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With: Helicopters, air planes, explosions,
daring stunts, old castles, secretaries, guitar solos,
stolen ancient artifacts, breathless scenery, the
climatic battle, the unexpected plot twists, the comedy,
the action, the drama and all the romance you can
handle.
Original Notes:
Here's how the story went - scene by scene:
Duty Calls: Well, I get my mission.
Pulled Over: Got pulled over on my way down to
wherever I was going.
What A Day So Far: Sums up my day so far.
The Case of the Missing Finger**: Doesn't really need
an explanation here.
Says It All: The girl gets kidnapped although I
didn't know it at the time.
Through With You: Ah, the showdown with the
antagonist
Disappear: It's time to go back and on to the next
mission.
---
Still one of the most enjoyable 4-tracking
experiences I've ever had, and I'm writing this 4 years
later.
Since I started selling CDs, approximately a couple
of months ago, and remixed Coffee Stains, I wondered how
I could salvage this CD. I could either redo the
whole thing (and I was pretty close to doing that) or
tweaking up what I had already because the backing
tracks weren't all that bad. I did the latter and
it was still pretty fun, I did all my new overdubs in a
day. So technically, it's not a 4-track recording
anymore (except The Case Of The Missing Finger), but I
look at it as "who really cares?", it sounds better than
it did 4 years ago.
Track 1 - Duty Calls
This was an oldie that I had (even back then) and seemed
to fit. At the time I wasn't big on redoing any of my
old stuff because I think once something is done, it
should be onto something new. But it did seem like
a good opener, so why not. The songs is still
about being "on call", if you know what I mean.
Guitars: The main guitar is the Junior, tuned to Open E
for slide. And the two other guitars are my SG
Classic through a little Fender Bronco amp. I
remember using that, but I did get the Champ fixed up by
the end of recording.
Overdubs: I only redid the vocals and shakers, because
when I originally did the tracks, I used to play the
shaker while doing the vocal - it would fill up space
but it was all over the place. Then I'd usually
pong that track with the background vocal. I only
had 4-tracks.
Track 2 - Pulled Over
One of my faves, so it didn't get too many overdubs.
Just about a female police officer that pulled me
over....and over...and over, and then "let" me off.
Guitars: The main guitar is my SG Classic with two
panned SG Standards.
Overdubs: I did redo the vocals, and shakers and added
an acoustic guitar during the choruses. After listening
to the new vocal tracks, I decided to use the old one.
The new one's were more in tune but the original had
something likeable to it.
Track 3 - What A Day So Far
Probably just to fill time, but it's just to recap what
happened so far, after two whole songs.
Guitars: That's my SG Classic with both pickups on. I
know, it sounds like a Strat. The solo was my SG
Standard, put through an Alesis Quadraverb for the
stereo Leslie effect. Neat through headphones.
Overdubs: I redid the vocal only because the original
had too much hiss on it. And then I added a tambourine.
Track 4 -
The Case of the Missing Finger**
I think one of the best things I've done. What would
this whole thing without a Case title? Not much.
I do remember the words pouring out from my pen onto the
paper - just before I left to go home from work.
Can't fight inspiration.
Guitars: The SG Classic again, but going through an
Ibanez DM-1000, at some kind of flange setting.
That thing used to be a really good delay. It
started fritzing out so I couldn't take it out to play,
but for 10 minutes at a time, it was OK. The solo
is the SG Standard and I forget what guitar I used for
the talkbox.
Overdubs: none.
Track 5 - Says It All
This is where, in the story, I wake up and my waitress
friend is gone. What really happened is that she
was kidnapped. I found the ransom note I neglected
to put that in the song. I like doing slow songs.
Guitars: Originally it was my Taylor Baby (left ear) and
SG Standard (right ear) and another one for the end
solo.
Overdubs: Plenty. The vocals are new with a few
lyric changes; an organ; shakers; a tambourine; and an
extra acoustic guitar (big Taylor).
Track 6 - Through With You
Every good movie has some kind of showdown. By the
way, I win, as I write it to be.
Guitars: Both guitars are the SG Standard. I
really do like the front pickup sound of an SG, not as
much as a Les Paul, but I still like it. Enough to
make me think about getting a new one.
Overdubs: I redid the vocals on this one; the original
ones were kind of shaky. Also, the percussion
panned hard in each ear. Oh, and some shakers.
I almost forgot.
Track 7 - Disappear
This is the ending song, and usually in the movies they
always show the hero with the babe, fading off into the
sunset. But no one ever shoots the parts when the
hero actually has to leave. So that's how I
thought of doing this one.
Guitars: my Taylor starts this off. The SG
Standard gets the first two solos and I brought out the
GoldTop for the end solo.
Overdubs: Lots. I redid the vocal; two other
acoustics, panned in each ear; an organ track; shakers;
and a tambourine.
So, I think you can better some things.
Technology isn't such a bad thing. And after all
this time, I can say that it's finally finished.
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