20 Some Years of Music

A merry little trip through the various things I've done.



Velcro Kitty (1984-1986)
Memory (Haunted by Pictures)
This was originally inspired by U2's "Bad" and borrows a lyric from New Order's "Temptation".  Recorded in an 8-track home studio, March 1986.
No Love Lost
This song had my first complete lyric.  Maybe that's why I cringe a bit.  This was recorded on a Fostex 4-track in our basement rehearsal room in August 1985.
Russia
This song used the Roland Drumatix drum machine and the drummer played glockenspeil.  I accidentally added an extra bar during the guitar solo-Paul did a great recovery.  Some of my darkest, and best, IMHO, lyrics-I was into Joy Division at the time...
Under Glass (the Classic Mix)
This recording was made in 1986 after Velcro Kitty broke up, but it was the set opener for the last couple of VK gigs. Revived and remixed in 2008 after it was requested by someone at the Sqrlz reunion. This mix is similar to a cassette mixdown made in '86, but I got a bit experimental with the effects-modern technology! The lyrics are rather atrocious even for me. polymod said it's going in the file...he may have meant the circular one.
Under Glass (No Strings Attached Mix)
Same as above without the strings. Lovely modern tech!
Under Glass (the Reconstructed Mix)
And yet another version, but I'm pretty happy with the reworking of the track-the strings drop out and in and the "drums" have some variations now. I really like the way this version ends.
Tomorrow Midnight (1987)
Straits 
An instrumental "trip through a black hole".  This song was also performed by The Squirrels and Velcro Kitty,
Epitaph 
A cover of the classic King Crimson song.  Up because polymod asked for it.
Reason + Instinct (1988-1990)
Separate Soul (from a Black Hole)
This song started as a jam with deel from the Squirrels.  I arranged the structure and chords, picked over deel's improvised lyrics, wrote the chorus and bridge.  Paul added the incredible guitar part and also did the bass.  Recorded on a 4-track in the basement again.
Other MP3s
Separate Soul (from a Black Hole)  2004
Another version of the Reason + Instinct song, done by myself on the computer.  Paul's guitar bits are from a failed long-distance collaboration attempt..
Separate Soul (from a Black Hole)  2004 with bobggs on drums.
Yet another version, this time Bob in San Diego, who really liked the song, plays the drums.
Old as New (final section)  (2010)  Paul and Russ
Paul sent me the basic track with guitars, bass and drums.  I overdubbed the keys.  Most of the solo parts at the end are complete cheats-I don't play that fast.
Ambi-Fret (2000)
An attempt to write some cool down music for my aerobics class.  Recorded on the computer, using Cakewalk Pro Audio 9.  I really like the end part.   I know, I'll steal it for another song!  No one will ever know!
Star Spangled Banner  (1984)
This was recorded for a video project leading into election 1984.  I think it might have been shown at a bar once.  The "band" is C Nixon and the VH Boneyard.  Recorded on a Sony 2-track reel-to-reel, with me on Moog Opus 3, Pro-One bass and Casio MT-40 "drum machine", Sam on guitar and Ann on vocals.  The solo is the Arp 2600 at the UNCW electronic music lab-somehow we got access to it.  Comment from Relpo Miraculous:  "Very entertaining.  The guy who made the ARP has to be shaking his head.  A $10,000 behemoth emitting sinusoidal chince."

created on 17 Feb 2010