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This song began with the phrase "dead reckoning" Cambridge Dictionary:"a way of calculating the position of a ship or aircraft using only information about the direction and distance it has travelled from a known point" Replace "ship or aircraft" with most of us and that seems a good description of how we travel through life. The title line I stumbled on from a travel website... not original, but fair game for an alert songwriter! The Million Star Hotel Style is _APPLES.STY (Apples Even-16 Americana Ballad) RealTracks in style: 2877:Bass, Acoustic, AmericanaSlow16thsByron Ev16 060 RealTracks in song: 2667:Pedal Steel, Background DreamySingleNote Ev 075 RealTracks in style: 3159:Guitar, Baritone Electric, Rhythm AmericanaSlow16thsBrentFX Ev16 060 RealTracks in song: 3058:Guitar, Acoustic, Fingerpicking SongwriterAlternating8thsQuinn Ev 065 RealTracks in song: 2542:Pedal Steel, Background ModernBalladAtmosphere Ev16 065 RT 1596 Acoustic guitar RealDrums [in style:AmericanaRoots16th^01-a:Toms, b:Snare RT 3156 Fiddle5string RT3023 vocal oohs ******************* The Million Star Hotel danger don`t go there on charts you can`t rely stay home hang a picture in your little box of sky sit by the window in the land of watch and wait for a ship sails back roads as your breath on the glass fades there`s that loner leaning into the wind try to read on his face the map of all he`s seen by dead reckoning he travels under heaven`s spell tonight he`ll sleep in the million star hotel doubt gives a last shiver compass reads magnetic south city folds around you hold course through crowds in a prairie night ocean lost in wonder sea grass a coyote circles wild eyes on your trespass there`s that loner leaning into the wind try to read on his face the map of all he`s seen by dead reckoning he travels under heaven`s spell tonight he`ll sleep in the million star hotel feel the motion moving at the speed of hope destination hidden eye on the sky hand on the rope by dead reckoning we travel under heaven`s spell all we know is we sleep in the million star hotel © Robert Cordrey Jan. 2020
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Super visual Robert. Cool vocal and harmonies. Loved the backtrack
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Evocative lyrics - you're a very poetic writer. The pedal steel does a good job setting the tone, as does your voice. A very enjoyable listen! 
-- 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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Love the way you write! Man, just one great line after another.
Nice use of the pedal steel, it really sets the mood early on, and nice harmonies in the chorus.
Enjoyed this one.
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Robert,
Cool.
Your unique, picturesque lyric style...your impassioned vocal...the steel...the harmonies - all high points in this one.
Neat title! (Dead Reckoning would make a good one, too!!)
Enjoyed.
fj
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coyote, wild eyes on your trespass. That was my favorite line. Also breath on the glass fades. Very Updike to me.
This felt a little more like a song rather than poetry set to music. Good production.
I'm a big fan, as I think you know.
Windows 11, Intel Core I5 10400, 16 gig ram, Scarlett 2i2, Sony Acid Music Studio 10, BIAB 2020 UltraPlus Pak
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Wonderful song! Very good composition and mix... and I really, really like the lyrics. Passages like this:
"doubt gives a last shiver
compass reads magnetic south
city folds around you
hold course through crowds"
...is just so poetic. Love it!
Really well done job!
Edited because I need to ask: Is there really a hotel called that?
Thanks for sharing,
Will
Last edited by Will Josef; 02/04/20 12:50 PM.
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Super visual Robert. Cool vocal and harmonies. Loved the backtrack Thank you, Scott...backing has those sustained notes on pedal steel I mentioned to you. Evocative lyrics - you're a very poetic writer. The pedal steel does a good job setting the tone, as does your voice. A very enjoyable listen! David, I appreciate that! Love the way you write! Man, just one great line after another.
Nice use of the pedal steel, it really sets the mood early on, and nice harmonies in the chorus.
Enjoyed this one. Dave, Thank you! I scribbled more and threw away more lines than usual for this one- its very encouraging to hear you liked what`s left. Robert
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Wonderful lyric. The backing is very effective and well put together. Everything sounds good, and the whole package takes me on a mental and emotional journey that will likely be different next time I hear this. And I will.
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I can't decide if your songs are perfect for sipping whiskey, cannabis or a mountain retreat.
Lovely narrative and melody.
Mentioning dead reckoning in proximity to and million stars struck me as a little odd - but I think I already had a sextant in my mind.
Lovely stuff.
Cheers
rayc
"What's so funny about peace, love & understanding?" - N.Lowe
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Wonderful lyrics, and a enjoyable delivery, Robert. Perfect arrangement to bring out the mood.
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Robert,
There are tunes that plug you in like a appliance to outlet, there are tunes that are done well, but far from emotional state, there are some that are bursting with fine detail like insane kaleidoscope.
I do not worry about those things when listening to your songs. I just fall back and enjoy. Robert, beautiful tune. Everything shines, especially lyrics and vocals.This was a treat to my ears and mind. Thank you for sharing.
Misha.
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Love the lyrics! So poetic, they stand on their own.
Very nice!
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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Conjures up all sorts of wonderful earth images.
Well done!
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Seems very lonely & desolate to me... Good vocals, backing, lyrics, & delivery... But if given a choice... I rather not spend a night in that "million star hotel" 
Jim
†=☮&♥
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Robert,
Cool.
Your unique, picturesque lyric style...your impassioned vocal...the steel...the harmonies - all high points in this one.
Neat title! (Dead Reckoning would make a good one, too!!)
Enjoyed.
fj
Thanks for your comments,Floyd. Until the day before I posted, the song was called "Dead Reckoning"... the last line just seemed more sparkly! And now I can still use the original title for a gunslingers` shootout song or something. coyote, wild eyes on your trespass. That was my favorite line. Also breath on the glass fades. Very Updike to me.
This felt a little more like a song rather than poetry set to music. Good production.
I'm a big fan, as I think you know.
Thanks for those very kind comments. On this song I wrote the melody before I had more than a few lines of lyrics... just saying; I`m wordy there`s no doubt, but hardly ever have lyrics done before I think of the music. Wonderful song! Very good composition and mix... and I really, really like the lyrics. Passages like this:
"doubt gives a last shiver
compass reads magnetic south
city folds around you
hold course through crowds"
...is just so poetic. Love it!
Really well done job!
Edited because I need to ask: Is there really a hotel called that?
Thanks for sharing,
Will Will, I don`t know where that hotel is... I`ve stayed in a few the owners overrated that much though! Thanks very much for saying the lyrics connected with you- its encouraging to hear that. Robert
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Back in the early 90's when we started listening to a lot
of Americana several of our favorite artists formed a
company called Dead Reckoning...
So nowadays we are listening to Americana style music on the
forum...cool.
The poetry is wonderful and the emotive vocal captures,
along with the band, the feeling of motion as the tune
progresses.
Janice's comment, "As always wonderful imagery!"
Indeed.
Topped off with a very nice mix also.
Nice!
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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Robert, you are a poet turned lyricist, and you have mastered that!
Great backing tracks, excellent vocals, but man those outstanding lyrics did it for me.
Outstanding work Robert.
It takes courage for a man to admit his wife was wrong.
64 bit Win 10 Pro, the latest BiaB/RB, Roland Octa-Capture audio interface, a ton of software/hardware
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Wonderful lyric. The backing is very effective and well put together. Everything sounds good, and the whole package takes me on a mental and emotional journey that will likely be different next time I hear this. And I will. I`m glad you enjoyed the journey! I can't decide if your songs are perfect for sipping whiskey, cannabis or a mountain retreat.
Lovely narrative and melody.
Mentioning dead reckoning in proximity to and million stars struck me as a little odd - but I think I already had a sextant in my mind.
Lovely stuff.
I don`t know much about sipping whisky-those other things you mentioned quite a bit! I was counting on some sailor to notice that, strictly speaking, stars aren`t involved in dead reckoning...and that most landlubbers like me think "winging it" when they hear the phrase. Thanks for your always interesting comments. Wonderful lyrics, and a enjoyable delivery, Robert. Perfect arrangement to bring out the mood. I appreciate your listen! Robert,
There are tunes that plug you in like a appliance to outlet, there are tunes that are done well, but far from emotional state, there are some that are bursting with fine detail like insane kaleidoscope.
I do not worry about those things when listening to your songs. I just fall back and enjoy. Robert, beautiful tune. Everything shines, especially lyrics and vocals.This was a treat to my ears and mind. Thank you for sharing.
Misha. Misha, Wow! If I every write album notes I`d like to use these great comments... and to think someone can actually relate to my "insane kaleidoscope" has made my day and then some. Robert
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Robert
Certainly musically one of your best - great sound, mix and melody with very nice harmonies.
Lyrics as always a stand out.
Excellent.
Peter
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Band-in-a-Box 2026 Video: AI Stems & Notes - split polyphonic audio into instruments and transcribe
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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!
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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!
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