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THURSDAY
16th OCTOBER 2004
Andy Wells suggested we do a special
track involving as many of the people who play on the
JOINT tracks as possible. The date was to be Thursday
16th October.
Mike & Chris, the composers of 'So...', the song they'd
chosen to do, laid down a basic backing of acoustic guitar
& drums.
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| WEDNESDAY |
2.00 pm
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Mike
and Chris, the composers of 'So...', the song they'd chosen
to do,
laid down a basic backing of acoustic guitar and drums |
| THURSDAY |
9.00
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Al
Quinn, bass player with Global Village in the '70's arrives,
says he hasn't played for 20 years, and starts to learn
the song. A string on his bass breaks, a quick change of
instrument to Pete Taylor's bass, and Al lays down the track.
(Pete unfortunately was living it up at his French Chateau
and couldn't be at the sessions). |
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11.00
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Steve
Channing arrives, (from New York! - well, OK, New York in
Lincolnshire, England). He's soon picked up the chord sequence
and lovely fluid lines are flowing from his acoustic guitar.
Shortly after this Andy Wells and Kevin Mulvihill from Pilgrym
arrive, and cart a selection of synths and a warmed-up Moog
into the studio. Mike sets Andy up in the control room and
he's also learning the song by the time Rob Taylor (of Pylon
and Nathaniel Green fame) arrives. Rob gets some help to
carry in his Fender Rhodes and sets up an amp. Mike's been
busily setting up microphones on Rob's amp, Steve guitar
and Chris' acoustic guitar. |
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12.30
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The
first of three takes follow : Rob on Rhodes, Chris and Steve
on acoustics, and Andy on keys. Although there are a few
nice bits in takes 2 and 3, it's the first take you hear
on JOINT. |
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1.30
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A
break for some sandwiches and coffee made by Shirley - just
like the old days in Cass Yard! |
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2.15
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Chris
realises he has little time to do the main vocal - laid
down in three takes, again with the vast majority of the
finished vocal coming from take one. |
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3.00
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Chris,
Al Quinn and Steve rehearse and record the chorus vocals
- unlike the original song these are a single held note
over the chorus; over two choruses at the end. It's
sounding good. |
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4.00
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Time
for some percussion to augment Mike's drum track. A quick
raid on a drum kit stored in the cellar and Kevin Mulvihill
has a kind of bongo-cum-conga setup - bongas or
congos! Chris, Andy and Rob grab some claves, drum
sticks, - anything guaranteed to be really intrusive and
bleed into everyone else's mikes, thus insuring they are
in the final mix!
Al Quinn and Steve have some 'chicken eggs' - nice little
shakers; and Mike uses a child's plastic snake rattle
to add some shush-shushing sounds.
Again
three runs through, and yes, again, it's the first take
which makes it to the mix.
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5.00
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Andy's
adding other keyboard pasts - piano, organ and the Moog
parts in the choruses. |
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6.00
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Another
break, this time for fish and chips from Wakefield's drive-in
chippie - really! Chris has nipped off to collect Sally
who is going to add some flute to the mix - and apart from
Charlie's lead it will be finished. Sally plays flute on
our new album IN & OUT OF TIME. |
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7.30
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Sally
is learning her parts - a mix of input from Chris and Andy,
based on the original vocal parts. A small crowd gathers
now the main work is done - Sally has to learn and record
in public! After the first take is done, it's two more harmony
parts, and then some twiddly bits for the end. |
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9.00
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All
done and dusted bar the lead. It's time to relax. |
| THE
FOLLOWING WEEK |
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Charlie
was ill unfortunately and couldn't come on the Thursday,
but via a mixture of internet up- and down-loading; CDs
in the mail, and one CD brought from Charlie's house in
Leeds by taxi, there's soon a lovely U2-ish rolling guitar
part in the mix. During the week Mike mixed the final versions
of the song, and here it is, less than 18 days later on
the website on sale! |
