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Dear Mama Video The video consists of edited photos from various US government and state archives. Dear Mama Audio For audio only folks the lyric is at the bottom of the page. On the evening before an anticipated dawn battle a young soldier writes home expressing his fear of what he portends will be the outcome... We have a long standing interest in our local Civil War history and spent years researching the troop movements and engagements in our area. During General Sherman’s March To The Sea (November, 1864) thousands of his troops camped less than a mile from our home on a friend’s property (that has been owned by his family since the 1850’s). We have walked the fields and woods of nearby skirmishes and small battles (often unmarked and poorly documented) while pondering the thoughts/conversations of soldiers as they sat around camp fires awaiting the next day. Such musings lead to the writing of this song 25 years ago. We originally posted it five years ago as our second BiaB production. Having never been pleased with the production we recently started from scratch with all new vocals, a different tempo, a different key, a tweaked lyric and new RT’s. And a new video. We hope you will find the song of interest and we much appreciate your comments. Many thanks to floyd for harmony/vocal arrangement ideas and to Tom for adding two acoustic guitar tracks. Janice: Lead and harmony vocals / Nectar 2 floyd: harmony vocal / Nectar 2 Tom: finger picked acoustic guitar and acoustic guitar fills 2474:Bass, Acoustic, Held Ev 085 / Neutron 2028:Fiddle, Soloist CountryAndy Ev 065 / Neutron and EMT140 reverb 1593:Fiddle, Background Pop16ths Ev 065 / Neutron and EMT140 reverb 368:Guitar, Acoustic, Strumming Ev 065 / Neutron and EMT140 reverb 1758:Banjo, Rhythm, Pop16ths Ev 085 / Neutron and EMT140 reverb The bass track was comped from multiple 2474 generations. The fiddle track was comped from 2028 and 1593. Mixed via Logic Pro X and mastered with Ozone 7 Advanced  dear mama © 2017 Janice & Bud Merritt dear mama, I take my pen to write this letter to you cause I’m so afraid of morning and what they say we must do chorus: their camp flickers like fireflies, all across the misty valley the cap’n says we’ll charge at dawn lord, i wish i was home with you and daddy wish i was home with you and daddy david got hit real bad and slipped away just past noon all he ever said to me was he’d be seeing aunty sally soon repeat chorus i saw you and little sister in my dreams last night ’n i wondered why you were cryin’ while your face glowed in candlelight repeat chorus wish i was home with you and daddy
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.
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Janice, Bud, Tom, Floyd.
An emotional, yet beautiful journey. This is a BIG song - an inspired and inspiring write.
The depth of the backing and the haunting beauty of Janice's voice carry you easily through the story, whilst the lyrical content leaves you feeling saddened and a little uneasy about the things we do.
An amazing production and performance by all concerned.
ROG.
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Janice, Bud, Floyd & Tom,
This is a beautiful piece of work. Outstanding song and a sweeping production - the mix sounds like vinyl with it's warm round tones. I also love the acoustic guitar parts by Tom and background vocals by Floyd.
The lead vocal by Janice is delicate, fragile and absolutely heartbreaking... So beautifully performed.
A new favorite...
Bob
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Hi Everyone,
The folks who have commented before us said much of what we were thinking. The one thing that struck us in particular is how big this song is with such sparse instrumentation. That takes talent! The song is full and dynamic from beginning to end, yet only a handful of subtle instruments drove the sound.
The video was awesome! I'm in the process of writing a historical fiction novel that begins right after the end of the Civil War, or, as many of the Southerners called it, the War of Northern Aggression. Your song made me feel confident and renewed my desire to finish it by year's end. It's actually the first book in a three-volume epoch.
That was such a great listen! Still feeling the sorrow and trepidation of the subject of the song. Simply marvelous!
Alan & Di
BIAB 2024 Ultra Plus-all StylePaks*Win11*32GB DDR5*Rhyzen 9745x*AT 2035 Mic*Peavey Nashville 112 Amp*Ibanez ART120* Acoustic/Electric/Washburn D200S Acoustic*Stromberg Monterey Jazz Guitar Loops: https://aldavidmusic.wixsite.com/bestmusicloops
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Stunning and beautiful song and a powerful video. The story of your song reminds me of a recording "Sweet Was Our Rose" in the 1980's by a group named Atlanta.
Enjoyed this a lot.
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.
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Janice, Bud, Tom, Floyd.
An emotional, yet beautiful journey. This is a BIG song - an inspired and inspiring write.
The depth of the backing and the haunting beauty of Janice's voice carry you easily through the story, whilst the lyrical content leaves you feeling saddened and a little uneasy about the things we do.
An amazing production and performance by all concerned.
ROG. ROG, thank you for listening and taking the time to offer such thoughtful and supportive comments. We are especially happy that you liked the production as we spent considerable time trying to get to all work together. The banjo was the most difficult but we wanted to have nothing but instruments that would be correct for the time period. As I mentioned the song has a special connection with us given the amount of time we have spent visiting and in a few cases discovering undocumented Civil War sites (a long story there) and I (Bud) know that Janice's feeling in her performance is genuinely heartfelt. We most appreciate your remarks. 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 are here on our website.
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What a powerful, beautiful song! Very well done on every level. The story line is well crafted into the lyrics. A very sober, complex part of our history. The video is very well done. All the performances are spot on.
You should consider doing a group of songs in this genre/storyline, as a musical portrait of this period. You do it so well.
Very touched by this.
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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I love this!
powerful video
excellent vocals and mix
a great haunting quality to this story
wonderful job, guys
Kenny
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Janice, Bud, Tom, Floyd,
Just played this masterpiece to my wife - "well that says it all".
I've listened a couple of times now and not only is it a haunting and lovely song, superbly performed and produced it's like a mini documentary (nice work Bud).
Wonderful stuff - congratulations to all concerned.
Peter
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I listened to the audio version of this a week or so ago and thought it was one of your best, and after just watching the video I still think that. Just a wonderful song on every level!
Janice's vocal sounds even better than normal, not sure how that is possible! And production wise the way you handled the reverb on the vocal sounded great and a new technique for me, so thanks for sharing!
And the harmonies, just so tight!! Perfection!! A great song, performed by an all star cast with a professional mix ..... doesn't get any better IMHO.
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Bud and Janice, This is one of the best tracks ever posted on this forum. I was going to say a musical documentary and then I saw Peter beat me to it. To me the chorus sums up what it must have been like in the Civil War. I can't imagine the feeling of looking over the hilltop down into the enemy camp knowing that the next day will most likely be your last. The production has a warm sounding mix with some terrific editing including my own parts. Janice gives an impassioned reading of the lyric that could only have taken place with an extensive knowledge of the subject matter. The way she pronounces Cap'n is worth the price of admission by itself. A fine underlying harmony by floyd adds some depth. There's no way around saying the write is absolutely brilliant bringing into play the quiet desperation, fierce loyalty and regret felt by a teenage soldier. Thanks for letting me in on this one. It is outstanding in every way. Tom
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We forgot to mention one other thing that stood out to us when we posted our comment yesterday.
The subtle background vocals add so much to this. It's much like the cherry atop a sundae. The sundae's pretty danged good without it but that cherry just makes a statement. Diana and I were saying early this morning that we could hear this playing in the background in places of a Civil War documentary.Tom and someone else mention a documentary and yeas ... what a great addition this would be for such an endeavor.
This is a soundtrack of human emotion. Classic writing and fabulous delivery.
Alan & DI
BIAB 2024 Ultra Plus-all StylePaks*Win11*32GB DDR5*Rhyzen 9745x*AT 2035 Mic*Peavey Nashville 112 Amp*Ibanez ART120* Acoustic/Electric/Washburn D200S Acoustic*Stromberg Monterey Jazz Guitar Loops: https://aldavidmusic.wixsite.com/bestmusicloops
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Wow what a stunning production. This was a true pleasure to listen to and watch. I felt like I was just settling back to watch a Ken Burns movie with a great score.
All of the instrumentation was excellent and so rich and varied. Wonderful work with the backing guitars and vocals from Tom and Floyd.
In one word this piece was just truly sumptuous.
I loved it, great job.
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Hi Janice & Bud! Great work on this, fantastic vocals and song. Very soothing! Well done always a fan of your songs! 
Cheers,
Joe
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Janice, Bud, Floyd & Tom,
This is a beautiful piece of work. Outstanding song and a sweeping production - the mix sounds like vinyl with it's warm round tones. I also love the acoustic guitar parts by Tom and background vocals by Floyd.
The lead vocal by Janice is delicate, fragile and absolutely heartbreaking... So beautifully performed.
A new favorite...
Bob Thank you Bob. It's great that you felt that in the mix. You better described what I was aiming for than I could. And Janice is very appreciative of your remarks about her vocal. As always thanks for your support! 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 are here on our website.
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WOW!!! Beautifully done! So well put together. So interesting to think of what it must have been like. You guys put together a very compelling story. Mix/production are absolutely wonderful. Great contribution from the forum A-team. Awesome!! Take care. Greg
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Janice & Bud, Great work!. This song is related to the American history which is something hard to understand for a Japanese, but the music itself is the common language for us and so is understandable Good vocals and nice arrangement. Everything is beautifully balanced. I enjoyed it very much. Hiroshi
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I love the first line of the song, and how it manages to do so much in such a small number of words. "mamma" indicates the writer is young; "i take my pen" is formal, archaic phrase.
Another thing that caught my ear was the interesting rhythms - it's very melodic, but the phrasing feels very natural.
Super job.
-- David Cuny My virtual singer development blogVocal control, you say. Never heard of it. Is that some kind of ProTools thing?BiaB 2025 | Windows 11 | Reaper | Way too many VSTis.
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Hi Everyone,
The folks who have commented before us said much of what we were thinking. The one thing that struck us in particular is how big this song is with such sparse instrumentation. That takes talent! The song is full and dynamic from beginning to end, yet only a handful of subtle instruments drove the sound.
The video was awesome! I'm in the process of writing a historical fiction novel that begins right after the end of the Civil War, or, as many of the Southerners called it, the War of Northern Aggression. Your song made me feel confident and renewed my desire to finish it by year's end. It's actually the first book in a three-volume epoch.
That was such a great listen! Still feeling the sorrow and trepidation of the subject of the song. Simply marvelous!
Alan & Di Thank y'all for the super review. Dynamics were on our mind while mixing this particularly with the vocals - we appreciate you mentioning that and what we did with sparse tracks. And we are excited that it renewed your writing interest! We always appreciate your support and kind remarks. 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 are here on our website.
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Beautiful as your songs always are, but also thought provoking. In this day of televised wars, complete with logos and carefully framed wide angle shots to maximize the shock and awe, it's worth being reminded that most wars are fought by people who are barely adults.
Nice job on the whole package, everybody who participated did an outstanding job!
I also liked the video.
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Janice, Bud, Floyd, Tom, We don't say this very often, but this really has an epic feeling to it. The songs atmosphere is very strong, also because of the video, which was beautifully created! The musical arrangement, backing vocals and of course Janice's lead vocal are gorgeous. Tom, we didn't immediately notice you guitar playing, thought they were RTs  that must be a compliment, we think! Rob and Anne-Marie
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Stunning and beautiful song and a powerful video. The story of your song reminds me of a recording "Sweet Was Our Rose" in the 1980's by a group named Atlanta.
Enjoyed this a lot.
Charlie Thank you Charlie. We found that tune and listened. Nice song. Although from GA we weren't aware of that band. We were totally lost in Bluegrass world during those years! Glad you enjoyed it and the video. We appreciate your comments as always. 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 are here on our website.
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That is just awesome story telling. Delivery was just beautiful. The violin and banjo were very cool. Just got lost in the vocal and lyric. I had so much empathy for the person in the song. Super collaboration....
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Wow! Great song, lyric, vocal and most of all production quality.
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Impossible to add anything already expressed. Excellent.
Fred
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J&B and Floyd, this one is great!! The vocals were flawless and effectively conveyed the emotional subject matter. Perfect choices for instrumentation. Floyd's participation was a wise choice, he really complimented Janice's voice. Thanks, Torrey
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It is truly amazing the quality of music that we are presented here on the PG forum. Such a small group of people posting songs. And such AMAZING songs. Both writing skills and production skills.
THIS is (as Tom has already said) one of THE best ever presented. Thanks for letting me be a small part of it.
Excellent write.
Excellent production.
Excellent mix.
Excellent vocal.
Excellent video.
Not a "hair out of place".
Stunning.
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What a powerful, beautiful song! Very well done on every level. The story line is well crafted into the lyrics. A very sober, complex part of our history. The video is very well done. All the performances are spot on.
You should consider doing a group of songs in this genre/storyline, as a musical portrait of this period. You do it so well.
Very touched by this.
Steve
Steve, we appreciate those very kind and supportive remarks. Our feelings for those millions of Americans who lived and died during this period is very genuine and to know that it reached you also is most meaningful to us. Thank you. 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 are here on our website.
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I love this!
powerful video
excellent vocals and mix
a great haunting quality to this story
wonderful job, guys
Kenny Thank you Kenny. We hoped you'd like this one! And thanks also for mentioning the video. 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 are here on our website.
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hi Janice and bud holy smokes guys this was outstanding the write the vocals and backing vocals were awesome thanks for sharing 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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Janice, Bud, Tom, Floyd,
Just played this masterpiece to my wife - "well that says it all".
I've listened a couple of times now and not only is it a haunting and lovely song, superbly performed and produced it's like a mini documentary (nice work Bud).
Wonderful stuff - congratulations to all concerned.
Peter Hey, we'll take her comment any day! Thanks for the kind remarks and for mentioning the video. 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 are here on our website.
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This is the first song I've listened to in my new studio.
Nice write. Well done.
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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I listened to the audio version of this a week or so ago and thought it was one of your best, and after just watching the video I still think that. Just a wonderful song on every level!
Janice's vocal sounds even better than normal, not sure how that is possible! And production wise the way you handled the reverb on the vocal sounded great and a new technique for me, so thanks for sharing!
And the harmonies, just so tight!! Perfection!! A great song, performed by an all star cast with a professional mix ..... doesn't get any better IMHO.
Thanks so much. I've been attempting to learn how to build a chorus and one of the methods I ran across was to increase the reverb on the chorus relative to the verse. Thanks for noting that! And, yes floyd did a heckuva tight harmony line for us. He is also responsible for suggesting how the four harmonies could be panned. We appreciate your support. 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 are here on our website.
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J&B,
Late on this one. Very nicely done.
Regards,
Bob
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Bud and Janice, This is one of the best tracks ever posted on this forum. I was going to say a musical documentary and then I saw Peter beat me to it. To me the chorus sums up what it must have been like in the Civil War. I can't imagine the feeling of looking over the hilltop down into the enemy camp knowing that the next day will most likely be your last. The production has a warm sounding mix with some terrific editing including my own parts. Janice gives an impassioned reading of the lyric that could only have taken place with an extensive knowledge of the subject matter. The way she pronounces Cap'n is worth the price of admission by itself. A fine underlying harmony by floyd adds some depth. There's no way around saying the write is absolutely brilliant bringing into play the quiet desperation, fierce loyalty and regret felt by a teenage soldier. Thanks for letting me in on this one. It is outstanding in every way. Tom Tom, given the caliber of your productions such high praise is very humbling. We are glad it painted that image for you. We've often stood on ridges in our area and looked down at where desperate charges took place. I genuinely appreciate your comments on the mix...it was a bit of a struggle at times. I'm glad you felt that I did your fine guitar tracks justice. Hey, is there any other way to pronounce cap'n? "...quiet desperation, fierce loyalty and regret felt by a teenage soldier" is a much better description than I could offer on what we were trying to achieve. Thanks so much. 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 are here on our website.
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Hello, Janice, Bud, Floyd and Tom
Very beautiful song.
What a stunning production.
Janice's vocal is very emotional.
The song for a young soldier is one of the traditional genres of American folk songs.
I have a little tears after all every time I listen to such songs.
Very enjoyable listen.
Best regards.
Shigeki Adachi
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We forgot to mention one other thing that stood out to us when we posted our comment yesterday.
The subtle background vocals add so much to this. It's much like the cherry atop a sundae. The sundae's pretty danged good without it but that cherry just makes a statement. Diana and I were saying early this morning that we could hear this playing in the background in places of a Civil War documentary.Tom and someone else mention a documentary and yeas ... what a great addition this would be for such an endeavor.
This is a soundtrack of human emotion. Classic writing and fabulous delivery.
Alan & DI Thanks you two! Janice and floyd really do blend on that harmony and floyd offered up some great ideas on how to pan them. Bud
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.
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Wow what a stunning production. This was a true pleasure to listen to and watch. I felt like I was just settling back to watch a Ken Burns movie with a great score.
All of the instrumentation was excellent and so rich and varied. Wonderful work with the backing guitars and vocals from Tom and Floyd.
In one word this piece was just truly sumptuous.
I loved it, great job. David, we would appreciate those remarks from anybody but coming from someone with your writing, performing and production talents it means all the more. Thank you very much. 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 are here on our website.
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It's been awhile since I've heard someone who has the same tone and sound as Karen Carpenter !!! Vocal was amazing.
Love her voice. Thanks for sharing.
Trax
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Hi Janice & Bud! Great work on this, fantastic vocals and song. Very soothing! Well done always a fan of your songs! Thanks Joe. We very much appreciate you and your company. 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 are here on our website.
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Imagine a young child stomping his feet on the playground saying "NO FAIR! THEY GOT ALL THE GOOD PEOPLE ON ONE TEAM!"...ok, that's an impressive line-up of talent going into this song. And go figure, it's a great song!
Now for what I felt was excited to share. Sometimes things line up in ways you couldn't explain...
My family and I were at my parents house to get together for a family reunion. Several of my cousins were there that I haven't seen in 10-30 years! It was truly a blessed time for me.
There was a gentleman there that I had met before, but was too young to remember. He sort of remembered me, but it had been so long. He wasn't a relative, which is a long story. Anyway, it was his 85th birthday! He was truly fascinating to talk to. He spoke for a while about his ancestors and tracing his lineage.
He was proud to tell me a few stories of his great-grandfather fighting in the civil war. He was speaking of what it must have been like at that time. He was so amazed by how that must have been. I mentioned to him I didn't know it was his birthday but may have an impromptu present for him.
I played this song for him! Timing! How does it work out SO well at times?
He read the lyrics and listen to the song several times. He was enthralled with it. He asked where I got it and how old it was. He was completely surprised to hear it was something recent as it seemed to capture to much of the feeling of that time. He knew it wasn't from then obviously, but said it feels like it could be.
So...you made an 85 year old's birthday!
On a personal note, I loved the song as well! There is just something to it. I could start thinking about it and figure out all the "why's" but I want to sit out on this one, and just enjoy it for being a great song.
Thanks for the share and the ability to share it!
Chad (Hope that makes it easier)
TEMPO TANTRUM: What a lead singer has when they can't stay in time.
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WOW!!! Beautifully done! So well put together. So interesting to think of what it must have been like. You guys put together a very compelling story. Mix/production are absolutely wonderful. Great contribution from the forum A-team. Awesome!! Take care. Greg Thanks Greg. Glad you found the story compelling as we're sure it was lived out many, many times.
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.
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Janice & Bud, Great work!. This song is related to the American history which is something hard to understand for a Japanese, but the music itself is the common language for us and so is understandable Good vocals and nice arrangement. Everything is beautifully balanced. I enjoyed it very much. Hiroshi Thank you very much. We feel that the sadness of young men so often carrying the burden of warfare is likely universal. Glad you liked the mix and the arrangement. We appreciate your support. 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 are here on our website.
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I love the first line of the song, and how it manages to do so much in such a small number of words. "mamma" indicates the writer is young; "i take my pen" is formal, archaic phrase.
Another thing that caught my ear was the interesting rhythms - it's very melodic, but the phrasing feels very natural.
Super job. Thanks. We're pleased you noticed the archaic structure - that comes from reading many CW period letters. "I take my pen in hand" was common also. Thanks also for mentioning the rhythm- Tom really helped with that. We appreciate your thoughtful remarks. J&B Beautiful as your songs always are, but also thought provoking. In this day of televised wars, complete with logos and carefully framed wide angle shots to maximize the shock and awe, it's worth being reminded that most wars are fought by people who are barely adults.
Nice job on the whole package, everybody who participated did an outstanding job!
I also liked the video. Thanks Pat. Yep, fought by the young and ordered so by adults whom for some occasions should know better. Glad you liked it! 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 are here on our website.
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Janice, Bud, Floyd, Tom, We don't say this very often, but this really has an epic feeling to it. The songs atmosphere is very strong, also because of the video, which was beautifully created! The musical arrangement, backing vocals and of course Janice's lead vocal are gorgeous. Tom, we didn't immediately notice you guitar playing, thought they were RTs that must be a compliment, we think! Rob and Anne-Marie We very, very much appreciate your kind remarks. Given the scope of your audio and video productions for you to use the word epic is a bit overwhelming. Our love of history, the area where we live and our g-g-grandparents involvement in this war gave it a personal note for us. Thank you for mentioning the atmosphere we attempted to create. And Tom and floyd's contributions were very significant. 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 are here on our website.
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That is just awesome story telling. Delivery was just beautiful. The violin and banjo were very cool. Just got lost in the vocal and lyric. I had so much empathy for the person in the song. Super collaboration.... Thanks Scott. Empathy was exactly what we hoped to evoke. J&B Wow! Great song, lyric, vocal and most of all production quality. Thank you! J&B Impossible to add anything already expressed. Excellent.
Fred Thanks Fred! J&B J&B and Floyd, this one is great!! The vocals were flawless and effectively conveyed the emotional subject matter. Perfect choices for instrumentation. Floyd's participation was a wise choice, he really complimented Janice's voice. Thanks, Torrey We appreciate your comments Torrey. We know how much attention you pay to vocals in your productions so it is very meaningful for you to mention them. Thanks! Bud
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.
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Posts: 3,414
PG Music Staff
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Joined: Feb 2017
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Thanks so much for sharing, Janice & Budd You absolutely nailed this one. Everything's already been said - but I just had to let you know! This is the kind of music you don't just listen to, but feel in your soul. Its somber, vulnerable, gentle, and incredibly beautiful. It is immediately recognizable that this comes from a sincere place. Great, great, GREAT job on this. I truly can't give it enough praise! Keep up the amazing work!
Cheers,
Deryk
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It is truly amazing the quality of music that we are presented here on the PG forum. Such a small group of people posting songs. And such AMAZING songs. Both writing skills and production skills.
THIS is (as Tom has already said) one of THE best ever presented. Thanks for letting me be a small part of it.
Excellent write.
Excellent production.
Excellent mix.
Excellent vocal.
Excellent video.
Not a "hair out of place".
Stunning.
Thank you for perhaps the best review we've ever had! It is much appreciated. And so is your harmony and the tips on how to mix the four harmony tracks. W/o those contributions the production would have not have had vocal qualities that many folks have mentioned. 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 are here on our website.
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hi Janice and bud holy smokes guys this was outstanding the write the vocals and backing vocals were awesome thanks for sharing eric Thanks Eric! J&B This is the first song I've listened to in my new studio.
Nice write. Well done.
Thanks Herb. Glad we participated in the debut 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 are here on our website.
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I remember this song. So moving. Liked it the first time out and the new production really shines!
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J&B,
Late on this one. Very nicely done.
Regards,
Bob Thanks Bob. Glad you liked it and we appreciate you listening. J&B Hello, Janice, Bud, Floyd and Tom
Very beautiful song.
What a stunning production.
Janice's vocal is very emotional.
The song for a young soldier is one of the traditional genres of American folk songs.
I have a little tears after all every time I listen to such songs.
Very enjoyable listen.
Best regards.
Shigeki Adachi Shigeki, thank you for the thoughtful and touching review. It means a lot to us. 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 are here on our website.
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It's been awhile since I've heard someone who has the same tone and sound as Karen Carpenter !!! Vocal was amazing.
Love her voice. Thanks for sharing.
Trax Thanks y'all. We all very much appreciate your time to listen and comment. 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 are here on our website.
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Imagine a young child stomping his feet on the playground saying "NO FAIR! THEY GOT ALL THE GOOD PEOPLE ON ONE TEAM!"...ok, that's an impressive line-up of talent going into this song. And go figure, it's a great song!
Now for what I felt was excited to share. Sometimes things line up in ways you couldn't explain...
My family and I were at my parents house to get together for a family reunion. Several of my cousins were there that I haven't seen in 10-30 years! It was truly a blessed time for me.
There was a gentleman there that I had met before, but was too young to remember. He sort of remembered me, but it had been so long. He wasn't a relative, which is a long story. Anyway, it was his 85th birthday! He was truly fascinating to talk to. He spoke for a while about his ancestors and tracing his lineage.
He was proud to tell me a few stories of his great-grandfather fighting in the civil war. He was speaking of what it must have been like at that time. He was so amazed by how that must have been. I mentioned to him I didn't know it was his birthday but may have an impromptu present for him.
I played this song for him! Timing! How does it work out SO well at times?
He read the lyrics and listen to the song several times. He was enthralled with it. He asked where I got it and how old it was. He was completely surprised to hear it was something recent as it seemed to capture to much of the feeling of that time. He knew it wasn't from then obviously, but said it feels like it could be.
So...you made an 85 year old's birthday!
On a personal note, I loved the song as well! There is just something to it. I could start thinking about it and figure out all the "why's" but I want to sit out on this one, and just enjoy it for being a great song.
Thanks for the share and the ability to share it! Wow, thank you for sharing that! It reminds me of conversations that I often have with Janice's 96 year old mother. All we can say is that his reaction alone makes the whole production worth while. We are touched and deeply appreciative. If you get a chance please tell him how much it meant to us. And you could mention that my g-g-grandfather died on a battlefield only 18 miles from our home. 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 are here on our website.
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Thanks so much for sharing, Janice & Budd You absolutely nailed this one. Everything's already been said - but I just had to let you know! This is the kind of music you don't just listen to, but feel in your soul. Its somber, vulnerable, gentle, and incredibly beautiful. It is immediately recognizable that this comes from a sincere place. Great, great, GREAT job on this. I truly can't give it enough praise! Keep up the amazing work! Deryk, it's always great to hear from PG Music folks. Your description of the tune eloquently states what we were hoping to achieve. Thank you for saying that and, yes, it indeed comes from a sincere place. It was written after much contemplation and study of Civil War battlefields on of which my g-g-grandfather died on. It is wonderful that you felt that. We most appreciate your comments! J&B I remember this song. So moving. Liked it the first time out and the new production really shines! Thanks Josie! Glad you liked the new version. 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 are here on our website.
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Joined: Jul 2012
Posts: 1,831
Expert
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Expert
Joined: Jul 2012
Posts: 1,831 |
Wow! This is a wonderful song. I love the lyrics and melody. Janice' vocals here have a brilliant flow, fluid, warm and at ease.
The production compliments an already strong write and performance.
And the video, well it's heartbreaking.
A pleasure to listen to.
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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.
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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!
Mac 2025 Special Upgrade Offers Extended Until August 15th!
It's not too late to upgrade to Band-in-a-Box® 2025 for Mac® and save! We've extended our special until August 15, 2025!
We've added many major new features to Band-in-a-Box® 2025 for Mac®, including advanced AI tools like the amazing BB Stem Splitter and AI Lyrics Generator, as well as VST3 plugin support, and Equalize Temp. Plus, there’s a new one-stop MIDI Patches Picker with over 1,100 MIDI patches to choose from, all neatly categorized by GM numbers. The MultiPicker Library is enhanced with tabs for the SongPicker, MIDI Patch Picker, Chord Builder, AI Lyrics Generator, and Song Titles Browser, and the tabs are organized into logical groups. The Audiophile Edition is enhanced with FLAC files , which are 60% smaller than AIFF files while maintaining identical audio quality, and now ships on a fast 1TB SSD, and much more!
Check out all the new features in Band-in-a-Box® 2025 for Mac® here:
Purchase your Band-in-a-Box® 2025 for Mac during our special to save up to 50% off your upgrade purchase and receive a FREE BONUS PAK of amazing new Add-ons. These include the 2025 RealCombos Booster PAK, Look Ma! More MIDI 13: Country & Americana, Instrumental Studies Set 22: 2-Hand Piano Soloing - Rhythm Changes, MIDI SuperTracks Set 44: Jazz Piano, Artist Performance Set 17: Songs with Vocals 7, Playable RealTracks Set 4, RealDrums Stems Set 7: Jazz with Mike Clark, and more!
Upgrade to the 2025 49-PAK for just $49 and add 20 Bonus Unreleased RealTracks and 20 RealStyles, FLAC Files for the 20 Bonus Unreleased RealTracks, Look Ma! More MIDI 14: SynthMaster, MIDI SuperTracks Set 45: More SynthMaster, Artist Performance Set 18: Songs with Vocals 8, and RealDrums Stems Set 8: Pop, Funk & More with Jerry Roe.
Learn more about the Bonus PAKs!
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