A little while back, floyd jane made a post about EZ Keys being offered at a better-than-bargain-basement price. I jumped on the wagon and purchased a copy. This song arose from playing around with my then new toy. I thought I'd try my hand at using BIAB to re-create a 1940s styled jazz quintet (drums, piano, guitar, singer, soloist).

• ♫♫ What Do You Say

Some creation notes…

• Two bass Realtracks (RT) were used to create sections of 2 x bass notes per bar (half-half RT) and 4 x bass notes per bar (qtr-qtr RT). I chose the bass tracks that involved the same artist, and presumably the same acoustic bass, so that the sound was consistent.
• Renaissance Bass from Waves was used to add a little extra clarity to the bass.
• The piano uses the MIDI notation from the below piano Realtrack. This MIDI was channeled through EZ Keys upright piano. To avoid low frequency clashes between piano and bass, I muted all MIDI piano notes outside one octave lower than middle C.
• Volume shaping was used on the trumpet to create musical phrases.
• The vocals were processed through Nectar 2.
• The final mix was processed through Ozone 8.

Feel free to be critical of any aspect of the song, its arrangement and mix.

Hope you enjoy,
Noel

=====

The BIAB Band

2126: Bass, Acoustic, Jazz Half,Half Sw 110
2127: Bass, Acoustic, Jazz Qtr,Qtr Sw 110
2649: Piano, Acoustic, Rhythm JazzClassicJohn Sw 110
1099: Guitar, Electric, Rhythm JazzSwingFreeComp Sw 110
1974: Trumpet, BackgroundSoloist DixielandMedium Sw 110

JazzBrushes: a: Brushes Swirling b: Brushes Busier

=====

The Lyrics

A full moon rising big and bright
It’s begging for you and me to share its light
And to step outside and make some fun
So what do you say
Come on

Let’s meander down the avenue
I bet we’ll find us a surprise or two
There’s plenty to do and the night is young
So what do you say
Come on

Out there, neon signs are dancing
It’s a carnival of colour and wow!
It’s entrancing

A night of nights waits for you and me
And I really would love to share your company
Just grab a smile and let’s get gone
So what do you say
Come on

[Instrumental]

Out there, neon signs are dancing
It’s a carnival of colour and wow!
It’s entrancing

A night of nights waits for you and me
And I really would love to share your company
Just grab a smile and let’s get gone
So what do you say
Come on

Come on just grab a smile and let’s get gone
So what do you say
What do you say
Take a break
Time out
It’ll be worth it
Hey, come on

©2019 Noel Adams, words and music, all rights reserved.

Good song and a nice clear mix. I loved the solo from the trumpet.

Very well done!
Will

You sure do produce some delightful songs...
I like it!

Really nice work, Noel! Love the upbeat nature of the tune, and your lyrics fit the mood perfectly. A nice throwback to the crooner style for sure. A nice catchy melody, and the groove is smooth and easy to tap along to.

A solid tune all together - thanks for sharing

Noel,

This sounds like something that came out of Tin Pan Alley!

The dancing/entrancing and you-and-me/company rhymes are especially nice. They hit the ear delightfully. As does the cadence of the "What do you say..." AND "Come On".

Nice instrumentation and an excellent mix. The solo is well done. Your vocal is a real standout in this. So well recorded, so clear and so "right" in the way it sits perfectly in the mix.

That piano does have a really nice sound...

Very well done!

fj

So nice!

you're so good at this kind of uplifting song

infectious, makes you wanna sing along or get up and move about

great use of that EZ keys piano

I feel better just by listening to this gem,

Kenny

Yes, the old crooner style. Takes you back to yester years dinner and dancing. Nice smooth vocal delivery. Easy listening. Good song.

Listened to a few songs this afternoon Noel and this as as good as any. Typical Sinatra style of song. Would also be fabulous with a big band backing as well

This would fit perfectly in an old movie back in the day, like a dick van dyke movie.

And it would be the song in every ones mind as they left after the movie had finished, even humming as they walk home.


They only put quality songs in there movies back then, and this quite rightly would have been used.

well put together with a great vocal, and I loved the mix of real tracks and the ez key midi piano sound.

P.s. I bought ez keys on an offer as well, not had time to use it yet, although I now know it is an excellent buy.

Thanks

Hey there Noel96, thank you for sharing this! Excellent mixdown on all of this and the chord progression is very nice. Excellent guitar riffs too. The vocals and piano really help piece it all together. Great work!

I really like this!!! I picture Fred Astaire dancing to and singing this. Your vocal is wonderful.

Noel,

I enjoyed everything about this! Others have beaten me to the " should be in the movies"
endorsement- its wonderfully in sync with the style and feeling of those singing and dancing shows.
Super vocal and production.

Robert

Love the lunary imagery right out of the gate. Did you happen to catch the eclipse the other night?

Awesome song, thanks for sharing.

That was fantastic Noel! I loved the sweet vibe in this and your vocal was perfect! Thanks, Torrey

Lovely arrangement Noel - clever work with the lower end of piano vs bass - many, many people forget about that aspect of arranging.
The song is really good and you've demoed it well with your voice - You really are on the notes.
Well done in all areas.
Cracker tune.

Noel

Wonderful work - straight out of the movies as noted above. Trumpet is enchanting and the lyrics uplifting, and beautifully presented.
Top quality all the way.

Peter

Absolutely perfect in every way.

What a sensational backing, placed together with an equally matched vocal accompaniment.

The balance and entire mix is absolutely perfect.

Another masterfully delivered number, Noel!

Trev

Hi Will,

Thanks for jumping in and having a listen.

Like you, I love the trumpet. The minute I heard it, I knew that I could make it work. One of the things that I learnt long ago was never to prejudge a RT by its name. Even though the track was 'Dixieland' and 'Background', it played well in my quasi 1940s jazz ensemble!

Thanks again!
Noel

I got the Tin Pan Alley vibe as well. This is an excellent tune. Super vocal and lyric. Loved the backtrack. Well done Noel.

Thanks, Jim. Appreciate the visit!

All the best,
Noel

Hi Noel,

Absolutely no one does this period stuff better than you.

So relaxing.

Perfect in every respect.

This is just very classy throughout.

ROG.

Hi Deryk,

Thanks for passing through the thread and having a listen. Appreciate it.

All the best,
Noel

Hi, Noel !:))


This is your best so far !
This is just a marvelous
tune and so delicately
treated ! took me into
a dreamworld way back !
I just love it Noel !:))

Congrats to a masterpiece !

Cheers
Dani

Hey floyd.

Thank you for the listen and the analysis! As you know, Tin Pan Alley and the AABA song format are styles that I feel really at home with.

With this song, I had a little help from BIAB's demos. I'm aiming to write a brief note for the Songwriting forum to explain how I did this. The chord charts used for demos can provide a really useful starting place when it comes to making a song and the creativity well is running a bit dry. That was the case here. After loading the demo, I modified it to suit, settled on a style I liked and then played it over and over and over until words and images started coming to mind. Then it was just a matter of co-ordinating and expanding those thoughts into song sections.

Thanks again for taking the time. I always appreciate your visit!

All the best,
Noel

Hey Kenny!

Thanks for dropping in. It's always good to see you. I appreciate that you had time for a listen.

All the best,
Noel

Your excellent voice, the ability to create beautiful melodies and especially the positive lyrical landscape have found their natural home in this classic jazz (Cole Porter) arrangement context. The simple arrangement flows nicely.

Janne

Hi Donna,

Thank you for taking time out to listen. The "old crooner style" is one that I especially like. I appreciate your comments.

Best regards,
Noel

Very, very good. It sounds like an instant classic. Great voice.

Hi Graham,

Thanks for dropping by. Like you, now that I think about it, I reckon that this could work with a big band backing. The thought never occurred to me because I was fully focused on using EZ Keys. If I get a spare few minutes one day, I'll fire a band in BIAB and see how it goes. Thanks for suggesting this!

All the best,
Noel

Hi Noel,

I listened to this the other day but didn't have time to comment. Doesn't hurt to give it another spin though

Really well done! Such a "feel good", uplifting vibe happening.

Love the solo, and the piano sounds great! Makes me wish I had bought it when it was on sale a while back.

Your vocals sound good too, just the right amount of processing for them to sit in the mix perfectly.

Nice song to start off my morning

Right from the get go Janice envisioned Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers dancing in a 1940’s movie - B&W of course.

It’s a lovely melody, a sweet lyric and delivered with such feeling.

As Janice said, after her eyes glazed over, after reading the production notes, “Whatever he did the band sounds great!”

And Bud offers up that the band, especially the piano and trumpet, is excellent. Thanks for sharing your work flow...it was very informative and it certainly paid off.

You always bring multiple rays of hope and positive vibes to your listeners.

Thank you.

J&B

Hi beatmaster,

Thanks for comments. I really appreciate them.

You'll have fun when you get around to using the EZ Keys. I'm waiting for some of the library of different pianos to come on sale now!

All the best,
Noel

Nice one bro

I say this sounds terrific Noel. Made me like I was in one of those grand 40's nightclubs. For some reason my SC ap on this tablet is not letting me do a heart - like symbol otherwise you and several others would have one. grrr Love this Noel.

Noel,

You have such a feel for this type of music. The write and arrangement are so authentic and truly outstanding.

I also noticed that you are using the upper register of your voice more on this song - it really sounds wonderful. One of your very best performances.

Going back for another listen...

Bob

Agreed!! Love it!! I really love that old standard sound. I have played around with it and will post something soon in that vein. The solo sounds custom.....sometimes that just works so well in BIAB! Wonderful!!! Take care. Greg

Noel,

What an enjoyable listen this is—really a pleasure to the ears! Light and breezy; just makes you feel good inside listening to it. And, not surprising, but terrific work on the production on this. Outstanding stuff!

My humble regards,

Deej

Hi Joe,

Thank you! Band In A Box, opens a heap of different doorways for users like me. It's such a fantastic program. In relation to the chord progression, I had a little help from the BIAB demos -- these are a tremendous resource when creativity is flat-lining. When I get a chance, I'll write up how I used and modified one of the demos to create this song.

Thanks again for taking the time!
Noel

What a cool, catchy, bouncing song. Personally, I wouldn't change anything or have any suggestions. I likes it the way it tis!

Now, that being said...

There is such a large part of me that would love to hear it one of two different ways
1st is possibly with the old time phonograph type of sound with a bit of crackle and all. It just lends itself to it. IF that was done and someone played this as a song from that period; I would bite hook, line, and sinker.

2nd would be, as mentioned, a backdrop to a movie. I would love to see people dancing, a band playing, and a crooner doing "his thing" on a stage. I would love to also hear the sounds of the crowds sitting at their tables, and the applause at the end.

Applause well deserved either way!

Thanks, Scott. Appreciate it.

All the best,
Noel

Hi Robert,

Thanks for dropping in and having a listen. I really appreciate the visit and the comments.

All the best,
Noel

Hi Ember!

I didn't get to catch the eclipse but when I was writing these lyrics, I had the below image of a super-moon open on my desktop. This gave me the opening lines! (I've found that when I'm stuck for words, looking at a picture often helps.)

It's a strange and stunning phenomenon how a rising moon can sometimes seem incredibly huge -- magnified by the earth's atmosphere. Then, as it rises higher in the night sky, it shrinks back to its normal size as seen from Earth.

Thanks for passing through the thread

All the best,
Noel

Hey Torrey,

Good to see you. Thank you!

All the best,
Noel

Hey Ray,

Thanks for visiting. I always like reading about how you hear my songs. I'm glad you had the time.

Thanks again!
Noel

Hi Peter,

This is a period in the development of modern music that really appeals me. I believe that the days of Tin Pan Alley saw melodists and lyricists reach some dizzying heights. That so many songs from this period still populate people's repertoire today is testimony to the talent of these yesteryear songwriters.

Thanks for passing through the thread.

All the best,
Noel

Hi Trev!

It's always a pleasure to see you. Thanks for taking the time to visit and comment. Really appreciate it.

All the best,
Noel

Really beautiful Noel!

Those lyrics are sublime and your vocals are outstanding!

What settings did you use in Nectar to process the vocals? They are so warm and clear.

Just delightful! I'm a big fan!

This made me smile the second I listen to the first line of the song. Super clear mix and excellent work.


Cheers,

Billy

Noel, I loved the use of the different bass tracks. Your arrangement is put together with great skill and your vocal styling is smooth and perfect for the genre. Crystal clear mix that just can’t be improved in any way. Another uplifting gem for your catalog. I immensely enjoyed it, Tom

Hi Scott,

Thank you for taking the time. I appreciate your comments, too.

All the best,
Noel

Hi ROG,

I don't often read "classy" in the same paragraph as my name! Thanks for that This is a period in music that I really like. It's genre that's stood the test of time for sure.

I appreciate the visit and the comments.

Thanks again,
Noel

Hey Dani!

It's always great to see that you've visited. Thank you for having a listen and I really appreciate the comments.

All the best to you and Li,
Noel

Hi Noel
hope all is well with you!

Song
Overall impression
Retro – becoming your speciality!
done with affection and respect
Mix / Production
all sounded well balanced to me
Instrumentation
Piano phrases are judiciously placed
Not all the solo (trumpet?) works for me
Vocals
you’ve worked hard on your vox Noel and it shows!
What I really liked
Slick production
well structured
What you might like to return to
the ‘outro’ lyrics seem a little odd to me – not altogether in phase with the rest of the song.

Hi Janne!

Thank you. I'm glad you enjoyed it. By the way, I'm a pretty big fan of Cole Porter. He was a very clever songwriter with both words and music.

All the best as spring starts to come your way!
Noel

Thanks Teletwanger. I appreciate the visit and the comments!

All the best,
Noel

I came back for another listen...
I like it...
I really like it!

Hi Dave,

Thanks for the uplifing review. Very much appreciated.

All the best,
Noel

Noel....
Nothing I can add to the favorable comments already stated....all of which I concur with.
Your vocals are very distinct and pleasing to the auditory receptors.
You performed the song and this genre perfectly....relaxed and deliberate.
Reminds me of an innocent, more care free state of mind during my youth prior to my military picnic.

Very well done.....carry on.

Hi Janice and Bud,

Thanks for all the encouragement! I really appreciate it.

I never lose sight of the fact that the real star of the show, though, is Band In A Box. These days I cannot imagine life without the program. I know I could never write the songs I do without this software.

To be able to re-create the sounds of yesteryear so effortlessly and to have the result sounding so professional with minimal effort never ceases to amaze me... it's a bit like magic!

All the best to you both,
Noel

Thanks fiddler!

All the best,
Noel

Hi Josie,

Thanks for visiting the thread and having a listen. I appreciate the comments.

All the best,
Noel

Sweet tune Noel. Loved it!

Mike M.

Noel,

Wonderful opening!
Very nice piano!
This tune is a very fun song.
I love these chord progressions very well.
Your vocal and lyrics perfect fit this tune.
Enjoyed my listen a lot.

Best regards.

Shigeki Adachi

Hi Bob,

Thanks for dropping in. I appreciate that you had a chance to have a listen. Thanks for the comments, too.

All the best,
Noel

Hey Greg,

It's always a delight to see that you've visited! Thank you. I'm looking forward to hearing your 'old standard' vibe song!

All the best,
Noel

Hi Deej,

Good to see you! Thank you for taking the song for a spin. Much appreciated.

All the best,
Noel

Hi Caaron,

Thanks for visiting!

You know, it never occurred to me to try creating a mix that had some old-time phonographic effects. That's quite an interesting thought. Next time I get Reaper out, I'll try some and see how it appeals.

The Big Band with Audience idea is also excellent. I'm not sure that I have the skills necessary to pull that one off, though! Small group ensembles are definitely where I feel most comfortable.

I appreciate your time to listen and to make some comments.

Thanks again,
Noel

Hi David,

Thank you! I always appreciate your support.

If you haven't yet seen the post, you can find out about my setting for Nectar at the link below.

https://www.pgmusic.com/forums/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=524211#Post524211

All the best,
Noel

Hey Lawrence!!

I always smile when I see you've popped in for a visit. Thank you!

All the best,
Noel

Hi Billy,

Thank you for dropping by. I appreciate that you had time to listen and to comment.

All the best,
Noel

Hey Tom,

Thank you for passing through the thread. I always smile when I see that you've called in. Appreciate the comments.

All the best,
Noel

Hey Marc,

As I mentioned in your thread, it's really good to see you back in the forum! Thanks for having a listen. I appreciate the detailed feedback. When I'm creating a song, I always find myself too close to the material to hear it objectively and that's why I really appreciate the thoughts of others. You've given me some good things to think about.

All the best,
Noel

Thanks Jim. I appreciate the smile you just gave me. It's good to see you again!

Regards,
Noel

Hi Noel ...

This is one of my very favorite genres of music and you aced it in every possible way. It's like listening to the soundtrack of a 1947 classic movie (but with better production skill and tools). My mother had a classic voice for this music and you brought back some great memories of her.

The mix is great... everything balanced and perfectly situated. This is the best vocal I;ve heard from you. A simply wonderful listen and skillful creation.

Wishing you the very best ...

Alan

Hi Wayne,

Thanks for taking the time. I really appreciate it.

This is a genre of music that I really feel at home with. The Tin Pan Alley days of songwriting were full of amazing lyricists and melodists. Thanks to Youtube, I get the opportunity to study these works of yesteryear in detail and BIAB lets me imitate the greats!

All the best,
Noel

I enjoy listening to your songs. Always put me in a good mood.

EZKeys has been a really fun piece of software for me also. I put something on and play guitar along with it often.

Cheers,

Billy

Thanks Mike. I really appreciate the visit

All the best,
Noel

Hi Shigeki Adachi,

I sincerely apologise for taking so long to get back to you and to thank you for listening. These days, Life always seems to have a surprise just waiting around the corner for me and one that usually takes me away from the forum for a bit.

I hope that all is travelling well for you now.

All the best,
Noel

Hi Alan,

Thank you for having a listen! I always appreciate hearing from you and Di. As I see it, the 30s and 40s were terrific times for music. Some of the best melodists and lyricists ever to create songs come from that period. I'm really glad that my song inspired some memories of your mum. Whenever I write something, I always hope that it means something to someone, somewhere.

I so sorry that it has taken me some time to reply to you. I hope that all is travelling along as well as possible for you and Di.

Thank you again and please know that my best healing thoughts are always heading your way.
Noel

Thanks Billy. I really appreciate your comments.

All the best,
Noel

P.S. Yep... EZ piano is really great!