos on our forum!

Band-in-a-Box 2026 Video: AI Stems & Notes - split polyphonic audio into instruments and transcribe

This video demonstrates how to use the new AI-Notes feature together with the AI-Stems splitter, allowing you to select an audio file and have it separated into individual stems while transcribing each one to its own MIDI track. AI-Notes converts polyphonic audio—either full mixes or individual instruments—into MIDI that you can view in notation or play back instantly.

Watch the video.

You can see all the 2026 videos on our forum!

Bonus PAK and 49-PAK for Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Windows®

With your version 2026 for Windows Pro, MegaPAK, UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, Audiophile Edition or PlusPAK purchase, we'll include a Bonus PAK full of great new Add-ons for FREE! Or upgrade to the 2026 49-PAK for only $49 to receive even more NEW Add-ons including 20 additional RealTracks!

These PAKs are loaded with additional add-ons to supercharge your Band-in-a-Box®!

This Free Bonus PAK includes:

  • The 2026 RealCombos Booster PAK: -For Pro customers, this includes 27 new RealTracks and 23 new RealStyles. -For MegaPAK customers, this includes 25 new RealTracks and 23 new RealStyles. -For UltraPAK customers, this includes 12 new RealStyles.
  • MIDI Styles Set 92: Look Ma! More MIDI 15: Latin Jazz
  • MIDI SuperTracks Set 46: Piano & Organ
  • Instrumental Studies Set 24: Groovin' Blues Soloing
  • Artist Performance Set 19: Songs with Vocals 9
  • Playable RealTracks Set 5
  • RealDrums Stems Set 9: Cool Brushes
  • SynthMaster Sounds Set 1 (with audio demos)
  • Android Band-in-a-Box® App (included)

Looking for more great add-ons, then upgrade to the 2026 49-PAK for just $49 and you'll get:


  • 20 Bonus Unreleased RealTracks and RealDrums with 20 RealStyle.
  • FLAC Files (lossless audio files) for the 20 Bonus Unreleased RealTracks and RealDrums
  • MIDI Styles Set 93: Look Ma! More MIDI 16: SynthMaster
  • MIDI SuperTracks Set 47: More SynthMaster
  • Instrumental Studies 25 - Soul Jazz Guitar Soloing
  • Artist Performance Set 20: Songs with Vocals 10
  • RealDrums Stems Set 10: Groovin' Sticks
  • SynthMaster Sounds & Styles Set 2 (sounds & styles with audio demos)

Learn more about the Bonus PAKs for Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Windows®!

Forum Statistics
Forums57
Topics85,738
Posts795,588
Members39,945
Most Online25,754
Jan 24th, 2025
Newest Members
LaneWright55, Diddlysquat, pun61, smitoz, Jonnyfartpants
39,945 Registered Users
Top Posters(30 Days)
MarioD 193
Noel96 117
DC Ron 115
DrDan 106
rsdean 102
dcuny 93
Today's Birthdays
brassauditions, EddieV, glauber, Holly, MyZone1958, PLS, Tobin - PG Music Inc.
Powered by UBB.threads™ PHP Forum Software 7.7.5