Tuesday
May302006
Catching Up
Tuesday, May 30, 2006 at 02:05AM
Sorry I've been a bit incommunicado this past week. Aside from getting all the cds out I've been in the studio or playing a show every day for the past week and a half and I have two more weeks to go before a proper day off! That being said I've been doing all right.
Last week I recorded and produced a cool project for my friend Arthur Alligood. He's a great singer and really unique songwriter and we had a really neat time. We did the whole thing in four days, three complete songs a day, final vocals live and all that stuff. It was a lot of work but really rewarding. I played bass as we tracked live and then overdubbed electric guitars. I want to post one of Arthur's lyrics up here later this week because I think you guys will freak out about how great it is.
This week I'm working with Kevin Lawson. We started this project over a year ago and are just now getting back to finishing it. Unfortunately during that time the hard drive storing his project got erased and we're having to start over. Ouch. It's going to turn out cooler, though, and although I hate that we lost it, the project will probably be better for it.
Caedmon's played this weekend in Montgomery, AL. It was HOT. I don't like it when it's hot. I would rather be cold any day. You can always wear more clothes, but people like me can only take so much off. I DID finally find a cool hat, though, at a mall I went to to kill some time in air conditioning. Patience, ladies, I'll post a picture when I get time... Caedmon's original B3 player, Randy Holsapple, "filled in" for this show and that was a blast. I don't know if it's "filling in" when you played with the band for eight years, but whatever. I have played for the band for three and a half years now and that didn't stop me from completely forgetting how the song "This World" goes. And yeah, I start that one. Cliff introduced it and a look of sheer terror came over me. Total brainfart. For the life of me I couldn't remember how it went. I've played this song hundreds of times. I had to turn around and ask Trip what the chords were! I have rarely been this embarassed. It was probably the heat. Or the hat.
Well, I should probably get (back) to bed. The postal service resumes tomorrow so hopefully CDs will start trickling in. Please let me know when you get them and, once you've had time to give it a listen, let me know what you think. This is an exciting time for me and I hope everyone enjoys the year and a half of work that's on its way to your mailbox. Hope you all had a good Memorial Day (I batted a WiffleBall RBI that let Mitch Dane give us the championship, so you know I did) and have a great week getting back from the holiday.
Last week I recorded and produced a cool project for my friend Arthur Alligood. He's a great singer and really unique songwriter and we had a really neat time. We did the whole thing in four days, three complete songs a day, final vocals live and all that stuff. It was a lot of work but really rewarding. I played bass as we tracked live and then overdubbed electric guitars. I want to post one of Arthur's lyrics up here later this week because I think you guys will freak out about how great it is.
This week I'm working with Kevin Lawson. We started this project over a year ago and are just now getting back to finishing it. Unfortunately during that time the hard drive storing his project got erased and we're having to start over. Ouch. It's going to turn out cooler, though, and although I hate that we lost it, the project will probably be better for it.
Caedmon's played this weekend in Montgomery, AL. It was HOT. I don't like it when it's hot. I would rather be cold any day. You can always wear more clothes, but people like me can only take so much off. I DID finally find a cool hat, though, at a mall I went to to kill some time in air conditioning. Patience, ladies, I'll post a picture when I get time... Caedmon's original B3 player, Randy Holsapple, "filled in" for this show and that was a blast. I don't know if it's "filling in" when you played with the band for eight years, but whatever. I have played for the band for three and a half years now and that didn't stop me from completely forgetting how the song "This World" goes. And yeah, I start that one. Cliff introduced it and a look of sheer terror came over me. Total brainfart. For the life of me I couldn't remember how it went. I've played this song hundreds of times. I had to turn around and ask Trip what the chords were! I have rarely been this embarassed. It was probably the heat. Or the hat.
Well, I should probably get (back) to bed. The postal service resumes tomorrow so hopefully CDs will start trickling in. Please let me know when you get them and, once you've had time to give it a listen, let me know what you think. This is an exciting time for me and I hope everyone enjoys the year and a half of work that's on its way to your mailbox. Hope you all had a good Memorial Day (I batted a WiffleBall RBI that let Mitch Dane give us the championship, so you know I did) and have a great week getting back from the holiday.
Reader Comments (27)
I'm waiting at the mail box, andy...pins and needles...pins and needles...
We're all excited to hear the finished product of your year-and-a-half of work. Nice work on the wiffleball RBI!
andy, will you have CDs with you in Quarryville next saturday? if so, i will be liking one to purchase.
It was all the under-my-breath mocking I was doing from the side of the stage.
i've got mine ... Monroeville, Alabama
I just home from work and BAM!!! There it was in my mailbox. I have just finished listening to it and its official. It has totally rocked my face off and now I can't eat dinner!!! Very cool vibe.
Just got the CD's! I'm on the second song and being thoroughly blown away. Thanks, Andy!
got mine today. had a difficult time deciding which one to put in first. The Morning won and it's sweet, dude.
Andy,
I was pleasantly suprised to find a CD mailer in my mailbox with two AO CD's in them. I am in Houston, TX.
Mine arrived today, and I'm on the 2nd time through already!! Excellent record Andy! Yes, excellent is the word. I'm in Augusta, GA
"The Morning" is great, Andy. "Trying to Get This Right" is fantastic, and "Early in the Morning" blows me away. Wonderful, simply wonderful. The seven months of waiting were worth it.
The line, "I know no martyrs died to pass that on," cuts me every time I hear it. Needless to say, I love the new version of "New Mexico." Of course, "The High School Band" ain't bad either.
It may be short but I really dig the "In Gym Class in High School" song. Also, "After the Garden" and "Early in the Morning" are completely awesome. "Santa Barbara" is one of those songs in which the music exactly catches the vibe the lyrics are shooting for - that's quite a feat!
I also received both CDs in Houston.
Peter
this may sound strange, but i'm wondering if i'm the only one experiencing this: The Morning sounds beautiful - i love it!
the re-mastered "Photographs" however seems to be jacked up too high. my speakers on two different systems almost can't handle the sound and the levels.
is it just me?
I got the cd's tonight: Lookout Mountain, GA. I havent listened to the Morning very much yet, but I'm listening to Photographs right now (I've never heard it) and Oh my gosh!! it is flippin amazing. AO rocks!
I'm currently on round 2 of listening to The Morning, & have a quick question: Is "Marilyn" about or at all related to Hemmingway's The Sun also Rises? I know that the heroine in the novel's name is Brett, not Marilyn, but the references to watching bullfights in Spain got me thinking... Aaaaaaaaaaanyway, let me know at your convenience.
Oh, & I like a couple of the poem/songs, "Farmer's Wife" & "Just a Kid." Their lyrics are extremely tight, & they do a great job of capturing a specific moment/experience in a short space of words. Kind of reminds me of Imagist poetry. But that may just be because I had a class on an Imagist poet last spring. Ah, the wonders of free association... :-)
Yeah, Josh, it is about The Sun Also Rises. 'Brett' doesn't sing nearly as well as 'Marilyn' so I changed it. Good catch.
Well, I haven't gotten to listen to them, but what do you know... it's 12 AM on my birthday! haha, thanks for an AMAZING birthday present (to echo a previously mentioned sentiment) and I can't wait to rock out on my (probably uneventful) 22nd bday! ;)
Mine came yesterday (Jackson, MS) in perfect time for my 3-hour drive tonight. I can't wait!
I got mine yesterday. Omaha, Nebraska. The Morning is very good, all killer, no filler. My favorite is Early in the Morning, it has been in my head since I saw you in Omaha with BTLOG tour. Nice to hear this version, fits very well with the rest of the album and is the perfect album closer.
I am super impressed, one of the best releases of the year, and I have the Paul Simon cd, it is right up there with the best.
Thanks for putting out beautiful, honest music.
Got mine in Chicago yesterday - minor damage in shipping. I'm loading them into iTunes/iPod today; I find it interesting that there's no info for the tracks on The Morning.
I won't have the opportunity to give these CDs the attention they deserve until later in the week. I've waited this long, what's a couple more days??
I got mine today in Monroe Michigan, Right on the Ohio State Line, just over Toledo. The CD is tremendous, as anticipated. Thanks for the special "gifts" in addition to the normal songs. I still am amazed with " new beginning ". Teared up amigo.
Got mine in Lincoln, NE yesterday. Absolutely loving "New Beginning."
The curious thing was that my CD mailer was addressed to "Benton Yancer." And I'm fairly certain that when I ordered the CD I only typed in "Ben Yancer," especially since my name is Benjamin and not Benton.
I had quite a laugh about this.
It had never occurred to me that Ben could be short for Benton as a first name.
Was this just a slip, Andy? Or is your first thought for what Ben is short for seriously Benton?
Ben, your name really is Benton. I hate to be the one to tell you this, but you had to hear it eventually.
Your friend,
Matthew
Youthdude - you're not alone. It seems portions of Photographs are overdriven; particularly New Mexico (late night piano version) and When Will I Run. Otherwise, it's all good; yea, very good.