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Joey (if you have SoundCloud issues an alternative link is at the bottom of this page, thanks) My uncle who inspired this write was truly a gentle soul. I wish I had known him for a longer time. A few weeks ago I reflected on a time during my hospital administrative career when everything possible, it seemed, was in crisis. During that time my staff gave me a bowl with a single candle in it (based on the old Chinese proverb). Thinking about that and looking at the bowl that 35 years later (it still sits in our home) lead me to what became verse three. Janice commented that it reminded her of my uncle and that lead me to expand on my memories of him. I put together a chord structure with my usual RT genre mashup :-), Janice quickly came up with a melody/vocal and Tom (tommyad) hugely complemented the whole feel with his guitar. Thanks for your time -- comments are both welcomed and appreciated! J&B Vocal: Janice (Rodes NT1/Blue Icicle/Logic Pro X) Lead Guitar: Tom Guitar R RT 362 Acoustic Strumming Guitar R RT 680 Electric RockBritSoul Drums RD N’ville 8ths Bass RT 1036 Northern Rock Ballad Accordion RT 1757 Pop Piano RT 2045 Country Pop Track Effects/Mastering: Nectar 2 and Ozone 6 © 2015 Janice & Bud Merritt All Rights Reserved V1 Joey was a kind man, he walked life with purpose We’d hike the nearby forest, the two of us He delighted in every shape and color I learned to see beauty all around me in nature Chorus When he passed on few seemed to care He’s gone, but I feel his gentle soul everywhere In every garden, in every forest I still see him And hear nature singing his last hymn V2 Joey forever swam against the tide It didn’t bother me, it was fun being along for the ride I was young maybe nothing more than curious he didn't mind, he was always so gracious Chorus V3 he taught me how to make each moment last to worry less about the future and the past light a single candle when the blues seem endless Joey said it’s better than cursing the darkness Chorus Alternate play link: Joey
Our albums and singles are on Spotify, Apple Music, Amazon Music, YouTube Music, Pandora and more. If interested search on Janice Merritt. Thanks! Our Videos are here on our website.
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This is an emotional giant and perfect execution of every element of the song. Vocals, Tommy's guitar and Bud's production. This is very moving -- a gift to each of us here on the forum. Loved it.
Hats off to the 'Dream Team'.
Charlie
Last edited by c_fogle; 02/25/15 05:12 AM.
BIAB 2025:RB 2025, Latest builds: Dell Optiplex 7040 Desktop; Windows-10-64 bit, Intel Core i7-6700 3.4GHz CPU and 16 GB Ram Memory.
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The mix here is really good! I think the balance is great. Smooth sound, with some great instrumental work. wow, great. Vocals are pretty pitchy, but have great tone. Noise floor is really high, not sure what to do about that, depends on why I suppose, I'm not sure it's all that big a deal. Can't say I'm wild about the lyrical structure, or the melody. The vocals slide so much the melody is a little hard to pick out but I suppose that's the style it was written in so it may be intentional, so maybe I'm fussing over genera preferences which I shouldn't do. Anyway, I would say you folks put alot of work into this and it shows. fun.
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This is an emotional giant and perfect execution of every element of the song. Vocals, Tommy's guitar and Bud's production. This is very moving -- a gift to each of us here on the forum. Loved it.
Hats off to the 'Dream Team'.
Charlie Thank you Charlie. Janice and I are appreciative of your remarks. We don't write too many "true life" songs (as Bill Monroe calls them) and were a little apprehensive of how it might be received. Your comments make us feel a lot better about the endeavor. J&B
Our albums and singles are on Spotify, Apple Music, Amazon Music, YouTube Music, Pandora and more. If interested search on Janice Merritt. Thanks! Our Videos are here on our website.
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Hi Bud and Janice, This song kinda reminds me of Mr Bo Jangles, because both songs are nostalgic examinations of a man, they're both pop-Americana style songs, and they both contain an accordion. Not a lot of songs fit that description. If you added a mandolin, it would be even closer!  This is a bit of a departure from your established style... but I think that's part of what this forum is all about: creating an environment where people will try new things and push those boundaries into fresh territory! I was expecting Tommy to add pedal steel, but this guitar does a great job of creating a completely different kind of motif for a completely different kind of song. Man, I really like that accordion! Janice, as usual you bring a great deal of emotion to the story with your vocal inflections and signature sliding vocal style. Bud, you remain the master of the minimal mix. You're the one guy who nobody could ever say "needs more cowbell". You also wrote the song and lyrics, right? Very cool! My biggest takeaway on this song is that everybody involved stepped outside their comfort zone and pulled it off! Great job everybody! By the way, you got me with the false ending at 3:10. Just so ya know. I mean I was totally resolved then the song unresolved me then resolved me again. I was so confused I had to get my drivers license out to see who I am. That was great. Like drugs, only no side effects.
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Hi Bud and Janice, This song kinda reminds me of Mr Bo Jangles, because both songs are nostalgic examinations of a man, they're both pop-Americana style songs, and they both contain an accordion. Not a lot of songs fit that description. If you added a mandolin, it would be even closer! This is a bit of a departure from your established style... but I think that's part of what this forum is all about: creating an environment where people will try new things and push those boundaries into fresh territory! I was expecting Tommy to add pedal steel, but this guitar does a great job of creating a completely different kind of motif for a completely different kind of song. Man, I really like that accordion! Janice, as usual you bring a great deal of emotion to the story with your vocal inflections and signature sliding vocal style. Bud, you remain the master of the minimal mix. You're the one guy who nobody could ever say "needs more cowbell". You also wrote the song and lyrics, right? Very cool! My biggest takeaway on this song is that everybody involved stepped outside their comfort zone and pulled it off! Great job everybody! By the way, you got me with the false ending at 3:10. Just so ya know. I mean I was totally resolved then the song unresolved me then resolved me again. I was so confused I had to get my drivers license out to see who I am. That was great. Like drugs, only no side effects. Thanks Pat. Interesting about you mentioning the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band. I hadn't thought of that song in many years and, yup, there are certainly similarities. Venturing out is both fun and filled on occasion with some trepidation. But, hey, after playing hardcore bluegrass of and on for 40+ years everything we do with BiaB is out of my comfort zone. Thanks for mentioning the mix. There are a few folks here who work miracles with large numbers of tracks and it sounds great. Me? 4-6 tracks is about it for my old brain. Thanks again! J&B
Our albums and singles are on Spotify, Apple Music, Amazon Music, YouTube Music, Pandora and more. If interested search on Janice Merritt. Thanks! Our Videos are here on our website.
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Oh, this has such a great atmosphere!
Very nice lyrics and as usual, very well sung, but also the accordion gives that little extra in the song.
Almost forget the lead,... very cool Tommy!
Rob
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Oh, this has such a great atmosphere!
Very nice lyrics and as usual, very well sung, but also the accordion gives that little extra in the song.
Almost forget the lead,... very cool Tommy!
Rob Thanks Rob. We always look forward to and appreciate your comments. I've been wanting to use that accordion for a long time. Glad you felt it added to the song. J&B
Our albums and singles are on Spotify, Apple Music, Amazon Music, YouTube Music, Pandora and more. If interested search on Janice Merritt. Thanks! Our Videos are here on our website.
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Hi Janice & Bud and Tommy, This is an emotional giant and perfect execution of every element of the song. Vocals, Tommy's guitar and Bud's production. This is very moving -- a gift to each of us here on the forum. Loved it.
Hats off to the 'Dream Team'.
+1 from me. Couldn't say it better. I enjoyed this from beginning to end. Thanks for the background story. Guenter
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Janice & Bud,
I think this song is just great - my favorite vocal by Janice to date - so natural and filled with emotion... Great guitar by Tommy as usual.
Well done guys!
Bob
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Gentleness pervades the song, the vocals and guitar, and sounds great to me.
Cheers.
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Hi Janice and Bud,
At the Avant-Premiere at SC I was blown away from the first line.
You took me over the ocean into yours, and Joey's world.
Pat said it all, Janices vocals, Toms guitar, and Buds composing and mixing, as good as it gets!
Take care
Fred
Last edited by FredM; 02/26/15 12:49 AM.
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Thanks to all who have mentioned the guitar work. Just a very simple part and Bud & Janice make that very easy to do. What a joy it is to work with them. We are always on the same page. An earlier comment mentioned Janice's vocal as being pitchy. Well..... Around these parts Janice is known as the natural alternative to Melodyne. Just dead nuts center of the note every time. Sliding in and out of notes and blues inflections are something totally different than pitch. Anyways, Bud wrote a great piece here and we shouldn't let differences of opinion taint that accomplishment. Thanks again to all who enjoyed this one. Tom
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An earlier comment mentioned Janice's vocal as being pitchy. Well..... Around these parts Janice is known as the natural alternative to Melodyne. Just dead nuts center of the note every time. Sliding in and out of notes and blues inflections are something totally different than pitch. Tom AMEN BROTHAH!
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Hi Janice & Bud and Tommy, This is an emotional giant and perfect execution of every element of the song. Vocals, Tommy's guitar and Bud's production. This is very moving -- a gift to each of us here on the forum. Loved it.
Hats off to the 'Dream Team'.
+1 from me. Couldn't say it better. I enjoyed this from beginning to end. Thanks for the background story. Guenter Thank you Guenter! J&B Janice & Bud,
I think this song is just great - my favorite vocal by Janice to date - so natural and filled with emotion... Great guitar by Tommy as usual.
Well done guys!
Bob Thanks Bob. I initially had a lot of doubts but it seemed to come together after Janice sang and then Tom's guitar iced the cake. Bud Gentleness pervades the song, the vocals and guitar, and sounds great to me.
Cheers. Cool. Happy that it worked for you! J&B
Our albums and singles are on Spotify, Apple Music, Amazon Music, YouTube Music, Pandora and more. If interested search on Janice Merritt. Thanks! Our Videos are here on our website.
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Gentleness pervades the song, the vocals and guitar, and sounds great to me.
Cheers. that's it! Gentleness!!
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light a single candle when the blues seem endless I relate to that line, what a wonderful idea.....must research that old proverb. This is an emotional giant and perfect execution of every element of the song. Why can't I think of a sentence like that  'cos it says it all for me. great guitar and wonderful words, Janice's vocals are superb as usual, each note sounds so effortless We meet wonderful people on our journey through life, people that stay for ever in our thoughts, Joey seems one of those without whom life would be poorer. beautiful Alyn
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Team, what a great collaboration. High standard throughout. Superb vocal, and Tommy does a fantastic job on guitar.
A really nice, and enjoyable listen.
Thanks
BIAB & RB2025 Win.(Audiophile), Sonar Platinum, Cakewalk by Bandlab, Izotope Prod.Bundle, Roland RD-1000, Synthogy Ivory, Kontakt, Focusrite 18i20, KetronSD2, NS40M Monitors, Pioneer Active Monitors, AKG K271 Studio H'phones
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Sweet song!! Pretty and heartfelt, AND what song would not be made better by some Tommyad guitar-loved the vibe (I loved tremolo from the moment I first heard it in the 60's, and still do-can be very emotional). Song is flawlessly delivered and arranged. I think I have a great ear for pitch (doesn't mean I don't miss, but I'm aware of it). I hear a flat acoustic guitar string on Band on the Run by Wings, and Dennis DeYoung from Styx makes me cringe every time I hear Babe, but Janice is as spot on as anyone I've heard on and off the forum. Another great tune!! Take care. Greg
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"...hear nature singing his last hymn"
What a terrific line! Nice write, y'all - a great portrait.
The production is perfect. Supportive and never in the way. Excellent mix (you are the king).
Tom's guitar is icing! The easy tremolo was perfect. And also perfectly supportive - no flash...
Sung with the emotion the subject deserves!
Flows like a Georgia mountain creek in early Spring...
floyd
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Ask sales and support questions about Band-in-a-Box using natural language.
ChatPG's knowledge base includes the full Band-in-a-Box User Manual and sales information from the website.
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Band-in-a-Box® for iOS® :Summary video.
Check out the forum post for more information.
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