Previous Thread
Index
Next Thread
Print Thread
Go To
Page 1 of 4 1 2 3 4
User Showcase
Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 12,087
Veteran
OP Offline
Veteran
Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 12,087
Bob (rsdean) posted a tribute song to John Prine shortly after his passing.
I thought that was a really nice idea. So I thought I would follow his lead.

Prine's first album ("John Prine" - 1971) was my "songwriting bible".
My buddy and I used to get to rummage through the basement of our local easy-listening radio station (very small town in upstate New York).
They put all the promotional records they got and didn't play down there.
We found Prine's debut a few weeks before it was released.
(We also found Jimmy Buffet's first and Springsteen's first and second, Jackson Browne's first)
After hearing it, I ran out and bought my own copy as soon as it was in the store ($3.12 - the regular price for records then)
I wore that record out. It taught me much of what I know about songwriting.
We played many of the songs in bars in the summers (as a duo). Long before most folks had heard of Prine.
When I moved to Nashville to work at writing "commercial" Country, I had to stop listening to Prine...
Otherwise, half of what I wrote came out sounding like a Prine song (Which certainly didn't fit the need at the time).
It was hard at first, but I eventually locked all those songs out.
I did not listen to any John Prine records for the next 25 years.

In the past few years, I have gone back to playing my favorites occasionally when I sit down with a guitar.
"Far From Me"..."Hello In There"..."Angel From Montgomery"..."Paradise"...
John's passing broke my heart.
I have, since, been lsitening to his entire catalog - one record per day.
Many of the later ones I haven't heard before...
If you don't know John Prine (I can't imagine many would not), you owe it to yourself to listen to his debut.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Prine_(album)
It is a songwriting masterpiece.

So this is about all of that.


If you are familiar with Prine's records, you should recognize many of the production elements from those early records.


A tribute to my biggest "song writing hero/mentor"...



LET IT BLEED

I kept it bottled up for years
held it back like unshed tears
so no one would know
what's inside me
thinkin' now what a big a mistake
you get so filled up the dam's bound to break
how could i deny
the man who baptized me
   
   sometimes you've got to let it go
   the volcano is bound to blow
   let the devils out
   let the angels shout
   it's a primal need
   throw off the chain
   unlock the locks
   open up pandora's box
   open up that vein
   let it bleed

i left him back some time ago
to find what i thought he didn't know
looking to win the fight
he hadn't fought
now he's gone it breaks my heart
the man who showed me how to start
to find the words to tell the world
just what i thought
   
   sometimes you've got to let it go
   the volcano is bound to blow
   let the devils out
   let the angels shout
   it's a primal need
   throw off the chain
   unlock the locks
   open up pandora's box
   open up that vein
   let it bleed
   
   open up the pain
   let it bleed



The BAND:
RealTracks in style: 521:Bass, Electric, Pop Syncopated Ev 136
RealTracks in style: ~~407:Guitar, Acoustic, Fingerpicking Ev 165
RealTracks in style: ~406:Guitar, Acoustic, Strumming Ev 136
RealTracks in song: 1667:Pedal Steel, Soloist CountryPaul Ev 065
RealTracks in song: 3099:Organ, Rhythm AmericanaSlow16thsMike Ev16 060
RealTracks in song: 3198:Guitar, Acoustic, Soloist PopBalladBrent Ev 065
RealDrums in Song: NashvilleBrushesCountryPopEv16



"The sky is black and still now
On the hill where the angels sing"

- John Prine "Far From Me"


Your passing saddens me.


fj

User Showcase
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 7,344
Veteran
Offline
Veteran
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 7,344
Floyd,

This song / presentation is stunningly beautiful... So moving and with a great history behind it.

A simply amazing piece of work and my new favorite from you.

Bob

User Showcase
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 5,376
Veteran
Offline
Veteran
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 5,376
floyd, this is wonderful!

Certainly one of your best and my new favorite from you.

Listening through a second time while typing this ... production wise you had me right from the opening with just the acoustic, and then the way you start bringing in the instruments, holding off bringing in the drums until the very end ... very effective.

But it doesn't matter how good the production is if the song doesn't have good bones, and this certainly does! Great writing and vocal.

Thanks for the backstory too, enjoyed reading that.

User Showcase
Joined: Oct 2016
Posts: 1,571
Expert
Offline
Expert
Joined: Oct 2016
Posts: 1,571
You certainly found yourself up to the task, Floyd. Thanks
for the personal testimony and the look into the character of
one greatly admired on this forum, Mr. Floyd Jane.
I was fortunate to attend this 2011 concert at the Fox in Butte,
restored in modern times into a class music hall.
https://mtstandard.com/entertainment/tgif/john-prine-to-play-at-mother-lode/article_5384d9ac-7d3d-11e0-b1fe-001cc4c03286.html
Don't know if he played there again. Some of my friends there
have been similarly influenced and do pretty fair covers, even today. (That's an understatement)
https://youtu.be/spuYiWdzMNE
I'm sure they will enjoy hearing "Let it Bleed."

Last edited by edshaw; 04/14/20 06:53 AM.

Link: www.soundcloud.com/ed_shaw (Feel Free to Use)
https://drooble.com/edward.shaw/hymn/index.htm
Biab for WIN 2020 -- Win 10 64bit -- Reaper/Audacity
Zoom R-16 -- Tascam DP-03-SD -- SoundTap -- Crescendo --
User Showcase
Joined: May 2018
Posts: 2,210
Veteran
Online Content
Veteran
Joined: May 2018
Posts: 2,210
I have only just heard of John Prine upon his passing (I'm an eighties child). But your song is more than just a tribute to him - it's, to me at least, a masterpiece standing in its own right. You are such an extraordinary songwriter ... often head and heels above most I know, so well done ... superb job once more. You have this talent to tell a story, calmly and heartbreakingly so. This is no exception ... phenomenal from every aspect. It's a bravo from me.

User Showcase
Joined: Aug 2014
Posts: 8,123
Veteran
Offline
Veteran
Joined: Aug 2014
Posts: 8,123
Very John Prine-like dude.

Great!

Loved it!

User Showcase
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 2,290
Veteran
Offline
Veteran
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 2,290
I went into this expecting it to be a nice tribute. It was that; but so much more. It's "Leader of the Band" if John Prine wrote it.

Tribute hardly sums it up. A dedication of the impact of one's man's life on another's life even would fall short. That someone gives you THAT much inspiration in song writing and you turn around and use that gift to honor him is incredible.

Yeah, all the usual "high bars" exceeded once again. If you would like me to elaborate on that; I will gladly. I just have a feeling others will as well.

Amazing song. Chills and tears...no lie.

Thank you for bringing us into a piece of your story!

Last edited by HearToLearn; 04/14/20 08:29 AM.

Chad (Hope that makes it easier)

TEMPO TANTRUM: What a lead singer has when they can't stay in time.
User Showcase
Joined: Dec 2012
Posts: 7,844
Veteran
Offline
Veteran
Joined: Dec 2012
Posts: 7,844
Hi Floyd ...

A flashback to better days. And yes, John Prine's contributions to songwriting have few equals. He reminded me of Tom T. Hall in one way ... his songs always said something worthy of the listen: good stories and lesson on life. In another way, I can contrast him with Harlan Howard: very prolific, just gets to the heart of the story and offers stories about the common man that so many can relate to.

This is one of my very favorites from you.The lyric says so much without over-complicating things. The gradual build of the backing tracks ... waiting until the last quarter of the song to introduce the drums. I love songs that start out teasingly soft and, increment by increment add just enough new backing, at the perfect places, to build the tension and interest. In other words, also something new to anticipate and when it arrives, you just gotta say, "Wow, this gets better and better - can't wait to hear the rest of it."

Other than my time with Di, this is the best three minutes I've enjoyed in quite some time. Many thanks for that.

Wishing you and yours the very best. Please stay safe.

Alan

PS: Di and I were tested for COVID 19. Both came back negative.

Last edited by Al-David; 04/14/20 09:00 AM.

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: May 2018
Posts: 2,210
Veteran
Online Content
Veteran
Joined: May 2018
Posts: 2,210
Just to say that I'm delighted that both yourself, Alan, and your wife's COVID 19 results came back negative. Brilliant news.

User Showcase
Joined: Jun 2016
Posts: 3,357
Veteran
Offline
Veteran
Joined: Jun 2016
Posts: 3,357
Floyd,
What a wonderful tribute! Stunningly good lyrics (especially the chorus) and fine flowing melody.
I enjoyed reading your backstory and will take the hint; there`s some JP nuggets there I surely missed.

Robert

User Showcase
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 5,604
Veteran
Offline
Veteran
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 5,604
floyd

Wonderful! A really touching tribute an importantly a superb song.

A masterclass in writing production and delivery.

Peter

User Showcase
Joined: Oct 2019
Posts: 294
B
Apprentice
Offline
Apprentice
B
Joined: Oct 2019
Posts: 294
Hi Floyd,

This is an outstanding song and a fine tribute to your "mentor"...
I'm almost embarrassed to say I've never heard any of his songs until his passing.
Please don't take this the wrong way, as it's meant to be compliment...
Your song sounds like it could have come from one of the "Every Which Way But Loose" movie sound tracks.
Really cool vibe brother...

User Showcase
Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 12,087
Veteran
OP Offline
Veteran
Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 12,087
Originally Posted By: rsdean
Floyd,

This song / presentation is stunningly beautiful... So moving and with a great history behind it.

A simply amazing piece of work and my new favorite from you.

Bob



Thanks, Bob. These are nice things to hear from you (being the "word man" that you are).

This idea came to me 2 days ago. I had the song written in 20 minutes. This style of writing is so ingrained in me they happen fast. And with the magic of BIAB, the next day, I was done!

User Showcase
Joined: Apr 2019
Posts: 708
Journeyman
Offline
Journeyman
Joined: Apr 2019
Posts: 708
Hi Floyd
I love John Prine's songs. They make me smile and they make me cry, sometimes at the same time. I completely agree with David when he says this is 'very John Prine-like.' In my book, there is simply no higher praise.
Well done, a great tribute.
Regards,
Leon

User Showcase
Joined: Apr 2016
Posts: 6,600
Veteran
Offline
Veteran
Joined: Apr 2016
Posts: 6,600
Sung with heart and yes, you used some of his touch stones.
Really nice arrangement and a vocal that has just the right amount of bruise.
Excellent.


Cheers
rayc
"What's so funny about peace, love & understanding?" - N.Lowe
User Showcase
Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 12,087
Veteran
OP Offline
Veteran
Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 12,087
Originally Posted By: BlueAttitude
floyd, this is wonderful!

Certainly one of your best and my new favorite from you.

Listening through a second time while typing this ... production wise you had me right from the opening with just the acoustic, and then the way you start bringing in the instruments, holding off bringing in the drums until the very end ... very effective.

But it doesn't matter how good the production is if the song doesn't have good bones, and this certainly does! Great writing and vocal.

Thanks for the backstory too, enjoyed reading that.


I certainly appreciate all of that, Dave.

The production ('cause I know you are a meticulous production guy...) is built to reflect Prine's sound - especially from the first record.
There was a lot of "just acoustic guitar".
There was a lot of acoustic guitar + bass - and it often did that 3 note walk-up to start (I had to build that from snippets of the RT)...
Steve Goodman often threw in some acoustic leads.
There were a number of songs that were acoustic + bass + organ.
There were places where a simple pedal steel played along for much of the song.
And there was limited use of drums - a lot more in later records - so I waited until the final chorus to let that drummer do his thing - and kept that rather subtle...

User Showcase
Joined: Sep 2016
Posts: 2,403
Veteran
Offline
Veteran
Joined: Sep 2016
Posts: 2,403
Hello Floyd,

I wrote Bob I didn't know John Prine, but I learned some of him on the internet. The other thing is I'm a bit familiair with your songs and I always like them. Can't tell if this one is your best or not, but it is certainly a very good song! That counts for all your songs until now...
I was only amazed of one tiny thing: At the time you sing "i left him back some time ago, to find what i thought he didn't know" there was also a mandoline coming in. But only for this line or even less. And it didn't come back. So a very short performance of that instrument. How come? I'm pretty sure you had an idea with that. I guessed that mr Prine did these kind of things too, but that wasn't the case as far as I could hear from several videos on YouTube. So tell me what were your considerations?

Thanks for the song,
Hans


Hans Berkhout
(Birchwood)
https://soundcloud.com/user-296497130
User Showcase
Joined: Dec 2013
Posts: 6,992
G
Veteran
Offline
Veteran
G
Joined: Dec 2013
Posts: 6,992
WOW!!! A great song about a great songwriter BY another great songwriter!! Lots of greatness in there!! I love the honest simplicity and raw beauty of the lyrics.......done in true John Prine style! A wonderful tribute!! Floyd, I hope you live at least several months longer than me so you can write me such a wonderful tribute, although I'm not saying I'm deserving of that kind of admiration. LOVE IT!!! Take care. Greg

User Showcase
Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 2,175
Veteran
Offline
Veteran
Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 2,175
This reminded me of a famous Red Smith quote: "Writing is easy, all you gotta do is sit down at a typewriter and open a vein." I really appreciated this as a huge JP fan, I worked in a record store and still remember the record number (Atlantic 8296) of that iconic first album. Love the way you brought instruments in gradually on this mix, I've gotta try that for myself. Thanks for a great one here.


Windows 10, Intel Core I5 10400, 16 gig ram, Scarlett 6i6, Komplete keyboard, Sony Acid Music Studio 11, BIAB 2020 UltraPlus Pak
User Showcase
Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 12,087
Veteran
OP Offline
Veteran
Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 12,087
Originally Posted By: edshaw
You certainly found yourself up to the task, Floyd. Thanks
for the personal testimony and the look into the character of
one greatly admired on this forum, Mr. Floyd Jane.
I was fortunate to attend this 2011 concert at the Fox in Butte,
restored in modern times into a class music hall.
https://mtstandard.com/entertainment/tgif/john-prine-to-play-at-mother-lode/article_5384d9ac-7d3d-11e0-b1fe-001cc4c03286.html
Don't know if he played there again. Some of my friends there
have been similarly influenced and do pretty fair covers, even today. (That's an understatement)
https://youtu.be/spuYiWdzMNE
I'm sure they will enjoy hearing "Let it Bleed."


Ed - thanks for the listen and the comments...

Previous Thread
Next Thread
Go To
Page 1 of 4 1 2 3 4

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
Generate Lyrics for your Band-in-a-Box songs with LyricLab!

Need some lyrics to complete your Band-in-a-Box song? LyricLab is here to help!

LyricLab (by Joanne Cooper) is an AI-powered tool designed to quickly create lyrics and chords to fit your music. Just enter a rough idea of your lyrics, and let the AI bring them to life. Once you're happy with the results, simply import the LyricLab file into Band-in-a-Box® 2024 or newer. From there, you can pick your style and generate melodies to match your song’s chords!

Learn more about LyricLab here!

Watch the video.


Band-in-a-Box 2024 Italian for Mac is Here!

Ci siamo dati da fare e abbiamo aggiunto oltre 50 nuove funzionalità e una straordinaria raccolta di nuovi contenuti, tra cui 222 RealTracks, nuovi RealStyles, MIDI SuperTracks, Instrumental Studies, "Songs with Vocals" Artist Performance Sets, Playable RealTracks Set 3, Playable RealDrums Set 2, due nuovi set di "RealDrums Stems", XPro Styles PAK 6, Xtra Styles PAK 17 e altro ancora!

Tutti Pacchetti | Nuove Caratteristiche

Band-in-a-Box® 2024 German for Mac is Here!

Band-in-a-Box® 2024 für Mac Deutsch ist verfügbar!

Wir waren fleißig und haben über 50 neue Funktionen und eine erstaunliche Sammlung neuer Inhalte hinzugefügt, darunter 222 RealTracks, neue RealStyles, MIDI SuperTracks, Instrumental Studies, "Songs with Vocals" Artist Performance Sets, abspielbare RealTracks Set 3, abspielbare RealDrums Set 2, zwei neue Sets von "RealDrums Stems", XPro Styles PAK & 7, Xtra Styles PAK 17 & 18, und mehr!

Paket | Was ist Neu

Band-in-a-Box® 2024 French for Mac® is Here!

Band-in-a-Box® 2024 apporte plus de 50 fonctions nouvelles ainsi qu'une importante de contenus nouveaux à savoir : 222 RealTracks, des RealStyles nouveaux, des SuperTracks MIDI, des Etudes d'Instruments, des Prestations d'Artistes, des "Morceaux avec Choeurs", un Set 3 de Tracks Jouables, un Set 2 de RealDrums Jouables, deux nouveaux Sets de "RealDrums Stems", des Styles XPro PAK 6 & 7, des Xtra Styles PAK 17 & 18, et bien plus encore!

New! XPro Styles PAK 7 for Band-in-a-Box 2024 for Mac!

We've just released XPro Styles PAK 7 with 100 brand new RealStyles, plus 50 RealTracks and RealDrums that are sure to delight!

With XPro Styles PAK 7 you can expect 25 rock & pop, 25 jazz, and 25 country styles, as well as 25 of this year's wildcard genre: Celtic!

Here's a small sampling of what XPro Styles PAK 7 has to offer: energetic rock jigs, New Orleans funk, lilting jazz waltzes, fast Celtic punk, uptempo train beats, gritty grunge, intense jazz rock, groovy EDM, soulful R&B, soft singer-songwriter pop, country blues rock, and many more!

Special Pricing! Until September 30, 2024, all the XPro Styles PAKs 1 - 7 are on sale for only $29 ea (Reg. $49 ea)! Supercharge your Band-in-a-Box 2024® with XPro Styles PAK 7! Order now!

Learn more and listen to demos of XPro Styles PAKs.

Watch the XPro Styles PAK 7 Overview & Styles Demos video.

XPro Styles PAKs require Band-in-a-Box® 2024 or higher and are compatible with ANY package, including the Pro, MegaPAK, UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, and Audiophile Edition.

New! Xtra Styles PAK 18 for Band-in-a-Box 2024 for Mac!

Xtra Styles PAK 18 for Band-in-a-Box version 2024 is here with 200 brand new styles to take for a spin!

Along with 50 new styles each for the rock & pop, jazz, and country genres, we’ve put together a collection of styles using sounds from the SynthMaster plugin!

In this PAK you'll find: dubby reggae grooves, rootsy Americana, LA jazz pop, driving pop rock, mellow electronica, modern jazz fusion, spacey country ballads, Motown shuffles, energetic EDM, and plenty of synth heavy grooves! Xtra Style PAK 18 features these styles and many, many more!

Special Pricing! Until September 30, 2024, all the Xtra Styles PAKs 1 - 18 are on sale for only $29 ea (Reg. $49 ea)! Expand your Band-in-a-Box 2024® library with Xtra Styles PAK 18! Order now!

Learn more and listen to demos of the Xtra Styles PAK 18 here.

Watch the Xtra Styles PAK 18 Overview & Styles Demos video.

Note: The Xtra Styles require the UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, or Audiophile Edition of Band-in-a-Box®. (Xtra Styles PAK 18 requires the 2024 UltraPAK/UltraPAK+/Audiophile Edition. They will not work with the Pro or MegaPAK version because they need the RealTracks from the UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, or Audiophile Edition.

New! Xtra Styles PAK 18 for Band-in-a-Box 2024 for Windows!

Xtra Styles PAK 18 for Band-in-a-Box version 2024 is here with 200 brand new styles to take for a spin!

Along with 50 new styles each for the rock & pop, jazz, and country genres, we’ve put together a collection of styles using sounds from the SynthMaster plugin!

In this PAK you'll find: dubby reggae grooves, rootsy Americana, LA jazz pop, driving pop rock, mellow electronica, modern jazz fusion, spacey country ballads, Motown shuffles, energetic EDM, and plenty of synth heavy grooves! Xtra Style PAK 18 features these styles and many, many more!

Special Pricing! Until September 30, 2024, all the Xtra Styles PAKs 1 - 18 are on sale for only $29 ea (Reg. $49 ea)! Expand your Band-in-a-Box 2024® library with Xtra Styles PAK 18! Order now!

Learn more and listen to demos of the Xtra Styles PAK 18 here.

Watch the Xtra Styles PAK 18 Overview & Styles Demos video.

Note: The Xtra Styles require the UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, or Audiophile Edition of Band-in-a-Box®. (Xtra Styles PAK 18 requires the 2024 UltraPAK/UltraPAK+/Audiophile Edition. They will not work with the Pro or MegaPAK version because they need the RealTracks from the UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, or Audiophile Edition.

Forum Statistics
Forums66
Topics82,926
Posts753,288
Members39,029
Most Online3,932
Nov 19th, 2024
Newest Members
FrankB, ikshitachoudhary, Jean-Laurent, dongordo, xaos
39,028 Registered Users
Top Posters(30 Days)
MarioD 145
DC Ron 105
jpettit 100
DrDan 94
rsdean 81
dcuny 81
Today's Birthdays
Brookes, Herschel Dirtwater, steely
Powered by UBB.threads™ PHP Forum Software 7.7.5