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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