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STATE LINES Janice wanted a break from our more bluegrass based songs so we wrote and recorded this tune over the last few days. There was a time shortly after leaving our bluegrass band when we would get together with some folks who could play blues, country and a little jazz. We'd mostly jam on 12 bar songs with me on bass and Janice playing mandolin. I tried to recreate a bit of this vibe with these disparate RealTracks. For Janice it was a bit like stepping off a cliff for she wanted her vocal to have more of a jazz/blues sound than her typical sound (but her voice will always be somewhat anchored in our bluegrass/americana world). I wrote some lyrics and she quickly came up with a melody. The song is in a traditional blues AAB format. I sent an mp3 to Floyd Jane to see what he thought about it and I was pleased that he liked the song. He suggested that we modify the second "A" line to vary slightly from the first line (they are often identical in traditional blues). We incorporated his suggestions and it definitely added some more interest to the stanzas and let Janice stretch out a bit more vocally. We also added a solo between stanza 3 & 4. Ramble, ramble, blah, blah -- here's what we used. Thanks for listening! Vocal: Janice, Rodes NT1 mic interfaced to iMac via Blue Icicle. Bass: A paste up of sections of Realtrack 1394 Simple Jazz. Drums: RealTrack Nashville 1281 Guitar Rhythm 1: RealTrack 1795 Dixieand Guitar Rhythm 2: RealTrack 968 Country Swing Piano Rhythm: Real Track 2047 Country Piano Lead: RealTrack 1884 Country Mixing and effects: GarageBand interfaced with BIAB The lead and rhythm tracks were repeatedly regenerated and cut/spliced together (often by the 1/4 measure) to try and add the bluesy feel albeit with mostly country tracks.
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
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Journeyman
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Bud, Another outstanding job! Your cut & paste skills with RT's is scary.  I think I could probably listen to Janice sing the phone book... and still be impressed!  How about a drivin' rock & roll song next. I'm serious! Greg
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Hi Janice and Bud,
a very successful step off the cliff.
I like the over all sound.
Clever RTs.
Guenter
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Great stuff Bud. You guys got it goin' on!
Regards,
Bob
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Thanks guys re the use of RT's. I've found that to get good transitions from one instrument to another in solos and then back to the vocalist it is necessary to not only regenerate tracks but often to cut and paste down to a quarter measure or so. Fills are easier as you can ease them in and out and the transitions sort of get lost in the mix. Given that Janice can typically nail the vocal in one take I'm left with a lot of time to experiment with the above! It's overwhelming what we can do now with a relatively simple DAW. I used to spend a LOT of time back in analogue days re-recording myself playing a simple bass or rhythm guitar track just to get one run the way I wanted it.
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
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you both make it sound so EASY! (and so good!)
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Bud and Janice -
It just doesn't get better than this.
The instrumentation, the mix, the feel!!! Love the title. Love the lyric.
And that vocal!!! Mesmerizing. You simply "lose yourself" in that beautiful singing voice.
I become a bigger fan with each new song...
floyd
Last edited by floyd jane; 04/28/13 12:45 PM.
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Very intimate in the room production. Especially liked the bass. I would have liked to have seen the lyrics but that's just me.  Cool vocal. 
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She has a great blues voice. Great song, thanks for sharing!
My TunesPsalm 57:7 My heart, O God, is steadfast, my heart is steadfast; I will sing and make music.
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Very intimate in the room production. Especially liked the bass.
I would have liked to have seen the lyrics but that's just me.
Cool vocal. Thanks everybody and, Sundance, here are the lyrics. STATE LINES KEEP PUTTING STATE LINES BETWEEN US ONE OR TWO MORE STATE LINES BETWEEN US I NEVER DREAMED YOU’D BE HEARTLESS HALF MY GOOD BOOK TIME’S PASSED BY HALF OF THAT PROMISED TIME HAS PASSED BY I’M NOT GONNA WORRY TIL THE DAY I DIE YOU TALKED ABOUT LIFE’S GIVE AND TAKE FOREVER PREACHIN' 'BOUT LIFE'S GIVE AND TAKE BUT JUST GIVING IS NO PIECE OF CAKE ‘BOUT ALL YOU LEFT ME IS AN EMPTY BED HERE I LIE...IN AN EMPTY BED WHO’LL BE THERE TONIGHT IS BEST LEFT UNSAID KEEP MOVING OUTA MY MEMORY LANE GET OUT...I WANT YOU OUT...OUT OF MY MEMORY LANE I’M SEEING BLUE SKYS ‘N NO SIGN OF RAIN Thanks again to Floyd for the suggestions regarding the second lines.
Last edited by Janice & Bud; 05/02/13 01:06 PM.
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
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Hi Janice and Bud,
The minute, strike that, the SECOND I heard Janice sing, the only thought that appeared in my mind was ...
WOW!!
This was then followed by words and phrases such as: silky smooth, velvet gold, the sultry resonance of a cello, hynotising. Listening, sitting with my eyes closed, it was like I'd dived into the song and was swimming in music. This song is a work of art on every level possible and a tremendous reference for both of your abilities.
And if the above wasn't enough, I was in awe of how you took country tracks and sliced and spliced them to become bluesy. Amazing!
Sorry... I have to cut this short because I need to go back and listen again!
All the best,
Noel
MY SONGS...Audiophile BIAB 2026
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I like it..... jazzy in a smokey sort of way.
I like the swapping leads between guitar and piano... nice work.
You can find my music at: www.herbhartley.comAdd nothing that adds nothing to the music. You can make excuses or you can make progress but not both. The magic you are looking for is in the work you are avoiding.
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Expert
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As always, great stuff! All been said. I'm just glad my schedule slowed down enough today for me to listen to it!
Steve
Steve Young Music"In order to compose, all you need to do is remember a tune that nobody else has thought of." - Robert Schumann
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Nice voices and music. Im hearing a lack of voice articulation mainly on state lines. Good stuff all around though! 
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Loved it!
I think this is your best to date!
I can picture a smoky blues bar where even the pool players stop to listen! EXCELLENT!
This is a keeper!
PS - loved the ending!
Last edited by MarioD; 06/15/13 01:35 PM.
The bumper sticker said "I'm a veterinarian, therefore I can drive like an animal".
Suddenly I realized how many proctologists are on the road.
64 bit Win 10 Pro, the latest BiaB/RB, Roland Octa-Capture audio interface, a ton of software/hardware
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Very intimate in the room production. Especially liked the bass.
I would have liked to have seen the lyrics but that's just me.
Cool vocal. Thanks everybody and, Sundance, here are the lyrics. STATE LINES KEEP PUTTING STATE LINES BETWEEN US ONE OR TWO MORE STATE LINES BETWEEN US I NEVER DREAMED YOU’D BE HEARTLESS HALF MY GOOD BOOK TIME’S PASSED BY HALF OF THAT PROMISED TIME HAS PASSED BY I’M NOT GONNA WORRY TIL THE DAY I DIE YOU TALKED ABOUT LIFE’S GIVE AND TAKE FOREVER PREACHIN' 'BOUT LIFE'S GIVE AND TAKE BUT JUST GIVING IS NO PIECE OF CAKE ‘BOUT ALL YOU LEFT ME IS AN EMPTY BED HERE I LIE...IN AN EMPTY BED WHO’LL BE THERE TONIGHT IS BEST LEFT UNSAID KEEP MOVING OUTA MY MEMORY LANE GET OUT...I WANT YOU OUT...OUT OF MY MEMORY LANE I’M SEEING BLUE SKYS ‘N NO SIGN OF RAIN Thanks again to Floyd for the suggestions regarding the second lines. these lyrics are awesome! The whole song is awesome! Why aren't you guys famous yet? (hey, there's still time...) update: I just got back from your web site. OK so you're already famous. Finally, something in this crazy world makes sense!
Last edited by Pat Marr; 06/15/13 08:17 PM.
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hi guys love your stuff awesome production well done thanks 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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