Previous Thread
Index
Next Thread
Print Thread
Go To
Page 1 of 3 1 2 3
User Showcase
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 6,029
Veteran
OP Offline
Veteran
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 6,029
Wheels of Fortune

Story of the Song:

The song started out as a standard 55 BPM slow blues, a straight I-IV-V 12 bar, one of many BIAB tracks I created that I use to jam over. Last week Marty came up with a melody and wrote a couple of verses for me to sing. I tried a few approaches, but it wasn't coming together, didn't have the right feel.

On Sunday I tried a completely different approach, came up with more of a J.J Cale/Dire Straits type groove, different chord changes, faster BPM, and a different melody, and by changing some of the lyrics and adding a few more, they fit the new melody and BPM perfectly. I then wrote a bridge to lead into the guitar solo.

The Band:

1410:Piano, SynthLayer, Rhythm Soul70sA-B Ev16 100
3164:Guitar, Baritone Electric, Rhythm BluesyPopSteady8thsCleanBrent Ev 100

Marty Straub: Bass
Dave Bell: Guitars and vocal

EZDrummer2: Drums and Percussion

Mixed in Reaper, mastered with Ozone9

Wheels of Fortune (2022, Marty Straub and Dave Bell)

The wheels of fortune are rollin' right on by me now.  They're speeding by this sorrow, that I just can't hide.
I'm sinking in the shadows of social poverty now. Now that you left me lying here with pain inside.
Oh, the emptiness I'm feelin' stays here when you are gone.  I can't go on like this, no, no.  I can't go on.  

The wheels of fortune are flying off the cart. They're rollin' right on by me in the dark.
I have no chance to catch them, not knowing where you are.  They roll on by me as I'm searchin' where to start.
Oh, I can't go on with searchin' if you can't be found.  You gotta lower me down, down, down.  You can't be found.

The wheels of fortune keep on rollin' on, they always seem to pass on by.
Rollin', rollin', rollin' on, I just want a piece of the pie.
Rollin' on ..... right on by.

Solo

Outro:
The wheels of fortune are rolling right on by me now.
Rollin' on ....


All comments welcome!

EDIT: Uploaded a new mix, minor tweaks (01/10/2022)

Last edited by BlueAttitude; 01/10/22 04:17 AM. Reason: new mix
User Showcase
Joined: Sep 2016
Posts: 2,731
Veteran
Offline
Veteran
Joined: Sep 2016
Posts: 2,731
Hi Dave and Marty,

Well, J.J. Cale is alive and back in this very atractive song!
(and with his brilliant partner Marty of course)

Like this kind of music very much.
A very strong solo and nice rhythm.
I longe for my rum after this.

Very well done, both of you!!!
And nive 2022
Hans


Hans Berkhout
(Birchwood)
https://soundcloud.com/user-296497130
User Showcase
Joined: Nov 2017
Posts: 480
R
Journeyman
Offline
Journeyman
R
Joined: Nov 2017
Posts: 480
Of course this is showing my age, but it sounds a lot like the Doors back in the 60s, great mix!!

User Showcase
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 6,029
Veteran
OP Offline
Veteran
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 6,029
Originally Posted By: Birchwood
Hi Dave and Marty,

Well, J.J. Cale is alive and back in this very atractive song!
(and with his brilliant partner Marty of course)

Like this kind of music very much.
A very strong solo and nice rhythm.
I longe for my rum after this.

Very well done, both of you!!!
And nive 2022
Hans


Hi Hans,

Thanks for the very nice review, very much appreciated!

Hey, one of these days I'll get back to Holland, and when I do, the rum is on me!

Best to you and yours for 2022.

User Showcase
Joined: Jul 2015
Posts: 5,659
Veteran
Offline
Veteran
Joined: Jul 2015
Posts: 5,659
What a slick sound you've got going here Dave! Marty's contributions to this are invaluable! Everything here is first class! Great guitar sound and chops! That chorus has got a catchy melody! Thanks, Torrey

User Showcase
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 10,808
Veteran
Offline
Veteran
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 10,808
Cool tune.

I'm currently binge watching Breaking Bad, and I could hear this as one of the rare underscore songs. It has that dark feel that would work well in a show like that. The slightly out of tune guitar fits it well as does the almost whispered vocal track.

Nicely done.


You can find my music at:
www.herbhartley.com
Add 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: Dec 2003
Posts: 5,647
Veteran
Offline
Veteran
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 5,647
Dave & Marty

Sounds like a lost J J Cale classic.

Loved the drum programming - you do that very well.

Nice bass, vocals and some excellent melodic and always interesting guitar phrases (nice bend near the start of the solo!)

Top notch.

Peter

User Showcase
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 1,825
Expert
Offline
Expert
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 1,825
Hi Dave,

Love the groove - it reminds me of JJ Cale (which is a very good thing).
NB Just noticed that Peter had already made the comment about JJ Cale.

I like your vocals too - I would like to hear them a bit louder in the mix.

Well Done.

Best Regards
Nigel

Last edited by NigelSpiers; 01/07/22 03:15 AM.

Nigel Spiers
Christchurch, New Zealand
info@nzacoustics.com
User Showcase
Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 3,151
Veteran
Offline
Veteran
Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 3,151
Well, this got earwormed for me real quick and isn't going away any time soon. Subtle variations to the usual slow blues made this special. Nice work, now get out of my ear you guys. ; )


Windows 11, Intel Core I5 10400, 16 gig ram, Scarlett 2i2, Sony Acid Music Studio 10, BIAB 2020 UltraPlus Pak
User Showcase
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 8,187
Veteran
Offline
Veteran
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 8,187
Ooooh! Slinky!

The vocal really helps set the mood.

Lots of ear candy, like the bell tree, scratchy guitar and the congas. Nice stereo imaging, too! Nice build into the guitar solo.


-- David Cuny

My virtual singer development blog
Vocal control, you say. Never heard of it. Is that some kind of ProTools thing?

BiaB 2025 | Windows 11 | Reaper | Way too many VSTis.
User Showcase
Joined: Apr 2016
Posts: 7,233
Veteran
Offline
Veteran
Joined: Apr 2016
Posts: 7,233
Yep it has THAT vibe and delivery. Different lead guitar style and tone but that's a good thing as it marks it as your own.
Really nice playing Marty...nice lyrics too.
Dave...done good...played hard!


Cheers
rayc
"What's so funny about peace, love & understanding?" - N.Lowe
User Showcase
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 6,029
Veteran
OP Offline
Veteran
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 6,029
Originally Posted By: Ronnie Fields
Of course this is showing my age, but it sounds a lot like the Doors back in the 60s, great mix!!


Hey Ronnie, thanks for taking the time to listen and comment!

Man, I listened to the Doors a lot back in the 60's and early 70's, still own most of their albums.

Originally Posted By: Torrey Bliss
What a slick sound you've got going here Dave! Marty's contributions to this are invaluable! Everything here is first class! Great guitar sound and chops! That chorus has got a catchy melody! Thanks, Torrey


Hi Torrey,

Well, this song wouldn't have been born without help from Marty, my lyric writing skills are mediocre at best eek

Thanks for the listen and kind words, very much appreciated!

User Showcase
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 6,029
Veteran
OP Offline
Veteran
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 6,029
Originally Posted By: Guitarhacker
Cool tune.

I'm currently binge watching Breaking Bad, and I could hear this as one of the rare underscore songs. It has that dark feel that would work well in a show like that. The slightly out of tune guitar fits it well as does the almost whispered vocal track.

Nicely done.


Hey Herb,

Happy you liked the song!

Breaking Bad certainly lends itself for binge watching, I've done that myself twice now.

Guitars are not out of tune BTW, I have to disagree with you on that. I always check the tuning at the beginning of a recording session, and several times during as well.

Thanks for taking the time to listen and comment!

User Showcase
Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 12,879
Veteran
Offline
Veteran
Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 12,879
Dave & Marty,

Love the feel of this! To David's "slinky" I'll add "Silky" and Smokey" - a great combination.

The vocal is COOL. (I wanted it to have just a little bit more of a "close mic" sound - to match the tone).

Marty's bass is nicely silky and smokey, too!!

Nice guitar work throughout. Good fills & leads. The scratchy funk is a nice touch.

Drums sound good. In a really good space.

Excellent mix. On my 3rd listen...

fj

User Showcase
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 24,551
Veteran
Offline
Veteran
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 24,551
Originally Posted By: dcuny
Ooooh! Slinky!

The vocal really helps set the mood.

Lots of ear candy, like the bell tree, scratchy guitar and the congas. Nice stereo imaging, too! Nice build into the guitar solo.


I totally agree.

I also got a Doors feeling on this one. Outstanding groove and a magnificent vocal, bass and lead work.

Loved it.


Back in my day the only time we started panic buying was when the bartender shouted "last call"!

64 bit Win 10 Pro, the latest BiaB/RB, Roland Octa-Capture audio interface, a ton of software/hardware
User Showcase
Joined: Mar 2018
Posts: 7,220
Veteran
Offline
Veteran
Joined: Mar 2018
Posts: 7,220
Dave & Marty,
Love this! Not sure what it was before, fuhgeddaboudit. This one is great! Excellent theme and vocals. JJ was a great influencer, I am sure he would approve. Neat solo and ace playing by both of you. Really liked this one. Thank you for sharing.

Misha.

User Showcase
Joined: May 2019
Posts: 5,003
Veteran
Offline
Veteran
Joined: May 2019
Posts: 5,003
Thanks for everything, Dave, and please take me with you to visit Hans. Meeting you in person is surely on my bucket list, Hans. Thanks to all who mentioned me and JJ Cale. smile Herb & Dave, hope you guys binged on Better Call Saul, 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: Nov 2007
Posts: 6,029
Veteran
OP Offline
Veteran
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 6,029
Originally Posted By: PeterF
Dave & Marty

Sounds like a lost J J Cale classic.

Loved the drum programming - you do that very well.

Nice bass, vocals and some excellent melodic and always interesting guitar phrases (nice bend near the start of the solo!)

Top notch.

Peter


Thanks very much, Peter!

Originally Posted By: NigelSpiers
Hi Dave,

Love the groove - it reminds me of JJ Cale (which is a very good thing).
NB Just noticed that Peter had already made the comment about JJ Cale.

I like your vocals too - I would like to hear them a bit louder in the mix.

Well Done.

Best Regards
Nigel


Hi Nigel,

Well, I still cringe at the sound of my own voice, not quite ready to turn it up wink Thanks for the positive comments!

User Showcase
Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 1,081
Expert
Offline
Expert
Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 1,081
Nice work. Great guitar playing. The Bass is in the groove. Good use of the band. Outstanding blues here. Good job to all.


My music can be heard at: The Cracks
User Showcase
Joined: Sep 2016
Posts: 2,731
Veteran
Offline
Veteran
Joined: Sep 2016
Posts: 2,731
Originally Posted By: BabuMusic
Thanks for everything, Dave, and please take me with you to visit Hans. Meeting you in person is surely on my bucket list, Hans. Thanks to all who mentioned me and JJ Cale. smile Herb & Dave, hope you guys binged on Better Call Saul, too.


Well Dave and Marty, you are very welcome! bring your guitars with you (I have only acoustic stuff) and we have a wonderful jam session, accompanied by nice rum(bottles)...
I'm proud to be on your bucketlist, Marty. No other Dutchy does, I bet ;-)

See you,
Hans


Hans Berkhout
(Birchwood)
https://soundcloud.com/user-296497130
Previous Thread
Next Thread
Go To
Page 1 of 3 1 2 3

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
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!

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!

Forum Statistics
Forums57
Topics86,081
Posts799,854
Members40,029
Most Online44,367
Mar 4th, 2026
Newest Members
AurealiusB, sam31985, jyotish karan, bububz, Ramon C.
40,028 Registered Users
Top Posters(30 Days)
MarioD 142
DC Ron 98
rsdean 93
WaoBand 86
DrDan 68
Today's Birthdays
There are no members with birthdays on this day.
Powered by UBB.threads™ PHP Forum Software 7.7.5