11.5.16

I was up first, around 7. Breakfast/coffee/showers, rolled into studio about 10:30. 

Started w/ "Cover Your Tracks!" - me on Strat/Ampeg, Pete Jazzmaster/Fender Super Reverb. [Stayed w/ those amps for the day.] Actually got the take fairly quickly, w/in 2 or 3, unfortunately the amp sound changed and was unrecoverable for my fixes, so I had to do a couple of complete passes. Also worked out some lines for Pete on the non-Stonesy part of the song. Might have taken until 3 or 4 in all. Started "Guesthouse," me on my Ibanez w/ tremolo and a direct channel, Pete on Tele (main). Took a few more takes than some, tried it w/ a click in the 110-115, neighborhood, as usual that made the takes -after- we shut it off more solid. I did some fixes, Pete doubled the pre-chorus on Rick. Dinner at local Italian, came back at 8 for "A Different City," me on Strat, Pete on Jazzmaster. Again, maybe 3 full takes? Was nervous about how to play this, but I found a (Bm) voicing I could do my Jimmy Nolan chank on throughout. Tightened up the part on some punches, will end up doubling the "mellow" bits. Mitch great throughout - had interstitial conversations about Roy Wood, trends in bass tones, and his and Stamey's high school music theory background.

Dinner at local Italian, came back and hung out over beers for an hr or two before bed - Matt's playlist of choice included Half Man Half Biscuit, "Styx Gig (Seen By My Mates Coming Out of A)."

11.4.16

Up for a while around 4:30 am, listened to a Dragnet. Up for real 8:30, coffee/breakfast in cabin. In studio abut 10:15.

Peter Hughes wrote about coming today, but I think it will be the weekend and/or Mon. Got a sound, my gtr through a Vox AC30, amp of choice for the day, tracked "Believe in Ghosts." Maybe 4 takes, w/ a replacement ending. A few bass punches, I had Brandon change his part in the bridge. Matt overdubbed a cymbal wash intro, I tried to have him play something looser in the long break, wasn't quite happening (half-assed idea). Spent some time doing the guitar part in section, w/ Mitch's coaching. Tracked "Illusions," not sure how many takes. Redid that guitar as well, on Mitch's Rickenbacker, hard to get some of my arpeggiation right. Matt went to pick up Pete Galub from the airport somewhere in here, had lunch when they got back. Tracked "Untimely Beggar" as a 3 piece - amazingly, given the trouble we've had with it, in one complete take, outside of the usual bass punches, which Brandon is very adept at. I will have to work for a while to get my gtr part where I want it. Called Bree somewhere in here, talked about John Wriggle's show/book event. We showed Mitch the early-90s (but very 80s) promotional video for Paisley Park studio. Had one beer. Filled out my absentee ballot. Set up for "Still In Error," me on my Ibanez w/ a fairly dark sound., Pete on Tele through a Matchless. Matt used a click, which I didn't listen to. Maybe 3 takes? Left my gtr as is (thought I blew an augmented chord but it sounded fine in the track), Pete redid the out and doubled the part on the Rick. 4 masters, can't complain about that. Knocked off around 8:30, dinner in town (tapas, better than I would have guessed), split some sangria. Stayed up for an hr+ trading terrible, half-remembered cover songs on the electric harpsichord in the cabin. Clear highlight: Pete's unrecognizable "Once In a Lifetime." I read 50 p. of the Gershwin book in bed - lights out 1, probably should have turned in a little earlier.

11.3.16

Up 5:30. Weight up from yesterday, probably won't be able to weigh myself for a week.

Called car just after 6 am, at Laguardia about 6:30, met Brandon and Matt. Nothing eventful about the flight - got our gtr and bass on board w/o gate check, did inflight crossword, started Rodney Greenberg, George Gershwin. At Greensboro about 10, got baggage and car, weren't expected at the Fidelitorium until 11, so stopped for donuts, coffee, toiletries; got to studio before noon, met Mitch. Very easygoing - talked about Game Theory for a while later on. Hard to describe the vibe of the studio - photos may be better. Several hrs. on the expected drum set-up/micing, got the bass up quickly. I alternated between hanging out, reading Greenberg, and starting Arlo Quint's book through most of this. Eventually tried my Ibanez through 3 or 4 gtr amps, settled on a Princeton (his first amp, as was mine) for "The Old Currencies." Started trying some takes around 5 pm. Wasn't feeling the headphone mix at first, turning the amp up a bit helped a lot. I think we got a better-than-fair master (1st/2nd half from two separate takes), a couple of punches. Went into town (barely - really just the highway) for dinner break, decent Mexican, and groceries. Came back and tried "Boring Postcards," w/ a Strat through Pro Jr. 4th take pretty solid. I was pretty dead by 10 from getting up so early. We'll start w/ a couple of bass punches tomorrow. We could go back to either of these songs once we're used to playing, but 2 acceptable takes for a 1/2 day is not a bad start.

Retired to the adjoining cabin, read a bit of Quint, started poetry daybook (w/ fewer lines/smaller pages than the last one; also brought some Clark Coolidge, Solution Passage, to get a short-poem vibe). 

11.2.16

Up 8:15. Weight 213.9 [lower after a wk setback]. 

Leaving for NC to record tomorrow. Went to coffee about 10, finished Just About Midnight, read 10 p. or so of Starr on Porgy & Bess. Came home, read a chunk of Gone Girl while Bree was getting ready to go out. Started dealing w/ life at 1. Exercised 10 min. Packed in fits and starts, decided what books to take, took the 9-volts out my gtr pedals for the flight, sent Pete G. lyrics for "Gueshouse," dealt w/ various things in my office, finally posted about the recent 4-track compilation. Tammy Grimes passed away on Oct. 30; I played her 1st album, from 1959, a classic, v. supper club two-piano affair w/ terrific song choices ("Let's Take a Walk Around the Block," some lesser-known Porter, a spooky "Molly Malone") that was one of my entry points into the genre. Finished Starr's Gerswhin book. Useless on jazz, race. Once Bree came home, we called my parents, had dinner and dropped by a grand opening for a flower/gift/coffee bar, almost too elegant for the neighborhood. Local jazz guitarist/stand-up bassist playing "I Can't Get Started." Went to E77 at 9, wrote 300 word proposal (on "Mama Don't Allow") for next year's EMP, about 2 hrs. Finished packing - need to not have to think tomorrow if I'm going to leave for LGA at 6 am - but kept thinking of thinks to take care of (hadn't rented a car for the week). Lights out 1 am.

11.1.16

Up 7:00. Weight 214.

Exercised 10 min. Left between 9:15-9:30 (work on this). Read Starr over breakfast. By 10:30, it didn't seem like the trip to Oracle would be efficient, so I wrote at E77 until about 11. Graf putting aside Rhapsody in Blue, plus a (too?)-technical discussion of "Somebody Loves Me." Picked up another Gershwin bio at library, also checked on Gone Girl, which I'd started reading out of mass-cultural curiosity in a Salvation Army this summer. Came home, finished quota of Starr, dozed to a Dragnet episode for 1/2 hr, started Susie Timmons, Superior Packets. (3 older books in one + new poems; Hog Wild [1979], so far, is comparable to Greenwald's Common Sense - similar hard to place inter-generation of NY School/not yet Language writers.) Packed for rehearsal, got out suitcase. Managed to get off a couple of emails (to Robert Christgau and my godfather) I'd been procrastinating about. Left for downtown 4:40. Listened casually to Benny Moré while reading Hamilton on Motown Beatles' covers and Aretha Franklin/Janis Joplin/Dusty Springfield interrelationships. Managed to drop off my coat for relining this time. Rehearsed 6 to 8:30, w/ Brandon/Mike/Pete; went through songs I want to track as 4-piece ("Cover Your Tracks," "Guesthouse," "Still In Error," possibly "Different City," "Faith & Credit," the one where I'm not pulling my weight), also ran "Enemies of Song." Knocked off early, no need for a forced march. Went to the Strand b/c the new Ashbery is out (I checked). Read a bit more of Timmons on the way home, had a notion for a poem so filled last 2 p. of current daybook, which covers about 5 months of "practice." Home just before 11, ran through some email.

Lou Donaldson, "West Indian Daddy."