RealDrums play a starring rule here. If you have never taken the time to walk through all the RealDrum options, you need to.
There are over 300 choices - not to mention the choices inside those choices (so, thousands!).
BIAB is worth its price if you only use it as a "drum machine"!

If you are ever in the Tampa Bay area, you should spend some time in Ybor City.
Many years ago it contained little more than some cigar factories and the Florida mafia. The population was largely Cuban.
It was once (supposedly) the hangout of pirates...Tampa throws a Gasparilla celebration each year - sort of our Mardi Gras..(pirates, drunks, girls, beads)..
The Cloumbia Restaurant has been there over 100 years, but little else was there...

About 40 years ago, businessmen began moving in to transform it into a "tourist area".
I played weekends at the first "new" bar ("Rough Riders Restaurant" in a converted cigar factory)
when it was still considered "the bad side of town".
https://www.floridamemory.com/items/show/88695
(There is some chance that I am the guy at the bottom of the stairs, back turned in that picture)

You did not want to stray from the main drag at night.

Today it is Tampa's most colorful area. If you visit, make sure to go to the Tampa Bay Brewing Company and order the meatloaf... I am NOT kidding...see it on Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives Homemade & Homebrewed Highlights (link no longer valid)
Walking the main drag Saturday night is entertaining...

This is my "tribute" to that 1977-era Ybor..

YBOR CITY LULLABY

in the heart of the city
veins of red cobblestone
between summer heat and a spanish beat
where many a pirate's been known
laughing senoritas and colored piñatas
twirl to the tourists delight
latin girls so pretty, but deep in this city
plans are being made for the night

   oh, carmelita
   hold me up or hold me down
   is ybor city paradise
   or the bad side of town

the corners have all been stolen
by bright lights and squad car patrols
but neither violate the alleys
where schemers and saboteurs stroll
costumed and gay by the light of the day
but don't walk away from the crowd
their hatred is buried, but like switchblades it's carried
it burns in the hearts of the proud

   oh, carmelita
   do we dare to dream or drown
   is ybor city paradise
   or the bad side of town

behind the festival veil
a people gasping for air
they invite the invaders to join in the dance
reach a hand out but nothing is there

   oh, carmelita
   lay your body down
   ybor city is paradise
   the bad side of town


And finally... the (Latin Rock) band!!!

Style is _GUAJIRA.STY (Guajira Trio [120RS])

RealDrums in style: SalsaGuajira^1-a:BongoFills, b:Bells
RealDrums in Song: PraiseWorshipShine^01-a:Snare, HiHat , b:Snare, Ride

RealTracks in style: 1958:Bass, Baby, Guajira Ev 120
RealTracks in style: 1959:Piano, Acoustic, Rhythm Guajira Ev 120
RealTracks in style: 1960:Tres, Rhythm Guajira Ev 120
RealTracks in song: 1004:Guitar, 12-String Acoustic, Rhythm ClassicRockStrumming Ev16 065
RealTracks in song: 1292:Accordion, Rhythm TexMexCountry Ev 120
RealTracks in song: 1770:Guitar, Electric, Rhythm JazzFunkMovinChords Ev16 130
RealTracks in song: 659:Guitar, Electric, Rhythm TexasRockChop Ev 120 (B:8ths)
RealTracks in song: 698:Guitar, Electric, Rhythm ElecRockDirty Ev 120 (A:muted)
RealTracks in song: 809:Guitar, Electric, Soloist DrivingCountryBallad Ev 065


Play it loud (or in phones) - to really hear the RealDrums!

Y'all diviértete...Arrggh..

Have at it.

floyd

floyd
The Latin beat sets the mood straight away portraying a life about which I know nothing.In the late 70's I hung around in the "celebrity" side of London in the same districts as some gangsters, never saw them but the stories...wow! No longer playing live at that time, sadly, I restarted in the 80's.

The lyrics paint pictures and turn that photo into colour, so I won't pick an example as I'd have to praise each line!

Them drums are excellent, must investigate them myself

Wonderful, Floyd, absolutely wonderful. There must be great memories to produce this masterpiece.

A great listen on this miserable day in Wales, cold 'n damp.

Needs a few more listens!!

Excellent

Alyn

This one really fits you. Fits you so very well...

It all comes together like Grandma's banana pudding!

About the picture: It is good that you notated back turned at the bottom of the stairs. You share the same hairstyle as the lady at the top of the stairs with her back turned... holding a pocketbook....

A peculiarity to your subject is a town in S/E NC named Tabor City. It shares many of the same characteristics with Ybor except the entire city has the reputation. It is fondly nicknamed in these parts as "Razor City."

It does not have a tourist section like Ybor but it presents a large fall festival each year called the Yam Festival that is internationally acclaimed. It is not as bad these days of its reputation as it once was but if you get crossed up there, it's still as bad once as it ever was.

It is also the birthplace of country legend Stonwall Jackson.

Wow! I love a bit o'latin - especially one with a thumping drum beat like this.
Great lyrics - is it REALLY that scarey?! And great tune too - loved the Chorus.
AND - is that SOLO guitar and Outro really an RT - or is that you? Its stunning and fits perfectly.
Ace Job, my friend.
cheers
ian

I think Latin beats always make a body want to move - they sure do mine. So you had me from the get go with that rhythm track. Cool story well written - love the line about the switch blade. You sound great on it. Mucho enjoyed!

Hi Floyd,

everything is perfect! I especially like the panorama you have in the mix.
Thanks a lot for the background story and the picture.
You gave me some pleasant minutes today.

Guenter

Hi Floyd.

Well, that's another place on my list of where to visit when I eventually get to do my tour of the US.

What a splendid track - a sort of rock salsa. (The dance, not the spicy tomato dip.)

I was waiting for Herb Alpert trumpets to perform the solo but got Jimi Hendrix instead. Cool.

A terrific mix in which everything rocks from start to finish and which nearly brought the Tannoys off the stands. Maybe more cowbell?

ROG.

Floyd,
Having been a Tampa Bay resident for three years, the title grabbed my attention. Yep, you nailed it! I've been to all the places you mentioned but never in the bad ole days. It must have been wild! People still routinely get into trouble there but it's such a cool place and the cigars a still great.
Excellent song. I really enjoyed it.
SD

Excellent vocal and lyrics. Latin music has such a cool rhythm to it. Guitar was superb.

Thanks, Alyn. You can get really lost in walking through all the drums choices... I don't think people realize how much variety is really there. It's pretty incredible...and you don't have to program them yourself! Click, Click Click and done... I'd like to hear ALL of your stories one day...



I hope Grandma's pudding was good...

Really well done song, and interesting background story Floyd!! The Latin beat is infectious. The mix is superb. And, the lyrics are wonderfully descriptive and poetic. You traverse many styles with great skill and apparent comfort. Great job!! Take care. Greg

Floyd,

In my opinion this is your best song/arrangement/composition and vocal, so far.
First: the vocal volume levels are beautifully weaved in the songs arrangement. They are pitch perfect especially in the chorus.
Second: The (gritty) electric guitars work perfectly to roughen up the mix a little.
Third: The mix/arrangement itself has a very distinct atmosphere, also due to the percussion and the accordion.
The song gives the exact feeling of what you've been describing in your post.
It's a little bit different from what you usually do, but very, very cool!

Rob

As you know I moved to Tampa in 1977 and although ours paths never crossed, we did have one thing in common and that was our experiences with Ybor City. Yours was playing music there and mine delivering Krispy Kreme donuts. I had thought many times of writing about Ybor City but you have done such a perfect job with this song that there would be no need of it. You have captured everything that needs to be told with such precision and musical talent that if a person had never been there they now have a great understanding of what it was like in those days. Great job Floyd! I love what you did with the Latin sound and it really brought back some old memories for me. Thanks for writing this one.
Sonny

Floyd
I liked everything about that one - the story the vocal the guitars and of course the drums.
You continue to push the envelope.

Nice! The percussion introduction is very ear-catching, as in the guitar at the end (and your vocal with the reverb).

I'd been eyeing <BRAND NAME REDACTED> Blues Drumkit, but I keep reminding myself what you pointed out: BiaB has some really nice drumkits, and it's really easy to forget how much we've already got.

Anyway, fun listen, especially with the guitars playing off against the latin drums.

Hey floyd,

I haven't listened to the song yet nor read any of the comments. I've just finished reading the lyrics and I wanted to pass on some thoughts regarding those before being influenced by anything else.

I LOVE the opening. What a fantastic initial image and metaphor... a very lyrical play on the word 'heart'...


... after reading that, I was fully committed to finish!

The next thing that came my way was just how outstanding your rhyme scheme is. It's very sophisticated indeed. (The phrase "floyd is a lyricist supremo" just sprang to mind. I pass it on for what it's worth ).


The rhythm of the rhyme is fantastic. I hope that people who listen to this song take the time to read the lyric aloud. It's well worth the journey. A great lyric!

Ok... off to listen now... I'm curious to see where this goes.

Back now...

What an incredible creation!

Not only is this a write of the highest calibre, it's also a masterpiece arrangement and production. In addition, your performance is spectacular.

I'm heading back for another listen. This is music at its very best!

Regards
Noel

Thanks, Ian.... Ybor is not like that now. It is a terrific place to visit... as long as you keep to the main two streets...

The solo guitar is an RT - it is listed above..




Josie - Thanks for dropping by (and dancing!)

Thanks for listening, Guenter... and for the nice comments...

Good one

Ay!

Ser suave como la seda. ¡Bien hecho! Hiciste un excelente trabajo. Perfect companion for my Cuba Libre!



Regards,

Bob