Previous Thread
Index
Next Thread
Print Thread
Go To
Page 1 of 2 1 2
#664362 07/16/21 02:03 AM
User Showcase
Joined: May 2019
Posts: 4,945
Veteran
OP Offline
Veteran
Joined: May 2019
Posts: 4,945
Back To The River on Soundcloud
Back To The River on YouTube

A song about leaving without saying goodbye. Perhaps another mystery disappearance like in my You Coulda Fooled Me. In this one we don't know if she died by accident or suicide, left him for someone else or just left him. She's gone and ain't commin' back. Your comments and suggestions are MUCH apreciated. Thanks.

Style is _PJONPBA.STY (Pop Ballad Piano & Acoustic Guit)

RealTracks in style: 1728:Piano, Acoustic, Rhythm PopBalladJohn Ev 085
RealTracks in style: ~362:Guitar, Acoustic, Strumming Ev 085
RealTracks in song: 1766:Mandolin, Rhythm Pop16Sync Ev 085
RealDrums [in style:NashvilleEven8^2-a:Sidestick, HiHat , b:Snare, HiHat
Utility Track: 1903 Acoustic Guitar
Utility Track: 1601 Mandolin
Utility Track: 2976 Ooz & Oz
I added bass and vocals and some acoustic guitar for the bridge. Couldn' fashion the right solo so lo I wrote the Sforzando midi flute & piano parts. Since it turned out to be a sad attempt at conterpoint, the sadness seemed to fit the song so it stayed. Suggestions?

Back To The River

She was waving from the bank of the river that night as I watched from the bridge.
She will never know how hard I cried after what she did.
And now Heaven only knows where that river's gonna flow.
She's never coming back this way I know.
So now I know I cannot go back to the river.

I remember all those times when she looked into my eyes
as she promised me her love.
My only vision now is sadness in those lies when I watched her from above.
Was she waving me goodbye? Was I too scared then to try?
She's never comin' back to hear my cry,
and, yes, I know I'll never go N

BR: I will never hold you in my arms again, never have a chance to say goodbye.
Was there someone else? Something that I did?
Now what can I do? You never even told me why.

Such a long, long time ago, but this feeling never passed.
There's still no answer why.
We were taking it all slow, but it happened all too fast.
I had no chance to say goodbye.
Was she waving me goodbye? Was I too scared then to try?
She's never comin' back to hear my cry,
and, yes, I know I'll never go N
Oh, God, I know I cannot go N


Enjoy whatever happens!
marty

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@babumusic51
SoundCloud: https://soundcloud.com/marty-straub
Band in a Box, Reaper, Cakewalk, Ozone 12, EZDrummer
User Showcase
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 8,777
Veteran
Offline
Veteran
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 8,777
Marty,

This is excellent! Killer chorus and great vocal.

Loved it all!

Bob

User Showcase
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 5,993
Veteran
Offline
Veteran
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 5,993
Beautiful song, Marty!

Really well written, and one of your best vocals I think.

Nice!

User Showcase
Joined: Apr 2013
Posts: 8,833
C
Veteran
Offline
Veteran
C
Joined: Apr 2013
Posts: 8,833
Really nice song. Good performance and production.

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: Aug 2004
Posts: 1,825
Expert
Offline
Expert
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 1,825
Hi Marty,

Yes I agree - a good song and well performed.

I liked the way you dropped out the bass and drums after the instrumental break to give the song a bit of light and shade.

Best Regards
Nigel


Nigel Spiers
Christchurch, New Zealand
info@nzacoustics.com
User Showcase
Joined: Mar 2018
Posts: 7,155
Veteran
Online Content
Veteran
Joined: Mar 2018
Posts: 7,155
Marty,
Fantastic performance and composition. Big acoustic sound. Arrangement is ace. Nice use of mandolin, OOhs and that flute sounds really good. Sad and beautiful piece. Thank you for sharing.

Misha.

P.S. That girl dancing on a remains of the wall made me nervous.

User Showcase
Joined: Jan 2020
Posts: 3,608
J
Veteran
Offline
Veteran
J
Joined: Jan 2020
Posts: 3,608
beautifully emotive with great lyrics.

if i can make a suggestion ?
for some reason, i hear... try a vocal double marty ?

ie keep current vocs but do another vocal trak singing along with original and placed just under the current vocal.
its an old production trick and can work really well on this type of song.
experiment with it only in places and also all the way through in a subtle fashion. eg choruses// changes.

nice song.
best.
OM


my songs....mixed for good earbuds...(fyi..my vocs on all songs..)
https://soundcloud.com/alfsongs
(90 songs created useing bb/rb)
(lots of tips of mine in pg tips forum.)
User Showcase
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 24,414
Veteran
Online Content
Veteran
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 24,414
Mary, this is a super sad love song. Your instrumentation is perfect for this song. Super lyrics sung by a fantastic singer; I could hear the pain in your voice. The mix was spot on also.

Two thumbs up!


Love is grand.
Divorce is twenty grand!

64 bit Win 10 Pro, the latest BiaB/RB, Roland Octa-Capture audio interface, a ton of software/hardware
User Showcase
Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 3,353
ROG Offline
Veteran
Offline
Veteran
Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 3,353
Hi Marty,

Had me reaching for the Kleenex after the first verse!

Good song and a super vocal performance.

Nice instrumentation and an excellent mix.

Enjoyed.

ROG.

User Showcase
Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 12,836
Veteran
Offline
Veteran
Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 12,836
Marty,

Sad song. Very well done. The arrangement/production fits the song perfectly.

Good vocal. Well mixed.

Great job on all the parts!

fj

User Showcase
Joined: Sep 2016
Posts: 2,674
Veteran
Offline
Veteran
Joined: Sep 2016
Posts: 2,674
Hi Marty,

These rivers gave us a lot of inspiration, don't they?
Your and my rivers give a lot of emotion too!

But to focus on your 'river'; A very nice song, a lovely melody and -of course- a lot of heartbreak.
(some women don't know what they can cause to a man).

I agree with Floyd this is one of your best vocals. I don't know why, because you sing in the same stacato way as before, but here it fits more in the rhythm I think.

A very good song, Marty. Enjoyed it!

Hans
(it's still in my head, I like to sing along...)


Hans Berkhout
(Birchwood)
https://soundcloud.com/user-296497130
User Showcase
Joined: Apr 2016
Posts: 7,218
Veteran
Offline
Veteran
Joined: Apr 2016
Posts: 7,218
Reminds me of Bobby Goldsboro's Honey...without the detail and without showing the monster.
As cool as the arrangement is I reckon you should go the whole hog and add strings.
Well done and a really, really good vocal performance + capture.


Cheers
rayc
"What's so funny about peace, love & understanding?" - N.Lowe
User Showcase
Joined: Feb 2016
Posts: 1,677
Expert
Offline
Expert
Joined: Feb 2016
Posts: 1,677
Hi Marty,

great song and very nice video. A teriffic write and well-produced.
Yes, things like that happen, and if they happen to you they can make you go nuts...

Liked the song a lot.

Take care,

Stefan

User Showcase
Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 8,251
Veteran
Offline
Veteran
Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 8,251
Lovely vocal Marty. Harmonies were excellent as well. Very cool laid back piece of music. Very cool lyric. Well done.


Scott Collingwood
https://soundcloud.com/scottt709
https://soundcloud.com/spiritlevel-ca
https://www.youtube.com/@SpiritLevel-ge3hm/
User Showcase
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 5,647
Veteran
Offline
Veteran
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 5,647
Marty

A really nice tear-jerker. Nicely played sung and arranged.

Agree with Ray some really soppy strings would sound good.

Excellent work.

Peter

Last edited by PeterF; 07/19/21 05:52 PM.
User Showcase
Joined: Apr 2019
Posts: 708
Journeyman
Offline
Journeyman
Joined: Apr 2019
Posts: 708
Hi Marty
Good story telling, lovely melody and excellent arrangement. Really good vocal, with plenty of emotion and conviction.
Regards,
Leon

User Showcase
Joined: May 2019
Posts: 4,945
Veteran
OP Offline
Veteran
Joined: May 2019
Posts: 4,945
Originally Posted By: rsdean
Marty,
This is excellent! Killer chorus and great vocal.
Loved it all!
Bob

Thanks, Bob.
Originally Posted By: BlueAttitude
Beautiful song, Marty!
Really well written, and one of your best vocals I think.
Nice!

Thanks, Dave. I know a solo by you would make it much better, but I can't ask every time. Thanks for the help on the mixing.
Originally Posted By: Charlie Fogle
Really nice song. Good performance and production.
Charlie

Thank you, Charlie.
Originally Posted By: NigelSpiers
Hi Marty,
Yes I agree - a good song and well performed.
I liked the way you dropped out the bass and drums after the instrumental break to give the song a bit of light and shade.
Best Regards
Nigel

Thanks, Nigel. I tried making that verse a little like the solo was flashing "Years Later..." if that makes any sense.
Originally Posted By: Rustyspoon#
Marty,
Fantastic performance and composition. Big acoustic sound. Arrangement is ace. Nice use of mandolin, OOhs and that flute sounds really good. Sad and beautiful piece. Thank you for sharing.
Misha.
P.S. That girl dancing on a remains of the wall made me nervous.

Thanks so much, Misha. Yeah, she reminded me of my recently acquired fear of heights, too.


Enjoy whatever happens!
marty

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@babumusic51
SoundCloud: https://soundcloud.com/marty-straub
Band in a Box, Reaper, Cakewalk, Ozone 12, EZDrummer
User Showcase
Joined: Jul 2015
Posts: 5,626
Veteran
Offline
Veteran
Joined: Jul 2015
Posts: 5,626
A different type of tune for you Marty but you did in excellent fashion! Very nice vocal and your bass is as good as any of the realtracks or better! Thanks, Torrey

User Showcase
Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 16,018
Veteran
Offline
Veteran
Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 16,018
Very poignant and well sung with emotion and confidence.

And all of your instrumental performances are right in the pocket with the well selected BiaB tracks.

Great soundstage too ... we are suckers for open mixes like this. Well done.


Enjoyed it and now off to 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
User Showcase
Joined: Sep 2018
Posts: 3,625
Veteran
Offline
Veteran
Joined: Sep 2018
Posts: 3,625
This is one of your best. What a fabulous vocal!

A song from an era long gone by.

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

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
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!

Season's Greetings!

Wishing everyone a happy, healthy holiday season—thanks for being part of our community!

The office will be closed for Christmas Day, but we will be back on Boxing Day (Dec 26th) at 6:00am PST.

Team PG

Band-in-a-Box 2026 Video: The Newly Designed Piano Roll Window

In this video, we explore the updated Piano Roll, complete with a modernized look and exciting new features. You’ll see new filtering options that make it easy to focus on specific note groups, smoother and more intuitive note entry and editing, and enhanced options for zooming, looping, and more.

Watch the video.

You can see all the 2026 videos on our forum!

Band-in-a-Box 2026 Video: AI Stems & Notes - split polyphonic audio into instruments and transcribe

This video demonstrates how to use the new AI-Notes feature together with the AI-Stems splitter, allowing you to select an audio file and have it separated into individual stems while transcribing each one to its own MIDI track. AI-Notes converts polyphonic audio—either full mixes or individual instruments—into MIDI that you can view in notation or play back instantly.

Watch the video.

You can see all the 2026 videos on our forum!

Forum Statistics
Forums57
Topics85,936
Posts797,927
Members39,986
Most Online25,754
Jan 24th, 2025
Newest Members
Dorfenator, sebb, mo8, Syrenia, elderdawg
39,986 Registered Users
Top Posters(30 Days)
MarioD 151
DC Ron 129
Noel96 125
rsdean 107
rharv 69
Today's Birthdays
cdell, sirby, tonnie
Powered by UBB.threads™ PHP Forum Software 7.7.5