Mr. Polar Bear in the Kitchen with the Compass
Tuesday, November 29, 2005, 09:43 PM
I filmed a short scene tonight that regarded Artic Exploration. Below are some photos from the session.



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Starry, Starry Night
Tuesday, November 29, 2005, 09:35 PM
Sunday night found us scampering up on the roof trying to race against sundown. We were filming a short sequence regarding Astronomy which entailed a distanced shot of me on the roof looking through my telescope. It was incredibly windy that early evening but that only added an element of excitement and immediacy to our task. Brad assisted me in his bare feet by steadying the ladder as I climbed up and down between filming and our Dad ran the camera from the driveway below. Below are some shots of the film session. Good night, all.

Corey



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Monday's Session
Wednesday, November 16, 2005, 11:21 PM
Monday's sessions with Ronny went well and we completed all of our scheduled songs with five minutes to spare. Those last few minutes found us put down percussion tracks on "Barrette" before I ran out the door to an early evening gig. We tracked two tempos for "National Explorers Society Theme" so that I could review them afterwards. The slower tempo of 113 won out due to its fluidity. After having some time with it, I now realize that "I Live For The Water" was recorded at too fast of a tempo but I will slow down the drums to a machine pitch of -1.4 and transfer it to another tape at a pitch of 0.0. It awaits my additions and a violin and flute arrangement. "Fireplace" was recorded at a faster tempo than I had originally planned but after overhearing a nice groove coming through the ceiling speaker of a restaurant Sunday night, I decided it should sped up and made more lively. I had Ronny use Hot Rods on that track and the overall sound had a nice smack about it.

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Upcoming Recording Session
Monday, November 7, 2005, 03:06 PM
On Monday November 14, Ronny Ricks will come by the studio to put down drum and percussion tracks for the next record.

List:

I Live For The Water
An ode I wrote to the ocean when I was about 20. The original recording never really went anywhere but I decided to re-record it after my present immersion in the life and work of Jacques Cousteau and the general subject of SCUBA. The arrangement will very heavily feature violins, flutes, vibrato electric guitar and a lot of reverb.

Barrette
This one is older, as well. It came about as the result of hours spent listening to my Dad's folk record collection in my late teens. Primarily, The Kingston Trio, The Seekers and Peter, Paul and Mary. The track already exists and was almost deleted from the next record's lineup but it's charm has won me over. Ronny will add bass drum and percussion.

Fireplace
A few of these songs are older ones and so is this. I wrote this when I was 15. It's short but has a nice wintery feel about it. I was tempted to put violins on this but refrained, knowing that it is much more rewarding and challenging to use other instruments to fulfill a similar purpose. So it will involve piano, drums (hot rods), electric bass, organ, electric vibrato guitars and sleigh bells.

National Explorers Society Theme
This will be the backing music for a short film we'll do soon for my financial backers the National Explorers Society. It will involve brushes, piano, violins, classical guitar and flutes.

Swansea
This song will appear on a future record lazily and tentatively entitled Number 3. It has a sort of breezy, train rhythm/brush feel about it and includes a piano solo, which I usually shy away from. It's a bittersweet little number named after a region in Wales.

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Mars Hill Release Party Rehearsal
Sunday, November 6, 2005, 06:12 PM
Last Thursday night, Kyle Scroggins came by the house for a rehearsal for the release party. It was very productive, especially since we tackled some material he has never heard before. We worked on Peter and Paul, Hymnus, Easter Rising, Static and We Don't Need To be Lonely Tonight. Kyle is handling piano, organ and glockenspiel duties and Brad is playing electric guitar and then bass on the songs where I have to be on piano. He is also playing banjo on Easter Rising. Speaking of which, my only concern regarding the banjo is having a free mic that we can put on it for that particular song. Our channel limit at the venue is 16 but we'll figure out something. In other related news, our friend Jeff Agnew the pedal steel guitarist confirmed his inclusion in the release party. Below is the tentative set list.

Peter and Paul
Hymnus
Jesus Is a Dying Bed-maker
True Love Waits
N.D.E. #1
Easter Rising
It's Good to Be Here
My Dear Rene
Static
Keep Your Lamp Trimmed and Burning
Scarlatina
Tommy-Gun
Svetlana
Something When She Smiles
Swansea
We Don’t Need To Be Lonely Tonight



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