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"Thanks, Bob. (I think) - I know this is a bit too busy (chaotic?) for some... (my wife doesn't like listening to it...)"
That was not a left-handed compliment. I like "out of the box" music.
Regards,
Bob LOL. Appreciate that, Mr. Burke... floyd, This is a strong write that tells a story that is not often heard in song form. The lyrics are great but the real star here is the arrangement and production. Quite a feat of engineering. I have listened to this many times and never fail to be amazed. This is without a doubt the most ambitious and complex piece to ever hit this forum. Every accolade and every standing O you receive here is well deserved. You continue to inspire all of us with your mastery of the software. Much care and many hours went into this. The horns sound amazing. As Charlie so aptly said"This song ends the debate of BIAB track's use to create a first class, unique and commercial production. " Thanks for pushing so far and showing us all what Biab is capable of. Tom
Tom - thanks for such a very nice review. If I can catch YOUR imagination with 'arrangement and production' then I can ask little more....
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floyd,
...absolutely wonderful songwriting, arranging, performing and mixing.
There are so many intriguing writing and arranging musical twists turns that I was left mesmerised... captured by the music. I can only begin to imagine the amount of time and effort that has gone into getting such an incredibly polished sounding production. I don't think that any single song has ever showcased so many of your musical capabilities in one location as this song. This is a remarkable work on so many levels.
I'm pretty sure I just heard the forum bar ratchet up at least a dozen more notches!
All the best,
Noel Noel - thanks, so much, for such nice comments... much effort did go in to getting the horns to "do the right thing"... but in the long run, it is really BIAB that does all the heavy lifting... I think we sometimes get to the point that we take that for granted... Figured you might get a kick out of seeing some of the BIAB screen (a verse and chorus was the most I could get to fit on the screen for a snapshot...) 
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Yep. It's loud, all right.  That's a pumping and thumping rollercoaster ride you've got there. I'm impressed. Minor nits: The mix seems overly compressed, with the midrange a bit lacking. Not nits: Holy freaking toledo. Once that train starts rolling, it just keeps chugging along without a misstep. It's organic and musical, and the occasional odd time signatures work really well. A huge amount of work, I'm sure, but it pays off 1000%. Wow.  Thank you, David... Glad that you dropped in on this one - was really curios what your thought would be... Not sure where "overly compressed" might come from. I use very little compression in a mix. The drums get a Multiband, the basses get a bit to give them some punch. I don't use any on the guitars. None on the horns or piano. The organ has some - and a distortion to give it bite. I do roll off the low end below 50 on a lot of things. There is a lot going on here (for me, anyway), so I did brighten some things with EQ to leave room in the middle for the vocals. The final mix was run through Ozone5 - same as always - so perhaps that would likely add some... Appreciate your thoughts...
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That's a huge project right there. I kept thinking of Tom Jones as I was listening.
Fairly unique chord progressions there too. I liked that aspect of the song. The Minor to major change was interesting. Took a few listens for it to sink in and grow on me.
There's some others above, who referred to this as a train moving along. Yes, there's alot of power and momentum and energy in this once it gets moving. There's one place where it drops for a second and that's the one place where it really needs to be powerful.
You have a break in there at 3:42. The break is absolutely the perfect thing to have there and it's the perfect place for it. However.....On the word "doesn't" the music really needs to hit hard. It doesn't. Right before that... as it leads up to the stop.... the kick is running hard like Bruce Springsteen's Born to Run.... Come back in with that same energy and groove. That's a really tiny nit.... but IMHO I think, an important detail. I hear a snare smack on 4 with the band coming in on 1.... hard and wide open and running hard like they went out on 1. pull the tails down too (quickly) after 1 so the silence behind the vocal track is dramatic. If you're gonna use silence, use it right and make it count.
Great production, and very little else in the song to complain about. Like I said it's just a nit, but I'd do some touch up work on that silence break and make it really big.
just my opinion and 2 cents worth.
GREAT JOB!!!
Thanks for the comments, Herb. Appreciate the thought. I prefer a more organic stop at that point and a bit of a breather from the born-to-run train in order to re-state the premise of the lyric - as opposed to be just about the music hitting hard. Pacing. Perhaps you can do something like you are describing in your next production for comparison. It has been cool to read the responses to this song. When floyd invited Janice in on the harmony we were knocked out by the production. Janice was both excited to be invited to participate and somewhat intimidated by the lead vocal -- both the range and the phrasing. But the little ole bluegrass girl did fine...in my hugely biased opinion!
As she was working up the part I had quite a few listens...and my thoughts then are all mirrored by the above comments and in particular Tom's remark that the star here is the arrangement and the production.
I'm gonna drag out the old war horse that I rarely call upon:
AWESOME!!
Bud
Thanks, Bud - for the comments and your help with the janettes from that end... Janice - Thank You! ... always... Well now, a little Chicago, and BS&T, holy crap!!!!! Now that is a tune, a great composition and layered out perfectly, another great tune from the master, FJ!!!!!!!!!! Now those are the types of horns we need at PG Music, even if midi based, fantastic!!!  +1 Even when you stop out of your comfort zone you nail it! Super song-super mix! Appreciate that, Mario....
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hi Floyd wow huge project excellent work all been said thanks for sharing eric love the horns
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've wondered this, so I will finally ask...(looks around)...are you from the future? Is this where BIAB will someday be? There is clearly NO other explanation!
Feel free to drop the mic and walk off the stage now.
That was astounding! HA! One of my favorite reviews! Thanks, Caaron... Good grief!!! I originally came on here to see if I could fix my broken BIAB - again.  I think I'll throw it away instead!!! How could anyone top this? I was not expecting such an Opus. Tremendous creation in the music itself, the lyrics and the amazing Brass. The feeling was almost of a Live performance. You never cease to amaze me, Floyd. cheers ian Yep. What Ian said. Talk about a testimonial for BiaB. Sounds like a live performance with a full orchestra and a choir of backup singers, all under the direction of a maestro. What a powerful vocal, Floyd! Wow!!!!! Really appreciate that, Scott... very interesting and ambitious project... and you pulled it off! I'm always won over by horns when they're well done (and these are)
But above and beyond the horns, I thought the chord progression and arrangement were both very unique.
The high energy stage show feel isn't something I've ever heard from you, (but I'm pretty sure I haven't listened to all of your songs... maybe you've done it while I was off doing other things and not paying attention to the forum)
You generally go for a pretty clean composition, but this was quite busy. In the hands of a lesser composer that much activity would almost certainly get tiring.. and in the hands of a lesser mixing engineer, it would probably be muddy too... the fact that your project avoids both of those problems is a real testimony (once again) to your wide range of skills.
Good luck following yourself on this one. ;-) If this were indeed taken from a stage show, it would probably be the last song, the grand finale that leaves the audience's jaws on the floor, and after which nobody else wants to perform. Hi, Pat! So good to see you around these parts! Always enjoy reading your thoughts on a song - thanks for the lovely "review"... this was a very different song for me in so many ways... in fact, so different that after I wrote this, I quit writing for many years... so it was something I couldn't follow... (but I've gotten over that!)
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Nice song and voice as usual
Great Jeanice on background.
Sergio
Thanks for the listen, Sergio. She is tops! hi Floyd wow huge project excellent work all been said thanks for sharing eric love the horns Appreciate you dropping in, eric...
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Great song. Brings back memories of listening to seventies radio.
Outstanding.
Rob
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Wow! I have been out of pocket for several weeks, and come back to this! As you know, I am a big fan of your music. This is the most unique song I have heard you do. And I mean unique in a good way. Very bold production. (I have the same horns, and really like them!) Pretty much all has been said. Great job!
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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this was a very different song for me in so many ways... in fact, so different that after I wrote this, I quit writing for many years... so it was something I couldn't follow... (but I've gotten over that!)
I'm glad you got over it, because your presence here on this forum has been nothing short of transformational. Not only is your music an inspiration to the rest of us, but wayyy more than that, your encouragement of others and your inclusive approach to building a team of friends has really made this forum much better than it ever would have been without you. Thanks for all that.
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