It's Gonna Take More Than A Day...

The experience of recording at Abbey Road was just incredible. Both Tim and I began to sum it all up today, recounting the events of Monday as they took place. There's a lot to tell, and it will probably not be until we return to the states that we can begin to relate it. In the meantime, here are some photos of us having at it in Studio Two, Abbey Road Studios, London, NW8....

12 Hours and Counting

We started the day at a "Beatles Day" in London. A lovely little affair where vendors of Beatles-related ephemeralia sell stuff to collectors. Very small, but lots of nice stuff. Tim grabbed an Abbey Road case and I grabbed its matching wallet.

Then, we got back to the area near the hotel, sought out a pub, and had a late lunch with a couple of pints. Next, rehearsal for a couple of hours. It's clear we are in only a little over our heads, but I think we can pull this thing off. Particularly if Paul McCartney just happens by the studio and agrees to sing everything.

We are retiring early, and are intending to be at Abbey Road at 9:30 Monday morning (that's tomorrow as I write this). Knowing this, you can see clearly in this photo just how it is affecting our rehearsals...

More after the session!

Crossing Shots Enlarged

Click the shots for life-sized versions!

We Have Arrived

Boy have we arrived. Wasting no time. After we checked into our hotel we high tailed it so fast to Abbey Road that we created a wind vortex that is still hovering over the entire St. Johns Wood area. Upon arriving at the crosswalk we had what has been a surreal scene, so burned into our psyche, staring right back at us in living reality. Incredible feeling of a goal accomplished. Crossing the street was another story. London drivers move fast and on the left side. Our first attempts were in the dark and without cameras.

Saturday. After a proper English breakfast consisting of No Muffins, we headed out on a day of Beatle sightseeing on our own. We started out by heading back up to the Abbey Road crosswalk. But on the way, we realized we were right near Paul McCartney's house at 7 Cavendish in St. John's Wood. So, a photo opportunity. Next, it was back to the Abbey Road crossing, this time with a camera, to get some shots of us crossing the road, which you can see over to the right.

We were still in need of Beatle fixes, so we headed to a couple of Beatles stores. A couple of T-shirts and posters later, we were

 hungry. On the way out of the second Beatles store, we found a postcard for Sticky Fingers Restaurant - Bill Wyman's (Rolling Stones bass player) place. Couple of burgers and we were ready to move on. Check out the shot of Tim outside Sticky Fingers.

We decided to head over to the site of the old Apple Records building at 3 Savile Row where the Beatles performed their rooftop concert (and no, we didn't get to the roof). Tim snapped a shot of me.

Then it was off to Picadilly Circus... we were surprised to find the entire area closed off for a holiday celebration. We were in the mood for some celebrating! The remaining shots are of Picadilly Circus.

Everest

I have never climbed an actual mountain. A hill or two, yes...Everest no.  So it comes at no surprise to finally "put up" or "shutup" for our climb has come. Accordingly, Bob and I are packing our tents, goggles, boots, and gloves for our assent up Everest... (Abbey Road Studios) (For those of you real Beatle nerds, you understand the Everest/Abbey Road reference. If not, you have some googling to do). 

Chris Bolster has been assigned as our recording engineer in the famed Studio Two. (look him up on AbbeyRoad.com.) He has a brilliant resume, and has engineering experience on projects for McCartney, Lennon, and a few other hundred people I'm sure you've heard of. And now...Chris will get to add "Tim and Bob" to his curriculum vitae.  

In our few e-mail exchanges with Chris I suspect he is as gonzo for audio gear as much as Bob and I are. Hmmm let's see here...3 guys in a famous huge recording studio with all the best new and old recording gear...why its going to be a NERDFEST!!!! Chris even eluded to recording in Mono!!!! I love this guy and I haven't even met him yet.

So for those of you still awake, we depart for England December 4th. Arrive the 5th. Pace nervously in the Abbey Road Crosswalk December 6 and 7th. Arrive at EMI, Abbey Road Studios front door at 10am December 8th and begin our 12 hour (or 720 minute or 43,200 seconds) of mountain climbing at it's best. 

And savoring every second of the expedition I assure you.) 

Details shared as they become available and postable.

_Tim

Two weeks and Counting

Bob's pathos...

We're getting down to the wire. Who'da thunk that it would almost be a year to the day that we started putting together this crazy idea. The songs we're recording, "Don't Blink" and "It's Girls" have gone back and forth between us about a hundred times. Arrangements are taking shape. Vocals are, er, um, vocals. Sorta. 

So, in two weeks and three days, we are boarding airplanes in each of our home towns and heading to London. We'll meet there on Friday, Dec 5th. Then we've got two days to get acclimated and on Monday, December 8th, we're in Studio Two at Abbey Road Studios.

Gulp.

Gulp again.

Starting next Monday, I will be intensely prepping for this. I need to get to the point that I know every bit inside and out. That way, when I get to the studio, I can relax with the parts rather than having to concentrate on playing them.

Guitar parts. Vocal parts. Bass parts. Thank GOD Tim is playing the drum parts. They're the parts that are going to be right.

SO, we've got 12 hours in the studio. First 2 will be setting up and finding sounds. Down to ten...

Next, putting down the guitar tracks. That should take another 2 hours or so. 

Next up, drums. Tim will knock these out in 1o minutes. 

Down to 5 hours and 50 minutes left.

Next, bass. Add another 1.5 hours (that's 1.4 for my part - Tim will get his down in 10 minutes). 

Down to 4 hours and 20 minutes.

Vocals are next. Gonna need about 4 hours for these.

20 minutes left to mix. No problem, cuz we are working with a pro!

WHOA! Whatta ride.

Gettin dizzy!!!!

Old' Yeller

Less than 60 days before recording and I'm freaking out. And I'm freaking out over a variety of things too numerous to list here. Most are trivial. One isn't. 

I can't sing. I lack "on-key" unless flat is a key. Talk about surprised. I had some vocal abilities in a previous life, where did they go? I made a comment to Bob that I used to sing in a band. Hearing this remark, my wife immediately corrected me and said "You didn't sing...you yelled". Admitting you have a yelling problem is the first step. Okay, I admit it. I was a yeller. So...I am pulling out all stops and if necessary a checkbook to have a few personal voice coaches see if I can at least get back to "yelling on key". Roland comes over tonight. He gets free pizza, beer, and nightmares for my vocal assessment and prescription.

Lyrics finished. Music finished. Final touches being worked out. Getting closer. And Getting Better All the Time.