Previous Thread
Index
Next Thread
Print Thread
Go To
Page 1 of 2 1 2
User Showcase
Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 14,923
Veteran
OP Offline
Veteran
Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 14,923
Jesus On The Mainline

About a week ago I mentioned to floyd jane a public domain gospel song that Janice and I have wanted to work up for a long time. While the origins are not known it's roots thought by some to be with a 1920’s African-American blues and/or spiritual song. Many gospel, rock, Americana, blues and country versions have been done over the years.  Hey, believe it or not, Aerosmith did a version.

The reason for my mentioning it was the group of backup singers, "The Fabulous BIABettes," that floyd always has on 24 hour call...so I wondering if he (amongst floyd/Janice vocals and the BIABettes) could create a gospel choir.

He thought it was worth pursuing so I proceeded with several things in mind - in addition to the choir I wanted to use a slide guitar (lap steel), a piano and an a cappella verse.  I thought the slide would be incongruous with the choir in a positive way.  OK, I stole the idea from Ry Cooder who stole it from AA churches.   I loved David Lindley’s lap steel with Jackson Browne. Oh, and Janice and I tweaked the lyric and wrote one new verse.

At the time I originally wrote this I was not familiar with the "Sacred Steel" tradition in Florida African-American Pentecostal churches. During the 30's some AA churches replaced the organ with the steel guitar and that's where this tradition started. Wiki has some great history on the Sacred Steel. Some of you may be familiar, as I was, with the Robert Randolph Family Band that uses the steel. While they play secular music they clearly came from this tradition. Thanks to Tommyad for cluing me in on this info in his response to this post.

Fast forward --- I put the RTs together with floyd's great choir (created from floyd and Janice vocals with a few of the BIABettes), Janice’s lead/counter vocals and.......I couldn't get it to work and the harder and longer I tried the more disjointed it seemed to sound.  Everything I did seem to step on the choir. Floyd listened and offered to bail me out by remixing the entire project and swapping out several of the Realtracks.  And are we ever glad he did!!!  BTW, he very generously suggested I be considered a co-producer smile   So here ya go.  

Comments are always welcomed and appreciated.  

For those interested there are 30+ tracks when everything you hear is included!

Vocals:  10 Tracks/floyd/janice plus 4 tracks BIABettes
Handclaps: 16 Tracks
RealTracks in song: ~701:Bass, Electric, PopHalfNotesSync Ev 085
RealTracks in song: 1690:Piano, Acoustic, Rhythm PopPromise Ev16 100
RealTracks in song: 1399:Guitar, Electric, Rhythm Soul70sBrightSync Ev16 100
RealTracks in style: 382:Guitar, Slide, Background Blues Ev 085
RealTracks in song: 2110:Horn Section, Background, R&B Ev16 110
RealDrums in Song: NashvilleEven8^7-a,b:Snare, HiHat 

Last edited by Janice & Bud; 01/11/14 06:27 PM.

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.
User Showcase
Joined: Mar 2013
Posts: 4,487
Veteran
Offline
Veteran
Joined: Mar 2013
Posts: 4,487
Hi, Janice, Bud & Floyd !


I enjoyed this spiritual very much
and most of all the a cappella part
towards the end of the song ! As
the barbershopper I am I dig all
kinds of a cappella singing spirituals
included !:))

Cheers
Dani

User Showcase
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 19,540
Veteran
Offline
Veteran
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 19,540
Hi Janice, Bud and floyd.

How amazing is this song to listen to!!!!! Wow.

What you've put together is incredibly inventive and it's one of the most polished uses of the BIABettes I've ever heard. To be able to create an a capella section with them is testimony to your collective remarkable talents.

I love Gospel music and this has all the elements that make Gospel such a great style. The memorable repetition, the tug-of-war between keeping time and ad lib'ing and, most importantly, the sincerity of performance.

Just brilliant!!!!

All the best,
Noel


MY SONGS...
Audiophile BIAB 2024
User Showcase
Joined: May 2011
Posts: 4,219
Veteran
Offline
Veteran
Joined: May 2011
Posts: 4,219
Janice, Bud, and floyd, Great job by all three of you, though it sounds like many more. That must have been a mixing challenge. It sure was worth it. This style is found in the black churches in north central Florida. They call it sacred steel. This is where Robert Randolph came from. A few years back I had a gig in Key West and right behind the place was the Green Parrot saloon where the Lee Boys were playing. I went there every night on our breaks and watched them tear the roof off that place. This type of music definitely moves people as your rendition of this spiritual does. Congratulations on another job well done. Tom

User Showcase
Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 14,923
Veteran
OP Offline
Veteran
Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 14,923
Originally Posted By: tommyad
Janice, Bud, and floyd, Great job by all three of you, though it sounds like many more. That must have been a mixing challenge. It sure was worth it. This style is found in the black churches in north central Florida. They call it sacred steel. This is where Robert Randolph came from. A few years back I had a gig in Key West and right behind the place was the Green Parrot saloon where the Lee Boys were playing. I went there every night on our breaks and watched them tear the roof off that place. This type of music definitely moves people as your rendition of this spiritual does. Congratulations on another job well done. Tom


Tom, that is great info. I'm from south GA and remember as a kid African-American churches where the gospel choir was accompanied by an electric guitar but never heard the lap steel. I'd walk across a field and listen to the music behind the church. The Robert Randolph Family Band played in our home town a couple of years ago. I wish I'd known of that connection since I heard Ry Cooder's version with AA backup singers back in the 70's and thought he'd put that combo together. Thanks for the info and kind remarks regarding the production.

Last edited by Janice & Bud; 01/09/14 04:42 PM.

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.
User Showcase
Joined: Dec 2012
Posts: 8,026
Veteran
Offline
Veteran
Joined: Dec 2012
Posts: 8,026
What is there to say besides...."WOW!

Everything about this is betond great! Sounds like the entire church choir was there and in top form. It's a masterpiece of talent and technical ability. All three of you...take a bow!

SUPER WOW!!!!

Al & Di


BIAB 2024 Ultra Plus-all StylePaks*Win11*32GB DDR5*Rhyzen 9745x*AT 2035 Mic*Peavey Nashville 112 Amp*Ibanez ART120* Acoustic/Electric/Washburn D200S Acoustic*Stromberg Monterey Jazz Guitar

Loops: https://aldavidmusic.wixsite.com/bestmusicloops

User Showcase
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 5,139
Veteran
Offline
Veteran
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 5,139
Another great one from the Jane/Merritt studios. Enjoyed it thoroughly.


Regards,


Bob

User Showcase
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 9,931
Veteran
Offline
Veteran
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 9,931
Really nice work.

Loved the slide/lap steel track. Tasty stuff.

I recall listening to Jackson Brown and falling in love with Lindley's playing.....another great steel player was Sneaky Pete.... amazing players who influenced my early years and stated to move me from heavy rock (Deep Purple, Black Sabbath... et al) towards the country rock movement of Poco, Emmy Lou and so many other great bands and singers....

This is excellent.... the choir was well done.... it didn't sound like it was a contrived studio creation of only a few singers multi-tracked and cloned.....well done.


You can find my music at:
www.herbhartley.com
Add nothing that adds nothing to the music.
You can make excuses or you can make progress but not both.

The magic you are looking for is in the work you are avoiding.
User Showcase
Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 14,923
Veteran
OP Offline
Veteran
Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 14,923
Originally Posted By: dani48
Hi, Janice, Bud & Floyd !
I enjoyed this spiritual very much
and most of all the a cappella part
towards the end of the song ! As
the barbershopper I am I dig all
kinds of a cappella singing spirituals
included !:))
Cheers
Dani


Hey Dani, as you're a barbershopper I'm REALLY glad you liked the harmony. Floyd did a great job with just his and Janice's vocal.

Originally Posted By: Noel96
Hi Janice, Bud and floyd.
How amazing is this song to listen to!!!!! Wow.
What you've put together is incredibly inventive and it's one of the most polished uses of the BIABettes I've ever heard. To be able to create an a capella section with them is testimony to your collective remarkable talents.
I love Gospel music and this has all the elements that make Gospel such a great style. The memorable repetition, the tug-of-war between keeping time and ad lib'ing and, most importantly, the sincerity of performance.
Just brilliant!!!!
All the best,
Noel


Thanks Noel! If you get a chance look up "sacred steel" on wiki and read about this African-American tradition. BTW, the BIABettes while present only accounted for a small part of the choir. It's mostly the "real" Janice and Floyd.


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.
User Showcase
Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 2,888
Veteran
Offline
Veteran
Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 2,888
Hi you three,

great production.
I especially liked that a capella part.
Would have wanted more of it.
I helped myself by playing that part
several times.
Kudos to Floyd for that choir feel.

Guenter

User Showcase
Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 14,923
Veteran
OP Offline
Veteran
Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 14,923
Originally Posted By: Al-David
What is there to say besides...."WOW!
Everything about this is betond great! Sounds like the entire church choir was there and in top form. It's a masterpiece of talent and technical ability. All three of you...take a bow!
SUPER WOW!!!!
Al & Di


Thank y'all. Including the handclaps this was 30 tracks. Floyd did a great job on the mix!

Originally Posted By: 90 dB
Another great one from the Jane/Merritt studios. Enjoyed it thoroughly.
Regards,
Bob


Thanks Bob! This one was interesting for sure.


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.
User Showcase
Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 613
Journeyman
Offline
Journeyman
Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 613
Bud,

Well that was outstanding! Loved the choir & the slide guitar!

Greg

User Showcase
Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 14,923
Veteran
OP Offline
Veteran
Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 14,923
Originally Posted By: Guitarhacker
Really nice work.
Loved the slide/lap steel track. Tasty stuff.
I recall listening to Jackson Brown and falling in love with Lindley's playing.....another great steel player was Sneaky Pete.... amazing players who influenced my early years and stated to move me from heavy rock (Deep Purple, Black Sabbath... et al) towards the country rock movement of Poco, Emmy Lou and so many other great bands and singers....
This is excellent.... the choir was well done.... it didn't sound like it was a contrived studio creation of only a few singers multi-tracked and cloned.....well done.


Thanks Herb, this was definitely the biggest production I've been involved in track wise. And, yeah, Sneaky Pete definitely sticks in my memory also. Great player.

Originally Posted By: boehm
Hi you three,
great production.
I especially liked that a capella part.
Would have wanted more of it.
I helped myself by playing that part
several times.
Kudos to Floyd for that choir feel.
Guenter


Thanks Guenter, I thought the a cappella worked out well. If the song had been longer I would have thrown in another a cappella verse -- should've done that.


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.
User Showcase
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 2,646
P
Veteran
Offline
Veteran
P
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 2,646
Janice as always your vocal is superb, the harmonies sound great, fine work all around. Thanks for sharing!


My Tunes

Psalm 57:7 My heart, O God, is steadfast, my heart is steadfast; I will sing and make music.
User Showcase
Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 12,226
Veteran
Offline
Veteran
Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 12,226
Just want to let y'all know...

I created a RealDrums of the "Choir Claps" that we created for this song.

Look under the "User Tracks" forum...

User Showcase
Joined: May 2012
Posts: 2,924
Veteran
Offline
Veteran
Joined: May 2012
Posts: 2,924
Bud, Janice and Floyd
Fantastic. What can I say that hasn't already been said?

Just love the whole production, choir and a capella verse.


Hundreds of Backing Tracks here Band-in-a-Box Files
User Showcase
Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 14,923
Veteran
OP Offline
Veteran
Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 14,923
Originally Posted By: Achordocaster
Bud,
Well that was outstanding! Loved the choir & the slide guitar!
Greg


Yeah man, the choir and slide is unusual but if you get chance google "sacred steel" and read about the tradition.

Originally Posted By: PgFantastic
Janice as always your vocal is superb, the harmonies sound great, fine work all around. Thanks for sharing!


Thanks! Janice really enjoyed working with floyd on this one.


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.
User Showcase
Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 649
occ Offline
Journeyman
Offline
Journeyman
Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 649
Here is my version of Jesus on the mainline. I really like your version. This song has been recorded by many artists. Hope you like it. I used BIAB and Realband. occ

Last edited by occ; 01/13/14 08:56 AM.
User Showcase
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 22,232
Veteran
Offline
Veteran
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 22,232
It's all been said so all I can add is this is fantastic.

This really has a live vibe to it and in fact sounds like it could have been recorded in any church.

You all should be very proud of this one.


Today I bought a doughnut without the sprinkles. Diets are hard!

64 bit Win 10 Pro, the latest BiaB/RB, Roland Octa-Capture audio interface, a ton of software/hardware
User Showcase
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 5,083
Veteran
Offline
Veteran
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 5,083
What a HUGE choir Janice and Floyd were able to do with the Biabettes. Gonna have to enlist a male and try that myself next time.

I thought the vocals were "Heavenly" but that had to be one "hell" of a mix to work on....

Josie

PS. Thanks a lot Janice for getting that song stuck in my head now. <grin>

Previous Thread
Next Thread
Go To
Page 1 of 2 1 2

Link Copied to Clipboard
ChatPG

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.

PG Music News
Update your Band-in-a-Box® 2025 for Windows® Today!

If you’ve already purchased Band-in-a-Box® 2025 for Windows®, great news—a new update is now available! This update introduces a handy new feature: a vertical cursor in the Tracks window that shows the current location across all tracks, and more.

Discover everything included in this free update and download it now at https://www.pgmusic.com/support_windowsupdates.htm#1124

Video: Band-in-a-Box® 2025 for Windows®: Boot Camp: The AI Lyrics Generator

With Band-in-a-Box 2025® for Windows®, we've introduced an exciting new feature: the AI Lyrics Generator! In this video, Tobin guides you step-by-step on how to make the most of this new tool.

Band-in-a-Box® 2025 for Windows®: Boot Camp: The AI Lyrics Generator video.

Check out the forum post for more information.

Video: Band-in-a-Box® 2025 for Windows®: Using VST3 Plugins

Band-in-a-Box 2025® for Windows® now includes support for VST3 plugins, bringing even more creative possibilities to your music production. Join Simon as he guides you through the process in this easy-to-follow demonstration!

Video: Band-in-a-Box® 2025 for Windows®: Using VST3 Plugins

Join the conversation on our forum.

Video: Band-in-a-Box 2025 for Windows: Using The BB Stem Splitter!

In this video, Tobin provides a crash course on using the new BB Stem Splitter feature included in Band-in-a-Box 2025® for Windows®. During this process he also uses the Audio Chord Wizard (ACW) and the new Equalize Tempo feature.

Video: Band-in-a-Box® 2025 for Windows®: Using the BB Stem Splitter

Check out the forum post for some optional Tips & Tricks!

Congrats to Misha (Rustyspoon)…downloaded/installed a full Audiophile 2025!

Breaking News!

We’re thrilled to announce that Rustyspoon has made PG history as the very first person to successfully complete the download and install of the full Band-in-a-Box 2025 Windows Audiophile Edition (with FLAC files)—a whopping 610GB of data!

A big shoutout to Rustyspoon for stepping up to be our test "elf!"

Thank you for your support, Rustyspoon!

Band-in-a-Box 2025 for Windows Videos

With the launch of Band-in-a-Box® 2025 for Windows, we're adding new videos to our YouTube channel. We'll also share them here once they are published so you can easily find all the Band-in-a-Box® 2025 and new Add-on videos in one place!

Whether it's a summary of the new features, demonstrations of the 202 new RealTracks, new XPro Styles PAK 8, or Xtra Styles PAKs 18, information on the 2025 49-PAK, or detailed tutorials for other Band-in-a-Box® 2025 features, we have you covered!

Reference this forum post for One-Stop Shopping of our Band-in-a-Box® 2025 Videos - we will be updating this post as more videos are added!

Band-in-a-Box 2025 for Windows is Here!

Band-in-a-Box® 2025 for Windows is here, packed with major new features and an incredible collection of available new content! This includes 202 RealTracks (in Sets 449-467), plus 20 bonus Unreleased RealTracks in the 2025 49-PAK. There are new RealStyles, MIDI SuperTracks, Instrumental Studies, “Songs with Vocals” Artist Performance Sets, Playable RealTracks Set 4, two new sets of “RealDrums Stems,” XPro Styles PAK 8, Xtra Styles PAK 19, and more!

Special Offers
Upgrade to Band-in-a-Box® 2025 with savings of up to 50% on most upgrade packages during our special—available until December 31, 2024! Visit our Band-in-a-Box® packages page for all the purchase options available.

2025 Free Bonus PAK & 49-PAK Add-ons
We've packed our Free Bonus PAK & 49-PAK
with some incredible Add-ons! The Free Bonus PAK is automatically included with most Band-in-a-Box® for Windows 2025 packages, but for even more Add-ons (including 20 Unreleased RealTracks!) upgrade to the 2025 49-PAK for only $49. You can see the full lists of items in each package, and listen to demos here.

If you have any questions, feel free to connect with us directly—we’re here to help!

Forum Statistics
Forums66
Topics83,970
Posts763,871
Members39,246
Most Online25,754
Jan 24th, 2025
Newest Members
bowak, ameliataylor, richardmolle914, Cat-Astro, Lou G.
39,246 Registered Users
Top Posters(30 Days)
MarioD 193
musocity 192
jpettit 148
Jim Fogle 105
rsdean 100
Noel96 97
Today's Birthdays
BillBuchanan, Bob Z
Powered by UBB.threads™ PHP Forum Software 7.7.5