My all-time favorite writers' night was Thurday nights at Douglas Corner Cafe.
They had a chart band ("The First Take Band"). Studio guys. Nashville Number charts.
If you were good at writing charts, you could get (hear) exactly what you wanted from the band.
The Nashville Number system is fairly simple to learn - and provides for all the band dynamics in very simple notation. It's quite cool...
Sort of like BIAB, but with live players, first take...

Steve and I were sitting there one night, discussing what a great education it was.
How your charts evolved (got better and better)...how we got to hear a full band production of your newly written songs... How we got to hear a seemingly endless stream of writers - from as-good-as-it-gets to very bad...

Steve said "It's like a honky tonk of higher learning!"
We immediately knew that was a song.
He wrote the title on a napkin and handed it to me.
I wrote this the next morning.
The following Thursday, it debuted - with a full band, of course.
Steve sang harmonies (he was an experienced demo singer - so one listen in the parking lot beforehand was all he needed).

Here is what it sounds like with my new band.

Style is _BOOGNO1.STY (NewOrleans Boogie Quartet[165RS])

RealTracks in style: 2149:Bass, Electric, NewOrleansBoogie Ev 165
RealTracks in style: 2150:Guitar, Electric, Rhythm NewOrleansBoogie Ev 165
MIDI SuperTracks in song: 2153:Piano, Rhythm NewOrleansBoogieKevin Ev 165
MIDI SuperTracks in song: 2154:Piano, Soloist NewOrleansBoogieKevin Ev 165
RealTracks in song: 658:Guitar, Electric, Rhythm TexasRockChop Ev 120 (A:sync)
RealTracks in song: 1733:Guitar, Electric, Soloist TexasBluesRockNRollBrent Ev 165
RealDrums in style: NewOrleansBoogie^01-a:Snare, HiHat , b:Snare, Ride

HONKY TONK OF HIGHER LEARNING

just because i don't have a fancy diploma
just because i never went to college
doesn't mean i can't make my way in this world
i've gained the necessary knowledge
me and the boys still worry about
the grades we might be earning
hanging out here in the hallowed halls
of the honky tonk of higher learning

floyd's learning how it feels to flunk out
with phyliss over by the jukebox
hannah's teaching harry how she breaks hearts
here in this school of hard knocks
rachel's reading randy the rules of rejection
it seldom seems to concern him
he's still hanging out here in the hallowed halls
of the honky tonk of higher learning

   this is where we learn the real lessons of life
   keep the midnight oil burning
   sink or swim get your studies in
   the honky tonk of higher learning

saturday nights it's social studies
your history comes back to haunt you
you think you've got some chemistry going with the waitress
statistics say she won't want you
do a little math, figure up your tab
the wheels of knowledge just keep turning
hanging out here in the hallowed halls
of the honky tonk of higher learning

we're continuing our education
keep those neon beer signs burning
hanging out here in the hallowed halls
of the honky tonk of higher learning

ain't never graduating from these hallowed halls
the honky tonk of higher learning

©steve vincent and floyd jane


Have a beer.
Keep working toward that diploma!
floyd

Hi Floyd.

Great track, inspired lyrics, wonderful band, excellent vocals.

Of course, I'm always gonna ask for the guitar solo turning up, but you already expect that.

Super mix, otherwise - that snare really cracks and the whole thing ROCKS from start to finish.

Cheers, ROG.

WOW! That...was...AWESOME!!!!!

Just FULL of clever rhymes, with a cadence every bit as snappy as the snare drum driving it all!

HIGH ENERGY from start to finish, all built around an over-the-top clever phrase (love the story about its origin!)

The honky-tonk piano really works well as a device that links the title to the music....

As usual, your command of metaphor is right on the money, and your real-world comparisons to education are all very clever... and you never miss a lick in your delivery... seamless delivery of one great line after another!

And of course, your ability to tweak the randomly generated output into something that sounds like a live band wailing it out is unparalleled!

There are lots of ways to weigh the merits of a song, and you typically nail them all.. but in this case I think you've pushed the cleverness to a new high... I bow to the master!

My Alma Mater, The drum opening is killer. Sets the groove and never lets up. Great lyrics delivered with just the right phrasing. Perfect Mix as usual, although I agree with ROG the guitar solo could come up some. You got this old man moving, hope I don't pull something! Rocking Man!!! Tom

Floyd,
Fantastic live sound to the band and great lyrics - love that second verse!
Listening to your vocals & quality of production is an education in itself.

Robert

A great sound, very addictive.
Super instruments used.

Sergio

Just a joy to listen to, loved the energy, loved the piano solo!
Loved all the alliteration! loved the story about the song, loved that you put yerself (at least yer name) in the song. Loved that drum intro, there is a lot to like about this one.

Kenny

Definitely lots of energy in this!
Professional from start to finish.

Rob

Floyd
Great set of lyrics really enjoyable.
Infectious song - (really liked the piano solo) top flight band & vocal.
Excellent work all round.

My Alma Mater also!

Great vibe, super vocal, fantastic lyrics and harmonies.

This is a keeper.

Now that's a dancing tune, very well put together. Lyrics and band top notch as always.
Steve

Floyd,

How on earth do you manage to get a honky tonk piano to sound like Jerry Lee Lewis had come to session for you
Great song, great storyline, huge fun. You can hear in every note that you were really enjoying singing this one.

Paddy G

Great high energy tune. This is a good write. Enjoyed my listen.

Thanks, ROG. I'll take a look tonight or tomorrow and see about bringing that guitar up some...

Very well done! Great lyrics and nice mix.

Hi Floyd,

very energetic and a real toe tapper.
Great lyrics again. Very imaginative.
Production and delivery outstanding as always.
In a nutshell: a typical Floyd manufacture.
Thanks a lot for the background story.

Guenter

saturday nights it's social studies
your history comes back to haunt you
you think you've got some chemistry going with the waitress
statistics say she won't want you

Just one of my favorite parts of an extremely fun and clever lyric!! Floyd, I don't know how, after hearing dozens of your songs, I can come away feeling even more impressed than I was anticipating. This is really, really sharply written and performed. Another gem!! And the drums have a kick-[*****] sound. Great stuff AGAIN!! Take care. Greg

Very cool.... what a fun song.

Floyd,

This is really, really fun!

Well, heck, Pat... that's just too nice...






Thanks, Tom... I have done another mix with the guitar solo up, but then as I was about to upload it, I realized Soundcloud would wipe all the comments (since I don't have the pro level)... so, I'm thinkin'...