|
Log in to post
|
Print Thread |
|
|
|
|
|
User Showcase
|
Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 12,936
Veteran
|
OP
Veteran
Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 12,936 |
Hi Floyd.
Well, that's another place on my list of where to visit when I eventually get to do my tour of the US.
What a splendid track - a sort of rock salsa. (The dance, not the spicy tomato dip.)
I was waiting for Herb Alpert trumpets to perform the solo but got Jimi Hendrix instead. Cool.
A terrific mix in which everything rocks from start to finish and which nearly brought the Tannoys off the stands. Maybe more cowbell?
ROG. Thanks, ROG! Never considered Mr. Albert's trumpet (one horn song a year is enough - HA!)... was actually thinking more Bruce than Jimi on the solo... Always appreciate you having a listen...
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
User Showcase
|
Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 12,936
Veteran
|
|
OP
Veteran
Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 12,936 |
Floyd,
Having been a Tampa Bay resident for three years, the title grabbed my attention. Yep, you nailed it! I've been to all the places you mentioned but never in the bad ole days. It must have been wild! People still routinely get into trouble there but it's such a cool place and the cigars a still great.
Excellent song. I really enjoyed it.
SD SD - It's a great area (Tampa Bay) as long as the polar ice caps don't melt and drown us all... Ybor has had quite a transformation over the last 40 years. It's now block after block of clubs, restaurants, pizza places, tattoo parlors... mostly a young crowd - sort of Tampa's SOHO.. Thanks for stopping in for a listen...
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
User Showcase
|
Joined: May 2011
Posts: 4,335
Veteran
|
|
Veteran
Joined: May 2011
Posts: 4,335 |
floyd, The real drums salsa choice says bongo fills, but to me it sounds like timbales. Kind of like Tito Puente or Sheila E dropped by Ybor to sit in with The floyd jane Band. I've traveled throughout the Carribean and Mexico and been exposed to the many forms Latin Musica. This is the real deal. Good job bringing in the Praise and worship kick drum later in the song. Many good lyric choices and you sing the heck out of it. Nice editing on the guitar solo. Excellent job on everything. Keep on rollin your R's and smokin cigars. Tom
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
User Showcase
|
Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 12,936
Veteran
|
|
OP
Veteran
Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 12,936 |
Excellent vocal and lyrics. Latin music has such a cool rhythm to it. Guitar was superb. Thanks, Scott....
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
User Showcase
|
Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 16,157
Veteran
|
|
Veteran
Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 16,157 |
floyd, your song writes often remind me of my favorite novelists, i.e., the ability to write well about disparate subjects. This song is a perfect example of that. The location and it's ambience is unknown to many listeners but suddenly one is grabbed and shown this world via the lyric, the mood, and your vocal. Everything is spectacular. World class. If I created something like this I'd be insufferable! For you it's a gracious thanks and then on to the next one. J&B PS I like the drums/percussion 
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
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
User Showcase
|
Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 12,936
Veteran
|
|
OP
Veteran
Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 12,936 |
Really well done song, and interesting background story Floyd!! The Latin beat is infectious. The mix is superb. And, the lyrics are wonderfully descriptive and poetic. You traverse many styles with great skill and apparent comfort. Great job!! Take care. Greg Thanks, Greg. Floyd,
In my opinion this is your best song/arrangement/composition and vocal, so far.
First: the vocal volume levels are beautifully weaved in the songs arrangement. They are pitch perfect especially in the chorus.
Second: The (gritty) electric guitars work perfectly to roughen up the mix a little.
Third: The mix/arrangement itself has a very distinct atmosphere, also due to the percussion and the accordion.
The song gives the exact feeling of what you've been describing in your post.
It's a little bit different from what you usually do, but very, very cool!
Rob
Thanks, Rob... I really appreciate that...
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
User Showcase
|
Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 12,936
Veteran
|
|
OP
Veteran
Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 12,936 |
As you know I moved to Tampa in 1977 and although ours paths never crossed, we did have one thing in common and that was our experiences with Ybor City. Yours was playing music there and mine delivering Krispy Kreme donuts. I had thought many times of writing about Ybor City but you have done such a perfect job with this song that there would be no need of it. You have captured everything that needs to be told with such precision and musical talent that if a person had never been there they now have a great understanding of what it was like in those days. Great job Floyd! I love what you did with the Latin sound and it really brought back some old memories for me. Thanks for writing this one.
Sonny Thanks, Sonny. I appreciate the nice comments. I had a great time re-visiting this time and place. We left Tampa in '79 - then came back in '09... if you haven't been back to Ybor you would enjoy seeing what it has become since those days... Floyd
I liked everything about that one - the story the vocal the guitars and of course the drums.
You continue to push the envelope. Peter - I appreciate your continued support... you and Leon are pushing that envelope yourself...
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
User Showcase
|
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 6,067
Veteran
|
|
Veteran
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 6,067 |
Wow, good song! Love the lyrics and performance, very much enjoyed the listen!
Couldn't agree more about realdrums. I've been using BIAB for almost 15 years now, first thing I would do with a BIAB song is scrap the midi drums and build a new drum track using loops. Very time consuming, sometimes would take a couple of days to build a decent drum track. RealDrums sound great out of the box to these ears, great time saver.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
User Showcase
|
Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 12,936
Veteran
|
|
OP
Veteran
Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 12,936 |
Nice! The percussion introduction is very ear-catching, as in the guitar at the end (and your vocal with the reverb).
I'd been eyeing <BRAND NAME REDACTED> Blues Drumkit, but I keep reminding myself what you pointed out: BiaB has some really nice drumkits, and it's really easy to forget how much we've already got.
Anyway, fun listen, especially with the guitars playing off against the latin drums. Thanks, David. I have been playing around lately with a bunch of different drums "things". I have MIDI files from BeatBoy of Eddie Bayers and Nigel Olsen (a couple of the best "commercial" drummers ever) I have 5 or 6 CDs of "drums scores". I bought one of the Drums On Demand packages - because Tom is doing very impressive things with it... But they are ALL so time consuming... I then go back to the list of BIAB RealDrums and think WHY am I wasting my time on that other stuff???? There are times that I build a drum track to get something very specific (usually to open a song), but 95% of the time RealDrums are the way to go...
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
User Showcase
|
Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 12,936
Veteran
|
|
OP
Veteran
Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 12,936 |
Hey floyd, I haven't listened to the song yet nor read any of the comments. I've just finished reading the lyrics and I wanted to pass on some thoughts regarding those before being influenced by anything else. I LOVE the opening. What a fantastic initial image and metaphor... a very lyrical play on the word 'heart'... in the heart of the city
veins of red cobblestone ... after reading that, I was fully committed to finish! The next thing that came my way was just how outstanding your rhyme scheme is. It's very sophisticated indeed. (The phrase "floyd is a lyricist supremo" just sprang to mind. I pass it on for what it's worth ). (x) in the heart of the city
(a) veins of red cobblestone
(b) between summer heat
(b) and a spanish beat
(a) where many a pirate's been known
(c) laughing senoritas
(c) and colored piñatas
(d) twirl to the tourists delight
(e) latin girls so pretty
(e) but deep in this city
(d) plans are being made for the night
The rhythm of the rhyme is fantastic. I hope that people who listen to this song take the time to read the lyric aloud. It's well worth the journey. A great lyric! Ok... off to listen now... I'm curious to see where this goes. Back now... What an incredible creation! Not only is this a write of the highest calibre, it's also a masterpiece arrangement and production. In addition, your performance is spectacular. I'm heading back for another listen. This is music at its very best! Regards Noel Hi, Noel! Happy Noël ... I always appreciate your in-depth discussion of lyrics. Thanks for noting these... you brought up a very important note - the "...rhythm of the rhyme...". It is an aspect of writing that many writers never find (or have a sense of, for that matter). I think a big part of that is the amount of writing that one does... a few songs a year (typically) won't pull that out... writing with others who write all the time helps, too (again, a situation that few will ever find themselves in)... though often - as with many other aspects of writing well - the realization of that aspect is the most important step... I often talk about "how it falls on the ear..." - that is a big part of it... Thanks for dropping by - and the nice, in-depth review....
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
User Showcase
|
Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 12,936
Veteran
|
|
OP
Veteran
Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 12,936 |
Good one Thanks, JEL... appreciate the listen...
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
User Showcase
|
Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 12,936
Veteran
|
|
OP
Veteran
Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 12,936 |
Ay! Ser suave como la seda. ¡Bien hecho! Hiciste un excelente trabajo. Perfect companion for my Cuba Libre!  Regards, Bob Gracias , Robert ... siempre agradezco que tener una escucha
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
User Showcase
|
Joined: Mar 2013
Posts: 4,497
Veteran
|
|
Veteran
Joined: Mar 2013
Posts: 4,497 |
Hi, dear Floyd !
This is one of your absolute best !
I love everything about this tune,
background, vocals, solos and mixing !:))
Cheers
Dani
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
User Showcase
|
Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 12,936
Veteran
|
|
OP
Veteran
Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 12,936 |
floyd, The real drums salsa choice says bongo fills, but to me it sounds like timbales. Kind of like Tito Puente or Sheila E dropped by Ybor to sit in with The floyd jane Band. I've traveled throughout the Carribean and Mexico and been exposed to the many forms Latin Musica. This is the real deal. Good job bringing in the Praise and worship kick drum later in the song. Many good lyric choices and you sing the heck out of it. Nice editing on the guitar solo. Excellent job on everything. Keep on rollin your R's and smokin cigars. Tom Gracias, Tom... Most of the credit for the sound goes to BIAB... Even an old Country songwriter can "do Latin Rock" with a few click... floyd, your song writes often remind me of my favorite novelists, i.e., the ability to write well about disparate subjects. This song is a perfect example of that. The location and it's ambience is unknown to many listeners but suddenly one is grabbed and shown this world via the lyric, the mood, and your vocal. Everything is spectacular. World class. If I created something like this I'd be insufferable! For you it's a gracious thanks and then on to the next one. J&B PS I like the drums/percussion Bud - what a nice thing to say... I really do appreciate it...
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
User Showcase
|
Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 12,936
Veteran
|
|
OP
Veteran
Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 12,936 |
Wow, good song! Love the lyrics and performance, very much enjoyed the listen!
Couldn't agree more about realdrums. I've been using BIAB for almost 15 years now, first thing I would do with a BIAB song is scrap the midi drums and build a new drum track using loops. Very time consuming, sometimes would take a couple of days to build a decent drum track. RealDrums sound great out of the box to these ears, great time saver. Dave - thanks for dropping by....and the nice comments... I was going through the RealDrums again yesterday - and, again, being amazed at all that is available - that we so easily seem to overlook... gonna have to give a try to some of those... Hi, dear Floyd !
This is one of your absolute best !
I love everything about this tune,
background, vocals, solos and mixing !:))
Cheers
Dani Thanks, as always, Dani!...
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
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.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Mac - Special Offers End at 11:59pm PDT on Friday, May 15th, 2026!
Order before 11:59pm PDT on Friday, May 15th and SAVE up to 50% on most Band-in-a-Box® version 2026 for Mac Upgrade packages... and that's not all! With your version 2026 for Mac purchase, we'll include a Bonus PAK full of great new Add-ons FREE! Upgrade to the 2026 49-PAK to receive even more NEW Add-ons including 20 additional RealTracks... that's 222 NEW RealTracks available with version Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Mac!
Upgrade to Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Mac® today for as little as $49! Check out the Band-in-a-Box® packages page for all available purchase options.
Learn more about the Free Bonus PAK and 49-PAK here.
If you have any questions about which package is the best option for you, just let us know. We're here to help!
202 New RealTracks Released with Band-in-a-Box 2026!
With Band-in-a-Box® 2026, we've released 202 incredible new RealTracks (in sets 468-488) in a variety of genres—featuring your most requested styles!
Jazz, Funk & World (Sets 468-475):
Our new jazz, funk & blues RealTracks include a groovin’ collection of RealTracks and RealDrums! These include more requested “soul jazz” RealTracks featuring artists Neil Swainson (bass), Charles Treadway (organ), Brent Mason (guitar), and Wes Little (drums). There are new “smooth jazz” styles (4), which include a RealTracks first: muted trumpet, as well as slick new smooth jazz brushes options for drums. Blues lovers will be thrilled—there are more “classic acoustic blues” styles, including guitar (5), bass (4), and drums (10) with blues master Colin Linden, featuring understated and tasty background acoustic soloing, plus brushes drums and acoustic bass. There are also new electric blues RealTracks, including electric blues with PG favorite Johnny Hiland (3) and soulful electric slide guitar from Colin Linden (4). If you love funk & gospel, there are great new options this year, including gospel organ (3) from Charles Treadway, as well as new funk, tango, and rock ’n’ roll drums (3) and bass (1). And for big, bold arrangements, we have uptempo soul horns (4) featuring a three-part hip horn section with options for a full mix or stems of each individual horn — plus an accompanying rhythm section (4) of drums, bass, guitar, and electric piano!
Rock & Pop (Sets 476–482):
Our new rock & pop RealTracks bring a powerful mix of requested favorites, fresh genres, and modern chart-inspired styles! We have more of our popular “Producer Layered Acoustic Guitars (15)” featuring Band-in-a-Box favorite Brent Mason. We’ve continued our much-requested disco styles (10), and added new Celtic guitar (5) with a more basic, accessible approach than our previous Drop-D or DADGAD offerings. There are also highly requested yacht rock styles (17), inspired by the smooth, polished soft-rock sound of the late ’70s and early ’80s — laid-back grooves, silky electric pianos, warm textures, elegant harmonic movement, and pristine production aesthetics. Fans of heavier styles will love our new glam metal (13), capturing the flashy, high-energy sound of ’80s arena-ready guitar rock. We also have a set of rootsy modern-folk rock (18), with a warm, organic sound combining contemporary folk textures and driving acoustic strumming. And we’ve added lots of new modern pop styles (16) — the kinds of sounds you’re hearing on the radio today, featuring exciting new drums, synths, and cutting-edge RealTracks arrangements.
Country, & Americana (Sets 483–488):
Our new country & Americana RealTracks deliver a rich collection of acoustic, electric, and roots-inspired styles! We have new country pop (9) with legendary guitarist Brent Mason. There is also a potpourri (14) of bouzouki, guitars, banjo, and more, perfect for adding texture and character to contemporary acoustic arrangements. We’ve added funky country guitar (5) with PG favorite Brent Mason, along with classic pedal steel styles (5) featuring steel great Doug Jernigan. There are more country songwriter styles (8) that provide intimate, rootsy foundations for storytelling and modern Americana writing. Finally, we have “background soloing” acoustic guitar (12) with Brent Mason — simpler, but still very tasty acoustic lines designed to sit beautifully behind vocals or act as a subtle standalone solo part.
Check out all the 202 new RealTracks (in sets 468-488)!
And, if you are looking for more, the 2026 49-PAK (for $49) includes an impressive collection of 20 bonus RealTracks, featuring exciting and inspiring additions to add to your RealTracks library. You'll get new country-rhythm guitar styles from PG Music favorites Johnny Hiland and Brent Mason, along with modern-pop grooves that capture today’s radio-ready sound! There are also new indie-folk styles with guitar, bass, 6-string bass used as a high-chording instrument, acoustic guitar, and banjo. Plus, dedicated "cymbal fills" RealDrums provide an added layer that work very well with low-key folky styles with other percussion.
The 2026 49-PAK is loaded with other great new add-ons as well. Learn more about the 2026 49-PAK!
2026 Free Bonus PAK & 49-PAK for Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Mac®!
With your version 2026 for Mac 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)
- iOS Android Band-in-a-Box® App
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 PAK and 49-PAK for Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Mac®!
XPro & Xtra Styles PAK Sets On Sale Now - Until May 15, 2026!
All of our XPro Styles PAKs and Xtra Styles PAKs are on sale until May 15th, 2026!
It's the perfect time to expand your Band-in-a-Box® style library with XPro and Xtra Styles PAKs. These additional styles for Band-in-a-Box® offer a wide range of genres designed to fit seamlessly into your projects. Each style is professionally arranged and mixed, helping enhance your songs while saving you time.
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 1-10 includes 1,000 styles!
Xtra Styles PAKs are styles that work with the UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, or Audiophile Edition of Band-in-a-Box® 2025 (or higher). Xtra Styles PAKs 1-21 includes 3,700 styles (and 35 MIDI styles)!
The XPro & Xtra Styles PAKs are not included in any Band-in-a-Box® package.
The XPro Styles PAKs 1-10 are available 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 Mac or for Windows.
The Xtra Styles PAKs 1-21 are available for only $29 ea (reg. $49 ea), or get them all in the Xtra Styles PAK Bundle for only $199 (reg. $349)! Listen to demos and order now! For Mac or for Windows.
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.
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 as they require the RealTracks included in the UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, or Audiophile Edition.
Supercharge your Band-in-a-Box today with XPro Styles PAKs and Xtra Styles PAK Sets!
Band-in-a-Box 2026 for Mac Videos
With the release of Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Mac, we’re rolling out a collection of brand-new videos on our YouTube channel. We’ll keep this forum post updated so you can easily find all the latest videos in one convenient spot.
Whether you're exploring new features, checking out the latest RealTracks or Style PAKs, this is your go-to guide for Band-in-a-Box® 2026.
Check out this forum post for "One Stop Shopping" of our Band-in-a-Box® 2026 Mac Videos!
Band-in-a-Box 2026 for Mac is Here!
Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Mac 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 100 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 Mac and save up to 50% on most upgrade packages during our special offer—available until May 15, 2026. 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 Mac packages, but you can unlock even more—including 20 unreleased RealTracks—by upgrading to the 2026 49-PAK for just $49.
Holiday Weekend Hours
As we hop into the Easter weekend, here are our holiday hours:
April 3 (Good Friday): 8:00 AM – 4:00 PM PDT
April 4 (Saturday): Closed
April 5 (Easter Sunday): Closed
April 6 (Easter Monday): Open regular hours
Wishing you an egg-cellent weekend!
— Team PG
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Forums57
Topics86,295
Posts802,833
Members40,085
| |
Most Online64,515
Apr 8th, 2026
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Dansk
Deutsch - Windows
Español
Français - Windows
Italiano - Windows
Nederlands
Polski
Português
Svenskt
русский
Japanese
Simplified Chinese
Traditional Chinese
Korean