|
Log in to post
|
Print Thread |
|
|
|
|
|
User Showcase
|
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 1,825
Expert
|
OP
Expert
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 1,825 |
Midnight Special Hi Folks, This is my version of "Midnight Special" - a song that is "Trad. Arr." meaning that we don't know who wrote it. The first printed reference to the song itself was in a 1923 and the lyrics were first recorded in print by Howard Odum in 1905. There have been many recordings of Midnight Special and the lyrics vary widely. The song refers to the passenger train Midnight Special and its "ever-loving light". Vocals & BV's - Nigel Spiers Backing Instruments from Band In A Box by PGMusic. Mixed & Mastered by Nigel Spiers Style - User Style Bass - 539 Guitar - 2676 Drums - NashvilleSwing8 Resonator - 609
Nigel Spiers
Christchurch, New Zealand
info@nzacoustics.com
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
User Showcase
|
Joined: Sep 2016
Posts: 2,780
Veteran
|
|
Veteran
Joined: Sep 2016
Posts: 2,780 |
Hi Nigel,
I only know this song from CCR (Creedence Clearwater Revival) and I was very fond of it!
I also read it was 'born' in the times of slavery and sang in the cottonfields (like the song: Cottonfields back home, also later performed by CCR). But I'm not sure.
Your performance sounds a lot like the CCR-version. It is very good.
There is one minor thing I would like to hear more: To sing it with more 'power' and as if it was your train.
You have a very good voice, so you wouldn't have a problem doing something like this. But, as always, it is a matter of taste.
Have a nice day,
Hans
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
User Showcase
|
Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 201
Apprentice
|
|
Apprentice
Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 201 |
Great job! I only know the CCR version as well. I do see the similarities, but think there's enough to differentiate your version from theirs.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
User Showcase
|
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 24,691
Veteran
|
|
Veteran
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 24,691 |
I have heard many a versions of this song and yours in one of the best. I loved your vocal and your arrangement of this classic.
This is a winner.
OK, a random thought;
Why does toilet paper need a commercial? Who's not buying it?
64 bit Win 10 Pro, the latest BiaB/RB, Roland Octa-Capture audio interface, a ton of software/hardware
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
User Showcase
|
Joined: Sep 2018
Posts: 1,362
Expert
|
|
Expert
Joined: Sep 2018
Posts: 1,362 |
Hi Nigel,
That is a pretty good version of the song. Well done!
Will
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
User Showcase
|
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 6,062
Veteran
|
|
Veteran
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 6,062 |
Hi Nigel,
I've heard this song done in many different ways over the years, and yours stands up with the best of them.
Nice arrangement, good vocal and mix.
Enjoyed!
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
User Showcase
|
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 8,972
Veteran
|
|
Veteran
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 8,972 |
Nigel,
This is truly outstanding... Love the arrangement and your vocal. Mix is pro all the way.
Bob
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
User Showcase
|
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 10,858
Veteran
|
|
Veteran
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 10,858 |
Cool version. I really like this. I've liked this song ever since I heard Fogerty and the boys sing it.
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.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
User Showcase
|
Joined: Jul 2015
Posts: 5,665
Veteran
|
|
Veteran
Joined: Jul 2015
Posts: 5,665 |
Nigel, I grew up on the CCR version but there's nothing wrong with this one! Love that resonator, it really gives the song the needed vibe! Nice vocal (and BGV). Great job putting the band together! Thanks, Torrey
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
User Showcase
|
Joined: Oct 2019
Posts: 294
Apprentice
|
|
Apprentice
Joined: Oct 2019
Posts: 294 |
Yeah, just when you think you know a lot about music, someone always comes along and proves you don't know everything. All this time, I thought this was a CCR song too! I always enjoyed that song, but I enjoyed your cover of it too. It almost reminded me of watching an old episode of HeeHaw. This version would have been right at home. Thanks for posting!
Last edited by Bawb; 08/10/21 10:38 AM.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
User Showcase
|
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 1,825
Expert
|
|
OP
Expert
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 1,825 |
Hi Hans,
Yes - this must be one of the most widely recorded songs ever - here is a clip from Wikipedia re artists who have covered it:
Lead Belly, Big Bill Broonzy, Sonny Terry & Brownie McGhee, Odetta, Les Paul, The Kingston Trio (who also recorded their song "The Tijuana Jail", which retains the same music but with new lyrics),[14] Pete Seeger, Peter, Paul and Mary, Burl Ives, Big Joe Turner, Bobby Darin, Cisco Houston, Jimmy Smith, Mungo Jerry, Van Morrison, Little Richard, Buckwheat Zydeco, Otis Rush, The Spencer Davis Group, Lonnie Donegan, Eric Clapton, The Louvin Brothers, Long John Baldry, The Kentucky Headhunters, Willie Watson, Mischief Brew, Hoyt Axton and Creedence Clearwater Revival, among others, have recorded the song. Jody Miller arranged her own version and included it on her first album Wednesday's Child is Full of Woe in 1963.
Harry Belafonte's 1962 version is notable for containing the first official recording of Bob Dylan, who played harmonica.[15]
Harry Dean Stanton performs the song in the 1967 movie Cool Hand Luke.[16]
Creedence Clearwater Revival‘s 1969 version was used in the opening sequence of Twilight Zone: The Movie, in a scene featuring Albert Brooks and Dan Aykroyd enthusiastically singing along.
ABBA recorded the song in 1975 for charity, as a part of a folk medley, along with "Pick a Bale of Cotton" and "On Top of Old Smokey". It was the B-side to their 1978 single "Summer Night City". The medley represents the group's only recording of material not written by Benny Andersson and Björn Ulvaeus after their breakthrough with "Ring Ring" in 1973.[17]
Dylan references a line from the song — "Shine your light on me" — on the second track, "Precious Angel", of his 1979 gospel album Slow Train Coming.[18]
Paul McCartney has performed it numerous times. It was the closing song on his 1988 album Снова в СССР and was performed on his 1991 appearance on MTV Unplugged, but was not included on the accompanying album.
Mischief Brew recorded a cover of "The Midnight Special" for their 2006 album, Songs From Under the Sink.
Best Regards
Nigel
Nigel Spiers
Christchurch, New Zealand
info@nzacoustics.com
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
User Showcase
|
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 2,281
Veteran
|
|
Veteran
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 2,281 |
Hi Nigel, can't say I'm familiar with the song but I like what you've done here. Simple arrangement and great vocals
Cheers
Mike B.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
User Showcase
|
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 1,825
Expert
|
|
OP
Expert
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 1,825 |
Hi Mario,
Thanks for your generous comments - much appreciated.
Best Regards
Nigel
Nigel Spiers
Christchurch, New Zealand
info@nzacoustics.com
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
User Showcase
|
Joined: Mar 2018
Posts: 7,256
Veteran
|
Veteran
Joined: Mar 2018
Posts: 7,256 |
Nigel, Nice take on oldie! Excellent vocals (and BGVs) clear mix. Seems like that PG resonator was made for it  Thank you for sharing! Misha.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
User Showcase
|
Joined: Jan 2020
Posts: 3,647
Veteran
|
|
Veteran
Joined: Jan 2020
Posts: 3,647 |
i really like what you did with the vocs, and the arrangement of the vocals.
i like character vocs like this.
well done.
just an idea...i hear a subtle piano in parts of the song.
choruses maybe ?
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: May 2019
Posts: 5,065
Veteran
|
|
Veteran
Joined: May 2019
Posts: 5,065 |
Nice, Nigel. When you started it I was instantly reminded of Huddy Ledbetter, and I love the way you developed it into an outstanding version.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
User Showcase
|
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 5,647
Veteran
|
|
Veteran
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 5,647 |
Nice laid back version - liked your vocal and the arrangement.
peter
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
User Showcase
|
Joined: Apr 2018
Posts: 2,060
Veteran
|
|
Veteran
Joined: Apr 2018
Posts: 2,060 |
Nigel,
I had no idea that this song was this old . . . I’m familiar with the CCR version, but, boy, a 100 year old song? Wow. I think you do a tremendous job on this version. Your vocal is distinct and warm, the production crisp and clear. Tune really resonates. Nice choices on the mix—like going with just that drum and bass at around 1:40 in the second chorus. Daring choice that works really well. Impressive interpretation!
All my best to you,
Deej
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
User Showcase
|
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 1,825
Expert
|
|
OP
Expert
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 1,825 |
Hi Dave,
Thanks for your thoughts - much appreciated.
Best Regards
Nigel
Nigel Spiers
Christchurch, New Zealand
info@nzacoustics.com
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
User Showcase
|
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 1,825
Expert
|
|
OP
Expert
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 1,825 |
Hi Bob,
Thanks for your kind comments.
Best Regards
Nigel
Nigel Spiers
Christchurch, New Zealand
info@nzacoustics.com
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
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.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Band-in-a-Box 2026 for Mac Videos
With the release of Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Mac, we’re rolling out a collection of brand-new videos on our YouTube channel. We’ll keep this forum post updated so you can easily find all the latest videos in one convenient spot.
Whether you're exploring new features, checking out the latest RealTracks or Style PAKs, this is your go-to guide for Band-in-a-Box® 2026.
Check out this forum post for "One Stop Shopping" of our Band-in-a-Box® 2026 Mac Videos!
Band-in-a-Box 2026 for Mac is Here!
Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Mac 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 100 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 Mac and save up to 50% on most upgrade packages during our special offer—available until May 15, 2026. 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 Mac packages, but you can unlock even more—including 20 unreleased RealTracks—by upgrading to the 2026 49-PAK for just $49.
Holiday Weekend Hours
As we hop into the Easter weekend, here are our holiday hours:
April 3 (Good Friday): 8:00 AM – 4:00 PM PDT
April 4 (Saturday): Closed
April 5 (Easter Sunday): Closed
April 6 (Easter Monday): Open regular hours
Wishing you an egg-cellent weekend!
— Team PG
Update to Build 10 of RealBand® 2026 for Windows®!
If you're already using RealBand 2026 for Windows, download build 10 to get all the latest additions and enhancements.
Band-in-a-Box® 2025 for Mac® users: Build 904 now available!
If you're already using Band-in-a-Box® 2025 for Mac®, make sure to grab the latest update! Build 904 is now available for download and includes the newest additions and enhancements from our team.
Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Windows® users: Build 1237 is now available!
Already a Band-in-a-Box 2026 for Windows user? Stay up to date and download the build 1237 to get all the latest additions and enhancements.
PowerTracks Pro 2026 for Windows is Here!
PowerTracks 2026 is here—bringing powerful new enhancements designed to make your production workflow faster, smoother, and more intuitive than ever.
The enhanced Mixer now shows Track Type and Instrument icons for instant track recognition, while a new grid option simplifies editing views. Non-floating windows adopt a modern title bar style, replacing the legacy blue bar.
The Master Volume is now applied at the end of the audio chain for consistent levels and full-signal master effects.
Tablature now includes a “Save bends when saving XML” option for improved compatibility with PG Music tools. Plus, you can instantly match all track heights with a simple Ctrl-release after resizing, and Add2 chords from MGU/SGU files are now fully supported... and more!
Get started today—first-time packages start at just $49.
Already using PowerTracks Pro Audio? Upgrade for as little as $29 and enjoy the latest improvements!
Order now!
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Forums57
Topics86,189
Posts801,744
Members40,063
| |
Most Online64,515
Apr 8th, 2026
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Dansk
Deutsch - Windows
Español
Français - Windows
Italiano - Windows
Nederlands
Polski
Português
Svenskt
русский
Japanese
Simplified Chinese
Traditional Chinese
Korean