Post by EvilRocker on Feb 17, 2004 22:18:50 GMT -5
STUDIO DIARY #36 (February 23rd - 29th, 2001)
Fri 23rd
Our dear manager has just sent a huge big box of videos over for us to watch in the studio, amongst which are some old " Shindig" shows from the '60's and goodness.... they are absolutely incredible.For a kick off they're all shot in grainy black and white so they look fabulous and they contain all these amazing performances by some of the greatest artists you can imagine from that era.People like Aretha Franklin,The Supremes,The Rolling Stones,James Brown,Tina Turner,Marvin Gaye,The Byrds etc etc. Suffice to say we've been playing these tapes at the studio all day and I've got all these great pop songs whirling around in my head as a result.My favourite of the day? The prize would have to go to "Peter and Gordon" with "I go to pieces".Maybe GARBAGE should cover it? I think I could do a good job singing it.I mean..........I make a GREAT drama queen.And I mean REALLY GREAT.
Sang keeper vocals on "Can't cry these tears anymore" tonight and they sound super FAN POPTASTIC!!! I sang so hard for so long with such irrepressible enthusiasm I managed to give myself a nose bleed!!!! Beforehand I didn't think I was going to be able to SMOOTHLY hit the high notes on this song.When I originally came up with the vocal part I assumed we would change the original key when it came to recording the final version.Come this evening however no such changes had been made and I kept begging the boys to drop it down a step or two but they were convinced I was going to be able to handle it. "C'mon party girl.Just relax.You can do this." And I did by golly!!!! Lift your skinny fists like antennas to heaven my darklings.
Saturday 24th
I am absolutely BUZZING with adrenaline from last night's session.Singing is just THE most entertaining, soul fulfilling pastime EVER!!!!!!!! Played "Celebrity Skin" by Hole first thing this morning at a frighteningly loud volume and sang along with every word.Then I stuck on The Prodigy (Remember them??!?!?!?) and finally some Margo Guryan.(I want to cover her "LOVE SONGS") Consequently I am mildly intoxicated and don't quite know where or how to settle myself.
Our publisher is coming to visit us in the studio this afternoon so we're all in early pulling some mixes together for him to hear. It's VERY exciting but scary in the extreme to finally decide to play these songs we've been working on for "alien" ears.
It's quite literally a gut wrenching experience.
So what kind of record have we made?
Hell I dunno! Don't ask me.
Sunday 25th
Day off
Monday 26th
Went to see SNATCH at the weekend and rather enjoyed the experience.It was complete fluff of course......certainly nothing much pulsing beneath the surface but it was great fun and Brad Pitt puts in a great performance. Had an AMAZINGLY relaxed weekend..........ran on my treadmill, rented some videos,read like a fiend,drank margaritas and got plenty of sleep. Now I'm feeling all fired up for the week ahead which is pefect timing because our managers are coming to visit us on wednesday so that we can play them some songs and generally get them caught up with the record so far.Needless to say I'm nervous as hell........and excited and fearful to boot.
Tuesday 27th
Well great excitment abounds in the studio today due to the discovery of internet ordered and delivered food from a world famous eatery in Memphis!!!!! The boys are all huddled around the computer like greedy little piggies ordering enough delicacies to feed an army.
I have rarely seen my comrades so animated! I admit we're all rather sick of the decidedly limited options on offer here in Madison but this display of unbridled enthusiasm is out of proportion to the event if you ask me.Anyways......they've ordered an entire meal for 10 to be delivered by first thing tomorrow morning!!!!!
I have other things on my mind I must confess.Such as the darling package I received through the post this morning from JT Leroy.(Remember a while back I mentioned his book "Sarah"?) He has sent me an uncorrected proof copy of his newest book entitled "The Heart is deceitful Above all things".(Wonderful title.Wish I'd thought of it.)
Oooohhh......I'm so excited because I absolutely LOVED "Sarah".From the baby pink ribbon book marker attached to the spine to the cinematic dazzle and boundless courage of the writing.
(Word of warning: The premise of both these books is pretty hardcore so if you are faint of heart and sensitive by nature please be careful.)
Wednesday 28th
A list of everything in my vocal booth:
A mirror ball
Plastic christmas tree lights in the shape of tiny guitars
A music stand
A small table
A tall stool
3 huge square church candles that smell of spices
Two pencils and a pen
A pad of paper
An "Only the Paranoid Survive" beer coozie
An autographed "Kittie" flat
A poster of John Lennon
A life-size cardboard cut-out of Elvis (As seen on our tour to support Version 2:0)
A Scottish Flag (As worn by me on stage in Edinburgh when we opened the Scottish Parliment)
A PEZ dispenser in the form of Princess Leia
A Teen Spirit deodorant stick (For good luck)
Incense sticks
Some of my guitars (My baby pink fender strat,my baby blue telecaster and my Epiphone Casino)
All my microphones (The E-lam,The Brauner and The Bottle)
A Bionic Woman album on vinyl (It has a magnificent sleeve with Lindsey Wagner looking ULTRA foxy on the front of it.)
A tacky ornamnent that Duke brought me back from his holiday in Puerto Rico
A Fender Vibroverb amp
A large plastic grasshopper
A 7" vinyl Canary Training Record
A large towel bearing the likeness of our former tour manager Bill
An electronic fish wand
PS.The internet ordered feast arrived as promised.We are, if the truth be told rather in awe of such stunning efficiency.
Thursday 29th
I've finished "The Heart is deceitful Above all things" and oh JT........if you happen to be reading this ........I can't tell you how much it touched me.I devoured it in one diabolical, rollercoaster of a sitting.It's so brave and crazy and beautiful and powerful.Just like all truly great and original works of ART.
Fri 23rd
Our dear manager has just sent a huge big box of videos over for us to watch in the studio, amongst which are some old " Shindig" shows from the '60's and goodness.... they are absolutely incredible.For a kick off they're all shot in grainy black and white so they look fabulous and they contain all these amazing performances by some of the greatest artists you can imagine from that era.People like Aretha Franklin,The Supremes,The Rolling Stones,James Brown,Tina Turner,Marvin Gaye,The Byrds etc etc. Suffice to say we've been playing these tapes at the studio all day and I've got all these great pop songs whirling around in my head as a result.My favourite of the day? The prize would have to go to "Peter and Gordon" with "I go to pieces".Maybe GARBAGE should cover it? I think I could do a good job singing it.I mean..........I make a GREAT drama queen.And I mean REALLY GREAT.
Sang keeper vocals on "Can't cry these tears anymore" tonight and they sound super FAN POPTASTIC!!! I sang so hard for so long with such irrepressible enthusiasm I managed to give myself a nose bleed!!!! Beforehand I didn't think I was going to be able to SMOOTHLY hit the high notes on this song.When I originally came up with the vocal part I assumed we would change the original key when it came to recording the final version.Come this evening however no such changes had been made and I kept begging the boys to drop it down a step or two but they were convinced I was going to be able to handle it. "C'mon party girl.Just relax.You can do this." And I did by golly!!!! Lift your skinny fists like antennas to heaven my darklings.
Saturday 24th
I am absolutely BUZZING with adrenaline from last night's session.Singing is just THE most entertaining, soul fulfilling pastime EVER!!!!!!!! Played "Celebrity Skin" by Hole first thing this morning at a frighteningly loud volume and sang along with every word.Then I stuck on The Prodigy (Remember them??!?!?!?) and finally some Margo Guryan.(I want to cover her "LOVE SONGS") Consequently I am mildly intoxicated and don't quite know where or how to settle myself.
Our publisher is coming to visit us in the studio this afternoon so we're all in early pulling some mixes together for him to hear. It's VERY exciting but scary in the extreme to finally decide to play these songs we've been working on for "alien" ears.
It's quite literally a gut wrenching experience.
So what kind of record have we made?
Hell I dunno! Don't ask me.
Sunday 25th
Day off
Monday 26th
Went to see SNATCH at the weekend and rather enjoyed the experience.It was complete fluff of course......certainly nothing much pulsing beneath the surface but it was great fun and Brad Pitt puts in a great performance. Had an AMAZINGLY relaxed weekend..........ran on my treadmill, rented some videos,read like a fiend,drank margaritas and got plenty of sleep. Now I'm feeling all fired up for the week ahead which is pefect timing because our managers are coming to visit us on wednesday so that we can play them some songs and generally get them caught up with the record so far.Needless to say I'm nervous as hell........and excited and fearful to boot.
Tuesday 27th
Well great excitment abounds in the studio today due to the discovery of internet ordered and delivered food from a world famous eatery in Memphis!!!!! The boys are all huddled around the computer like greedy little piggies ordering enough delicacies to feed an army.
I have rarely seen my comrades so animated! I admit we're all rather sick of the decidedly limited options on offer here in Madison but this display of unbridled enthusiasm is out of proportion to the event if you ask me.Anyways......they've ordered an entire meal for 10 to be delivered by first thing tomorrow morning!!!!!
I have other things on my mind I must confess.Such as the darling package I received through the post this morning from JT Leroy.(Remember a while back I mentioned his book "Sarah"?) He has sent me an uncorrected proof copy of his newest book entitled "The Heart is deceitful Above all things".(Wonderful title.Wish I'd thought of it.)
Oooohhh......I'm so excited because I absolutely LOVED "Sarah".From the baby pink ribbon book marker attached to the spine to the cinematic dazzle and boundless courage of the writing.
(Word of warning: The premise of both these books is pretty hardcore so if you are faint of heart and sensitive by nature please be careful.)
Wednesday 28th
A list of everything in my vocal booth:
A mirror ball
Plastic christmas tree lights in the shape of tiny guitars
A music stand
A small table
A tall stool
3 huge square church candles that smell of spices
Two pencils and a pen
A pad of paper
An "Only the Paranoid Survive" beer coozie
An autographed "Kittie" flat
A poster of John Lennon
A life-size cardboard cut-out of Elvis (As seen on our tour to support Version 2:0)
A Scottish Flag (As worn by me on stage in Edinburgh when we opened the Scottish Parliment)
A PEZ dispenser in the form of Princess Leia
A Teen Spirit deodorant stick (For good luck)
Incense sticks
Some of my guitars (My baby pink fender strat,my baby blue telecaster and my Epiphone Casino)
All my microphones (The E-lam,The Brauner and The Bottle)
A Bionic Woman album on vinyl (It has a magnificent sleeve with Lindsey Wagner looking ULTRA foxy on the front of it.)
A tacky ornamnent that Duke brought me back from his holiday in Puerto Rico
A Fender Vibroverb amp
A large plastic grasshopper
A 7" vinyl Canary Training Record
A large towel bearing the likeness of our former tour manager Bill
An electronic fish wand
PS.The internet ordered feast arrived as promised.We are, if the truth be told rather in awe of such stunning efficiency.
Thursday 29th
I've finished "The Heart is deceitful Above all things" and oh JT........if you happen to be reading this ........I can't tell you how much it touched me.I devoured it in one diabolical, rollercoaster of a sitting.It's so brave and crazy and beautiful and powerful.Just like all truly great and original works of ART.