Previous Thread
Index
Next Thread
Print Thread
Go To
Page 1 of 3 1 2 3
User Showcase
Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 16,079
Veteran
OP Offline
Veteran
Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 16,079
Video: Don't Sell It, Don't Give it Away
Audio: Don't Sell It, Don't Give it Away

Four years ago Janice was still in transition from years of singing bluegrass to exploring new genres (thanks to BiaB!). We had been on this forum for only a few months, had yet to do our first collaboration and I had not discovered our current production software.

"Don't Sell It" along with a couple of others at that time received some positive forum comments that help us believe it was worth our efforts to move into new genres. A month afterwards we completed our first collaboration (with floyd) and I began an endeavor to learn more about mixing, production software and songwriting and move beyond my decades of recording strictly bluegrass (old dog, new tricks stuff smile )

We felt the tune would work with a video and deserved a new mix (hopefully, I have improved somewhat over the years!). So during the holidays I built this video and completely remixed the song moving all the tracks from GarageBand to Logic Pro X. We wanted to keep the solo/fill tracks the same so they weren't regenerated. Also Janice wanted to keep her old vocal as it is reflective of the time.

The mix goal was to emulate an early Western Swing sound.  Some of the first WS bands (1920's - 30's) had not yet added drums and used what we call a "sock rhythm" guitar and sometimes what bluegrassers call a "chop rhythm" mandolin along with the upright bass, fiddle and piano (the piano and fiddle tended to play pretty hot under the vocal...much more so than was done later on in WS). 

I included the following info in the original post. "We discovered the roots of this tune at PublicDomain4U listed under “folk blues.” Oscar Woods first recorded the tune and it is noted primarily for the fact that he played a National steel guitar in the lap Hawaiian style. This may be the beginning of many country and blues styles on this instrument. According to some reports he lived on until the 1950’s while others say that he disappeared in 1938. It's a shame so little is known about him. I played around with the lyrics to make them a bit less risqué and to make them from the female perspective (and added a minor chord)."

Pardon the ramble, Happy New Year, and we always appreciate your time to listen and comment!

J&B

Janice: vocal (Blue USB mic)
Bass Kickoff: Real Track 462 Jazz soloist
Guitar: RealTrack 559 Jazz Rhythm - 4 to the bar.
Mandolin: RealTrack 616 Country - bouncy rhythm
Piano: RealTrack 450 Jazz - “A” only
Piano: RealTrack 1865 Western Swing solo (comped from multiple RT generations)
Fiddle: RealTrack 1296 Western Swing Rhythm
Fiddle: RealTrack 1871 Western Swing Solo (comped from multiple RT generations)

Mixed in Logic Pro
Effects: Ozone 7 Advanced, Alloy 2, Nectar 2 and Logic Pro.

The lyric is shown in the video.


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: Dec 2011
Posts: 8,298
Veteran
Offline
Veteran
Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 8,298
Wow what a fun tune that was. had me chuckling throught the whole song. Well done. I had not heard those lyrics before and the vocal, production and video were excellent.


Scott Collingwood
https://soundcloud.com/scottt709
https://soundcloud.com/spiritlevel-ca
https://www.youtube.com/@SpiritLevel-ge3hm/
User Showcase
Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 16,079
Veteran
OP Offline
Veteran
Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 16,079
Originally Posted By: Scott C
Wow what a fun tune that was. had me chuckling throught the whole song. Well done. I had not heard those lyrics before and the vocal, production and video were excellent.


Thanks Scott. Amazingly he recorded several cuts with the then governor of LA. That would have been a trip!

J&B


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: Nov 2012
Posts: 2,360
Veteran
Offline
Veteran
Joined: Nov 2012
Posts: 2,360
Great song with strong distinctive vocal gives this a special quality.
Jumpin' song, so good, the mix is excellent, haven't heard the original
or your first version but this one is hot!
Enjoyed!

Kenny

User Showcase
Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 16,079
Veteran
OP Offline
Veteran
Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 16,079
Originally Posted By: 44kfl
Great song with strong distinctive vocal gives this a special quality.
Jumpin' song, so good, the mix is excellent, haven't heard the original
or your first version but this one is hot!
Enjoyed!

Kenny


Thanks Kenny. Glad you liked it and, yeah, it does a bit of the ole jump blues feel.
I had so much Western Swing on my mind I hadn't thought of that.

J&B


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: Dec 2003
Posts: 5,647
Veteran
Offline
Veteran
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 5,647
Bud & Janice,
Enjoyed the new (and previously) the old versions.
Nicely done - the video is engaging and the new mix sounds great.
The vocal work is superb and the song is expertly crafted.
Wonderful.

Peter

User Showcase
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 8,879
Veteran
Offline
Veteran
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 8,879
Janice & Bud,

Love the new mix on this - Janice's vocal is as strong as ever and sounds great against this version.

Well done!

Bob

User Showcase
Joined: May 2014
Posts: 4,067
Veteran
Offline
Veteran
Joined: May 2014
Posts: 4,067
We don't remember hearing the first version of your song.
However this one sounds great. It has got a very Merry feeling to it all.
We love the piano real tracks that work very smoothly in the mix.
That blue USB mic is that the Blue yeti Mike? (Because I read some very positive comments on this microphone).
Very nice vocals by Janice! Bud, great lyric video, they're getting better every time.

Rob


We are Rob Meulman and Anne-Marie Bovenkamp from The Netherlands.

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC1gsdNLE7_Gy8qavoOplQow/videos
http://rnam.net/


User Showcase
Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 16,079
Veteran
OP Offline
Veteran
Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 16,079
Originally Posted By: PeterF
Bud & Janice,
Enjoyed the new (and previously) the old versions.
Nicely done - the video is engaging and the new mix sounds great.
The vocal work is superb and the song is expertly crafted.
Wonderful.

Peter


Thanks Peter...just something I could do in pieces over the holidays.

J&B


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: Dec 2013
Posts: 7,052
G
Veteran
Offline
Veteran
G
Joined: Dec 2013
Posts: 7,052
Originally Posted By: 44kfl
Great song with strong distinctive vocal gives this a special quality.
Jumpin' song, so good, the mix is excellent, haven't heard the original
or your first version but this one is hot!
Enjoyed!

Kenny


Kenny got it! This mix sounds great!! And nobody can sing better than Janice!! Nice! Take care. Greg

User Showcase
Joined: Mar 2015
Posts: 2
R
Newbie
Offline
Newbie
R
Joined: Mar 2015
Posts: 2
J&B, I Agree! Great Music!

User Showcase
Joined: Mar 2015
Posts: 2
R
Newbie
Offline
Newbie
R
Joined: Mar 2015
Posts: 2
J&B, I Agree! Great Music!

User Showcase
Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 16,079
Veteran
OP Offline
Veteran
Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 16,079
Originally Posted By: rsdean
Janice & Bud,

Love the new mix on this - Janice's vocal is as strong as ever and sounds great against this version.

Well done!

Bob


Thanks a Bob!!


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: Mar 2013
Posts: 4,497
Veteran
Offline
Veteran
Joined: Mar 2013
Posts: 4,497
Hi, Janice & Bud !


What a swing on this
ol´blues !!!
This is so good I don´t
find the relevant words
for praising both arrangement
and performance !!!:))


This is one of your best blues tunes
without doubt !!!!

Cheers
Dani

User Showcase
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 1,193
B
Expert
Offline
Expert
B
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 1,193
Dear Janice & Bud...

Anything that makes me want to get up and dance is good! The song is irresistible.

It's exciting to imagine Band-in-a-Box playing a central role in the perpetuation and practice of music from "bygone" eras. It would make many of us BIAB users musicologists as well as musicians.

And thanks for introducing me to Mr. Oscar "Buddy" Woods, whom I had never heard of until I visited your post. Just when I think I've heard it all, I realize I haven't, and most likely never will, which is good, because it'll keep me listening...

Ms. Janice, you have a downright welcoming "come right on in!" kind of voice that would cause even the shyest wallflower to think twice before turning down an invitation to dance from the gal he was makin' eyes at from across the floor.

Thanks for making such happy-sounding music. "Happy (musical) New Year" to both of you!

"bluage"


"Music is what feelings sound like."-- borrowed from a Cakewalk Music Creator forum member, "Mamabear".
User Showcase
Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 16,079
Veteran
OP Offline
Veteran
Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 16,079
Originally Posted By: RnAM
We don't remember hearing the first version of your song.
However this one sounds great. It has got a very Merry feeling to it all.
We love the piano real tracks that work very smoothly in the mix.
That blue USB mic is that the Blue yeti Mike? (Because I read some very positive comments on this microphone).
Very nice vocals by Janice! Bud, great lyric video, they're getting better every time.

Rob



Thanks you two and happy new year!

Yes the mic is the Yeti Blue. It's an excellent mic. I don't use it as much as I did when we recorded this song because of I bought a Focusrite USB interface so that I could use a Rodes NT1 that we've had for some years. However, having revisited Janice's vocal on this remix I not sure that I can hear a difference.

Thanks again!

J&B


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: May 2012
Posts: 2,935
Veteran
Offline
Veteran
Joined: May 2012
Posts: 2,935
I remember this song very well. Still love it.


LyricLab – Where words become music https://www.lyriclab.net/
User Showcase
Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 16,079
Veteran
OP Offline
Veteran
Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 16,079
Originally Posted By: Greg Johnson
Originally Posted By: 44kfl
Great song with strong distinctive vocal gives this a special quality.
Jumpin' song, so good, the mix is excellent, haven't heard the original
or your first version but this one is hot!
Enjoyed!

Kenny


Kenny got it! This mix sounds great!! And nobody can sing better than Janice!! Nice! Take care. Greg


Thanks Greg and happy new year!

J&B


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: Apr 2013
Posts: 8,851
C
Veteran
Offline
Veteran
C
Joined: Apr 2013
Posts: 8,851
Nice production and arrangement. I enjoyed my listen.


Charlie


BIAB 2025:RB 2025, Latest builds: Dell Optiplex 7040 Desktop; Windows-10-64 bit, Intel Core i7-6700 3.4GHz CPU and 16 GB Ram Memory.
User Showcase
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 1,719
Expert
Offline
Expert
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 1,719
Always did like western swing and Janice's honky tonk bluesey
vocal sets the song off nicely.
Reminds me of the pre rock and roll records I used to listen to.
Enjoyed Oscar too. Cheers.

Previous Thread
Next Thread
Go To
Page 1 of 3 1 2 3

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
Update to Build 10 of RealBand® 2026 for Windows®!

If you're already using RealBand 2026 for Windows, download build 10 to get all the latest additions and enhancements.

Band-in-a-Box® 2025 for Mac® users: Build 904 now available!

If you're already using Band-in-a-Box® 2025 for Mac®, make sure to grab the latest update! Build 904 is now available for download and includes the newest additions and enhancements from our team.

Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Windows® users: Build 1237 is now available!

Already a Band-in-a-Box 2026 for Windows user? Stay up to date and download the build 1237 to get all the latest additions and enhancements.

PowerTracks Pro 2026 for Windows is Here!

PowerTracks 2026 is here—bringing powerful new enhancements designed to make your production workflow faster, smoother, and more intuitive than ever.

The enhanced Mixer now shows Track Type and Instrument icons for instant track recognition, while a new grid option simplifies editing views. Non-floating windows adopt a modern title bar style, replacing the legacy blue bar.

The Master Volume is now applied at the end of the audio chain for consistent levels and full-signal master effects.

Tablature now includes a “Save bends when saving XML” option for improved compatibility with PG Music tools. Plus, you can instantly match all track heights with a simple Ctrl-release after resizing, and Add2 chords from MGU/SGU files are now fully supported... and more!

Get started today—first-time packages start at just $49.

Already using PowerTracks Pro Audio? Upgrade for as little as $29 and enjoy the latest improvements!

Order now!

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!

Forum Statistics
Forums57
Topics86,092
Posts800,122
Members40,033
Most Online44,367
Mar 4th, 2026
Newest Members
Matt1575, Christian210, jaycallahanart, roshan2121, Din
40,033 Registered Users
Top Posters(30 Days)
MarioD 145
DC Ron 94
rsdean 94
WaoBand 77
DrDan 61
Today's Birthdays
astore, Mark lee, PianistNZ
Powered by UBB.threads™ PHP Forum Software 7.7.5