I originally recorded this song "in another time and another place".
I wanted it to be piano based. A friend told me he had a friend that could do it.
That turned out to be Garland Craft - the piano player in the
Oak Ridge Boys band. Turned out that Garland lived about a mile from us.
He brought his piano to the house and recorded some tracks for me.
Luckily, I was smart enough at the time to capture the performance to midi.
(The audio to a hard-disk recorder).

Fast forward to now... decided to do a new recording...
I loaded the midi into BIAB - first time I've used any midi.
I selected one of the Hi-Q pianos - another first. Eye-opening.

I wanted strings on this. So, first the cello - of course!
Then I tried out the SuperMidi string choices - what a surprise!
Hi-Q Strings, too! Tried the Chamber Strings... sounded good!
Tried the Movie Strings... also sounded good - a bit different than the chamber.
Added a litle high EQ to the Chamber strings and panned them right.
Added a litle low EQ to the Movie strings and panned them left.

Then... yesterday, my 2014 upgrade arrived (I had ordered it the afternoon before!)
Could not resist - had to try the new Quartet. OMG!
I added them to the mix.
Why anyone would need anything more than BIAB is beyond me...

You will hear the cello first (2nd verse).
The Supermidi/Hi-Q strings join in on the bridge.
The Quartet joins in on the 3rd verse.

The track list:

Piano - (Garland Craft) Hi-Q 001 01 Piano, Acoustic, Grand SampleTank.tgs

RealTracks in song: ~518:Bass, Electric, Pop HalfNotes Ev 085
RealTracks in song: 1856:Cello, Background PopCountry Ev 085
2060: Strings, Rhythm PopCountry Ev 120 - Hi-Q 049 01 Strings, Ensemble, Chamber SampleTank.tgs
2060: Strings, Rhythm PopCountry Ev 120 - Hi-Q 050 01 Strings, Ensemble, Movie SampleTank.tgs
RealTracks in song: 2334:String Quartet, Rhythm PopChamber Ev 085

I hope you enjoy the results.
Comments encouraged. And welcomed.


UP TO NO GOOD AGAIN

you say it's no good to look for a heart
that won't turn and run when the trouble starts
it's simply no good believing in love
sooner or later it ends
be that as it may
i'd have to say
that i'm up to no good again

you wonder why.. we try to make it work
someone always gives up; someone always gets hurt
you don't believe that love can last
it's a game only fools try to win
well, if it's no good to feel
a love so real
then i'm up to no good again

if it's no good to hold you
if it's no good to love you
and whisper your name to the wind
if it's wrong to believe you're the only one
then i'm as wrong as i've ever been

how can it be no good to dream
and no good to long for what's meant-to-be
can it be no good holding on to the hope
that your heart will someday let me in
well, if that's the case
i'll have to face
that i'm up to no good again

if it's no good to feel
a love this real
then i'm up to no good again


Have at it.

floyd

Hi Floyd,

what a song for the start of a year!
Just beautiful.
Wonderful strings.
If you hadn't won the award you would deserve it
just for this song.

Guenter

Floyd,



Well put Guenter.

My words cannot do justice to comment on this song, so I just sit mesmerized and then I press play again.
well done Sir, you write and can sing some wonderful songs.
*presses play again*

Alyn

really nice job.

I loved the quality in that piano. I will certainly have to investigate those Hi-Q options... I've been on a short break through the holidays and haven't even turned on the DAW so... first thing on the list to investigate next time in.... piano, cello and strings and things....


production chops are showing on this .....


Loved this song.

Nothing short of Magnificent!!
The title tricked me - I thought it might be a "naughty boys" song but its a beautiful Love Song. You sly thing, you.
Like my Dad said - "If you want it bad enough,son - never give up, never give in".
Those strings are real heart-tuggers aren't they?
Super compo too - the tune flows in perfect time to the lyrics.
What a start to 2014.
Thank you for posting, Floyd. It quite made my day even though I allowed myself a little eye moisture.
cheers
ian

Gorgeous. I have other superlatives, but that should suffice. Best one of your songs I've heard to date (and that is a difficult choice).

Bravo.



Regards,

Bob

Man, this song would have made the Eagles envious...

speaking of which, the closest commercial song it brings to mind is DESPERADO.

Your lyrics are clever and at the same time emotive...
the piano of course is tailor made for this song.. you couldn't improve on it IMO...

the track were tastefully selected and introduced perfectly to the mix... which has always been one of many strengths in your song writing.

And your voice, as always, has "the right sound" for your songs... it adds the crowning glory to the whole package


Dang, Floyd.. every time I hear one of your songs I chop off a finger. I'm up to my shoulders today... but loving the music!

( and I'd have to repeat what Guenter said )

Hi, Floyd !

This is my favourite Floyd song
among all your beautiful songs !:))
I do not find words for this, the others
can say it much better, I can only say
I loved it !:))


Cheers
Dani

Floyd,

This is outstanding... I loved everything about it. A really great piece.

Bob

One more added to your list of great songs!

Floyd,

Di is napping and I just clicked onto this...WOW!!!!!!!!!!

If this isn't magnificent, I don't know what is. Every element of this is splendid. If I used every superlative that comes to mind, I would bankrupt the English languages of it's most beautiful and passionate words.

May I wrap this up by simply saying..."One of the best songs and productions I have listen to in many, many years. I'm in awe!

Al

welcome to the difficulty of reviewing Floyd's songs... each one merits the same comprehensive list of superlatives... and I feel foolish saying the same thing after every song, but gee.. which superlative can you leave out?? None... so my tactic is to just rearrange them into a slightly different sentence. Now I'm running out of ways to rearrange the sentence....

Hi Floyd, I'm not worth it to judge your vocals so, I just stick to what everyone just said. As far as the instrumentation...superb! IMHO.

Mike B.

Hi Floyd.

First of all, it's a magnificent song.

The song and in particular, the piano playing, sounds very much to me like an Elton John track, except that you sing much better. As for the quality, if you'd said it was recorded at Abbey Road I would have believed it. It sounds just as good in the 'phones as it does on the main monitors - very polished with a beautiful stereo wash.

And if I said it's VERY commercial, I'd hope you would realize that in my world that's just the very highest complement I can think of for such an EXTREMELY GOOD production.

How are you ever going to live up to that standard for the rest of 2014?

ROG.

floyd, So, so good. This is the type of song you would hear in a broadway show. It reminds me of the piano based ballads of Bacharach or Marvin Hamlisch. The country edge in your voice gives it a different feel and makes it work in the country world also. Great mix and master. Excellent vocal. A super write the chord progression is superb. Your work makes me hope that BMI puts a big check in your mailbox in 2014. Tom

What a beautiful song. Absolutely love this one Floyd. So romantic. Listened three times. My new fav of yours.

Great sound on those midi tracks what did you use to play it?


Josie

PS. Like the new avatar.

Floyd,

What can I say that hasn't been said?

Your a talent man!... There I don't think anybody's used that yet.

Ditto on your BIAB comment... I ordered my 2014 upgrade on Tue.

Outstanding Job!

Greg

Guenter - some very nice comments - I do appreciate it.

Alyn - thank you for that...

Herb - glad you liked it. The quality of both the piano and the strings took me by surprise...

Ian - I appreciate the nice comments - an occasional tear is a fine thing...

Well, wow! Reminded me of Toby Keith's early stuff, the style and the mix.

Pretty cool story too.

Floyd:

Really good song. Nice twist on the lyrics and it sounds great. Good job.

John

Great song Floyd, thank you for sharing it with us. I would critique it, but that is like Pee Wee Herman making basketball suggestions to Michael Jordan.

Sweet,

Midi rocks on this. This sure is food for thought.

Bob - always nice to catch your ear. one for the bootleg collection, then, eh?

Pat - your making me blush there, man... if you happen to run into Glenn or Don let 'em know they are welcome to it! Always nice to a song compared to a classic. (so you must have typed that with your nose?). Thanks for all the nice comments...

dani - thanks. glad you liked it...

Bob - appreciate that...

Rob - thanks for dropping in for a listen...

Alan - some very nice things to say there... thanks so much...

Pat - thanks one more time...

Mike - appreciate that (congrats to you...)

ROG - you've got me blushing a bit, too... my!... Elton John and Abbey Road? I'm humbled... Of course, it helps having a top player do the piano specifically for the song. In retrospect, I should have gotten him to do a LOT more - but we were "poor" at the time - hindsight...

Commercial? - I DO take that as the highest compliment... it was the intent - especially at the time... I've spent the last 20 years preachin' that "commercial is not a dirty word..."


Tom - Oh my!... Bacharach and Hamlisch... between you and ROG it seems I've covered a lot of ground. Again.. I'm humbled... Goes to show - you never know what will catch people's attention the most. I never really "showed this around" much - guess I maybe should have. Again - hindsight...

At one point, I switched from BMI to ASCAP - there's an interesting story why.... I'll tell it to you when we share that beer you promised... (but I'll take a check from either!!)

Congrats to you on the "win" - well deserved!

Josie - Thanks! As I mentioned, the original piano track was played by Garland on whatever keyboard he brought to my house. I captured the midi output from that (while I also recorded the audio -which I used in my "old" recording). Captured in Cakewalk at the time.

I imported that midi file into the Melody track of BIAB and assigned the Hi-Q piano (the Bright, I believe) to the track.

Seemed like everyone was changing their avatar - so I figured I might as well... it is also "from another time and another place"...

Greg - Thanks for the nice comments. Get that 2014 crankin'!

olemon - thanks. first time I've had a Toby reference... chalk up another...

John - thanks for dropping in and having a listen... appreciate it..

I'm taking advance orders for the 2014 Floyd jane Bootleg CD, which will be compiled over the next several months. Please send $20 (Check or money order) to:



Floyd jane's Greatest Hits/Volume III
PO Box 3564
Buzzard Gulch, Ok. 73156

Rob - thanks for the listen - and the comments - PeeWee... OK OK OK!!!

Frank - thanks. Yea, the SuperMidi tracks are a resource that definitely needs more digging into... just more Great stuff from the PG Team...

Oh, Bob.... are you including glossies in that package????

Hi floyd,

When I listen to an AABA song that's as robustly written and as exquisitely polished as this one, it makes me really appreciate just how strong this songwriting form is. It's a shame it's not used more these days.

You've done an amazing job putting this composition together. Your writing and presentation are 'standing ovation' material. They deserve nothing less. I don't think I've heard such an outstanding performance from you. (I'm going to have to go back and revisit all your posts just to see if my impression is correct! That should keep me off the streets for a couple of months.)

What stood out to me most prominently this time was how you've used lyric movement, and anticipation of lyric movement, to enhance the song's emotional punch. Opening with a standard rhyming couplet, you set the scene for it to be followed by the usual second rhyming couplet. It doesn't happen. Your disruption of what was anticipated (because so many songs use back-to-back rhyming couplets) kept me as the listener tuned, waiting for 'love' to find it's soul-mate rhyme. It never did. Leaving this dangling, unrhymed, unresolved third line so early in each A-section unbalances each of these sections very effectively and is an ideal backdrop for intensifying the lyrics' emotion. The phrases "no good believing in love" (A1), "don't believe that love can last" (A2) and "no good holding on to the hope" (A3) are magnificent phrases to leave dangling without rhyme. It's such attention to detail that makes you the master songwriter you are!

I was also incredibly impressed that you used the b-c-c-b rhyme scheme to close each A-section. I've only ever played around with this. It's a very unstable pattern and has been called the "In Memoriam quatrain" - taking its name from Tennyson's poem called "In Memoriam" (apologies if I've mentioned this in a previous post or two and I'm repeating myself). To my ears, those final four lines in each A-section pack a huge emotional wallop. [If anyone reading this is curious about the effect of this particular rhyme scheme, have a look at Tennyson's poem via the below link. Read it aloud and I think it will be easy to appreciate the power of the rhyme scheme and how it leaves a listener pondering, wondering and generally feeling wistful. It's a great illustration of the emotional power of rhyme.]

link to "In Memoriam"

... and the bridge in "No Good Again" ... wow! It soars. It really soars.

This truly is inspirational work.

Regards,
Noel

P.S. What you've very effectively shown us aspiring songwriters with "No good again" is that an [aaxbccb] rhyme scheme, when coupled with a [5,4,5,3,2,2,3] meter and presented in AABA form, has the potential to be an incredibly emotional musical journey. This is a powerful lyric template you've provided for anyone who is brave enough to try it

NOTE: The above interpretation of meter is open to other possibilities but that is how I heard it.

"Oh, Bob.... are you including glossies in that package????"





Glossies, an authentic FJ guitar pick, and a one year membership to the FJ International Fan Club.


But wait......there's MORE!


Also included, if you act now, we are offering a bonus DVD called “The Floyd jane Story”! (Think Benny Goodman Story without the clarinet and Donna Reed).




Floyd jane's Greatest Hits/Volume III
Third Trailer On The Left
Buzzard Gulch, Ok. 73156

hi Floyd and jane wow this is my favorite as well very inspirering great job thanks for sharing eric

Hi Floyd...

Been listening to some great music here on the forums and had to have another taste of this one. Wish I could sing like that! Every time I listened to you, I'm blown away. Thanks for a repeat of this musical treat...

Al & Di

As a long time fan of the Oak Ridge Boys, I think this song fits their style very well and would be a great song to pitch to them. Great job, and quite a good song. Best Regards .

For the last year I felt like I could at least see the floyd jane quality bar -- yeah, it was way up there (and likely unobtainable by me) but I could at least see the $%^@# thing and dream. Oh, well, now you've kicked it completely out of sight with this production.

Take a strong lyric/vocal song to start with, throw in the fj cool RT choices, throw in some midi, throw in some 2014 enhancements, simmer for a while and out pops a world class production. Congrats!

Noel - I SO enjoy reading your review of a song. You are an encyclopedia of songwriting. Your break-down of a lyric is fascinating. Thankfully, I don't think about it that hard as it is spilling onto the page - I would confuse myself terribly, I fear
I enjoyed reading "In Memoriam"... It IS an interesting rhyming scheme.... who knew!

Thanks for your always-thoughtful thoughts!

(time for a new Noel song...)

Bob - Third Trailer On The Left - I know that place!
"Benny Goodman Story without the clarinet and Donna Reed" - isn't that "Leaving Las Vegas"?

eric - thanks.

Alan - appreciate that!

c_fogle - thanks for the listen and comment... do the Oaks still record?

Bud - you are too kind - the cartoon is a bit freaky..

Floyd,
Wonderful song! Professional in all aspects. Nice illustration of the HiQ midi and strings. I'll have to remember that. Thanks.
SD

I am at a loss for words but I'll just say that this song goes to 11.

Rick

I think this may be the best you have ever done.

It’s all been said so all I can add is that this should get national airplay!

No, it's very good, again:) I'm reminded of recording artist Gary Morris, and I mean that in the best way possible.

(Originally I had a Hi-Q strings background track on that cajun waltz. It didn't really fit that song, but I loved the sound.)

Thanks to everyone who has listened - and especially to those who take the time to leave a comment. Y'all are good people - and this is as good as a forum gets...

SD - thanks - there are treasures everywhere you look in BIAB...

Rick - thanks for the "11"!

Mario - high praise, indeed... I do appreciate it.

olemon - Thanks for the listen and comments. Haven't thought about Gary Morris in years! I will definitely take that as a huge compliment...

great vibe!

love the low key arrangement

Have you pitched it to anyone yet Floyd as its a really good song

Bump. People should hear this again.


Regards,


Lefty

Hey Floyd… I’m not sure how this popped up right now… I got to thank the forum friend who bumped it up… This is great storytelling! I loved how you took the basic idea and developed it and weaved it from beginning to end. Really great song from the past, and again—Much to be learned for me!

Yep. He's way too good, even when he's up to no good.

Here is a word I reserve for something that simply shakes my soul..........BRILLIANT!!!!!!!! This is absolutely BEAUTIFUL, absolutely CLASSIC crafting of music and lyrics, absolutely a STELLAR performance. At the end, I HAD to immediately go back for another listen. This should be in a film. It has a feel of something written by Diane Warren or someone equivalently great. My NEW FAVORITE FJ SONG........and that's saying a lot!!!!! Great job my friend!!!! Take care. Greg

Lefty! - it is especially nice when someone brings back a song just for the sake of revisiting it... and even MORE so when it is someone who writes like YOU do...


TM - thanks for checking this out...


David -


Greg - What can I say? ....think I'll just let that sink in...

Floyd,

I commented on this back in January of 2014 - per the above quote. Please reread - I have nothing else to add. And, Di is napping right now, too!

Alan