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Hey Floyd, Bud and Janice

Firstly, thank you so much for that write up on the process and for posting the Nashville demo. I am going to comment first and then go back and read all the other comments on this thread so I don't get influenced by what other people think.

This is so interesting and may I say, slightly depressing.

The song itself is a fantastic write and both your demo and the Nashville one are outstanding. Now for me, the thing is that if that what was happening in the 1990's can you just imagine what is happening now that everyone has access to a home studio? A single studio/musician with BIAB and access to a really great vocalist can churn out literally hundreds of high-quality tracks per day at ZERO cost. I suspect that these are the tracks that are being submitted to licensing opps on platforms such as Songtradr. I heard somewhere that people submit something like 200 tracks to a single licensing opp on songtradr!

Ironically, the tool (Band-in-a-Box) that has given us, on this forum, so much pleasure has also given self-motivated entrepreneurs the opportunity to do this (along with other tools such as Abbleton live).

Thanks again for posting this Floyd.

floyd

Like the others I listened to both versions. Yours I found far more engaging than the Nashville demo.
Enjoyed the emotion in our voice and then Janice comes in! - great stuff.

The Nashville demo sounded big and bold but sort of washed over me.

Loved the story behind the song and the insights into the recording business back then.

Excellent song by the way - brought a lump to the throat.

Peter

Bob - really appreciate that fine review! Thanks...

Man, that's a great song. Excellent job on the co-write. And to be able to write with guys who have written other hits. That right there is a level of success many will never know.

Yes, absolutely spot on with the backstory on the skill level in Nashville. So much talent in one place, and only a few will ever be successful. Those studio cats are totally amazing and so skilled at their craft. Been there..... seen and heard amazing voices and instrumental talent singing in hole in the wall places on a "stage" that's hardly big enough to hold a chair and a music stand.

you are absolutely correct about the demo quality required. The demo has to be as good as (or better than) the final version the artist is going to record. I heard the "demo" version of another very popular group's #1 country hit at a LA songwriter symposium. Aside from the different vocalist, the rest would have fooled anyone. The licks and tone, tempo, instrumentation, was dead on. The artist copied the demo music exactly. Only the vocals and harmony let on that it was the artist version vs the demo.

OK, so I listened to your version first, as requested. Good job and yep, everything in it's right place. Next... the Nashville "demo".

The Nashville demo has my vote. A few reasons. First the sound quality of the mix is so open and crystal. Your version has more midrange and the instruments were not as distinct in the mix. Likely due to the mids. Next, the singer simply drew me in to the song. Yeah, I heard you singing and the words you were saying but.... I really "heard" the song when she sang it.

None of that is a slight to you or your skills. It simply shows that the mix quality and the singer one selects for a song is a major factor in how the song is heard by the audience. For the same reason 5 singers can cover the same great song and one of them you love and the others it's kind of meh.

We set here in our home studio, bedroom, attic, garage, basement, and try to write and record. Yes we have good tools. But truth is, we have a hard time at best trying to compete with the talent in the music capitals with experience and skills. One could try for a few lifetimes to write a hit song and never even get a "hold" in Nashville. It's a combination of having the skill, being in the right place at the right time, and having someone in the business to help you, and being there every day and night. For most of us, me included, I write for my own pleasure and my only competition is the last song I wrote. My goal is to write the next one better.

That said, there is still plenty of room in the business for less than superbly written songs and mixes that are not Nashville/LA raise the bar kinds of mixes. Film, TV, and other commercial uses are in need of music of all kinds and some actually specifically ask for lo-fi mixes.

In closing.... yes, I could hear Reba singing that song. The reasons songs get passed on vary and if you were in the final 100 or so songs in competition for Reba's newest CD project at the time...... that's a huge accomplishment. There's only room for 10 or so songs. Depending on Reba's clout at the time, she might not have had the lion's share of that decision. It still doesn't detract for the fact that you have a really well written song there that you can be proud to say... "I had a part in writing that".

FJ,
This is one of your best songs hands down. Lyrically, musically it just stands out!

Thank you for posting a story. That was a very interesting, enjoyable read! You managed to fit so much history behind the production neatly on one page

I listened to both versions. I can not compare them. They have very different vibe and sound. Both are very strong in their own unique way.

P.S. Excellent vocals from Janice!

Thank you for sharing!

Misha.

Wow - I think you did a great job on this! It s incredibly tender you are Janice knocked it out of the park with the harmonies. It is really powerful, and you can feel it in your bones. You can't get quite the same quality as the best in the biz, as you said, but I think you did a fantastic rendition here.

Great work and thanks for sharing

Dear Floyd,

you've heard a number of my songs over the past months, and having heard them I'm sure you would not claim that sentimentality must be one of my main character traits. And it's true: emotions - yes, a lot. But sentimentality - well, so so... And being like that there is a thin line between what I (I!!!) consider schmalzy (the dictionary explains this as "dishonestly emotional) and honestly emotional songs.

The topic you chose with this song could be easily have slipped over that line, but this really never happens to you: Whatever emotional subject you write about. it's always touching in the purest sense - be it autobiographical or not: It makes me feel that it is.

Another great FJ song, as to lyrics and composition - no doubt about that.

And if a live and a BIAB version of the same song must get compared, it depends which one will be the better one: My songs will sound much better being 'built' in BIAB, others (like this one) may have been recorded by such excellent musicians that BIAB will always be second.

But even then: I listened to your BIAB version first and thought it was great in all aspects. Then I listemed to the 'real' one and, yes, one can feel that there are real people singing and playing their hearts out and that surely makes a difference..

I only can say that I liked both versions a lot.

Take care,

Stefan

Marty - thanks for taking the time to listen to both versions. It is nice to have you prefer my vocal...

Glad you enjoyed the video, too... Regarding the mic: Turning at an angle to the mic helps to keep from having "plosives" as I sing (not using a pop screen) and also keeps from getting the vocal too hot when I sing high (and loud) - I will turn away a bit more.... So it is for "control", not "tone". The mic I use - an AT4033a - has a deep warm tone - it's quite a "mellow" mic... Had it for about 25 years now...

Enjoyed both versions, Floyd, as well as the background story. Personally, I think the song is well suited to a female singer (and the woman on the Nashville demo is very good indeed). A shame that Reba passed on it.
Regards,
Leon

Hi, Floyd !

This is simply your best !
Love everything about it !


Cheers
Dani

Thank you Dave. It was a small part on a big song!

Janice

Wow! I did listen to both versions. Both were excellent. I can see why some will like your new version, and some will prefer the "Nashville" version. Both very well crafted. You have really learned how to milk it all out of BB. Well done! (By the way, once again, you and Janice shine on this one!)

I really appreciate your backstory. Exciting times, being around such a wealth of talent, and business savvy. Also shows how competitive and challenging that scene is/was. You really have to keep your center. I salute you for following your dreams, and for the success you have had.

And I really appreciate us having you on this forum. So many talented people on the forum,it is challenging (and probably dangerous) to acknowledge one over another, but you are among the ones who constantly raise the bar for all of us. And that makes all of us better for it.

Really love this song!

Steve

Wow, what a story, especially for those of us sitting at our little desktop studios. I often think about Emily Dickinson and how she wasn't published in her lifetime and could easily have gotten missed in the dustpiles of history. How many songwriters have experienced the same thing? Hopefully not many. Maybe this song would've been a hit if RM had heard it on a good day. I wonder.

Thanks for your thoughts, ed...

I like the simplicity of the arrangement in the BIAB version, it feels more sincere. In the demo I like the stronger contrast between the verse and chorus, giving true wings for the story. Nice lyrics and good vocals on both versions.

Janne

Thanks for mentioning the harmony!

Janice

Floyd/ Janice

I enjoyed my listen , brilliant vocals guys and mix and arrangement.

As Expected.

I never listened to the Nashville one why ?.

Their is no way on gods earth we will get a full studio sound in home recordings , Damn near ..or in my opinion closer to the way I want to hear music now.. as we do hear Talent on the scale of producing, performing, arranging, production, writing, Mixing, mastering, creativity.


Now Why Would I want To Compare Eh !!!

I'm listening, Waiting for your reply congrats !.

Thanks

Floyd,

Listened to the BIAB version first—real pretty tune and stellar BIAB production . . . you couldn’t ask more of a pro demo. And a terrific vocal, btw. If I had on comment on the suggestion is that the kick on the drum seems a bit too strong . . . for me, at least . . . perhaps a slight bit of compression on it? Just a thought (use or lose), as you know my talents on mix are woefully lacking.

Then I listened to the Nashville Demo . . . well, it’s really, really clean and accentuated by just a killer vocal . . . and perfectly flawless. Real, real pretty . . . and deserving of radio play, no doubt.

And, yeah, it’s clearly a step above the BIAB version . . . BUT . . . for ordinary folks, you make a great point about the value of BIAB: “Your first demo using Band-In-A-Box will cost you about the same as a single Nashville demo (one song). BUT every one after that.... costs $0. ZERO!”

Ain’t that the truth . . . I’m just a newbie to the software, but the more I hear and the little more I learn, it makes me appreciate just how incredible this software is. Thanks BIAB for making it, and thank you Floyd for showing us all song after song just how good it can make us all sound.

My best to you,

Deej

WOW!!! This one brought a tear to my eye.....which is the greatest compliment I can give!! So sweet!! As a father of two teens who are approaching the age when they will set out on their own, this song means a lot to me. The vocal is just gorgeous......maybe your best Floyd, which is no small accomplishment! And Janice is as good of a harmony singer as I have ever heard (lead singer too!). ABSOLUTELY BEAUTIFUL!!!! BIAB Hall of famer for sure!! Take care my friend. Greg

Noel - I am glad that this resonated with you. I have been surprised that so few people even mentioned the subject matter of the song. I figured you would pick up on the unusual structure of the write...



I think you hit this one "on the head". I know that some people prefer the "sheen" of the Nashville demo, but I agree, it has far too much "brilliance" to the sound, and repeated listens really fatigues the ears. It's "just too much". It does make it "stand out" when compared against a "warmer mix" - and that was likely intentional at the time. These demos were heard by those searching for songs to record for their next record - against several others - all vying for attention - in that one listen that it would get looking to get place on the pile of "second listens". That over-done sheen was a necessity. But that is not how current music is presented "to the public" in current recordings - streaming, CDs, whatever recording might be listen to... I think you described all of that perfectly. Thanks!