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June 20, 2006
Crazy, Man, Crazy!
“Jim’s my best friend
He ran off with my wife
They left nothing behind
But his old bowie knife
So I boxed it up
Mailed it off to them
They say she took it right from the box
And started stabbing him
Oh, ain’t it strange
How life goes?”
- from “Ain’t it Strange”, by “Crazy” Roy Thomas © 2006
I’m working on “Crazy Roy’s” music today. He’s one of the quirkiest and most original songwriters I’ve ever worked with.
His way of recording is also unique. He comes in and performs live, usually doing only one or two takes, and he is either unwilling or unable (I’ve never determined which) to play to a click track. He also never plays a song the same way twice (if he plays it more than once).
When he’s done, it’s up to me to fill everything in around him, including bass, drums, and keyboards.
It’s a challenge, but one I enjoy.
Anyway, I have three songs of his to work on today.
After that, if there is any time left I will work on an album of spoken meditations by Elizabeth Hess Stamper. This project consists of her meditations, with new-age ambient background music composed, performed and arranged by the PSG.
This couldn’t be any more different than Crazy Roy’s music, which is in the folk vein.
And what else will I be working on? An R&B and Gospel CD by Kevin J, MIDI sequences of standards (think Frank Sinatra, or Mel Torme) for Tony Martin, and backing tracks of classical songs for a friend of mind who is studying voice.
Well, It’ll be my own fault if I get bored.
Posted by leon at June 20, 2006 10:27 AM