50 years ago today.............

 

50 Years ago today

There. I've just written the title, but I have no idea what to follow it up with. Yet. The intention mainly is to start the process. This, as any reader of this blog will know, is more than fraught. Me writing in this blog, that is. Or not, as it more often turns out.

The intention, if I may return to it, is to start a series of blogs (I'm already laughng at the prospect of me trying to keep up) chronicling (the clue's in the name) 50 year ago musical events. Seeing as how it sort of got going around this time.

If I think of anything significant around this time, I'll put it in. Not that I think there is, mind. However, just to kick things off, I know that around this time 50 years ago I was 14 years old and making music at home, occasionally with Mackay (Garry Newton), I suspect there were others. I hadn't met Hughie and Ste yet.

I know that recordings will have been made, because I'd been taping stuff since 1968. The earliest surviving recordings are from 1976, so (again, chuckling at the thought of me actually writing these things) if I am still around, you'll get to hear about it all.

Mid-1974 I will have been listening to, and attempting to emulate, the likes of Yes, Genesis, King Crimson, Jethro Tull, Gong, Faust, that sort of thing. All on record, mind. Apart from seeing Freddie & the Dreamers, the Hollies et al on a package tour gig when I was 4, the proper live experience was a couple of years away too.

Anyway. As and when. Ha!

No1 Arguments Yard (released 22.8.23 on Bandcamp)

Joe's little acoustic fills on No1 Arguments Yard were mixed into the existing mix. I didn't want to touch anything else.

After several attempts at mixing the backing vocals into Waterfall, I had to give up. I was not happy with the overall effect. Something will have to be re-done, but I'm not sure what yet.

Anyway, there was a BenGiff decision to release No1 Arguments Yard on its own:

https://petegifford.bandcamp.com/track/no1-arguments-yard

 

ENDEAVOURS Songs from the Back Burner - complete session log (so far) (part four)

Session 20 - Horden 8.8.23

I turned my attention to No1 Arguments Yard. With Chris' vocal it had taken on a new lease of life. It was already in the back of my mind as the next single. It clocked in, however, at 4 minutes 45 seconds. A bit too long nowadays. I had also been agonising over what to do for the solo section. Eventually, I made the decision to edit it out. I also edited out a few other little bits. That solved two problems.

Once the drums and bass had been edited, it made sense to re-do the acoustics. Then someone tapped me on the shoulder and whispered in my ear, "put 60's sounding piano and strings in the chorus." This had the desired effect and won universal approval. There was a suggestion to put a few little classical guitar licks in. Joe Ferrari was booked to try this out.

Session 21 - Unit 10 16.8.23

First, Joe added some classical guitar licks to No1 Arguments Yard in two takes.

Then attention was turned to one of Rick's songs. He wanted to re-do an old Kimosabe song, Iron Lady, with new lyrics. At this point it had a working title of Tory Stories. Several takes were attempted, with Rick on guide vocal, Joe and George Stead on guitars, Martin on bass and Joe on drums. Take 6 got it.

After discussion, it was agreed that, considering the subject matter, the song would receive limited airplay. The tune was too good to waste on something that wouldn't get heard, so it was agreed that the lyrics would be completely re-written to make them more radio-friendly. Watch this space.

Session 22 - Unit 10 18.8.23

A session dedicated to vocals. Rick added a new lead vocal to Full Time Lover. Then Rick, Tracey Wilson, Chris  and Martin (who only came to pick up some mail and got roped in) added backing vocals.

Then Rick, Chris, Tracey and myself added backing vocals to Waterfall.

As I write this, No1 Arguments Yard has been prepared for release. I am currently mixing Waterfall, which will accompany it.

Rick's vocal on Full Time Lover will have to be re-done. I remember sensing trouble at the start of the last session when we couldn't find the pop shield.

July promo vid for the Endeavours album

 

ENDEAVOURS first single release 16.7.23 - Running on Fumes

 

vocals - Michael "Lenny" Leonard

lead guitar /bass guitar - Joe Brown

drums - Joe Ritchie

acoustic guitar/keyboards - Pete Gifford

I got twenty-six thousand miles behind me now

I don’t know how many more before the final bow

Good with the bad, but I’ve sure had a whole lot of fun

Taking some chances and flying too close to the sun

Now it ain’t easy when you’re frightened to fall if you run

 

Are you serious? Run?

Are you serious?

I’m running on fumes

 

I could play all day and still do a gig on the night

I always caused trouble but never got into a fight

Friends leave the stage, you can see them go one by one

Everything’s heavier, life seems to weigh a ton

You want to get anywhere you got to keep running the gun

 

Are you serious? Run?

Are you serious?

I’m running on fumes

 

SOLO

 

Half and hour and I’m out of power, all right

The song goes on, can I finish it? I just might

The tunes never over, something we know very well

Got to keep singing, too late to be saved by the bell

Don’t look behind you, you’ll want to run like hell

 

Are you serious? Run?

Are you serious? Run?

Are you serious? Run?

Are you serious?

I’m running on fumes

ENDEAVOURS Songs from the Back Burner - complete session log (so far) (part three)

Running on Fumes started life as illustrated above. Rick gave me it to work on.

I turned it into this:

I already had a simple little Am7 riff then some chords nicked from an old song of mine and did a little demo for the lads.

Session 11 - Unit 10 5.5.23

This was a strange session. We had the demo of Running on Fumes, which was basically just the three verses/choruses. I suggested to JoJo that we separate 2 and 3 with a slow middle section. I was hoping for JB to play bass, however when we got there, there was no bass. Joe ended up playing his Strat. PG played acoustic, JR drums, of course. Records show that we rehearsed and recorded one take within 29 minutes. The one take, which clocked in at 7 minutes 50 seconds took on a life of its own in the middle section. We were then entertained by DJ Techno Notice.

Session(s) 12 - Horden 7.5.23, 25.5.23, 26.5.23

PG made several attempts to overdub guitars and acoustic guitars on Running on Fumes. I believe most, if not all of these were discarded. It becomes a bit hazy after a while. There were also some guitar overdubs on Waterfall and You'll Never See Me Again.

Session 13 - Unit 10 14.5.23

JB dubbed a superb bass line onto Running on Fumes. PG dubbed a sloppy piano onto no1 Arguments Yard.

Session 14 - Unit 10 1.6.23

JB overdubbed three guitars on Running on Fumes. The middle section comes alive!

Session 15 - Horden 15.6.23

PG dubs piano and organ onto Running on Fumes. A single mix was also made.

Session 16 - Unit 10 22.6.23

A vocal session with ML (Lenny) and Mitch. Lenny recorded several takes for Running on Fumes and Waterfall. He also recorded a guide vocal for You'll Never See Me Again. Mitch recorded four takes of What Gives You The Right?

Session 17 - Unit 10 1.7.23

CR recorded vocals for Whisper and no1 Arguments Yard.

Session(s) 18 - Horden 2.7.23, 4.7.23, 9.7.23

PG - more keyboard and guitar overdubs on Running on Fumes. I suspect there was also another acoustic overdub on no1 Arguments Yard. I also did a lot of mixing.

Session 19 - Unit 10 13.7.23

OK. So we are now up to date with the sessions. JB overdubbed two superb guitar lines onto the single mix of Running on Fumes. Once mixed, I decided that this one was ready. The next task will be to mix his guitars into the album version.