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The Rider A song we recorded many years ago with zero thought (on my part) to the band aside from A and B substyle choices in BiaB. So this was fun to revisit. This song is a bit of American history (and mythology) and a whole lot of cautionary tale with regard to disruptive technologies. For those unfamiliar with the Pony Express, here's the Wiki. This genre of Old West music was wildly popular in the USA 60 years ago; Gunfighter Ballads and Trail Songs is my favorite album example of that style. Our vocalist learned to play the guitar by playing along to this album, which is pretty cool, and he REALLY enjoyed singing this song. THANKS in advance for any comments/input. Know there's a lot going on in the forum of late... Lyrics: R.W. Davis Lead Vocals: D.A. Hughes BGVs, music, arrangement, production, mix, master: me (Think this is my first posted BGV. Dusty didn't sing one at the time so decided to stretch a bit. He's obviously much more skilled, but I had fun doing this. So there's that. Ha!) Style is _CNTRY34.STY (Melodic Country Waltz) RealTracks in style: ~1123:Bass, Acoustic, CountryWaltz Sw 140 RealTracks in style: ~2050:Piano, Acoustic, Solo-Accompaniment CountryWaltzJohn Sw 140 (played MIDI transcript using Wave Grand Rhapsody) RealTracks in style: ~2055:Guitar, Acoustic, Fingerpicking CountryWaltzBrent Sw 140 RealTracks in style: 1298:Pedal Steel, Rhythm CountryWaltz Sw 140 RealDrums in style:NashClassicWaltzSw^1-a:SideStick, HiHat , b:Snare, Ride (This is the stock RealStyle. The piano, guitar and steel tracks were faded in/out to provide the dynamics.) He’s been riding all night With the bag in his hands His horse is so tired As it races ‘cross the lands The hooves beat up a cloud of dust He wipes away the dirt He turns his ear towards a sound As a bullet rips his shirt Down a steep ravine he rides The outlaws on his trail He kicks the horse with his spurs As he protects the mail West, west, head west, young man No matter who pursues But you’ll get no glory As you bring the news A dozen men hot on his back Their rifles miss the mark His horse is fast and terrified And they lose them in the dark The next station is abandoned No riders can be found So he grabs a fresh horse And continues westbound He enters the last station His final destination All bloody and worn His clothes are all torn He dodged an uncertain fate The mustachioed man begins to laugh “Sorry, boy, you’re a little late. We’ve already gotten a telegraph.” West, west, head west, young man Communication is desired One day you’ll be replaced By messages through the wires He collapses to the floor The crumpled letter in his hand He thinks about his sacred oath And smiles at the man
Last edited by DC Ron; 09/13/24 04:21 PM.
DC Ron
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Too many guitars (is that a thing?)
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Ron,
Great song. I love the roving nature of the song and the band works so well.
Love the vocal - steady and clear. Really tells the story. The mix is excellent.
Extremely nice work all around.
Bob
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I love the romantic side of history and the ballads of Marty Robbins.
Nice clear vocal which, when time permits, could be improved by changes to some of the phrasing or lyric, which seems rushed and awkward
e.g. "as it races across the lands" to " as she (or it) rides o'er the lands".
Worth working on.
Vic
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I really like your choice of the 3/4 time signature, it fits the song very well.
Even though your song has a different vibe, your storytelling reminds me of Knopfler's solo stuff.
Great story, great storytelling.
LOVE it!
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Very well done.
I like this kind of song.
The Pony Express. They preferred young boys barely into their teens and orphans. Small, lightweight, naive, and orphans. The life expectancy of those riders wasn't very long and with no family to notify, a disposable and easily replaced commodity. Between the bandits, outlaws and Indians, they had a hard road to ride.
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.
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RW,DA,DC...
Good write, good vocal, good BAND.
Good mix.
A story well-told.
The Band fits nicely. Subtle and supportive.
(I did expect you might add one of the Spaghetti Western bartones from BIAB)
fj
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Ron, Great song. I love the roving nature of the song and the band works so well. Love the vocal - steady and clear. Really tells the story. The mix is excellent. Extremely nice work all around. Bob Thanks, Bob. Dusty did especially enjoy this one since Marty Robbins was an early influence. I love the romantic side of history and the ballads of Marty Robbins. Nice clear vocal which, when time permits, could be improved by changes to some of the phrasing or lyric, which seems rushed and awkward e.g. "as it races across the lands" to " as she (or it) rides o'er the lands". Worth working on. Vic Vic, THANKS for the listen and the notes! I (of course) share your love of the romance of the Marty Robbins ballads. I'm not the lyricist, but I do like the phrase "races 'cross the lands" more than "rides o'er the lands". My role in our collaboration is to squeeze a song out of a set lyric, and I always think on reflection I could have done a better job with my choices. Will keep your notes in mind should we ever crack this one back open. I really like your choice of the 3/4 time signature, it fits the song very well. Even though your song has a different vibe, your storytelling reminds me of Knopfler's solo stuff. Great story, great storytelling. LOVE it! Thanks, B.D.! Marty's classic "El Paso" was in 6/8, and I'm sure that influenced my time signature choice on this one. I'll attribute the storytelling completely to the lyricist. I do love Knopfler's story songs. "Romeo and Juliet" (with Dire Straits) is as perfect a song as there will ever be in my mind. Very well done. I like this kind of song. The Pony Express. They preferred young boys barely into their teens and orphans. Small, lightweight, naive, and orphans. The life expectancy of those riders wasn't very long and with no family to notify, a disposable and easily replaced commodity. Between the bandits, outlaws and Indians, they had a hard road to ride. THANKS, Herb! I love this kind of song as well. A lot we remember about The Pony Express, was mythologized by Buffalo Bill Cody and his Wild West Show. We only know now that he was never actually a rider as he claimed... RW,DA,DC...Good write, good vocal, good BAND.
Good mix. A story well-told. The Band fits nicely. Subtle and supportive. (I did expect you might add one of the Spaghetti Western bartones from BIAB) fj Thank you, Floyd! BiaB DOES have great sounding baritones. I was going to craft the production in the style of Gunfighter Ballads and Trail Songs, but when I relistened to the album and checked the credits, I was stunned to be reminded that this album only has vocals, guitar, bass and drums. Now the BGVs are tight and layered, and the lead guitarist is the incomparable Grady Martin, but still...that's pretty mind boggling. So anyway, I kept the pedal steel and piano because I liked them, but refrained from further embellishments like the harmonica I REALLY wanted. But...Glad you liked the tune as it is!
DC Ron
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Too many guitars (is that a thing?)
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Based on the title and previous songs, I was expecting something fast paced galloping pop ala Rider In The Sky, not a waltz ballad. I'm glad to be surprised  The music matches nicely with the illustrative and nostalgic story how technology beats the horse in the long run. Professional vocals as always. Fine band, the pedal steel creates nice athmosphere and the drums ride nicely. I was just wondering how a fiddle would work in the intro & outro. Janne
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Janne, happy to have surprised you! You're right, I might have chosen "Riders in the Sky" as an alternative inspiration, since that's a GREAT song in the same genre. But "The Rider" is closer to "El Paso" in style, which may explain the time signature and tempo. I experimented with fiddle, harmonica, horns and even strings in this arrangement but tossed them all out in order to create a sparser, more authentic to the genre arrangement. Even as-is, "The Rider" quite a bit denser than either "Riders in the Sky" or "El Paso" though "Riders in the Sky" has a really cool horn section. Those guys could do a LOT with a little back in the day, and they didn't even have BiaB!!
DC Ron
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Hi, Ron. Well written story, appropriate arrangement and vocals. Loved where you backed the instruments off for that stanza. Shades of Mary Robbins, with the main character dying in the end. Nice!
-- 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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DC,
Your songs are getting better and better and better!
This is really a great write and composition and production all around. Fantastic idea and instrumentation and delivery by everyone.
Kudos!
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I doubt that many will be unfamiliar with the pony express as it's an archetypal part of US wild west history, plus it featured in so many ww movies and TV series. In the UK we have a Freeview channel called TalkingPictures TV which shows lots of oldies - movies and TV series - mostly from the 30s to the 60s, so lots of Westerns and a lot I remember seeing as a kid. Those shows and movies were seen all over Europe, including the then communist black as when I was in Romania in 63, aged 12, "The Lone Ranger" movie was on in a tiny village cinema.
Great song and perfect instrumentation for it.
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#13: Ask not for whom the flower blooms, it blooms for you.
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#63: On the road to effortlessness, effort must be made.
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Good song Ron, excellent vocals mix & master - lovely clear sound & production!
Well done,
Carl
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Hi Ron,
As mentioned, this brings to mind Marty Robbins from the early 1960s.
The 3/4 time signature was a perfect choice. A well-written song and produced so superbly. This works on all levels. A sincere tip of the 10-gallon hat.
Alan
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Hello Ron,
Let me start with what David wrote. You are getting better and better all the time with your songs.
And I already enjoyed them, where will that leads us to?
Choosing a waltz for this song is a good decision; it adds an extra dynamic.
But I read others wrote that too, so now you know for sure it was a good decision ;-)
I liked the lyrics, but most of all the way you sang them. Great voice!
Hans
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Hi Ron
Wow. Absolute TOP Song
Sounds really great
Pro Vocals !
Everything is perfectly coordinated
Congratulations
Andi ;-)
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I really like the theme of the song and the way it is interpreted with a good choice of instruments.
Laurent
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Hi, Ron. Well written story, appropriate arrangement and vocals. Loved where you backed the instruments off for that stanza. Shades of Mary Robbins, with the main character dying in the end. Nice! Thanks, David! Yeah, it's interesting to me how much Marty's story songs created musical interest for youngsters and shaped a generation or two. Know I was crazy for his songs, unhappy endings and all... DC, Your songs are getting better and better and better! This is really a great write and composition and production all around. Fantastic idea and instrumentation and delivery by everyone. Kudos! Why, THANK YOU, David! I think the quality of the arrangements and production are definitely benefitting from my just TAKING THE TIME to listen carefully and get it as right as I can. And all that goes a long way in shaping the listening experience for any song. Or so I think... I doubt that many will be unfamiliar with the pony express as it's an archetypal part of US wild west history, plus it featured in so many ww movies and TV series. In the UK we have a Freeview channel called TalkingPictures TV which shows lots of oldies - movies and TV series - mostly from the 30s to the 60s, so lots of Westerns and a lot I remember seeing as a kid. Those shows and movies were seen all over Europe, including the then communist black as when I was in Romania in 63, aged 12, "The Lone Ranger" movie was on in a tiny village cinema. Great song and perfect instrumentation for it. Chay, glad you enjoyed the song! Funny story (to me)...Was in Dubai for work in about 1990. The Korean employees in the hotel lounge were excited to see us. "Tomorrow is our America theme night--you have to come back for that!" And so we did. The three bartenders were dressed in cowboy gear, from the bottom of their boots to top of their Stetsons. The servers were dressed like...well you can imagine. When we walked in they shouted an obscenity laced "Howdy!" because, well...this WAS America theme night after all, right? We had a great time singing western Karaoke songs, the highlight being "A Boy Named Sue". It was a night to remember. Obviously. Which is a long way of saying...I sometimes forget how ubiquitous wild west mythology is around the world. THANKS for the reminder!!! Good song Ron, excellent vocals mix & master - lovely clear sound & production! Well done, Carl Carl, THANKS for the listen! Know this is not stylistically close to the beautiful instrumental tunes you are posting, but I appreciate you taking the time to comment. Dusty's excellent vocals are a joy to work with. He makes everything better. Hi Ron, As mentioned, this brings to mind Marty Robbins from the early 1960s. The 3/4 time signature was a perfect choice. A well-written song and produced so superbly. This works on all levels. A sincere tip of the 10-gallon hat. Alan Hi, Alan! Hope you and Di have had a better week. This was a lot of fun for us, and I'm so glad you enjoyed it! Hello Ron, Let me start with what David wrote. You are getting better and better all the time with your songs. And I already enjoyed them, where will that leads us to? Choosing a waltz for this song is a good decision; it adds an extra dynamic. But I read others wrote that too, so now you know for sure it was a good decision ;-) I liked the lyrics, but most of all the way you sang them. Great voice! Hans Thanks, Hans, that's so flattering. But I don't want to take all the credit: The lyrics were by my brother, and the vocals were by Dusty. I TOTALLY agree they did a fabulous job! Hi Ron Wow. Absolute TOP Song Sounds really great Pro Vocals ! Everything is perfectly coordinated Congratulations Andi ;-) THANKS, Andi! I really like the theme of the song and the way it is interpreted with a good choice of instruments. Laurent Laurent, THANKS, I like the theme a lot, too. It's a wild west song, but with a twist that says something about today. Appreciate the kind thoughts!!
DC Ron
BiaB Audiophile
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Love this stuff, Ron, and a great song to present the flavor of the Old West. Last night we just finished the Netflix presentation of Wyatt Earp and The Cowboy War. I really like how those BGVs lift up the vocal. You fill these compositions with such accomplished talent in your collaborators. Excellent mix and a very enjoyable write.
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Ron...great song and great style...as I listened the first time I was captivated by the story line and hoped the whole time he would make it to the end of the line...if I were him I would have been tempted to cut the telegraph wires but that's just me...Dusty's vocals are always right on and he's one of my favs...BTW, Dusty Hughes is the perfect name for a singer in this genre...his name sounds like a picture by Charles Russel or Frederic Remington  ...great job on BGV's, arrangement, mix and mastering...those of us who grew up in the 50's and 60's grew up in a cowboy culture no matter where we lived...great story telling and delivery!
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Our new jazz, funk & blues RealTracks include a groovin’ collection of RealTracks and RealDrums! These include more requested “soul jazz” RealTracks featuring artists Neil Swainson (bass), Charles Treadway (organ), Brent Mason (guitar), and Wes Little (drums). There are new “smooth jazz” styles (4), which include a RealTracks first: muted trumpet, as well as slick new smooth jazz brushes options for drums. Blues lovers will be thrilled—there are more “classic acoustic blues” styles, including guitar (5), bass (4), and drums (10) with blues master Colin Linden, featuring understated and tasty background acoustic soloing, plus brushes drums and acoustic bass. There are also new electric blues RealTracks, including electric blues with PG favorite Johnny Hiland (3) and soulful electric slide guitar from Colin Linden (4). If you love funk & gospel, there are great new options this year, including gospel organ (3) from Charles Treadway, as well as new funk, tango, and rock ’n’ roll drums (3) and bass (1). And for big, bold arrangements, we have uptempo soul horns (4) featuring a three-part hip horn section with options for a full mix or stems of each individual horn — plus an accompanying rhythm section (4) of drums, bass, guitar, and electric piano!
Rock & Pop (Sets 476–482):
Our new rock & pop RealTracks bring a powerful mix of requested favorites, fresh genres, and modern chart-inspired styles! We have more of our popular “Producer Layered Acoustic Guitars (15)” featuring Band-in-a-Box favorite Brent Mason. We’ve continued our much-requested disco styles (10), and added new Celtic guitar (5) with a more basic, accessible approach than our previous Drop-D or DADGAD offerings. There are also highly requested yacht rock styles (17), inspired by the smooth, polished soft-rock sound of the late ’70s and early ’80s — laid-back grooves, silky electric pianos, warm textures, elegant harmonic movement, and pristine production aesthetics. Fans of heavier styles will love our new glam metal (13), capturing the flashy, high-energy sound of ’80s arena-ready guitar rock. We also have a set of rootsy modern-folk rock (18), with a warm, organic sound combining contemporary folk textures and driving acoustic strumming. And we’ve added lots of new modern pop styles (16) — the kinds of sounds you’re hearing on the radio today, featuring exciting new drums, synths, and cutting-edge RealTracks arrangements.
Country, & Americana (Sets 483–488):
Our new country & Americana RealTracks deliver a rich collection of acoustic, electric, and roots-inspired styles! We have new country pop (9) with legendary guitarist Brent Mason. There is also a potpourri (14) of bouzouki, guitars, banjo, and more, perfect for adding texture and character to contemporary acoustic arrangements. We’ve added funky country guitar (5) with PG favorite Brent Mason, along with classic pedal steel styles (5) featuring steel great Doug Jernigan. There are more country songwriter styles (8) that provide intimate, rootsy foundations for storytelling and modern Americana writing. Finally, we have “background soloing” acoustic guitar (12) with Brent Mason — simpler, but still very tasty acoustic lines designed to sit beautifully behind vocals or act as a subtle standalone solo part.
Check out all the 202 new RealTracks (in sets 468-488)!
And, if you are looking for more, the 2026 49-PAK (for $49) includes an impressive collection of 20 bonus RealTracks, featuring exciting and inspiring additions to add to your RealTracks library. You'll get new country-rhythm guitar styles from PG Music favorites Johnny Hiland and Brent Mason, along with modern-pop grooves that capture today’s radio-ready sound! There are also new indie-folk styles with guitar, bass, 6-string bass used as a high-chording instrument, acoustic guitar, and banjo. Plus, dedicated "cymbal fills" RealDrums provide an added layer that work very well with low-key folky styles with other percussion.
The 2026 49-PAK is loaded with other great new add-ons as well. Learn more about the 2026 49-PAK!
2026 Free Bonus PAK & 49-PAK for Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Mac®!
With your version 2026 for Mac Pro, MegaPAK, UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, Audiophile Edition or PlusPAK purchase, we'll include a Bonus PAK full of great new Add-ons for FREE! Or upgrade to the 2026 49-PAK for only $49 to receive even more NEW Add-ons including 20 additional RealTracks!
These PAKs are loaded with additional add-ons to supercharge your Band-in-a-Box®!
This Free Bonus PAK includes:
- The 2026 RealCombos Booster PAK:
-For Pro customers, this includes 27 new RealTracks and 23 new RealStyles.
-For MegaPAK customers, this includes 25 new RealTracks and 23 new RealStyles.
-For UltraPAK customers, this includes 12 new RealStyles.
- MIDI Styles Set 92: Look Ma! More MIDI 15: Latin Jazz
- MIDI SuperTracks Set 46: Piano & Organ
- Instrumental Studies Set 24: Groovin' Blues Soloing
- Artist Performance Set 19: Songs with Vocals 9
- Playable RealTracks Set 5
- RealDrums Stems Set 9: Cool Brushes
- SynthMaster Sounds Set 1 (with audio demos)
- iOS Android Band-in-a-Box® App
Looking for more great add-ons, then upgrade to the 2026 49-PAK for just $49 and you'll get:
- 20 Bonus Unreleased RealTracks and RealDrums with 20 RealStyle.
- FLAC Files (lossless audio files) for the 20 Bonus Unreleased RealTracks and RealDrums
- MIDI Styles Set 93: Look Ma! More MIDI 16: SynthMaster
- MIDI SuperTracks Set 47: More SynthMaster
- Instrumental Studies 25 - Soul Jazz Guitar Soloing
- Artist Performance Set 20: Songs with Vocals 10
- RealDrums Stems Set 10: Groovin' Sticks
- SynthMaster Sounds & Styles Set 2 (sounds & styles with audio demos)
Learn more about the Bonus PAK and 49-PAK for Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Mac®!
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