Song: Worth a thousand words
One thing this monthly blog has taught me is I can't be afraid to try things in a new way. I really let this song develop and I think it shows. Early in the writing process I listened through my iPhone voice notes for song ideas and came across the chord progression with some mumbling lyric idea... "you don't know and you won't..." I then sat at the piano and expanded the melodies I was hearing. I recorded what seemed to work well on the 388 and was about to sing it and said, "This really sucks." I forced myself to give it a month-long break but returned to it thinking, "It still sort of sucks but maybe it's just the way I am approaching it." I sent it off to my former collaborator, Peter Joseph Head, in Melbourne, AUS thinking he could do something magical with it. As it turned out, he didn't have time. So, I tried it again. Many key changes and lyrical edits brought me to something I thought was workable. It still needed perspective though, and I knew just the guy.
This recording marks the first collaboration with my friend Sean Lennon, who stopped by to play bass. I have watched and listened to Sean rock out in punk bands since my college days back in the early 90s. Sean was always in the best bands. I can picture him bobbing his head while working the neck of his bass as 50 or so college kids nod in approval. His bass line here provides the much needed foundation for this track. Keyboard lines and synth drums spring from his loping lyrical lines reminiscent of Disintegration-era Cure.
Technical Specs
Machine: Tascam 388, bounced to Pro Tools First and finished
Pre-amp: Art Tube Pre (the one with presets for about $75) - I am using 2 of these now as they work great for this application
Effects: Roland RE-20 (space echo reissue) - patched in as an effects send
Microphone: Cascade V57
Rhythm Guitar: 1963 Gibson B-25
Lead Guitar: 1991 Gibson Les Paul Standard
Bass: 1992 Fender American Jazz bass, Tech 21 Sansamp Bass Driver Delux
Keys: Korg SV-1, Korg Nano Key synth and drum pads
Misc: egg shakers, old wooden tambourine, off-brand medium crash and hi-hats, off-brand floor tom with mallets
Recorded at home by myself and Sean. Mixed and mastered by Warren Gardiner at Gardiner Audio in Melbourne, AUS. Please reach out to him if you are in need of mixing and mastering services. His rates are reasonable and he does excellent listening!