Previous Thread
Index
Next Thread
Print Thread
Go To
User Showcase
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 10,662
Veteran
OP Offline
Veteran
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 10,662
OIL ON THE WATER


A song I wrote about the BP oil spill from the Deepwater horizion oil rig and the events surrounding it.

Guitar is live most other tracks are BB/RB.

Enjoy


You can find my music at:
www.herbhartley.com
Add 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.
User Showcase
Joined: Dec 2013
Posts: 7,052
G
Veteran
Offline
Veteran
G
Joined: Dec 2013
Posts: 7,052
Nice work Herb!! I'm guessing that's the "Dire" guitar patch. Very cool feel-a little Neil Young in there! Keep it up. Take care. Greg

User Showcase
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 1,719
Expert
Offline
Expert
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 1,719
Like this Herb. A working man/industrial type song with a dark atmosphere. Cheers.

Last edited by RichMac; 04/20/14 01:48 PM.
User Showcase
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 5,085
Veteran
Offline
Veteran
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 5,085
Really like that guitar picking Herb, was that you or Dire?


Josie

User Showcase
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 10,662
Veteran
OP Offline
Veteran
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 10,662
Thanks for listening. I had to listen carefully to this on my mp3 player to answer the questions accurately.

Drums and bass as well as dobro are from BB/RB

The acoustic guitar is me strumming in the background. I also play the electric guitar with the lead parts. So yeah, all the guitars in this is me playing them. Mark K from Dire Straits was a picker who had a major influence on my playing style. Notice my forum name? I try.


Perhaps I should consider making some of those there things called "User Tracks" with my lead picking...... in this style...???? Actually that's been something I've had on the back burner for some time..... it's more of a matter of getting the time to sit down and do it.

Glad you liked it.

Last edited by Guitarhacker; 04/21/14 04:09 AM.

You can find my music at:
www.herbhartley.com
Add 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.
User Showcase
Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 2,888
Veteran
Offline
Veteran
Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 2,888
Hi Herb,

great guitar playing.
Nice production.

Guenter

User Showcase
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 996
Expert
Offline
Expert
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 996


Nicely sung and very well played. Yes you're wearing your DS influence on your sleeve but I see no harm in that. If there's one of your various crafts that would need developing then in my view it would be that of lyricist.

User Showcase
Joined: Jul 2013
Posts: 169
Apprentice
Offline
Apprentice
Joined: Jul 2013
Posts: 169
Nice production, the bottom end is filled out quite nicely:)


DA...


Hp Z Workstation - Akai MPK 49 - Intimate Headphone Listening http://soundcloud.com/digital-angel
User Showcase
Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 8,159
Veteran
Offline
Veteran
Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 8,159
Excellent song. The oil spill was an eye opener for everyone. Can't forget these catastrophe's and allow complacency to set in. Excellent sing and playing....


Scott Collingwood
https://soundcloud.com/scottt709
https://soundcloud.com/spiritlevel-ca
https://www.youtube.com/@SpiritLevel-ge3hm/
User Showcase
Joined: May 2011
Posts: 4,335
Veteran
Offline
Veteran
Joined: May 2011
Posts: 4,335
Herb, Good story song on an important subject. Very good vocal and the mix is spot on. Nice picking also. Tom

User Showcase
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 10,662
Veteran
OP Offline
Veteran
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 10,662
I didn't know what aspect of that event was worse.... the initial disaster and spill, or the politics played regarding the bungled cleanup attempt.

It was the frustration of seeing the politicians use that disaster for their own political agendas rather than placing politics aside, working as public servants, and getting the situation under control and cleaned up as quickly as possible, that resulted in the concept to write this song.

People on the streets simply wanted it stopped and cleaned up while the pols were playing games and letting the oil flow unchecked for weeks.

So I did what I could and wrote a song about it.


You can find my music at:
www.herbhartley.com
Add 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.
User Showcase
Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 12,714
Veteran
Offline
Veteran
Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 12,714
Herb,

Sounds good. Well mixed. I think you would have been better off without the Mark Knopfler imitation - it is such a distinctive style you can't hear it without thinking "he's doing Mark Knopfler.." the doubled solo and the guitar fills after that are not derivative - so they aren't distracting from your message - so I think they work better for the song.

There is a real Neil Young quality to the lyric - stuff pulled from several different directions and those kind of shotgun accusations without real explanations so the listener has to fill things in or make up their own story - worked for Neil... a lot of interesting images along the way..

A good flow to the sound (although that last chord cuts kind of abruptly)

floyd

User Showcase
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 10,662
Veteran
OP Offline
Veteran
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 10,662
Floyd, thanks.

I didn't really set out to imitate MK. It may have turned out that way but that wasn't part of the plan. I was simply trying to create a part on the guitar that would fit and be a bit haunting in it's feel. Hence, the reverse bends in a few places.

I read an interview with MK in GP mag. A comment he made really stuck with me. Something to the effect that it's not so much what you play, although that is important, but what you don't play, that really sets your playing apart and imparts feel into the music. That has stuck with me and I try to be tasty with the licks as opposed to packing as many notes into a given limited time as is possible....although I do admire the pickers who can shred the fretboard.

I was into the twin leads thing when I recorded this.... still love a sweet twin, but have backed off a bit.

Yeah... I was just trying to tell the story as I saw it from my POV.

Thanks for the listen.

BTW: Be watching, I'm writing a new one now, lots of cool things in it (licks on tele and taylor) and some production things that you don't hear very often in this forum.... I tried a few new things and they are working pretty nicely..... Still actually in the writing stages, but I have a mock up of the song done... but I'm not releasing anything until the writing is done and it's properly recorded. It could be epic..... or not. We'll see.

Last edited by Guitarhacker; 04/23/14 04:11 AM.

You can find my music at:
www.herbhartley.com
Add 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.
User Showcase
Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 15,816
Veteran
Offline
Veteran
Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 15,816
I like that MK quote. My favorite bluegrass rhythm player once told me "it took me 2 years to learn all the runs and 20 years to learn when not to do them."

It was sad watching the spill fiasco play out in the news. I finally gave up on the talking heads and started reading local papers on the net -- real folks' stories of how they were affected, etc. That really brought it home. And, I suppose the environmental damage will take decades to play out.

I enjoyed the song and agree with floyd re the Neal Young vibe. Great mix too!


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.
User Showcase
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 1,057
Expert
Offline
Expert
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 1,057
Herb,
Great song! Thanks for writing it and performing it so well.
This hits pretty close to home for me because where I work. Let's just say the story your telling is right on the money.

SD

User Showcase
Joined: Dec 2013
Posts: 1,037
Expert
Offline
Expert
Joined: Dec 2013
Posts: 1,037
That one hits close to home here too. I was working on a levee project just below New Orleans when this happened. (As fate would have it, that community, Braithwaite, was completely flooded by Hurricane Isaac in 2012.)

Later on in 2010 I was involved in surveying some marsh and coastal areas, oyster beds, etc. Also started to pen a song, but never got far.

I enjoyed this all around. Another heavy topic you tackled.





My stuff:
https://soundcloud.com/scott-h-olson
https://www.youtube.com/@ScottHOlson

Sonar Platinum, Studio One Pro 4, Windows 10, Hybrid Home Studio
User Showcase
Joined: Mar 2013
Posts: 4,494
Veteran
Offline
Veteran
Joined: Mar 2013
Posts: 4,494
Hi, Herb !:))


This was really nice !
Everything seemed to
function so smooth on
this track !:)) Just great !:))
I liked your vocals best !:))


Cheers
Dani

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
Video: New User Interface (GUI)

Join Tobin as he takes you on a tour of the new user interface in Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Windows®! This modern GUI redesign offers a sleek new look with updated toolbars, refreshed windows, and a smoother workflow. The brand-new side toolbar puts track selection, the MultiPicker Library, and other essential tools right at your fingertips. Plus, our upgraded Multi-View lets you layer multiple windows without overlap, giving you a highly flexible workspace. Many windows—including Tracks, Piano Roll, and more—have been redesigned for improved usability and a cleaner, more intuitive interface, and more!

Watch the video.

You can see all the 2026 videos on our forum!

Introducing XPro Styles PAK 10 – Now Available for Windows Band-in-a-Box 2025 and Higher!

We've just released XPro Styles PAK 10 for Windows & Mac 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.

Here’s just a small sampling of what you can look forward to in XPro Styles PAK 10: Soft indie folk worship songs, bumpin’ country boogies, gospel praise breaks, hard rockin’ pop, funky disco grooves, smooth Latin jazz pop, bossa nova fusion, western swing, alternative hip-hop, cool country funk, and much more!

Special offers until December 31st, 2025!

All the XPro Styles PAKs 1 - 10 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 10 Overview & Styles Demos: Watch now!

XPro Styles PAKs require Band-in-a-Box® 2025 or higher and are compatible with ANY package, including the Pro, MegaPAK, UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, and Audiophile Edition.

Introducing Xtra Styles PAK 21 – Now Available for Windows Band-in-a-Box 2025 and Higher!

Xtra Styles PAK 21 for Windows & Mac Band-in-a-Box version 2025 (and higher) is here with 200 brand new RealStyles!

We're excited to bring you our latest Xtra Styles PAK installment—the all new Xtra Styles PAK 21 for Band-in-a-Box version 2025 (and higher)!

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!

In this PAK you’ll discover: Energetic folk rock, raucous train beats, fast country boogies, acid jazz grooves, laid-back funky jams, a bevy of breezy jazz waltzes, calm electro funk, indie synth pop, industrial synth metal, and more bro country than could possibly fit in the back of a pickup truck!

Special offers until December 31st, 2025!

All the Xtra Styles PAKs 1 - 21 are on special for only $29 each (reg $49), or get all 21 PAKs for $199 (reg $399)! Order now!

Learn more and listen to demos of the Xtra Styles PAK 21.

Video: Xtra Styles PAK 21 Overview & Styles Demos: Watch now!

Note: The Xtra Styles require the UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, or Audiophile Edition of Band-in-a-Box®. (Xtra Styles PAK 21 requires the 2025 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 10 – Now Available for Mac Band-in-a-Box 2025 and Higher!

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.

Here’s just a small sampling of what you can look forward to in XPro Styles PAK 10: Soft indie folk worship songs, bumpin’ country boogies, gospel praise breaks, hard rockin’ pop, funky disco grooves, smooth Latin jazz pop, bossa nova fusion, western swing, alternative hip-hop, cool country funk, and much more!

Special offers until December 31st, 2025!

All the XPro Styles PAKs 1 - 10 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 10 Overview & Styles Demos: Watch now!

XPro Styles PAKs require Band-in-a-Box® 2025 or higher and are compatible with ANY package, including the Pro, MegaPAK, UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, and Audiophile Edition.

Introducing Xtra Styles PAK 21 – Now Available for Mac Band-in-a-Box 2025 and Higher!

Xtra Styles PAK 21 for Mac & Windows Band-in-a-Box version 2025 (and higher) is here with 200 brand new RealStyles!

We're excited to bring you our latest Xtra Styles PAK installment—the all new Xtra Styles PAK 21 for Band-in-a-Box version 2025 (and higher)!

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!

In this PAK you’ll discover: Energetic folk rock, raucous train beats, fast country boogies, acid jazz grooves, laid-back funky jams, a bevy of breezy jazz waltzes, calm electro funk, indie synth pop, industrial synth metal, and more bro country than could possibly fit in the back of a pickup truck!

Special offers until December 31st, 2025!

All the Xtra Styles PAKs 1 - 21 are on special for only $29 each (reg $49), or get all 21 PAKs for $199 (reg $399)! Order now!

Learn more and listen to demos of the Xtra Styles PAK 21.

Video: Xtra Styles PAK 21 Overview & Styles Demos: Watch now!

Note: The Xtra Styles require the UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, or Audiophile Edition of Band-in-a-Box®. (Xtra Styles PAK 21 requires the 2025 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.

Band-in-a-Box 2026 for Windows is Here!

Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Windows is here and it is packed with major new features! There’s a new modern look, a GUI redesign to all areas of the program including toolbars, windows, workflow and more. There’s a Multi-view layout for organizing multiple windows. A standout addition is the powerful AI-Notes feature, which uses AI neural-net technology to transcribe polyphonic audio into MIDI—entire mixes or individual instruments—making it easy to study, view, and play parts from any song. And that’s just the beginning—there are over 60 new features in this exciting release.

Along with version 2026, we've released an incredible lineup of new content! There's 202 new RealTracks, brand-new RealStyles, MIDI SuperTracks, Instrumental Studies, “Songs with Vocals” Artist Performance Sets, Playable RealTracks Set 5, two new RealDrums Stems sets, XPro Styles PAK 10, Xtra Styles PAK 21, and much more!

Special Offers
Upgrade to Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Windows and save up to 50% on most upgrade packages during our special offer—available until December 31, 2025. Visit our Band-in-a-Box® packages page to explore all available upgrade options.

2026 Free Bonus PAK & 49-PAK Add-ons
Our Free Bonus PAK and 49-PAK are loaded with amazing add-ons! The Free Bonus PAK is included with most Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Windows packages, but you can unlock even more—including 20 unreleased RealTracks—by upgrading to the 2026 49-PAK for just $49. Browse the full contents of each package and listen to demos here.

XPro and Xtra Styles PAKs Special Extended Until August 31st!

XPro & Xtra Styles PAKs Special Extended Until August 31st!

The XPro Styles PAKs and Xtra Styles PAKs special offers are now available until August 31st at 11:59pm PDT!

Ready to take your Band-in-a-Box® 2025 experience to the next level? Now’s the perfect time! Expand your style library with XPro and Xtra Styles PAKs—packed with a wide variety of genres to inspire your next musical creation.

What are XPro Styles and Xtra Styles PAKs?

XPro Styles PAKs are styles that work with any version (Pro, MegaPAK, UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, or Audiophile Edition) of Band-in-a-Box® 2025 (or higher). XPro Styles PAKS 1-9 includes 900 styles!

Xtra Styles PAKs are styles that work with the UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, or Audiophile Edition of Band-in-a-Box® 2025 (or higher). With over 3,500 styles (and 35 MIDI styles) included in Xtra Styles PAKs 1-20, the possibilities are endless!

Get the XPro Styles PAKs 1 - 9 for only $29 ea (Reg. $49 ea), or get them all in the XPro Styles PAK Bundle for only $149 (reg. $299)! Listen to demos and order now! For Windows or for Mac.

Note: XPro Styles PAKs require Band-in-a-Box® 2025 or higher and are compatible with ANY package, including the Pro, MegaPAK, UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, and Audiophile Edition.

Get Xtra Styles PAKs 1 - 20 are on special for only $29 each (reg $49), or get all 19 PAKs for $199 (reg $399)! Listen to demos and order now! For Windows or for Mac.

Note: The Xtra Styles require the UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, or Audiophile Edition of Band-in-a-Box®. (Xtra Styles PAK 19 requires the 2025 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.

Don’t miss this chance to supercharge your Band-in-a-Box setup—at a great price!

Forum Statistics
Forums57
Topics85,281
Posts790,527
Members39,853
Most Online25,754
Jan 24th, 2025
Newest Members
CPIA2002, janhardo, Minstrel, Deb D, MacD
39,853 Registered Users
Top Posters(30 Days)
jpettit 320
DrDan 215
MarioD 211
Noel96 163
DC Ron 141
Rob Helms 128
Today's Birthdays
Jerry Don Motley, Josef Pitschek, Watsonblues
Powered by UBB.threads™ PHP Forum Software 7.7.5