music archive

about sponsor links July 31, 2011 Bizarre but wonderful. I got up, took my coffee into the studio, and roughed out 9 songs this morning. Then I went about my usual day. This evening I had to copy all those crazy ideas to my computer- and I think most of them will actually work as songs. Working titles: Way Back Yonder I Remember What A Fix So Many Lines Waiting for the Jubilee Kind of Ordinary In Code Dark Guitar Rising Melody Conversations You Can't Hear Now, if I get some time to finish them... Also worked on another new one called You Remind Me (seem to be a lot of songs about memory, aint?). This one I recorded using the ChromaHarp, but it made a lot of noise and I was getting pissed. These bars get pressed down to form chords, and when released, they clacked. I thought I would stuff some felt under there, and lo and bee hole, there were remnants of some sort of foam under there! The wonders of urethane foam are well known in the audio industry- the stuff just disintegrates over time. So I stuck some felt strips in to replace the foam... And no clacking! Yea!! July 27, 2011 I see that the Stray Birds have remodeled their website. Nice photo. The answer to the mystery sample contest is Fleetwood Mac- from Then Play On, a bit from the middle of the jam Searching for Madge, with Peter Green and Danny Kirwan. I hadn't listened to the band in a long time, but last week got into a jag. Whats funny is that the second Fleetwood Mac album (the one that brought them their first big hits, Rhiannon, Say You Love Me, Over My Head) sounds like a million bucks, while the huge follow-up to that, Rumours, sounds like it was recorded through waxed paper, tin cans on strings, and in a vacuum. It just goes to show ya... Here's that sample again, in case ya missed it- it sounds pretty good too. mystery sound02.mp3 July 23,2011 It's the height of summer now- all the bugs are buggin', the flowers bloomin', birds are hopping... Time for some Woggi Noggi music I think. Shawn Drain (aka Ruby Hummingbird) and Bruce Campbell came in here back in April and started working on the basic tracks for her (somewhat nebulous at the time) project, which was based on the idea of two fun-loving girls having fun singing and dancing. Here are Bruce and Ruby at work... Ruby performs with a dancer named Ruthie. Ruthie is the other Woggi Noggi girl. Here is their theme song: Woggi_Noggi_Theme.mp3 ...and here is Ruthie (looking quite serious about her singing). Here's a great shot of Ruthie in a new hat! (normally it's pj's and wigs for the girls) The plan is for Ruby and Ruthie to use the songs to produce a bunch of videos that will (obviously) sweep the nation. Songs like this next one. (these songs are a day in the life of the Woggi Noggi girls in Woggi Noggi land) It's a Beautiful Day.mp3 It's a Beautiful Day.ogg It's a Beautiful Day is Bruce on bass, Ruby and Ruthie singing, and Ruby playing ukulele and congo. Here's Ruby overdubbing the congo part... It was not unusual for there to be two costume changes per recording session- and several sessions went for around 12 hours. We had plenty of refreshments, however... (children! avert your eyes!) OK, after breakfast the Woggi Noggi girls love to hit the playground for their favorite thing- hanging upside-down! Playground.mp3 Playground.ogg Playground was loads of fun to record. Shawn was looking for a sound to go with the hanging-upside-down part, and we tried several things before hitting on the talking drum. I also got to play the clave-clamped-in-a-vice-played-with-drumsticks to simulate skipping feet. Shawn thoughtfully provided the pants. Turns out that it's a very special day in Woggi Noggi Land- the girls get to visit a goat farm! You know what? Goats are Great! Goats.mp3 Goats.ogg Goats is one of several songs that feature Dave Young on drums. (he came up with the goats-doing-a-rumba part) Here he and Shawn are working out some ideas. This song also features Shawn on her other major instrument, the harp. Now that is a kick-ass harp! Shawn's husband builds 'em- no lack of talent in that family. Here she's on the phone to him, explaining that she might be a little late... Well, there's going to probably be a segment in the Woggi Noggi show that features a bird that spells out words- a Wurdy Burd in fact! Here's his theme song- Wurdy Burd.mp3 Wurdy Burd.ogg I'm all proud because I got to play the boat-whistle part on this. You may remember that boat whistle from years ago- a little three-hole plastic whistle that could play a blues? Somehow it happened to have the very three notes needed for this tune. The Woggi Noggi sessions were filled with happy accidents like that. I'm not sure how Bruce feels about this shot... OK, after the Wurdy Burd does his thing, the girls stumble upon some chickens with attitude. Bock Bock.mp3 Bock Bock.ogg Ruby really seems to like chickens a lot! We've gotten into the afternoon part of the Woggi Noggi day now, and let me tell you, it's HOT! Fortunately, the girls have the solution...H2O! Get Wet.mp3 Get Wet.ogg I think that they get a little too deep in the water there, because they meet some strange characters... (not that they are strangers to strange, mind...) Ruthie has an awesome dance for this one. Octopi.mp3 Octopi.ogg The break in that one has lots of cool underwater noises. Shawn brought bags and boxes of cool noise-making stuff with her to the sessions, so things like playing the congo with a coconut shell happened. Me, I'm banging on a pot of water with a paintbrush. Some of this may have been inspired by Chet. After the undersea adventure, the girls to go see a friend. It's a long, long walk... but there is a beautiful harp song to help them on their way. Yeah Yeah.mp3 Yeah Yeah.ogg Later on I join Ruby on a little do-wop thing. This is quiet time. Me and You.mp3 Me and You.ogg Now, that's nice. Finally, Shawn plays the harp theme that rolls everyone off to sleep... Theme Roll.mp3 And so ends another Woggi Noggi day. Actually, this is less than half of the songs we've done- sponsors will get access to such crazy tunes as Laundry, Don't, and Shake It Up! (Woggi Noggi, the Woggi Noggi logo, Wurdy Burd, and all songs are the intellectual property of Shawn Drain, and may not be used without her permission. The very Woggi Noggi clock face is from a design by Ji Lee.) July 20, 2011 This is not really so much a mystery sound as it is a mystery sample, but I heard this part of a song for the first time today in a long time and it took me right back to when I started learning to play guitar. It's one of my favorite moments in recorded sound... do you know who it is? mystery sound02.mp3 I've stolen (or tried to steal) these licks many, many times. July 17, 2011 Here's a tale told by Dr. Mo and the crew of the Finn City. The house had a great room that had great acoustics- a tall ceiling, some non-parallel walls, and plenty of objcts to diffuse sound. This was recorded with the M-Box portable, using an AT 825 stereo mic on a table, with the crew arranged around it and at various distances from it. Nice imaging. The Wreck of the Frisco Pier.mp3 Many a tale's been told Of Storms out on the seas Disasters in days of old Brought sailors to their knees Earl came from the East on that September day With the rage of a Beast in a rampaging way His fury would show how the mighty would fall The Wreck of the Frisco Pier The Sky was red as port As on a scaffold high They gathered for their sport So eager for to try To reap the spoils of Neptune's chest With lines in coils, but they never guessed That they were destined to lose it all The Wreck of the Frisco Pier Born in the Isles of green A monstorous Gale did blow With fury few had seen His destiny yet to show Earl waxed and then waned on his journey to land Until little remained of his earlier stand This minor depression would only forstall The Wreck of the Frisco Pier The warnings had been repealled The time of Danger flown And so their Fate was sealed If only they had known! Earl had renewed his vigorous breath And soon would be striking a Blow dealing Death The savage Destruction, the Shatter and Maul The Wreck of the Frisco Pier Now a year has passed We all say "What the heck? Why don't we get gassed And peer at the Frisco Wreck?" Now moonlight is shining where Turtles have nested Beside works of man that Nature has bested A shoreside attraction that Tourists now call The Wreck of the Frisco Pier The Wreck of the Frisco Pier July 07, 2011 A new featured song today. Summer Thieves completed this one at least a month ago, but I'm still playing catch-up around here. 'Er She Goes Again is sung by Joe, with Tom and Joe on guitars, Oz on drums, Mike Bitts on bass, and me on synth. I think we all agree that it's the best Thieves yet, and it features the fabulous Kay distortion pedal- enjoy! July 04, 2011 Just a little more grinding and polishing and it's finished- Stewball is a wrap. Stewball.mp3 Stewball.ogg July 02, 2011

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