Day 12 Studio
Today was pure heaven with more lead guitar tracks being laid down on three songs.
Watching Adam create and play is pure joy and the songs are building in their wondrous and huge intensity. At one point Adam asked if I minded the rock approach on a few as we also have a funk and blues vibe happening. Minded holy cow I totally love his approach, AWESOME in an understatement.
I said Adam if these don't turn me into a rock star nothing will :)
It's interesting and quite uncanny for me but sometimes from a certain angle and light Adam looks so much like my late brother Brian when he was in his early 40s and healthy. Maybe his spirit is close by as Brian was a musician and would so love these sounds and songs.
We worked on three songs today. Boy is the rockstar, guitar flavours of 80s rock a la Tears For Fears U2 feeling and Adam played his Epiphone Casino VT on this track. For the heroin flavoured Sleek Train he doubled my acoustic 12 string with his Danelectro Double Neck and then added a slide as well plus some trippy backward guitar slide, you will love it. Then Adam dusted off his jazz chops and laid down more of the Daneletro Doubleneck 12 string also doubling my 12 string acoustic on Perfect Love Affair. Then for the tasty jazz lead he played the Godin Multiac Jazz custom electric. Adam also played bass on all the tracks and he played an Epiphone S6. That's the latest,  she is developing and her personality is starting to shine through, this new baby is gonna be gorgeous! Can't wait to share her with you.

Day 10 and 11 Studio

Sunday we edited the rest of my guitar parts and ever so exciting to hear all the pieces fit together! Another fan emailed to ask what happens in the editing process. Basically a producer or engineer records the instrument for a track on the song and records 3 or 4 takes of that instrument for each song. The best take is chosen and then it goes under a microscope (metaphorically) for anything slightly off  or for a part that feels best and which is edited or copied  from another take sometimes even from the same one. Most edits are very fast and simple and don't need much time though each note on each instrument is listened to many, many times on a recording.
When we first began editing the recording Adam's lovely little girl sat and drew pictures quietly. I attached her art work she drew while listening and I asked her who the people were. She replied oh just some random people! I laughed out loud at this response from a 6 year old, wow they are sophisticated these days!
We wrapped it up for my guitar parts in 3 hours and just as I arrived home Alice's Mom called and her lung condition came back so we took her hospital and we spent the evening with her.
Thankfully she will be fine and home tomorrow! At 91 she is still going strong for the most part but her body is bound to have a few things wearing down. We heading over for a visit soon.

Today was a fantastic day as Adam played and edited the lead guitar on 3 songs and they are all killer! Today (the song) is very BIG wow so thrilling to have such great talent like Adam's shine on this song and album! Adam played his 61 Guild T-50 and was ramped up  for rock and roll! He played his Godin Multiac Jazz custom on my country/folk tune, I Found you using a slide and sounded awesome. Adam also played this guitar in a jazz style for the reggae good feeling How would we know. There aren't enough superlatives to describe Adam's playing, what a fantastic session. As you can tell guitar sessions are my favorite to witness the capturing of the magic!

Day 9 Studio
We wrapped up my guitar parts for the album today (I think).
I will know for sure Sunday when we edit the parts. As I was about to leave our session Adam discovered the guitar parts for Perfect Love Affair were missing and not saved, so I hastily re-recorded the 12 string acoustic guitar parts just before I left. I didn't get a chance to hear the final playback for it. Sleek Train sounded awesome with the 12 string acoustic very trippy! I played a 6 string acoustic for the song Today and that one felt really great to play as did Lightening Strikes Twice the sister to 99%. We also got the editing done for my guitar on Lightenings Strikes Twice which I played on my new electric Cort and Adam redid his bass part as it was sounding flat. Very productive day even though Adam had some distractions with calls and emails for his other job that he has to be on call for 24/7.
On Sunday we continue with editing including the 2 songs from Monday's session, its sounding awesome so far!
Here is a pic of the Martin D-28 as a fan emailed to ask what the guitar looks like. Paul McCartney did not play it on my cd though :)

Day 8 Studio
A short but very sweet session today as Adam got called into his new job. I rented a lovely Martin D 28 for the day with a free rental coupon from Long and Mcquade that I won from CIRAA (Canadian Independent Recording Artists Association). Artist members can enter monthly draws to win cash and rental awards I have won 4 rentals and $100 twice!  I put the Martin to good use today and we really loved the sound, it was punchier and deeper than my Simon Patrick Luthier though I still love her the best. I recorded the title track with the Martin and did the song in  just 2 takes as well the free flowing finger picking intro just rang out so beautifully. Next up was I Found You and this heartfelt one is going to be of a more pure and sparse production without drums but uplifting harmonies. I am so very happy with my playing on this gentle tune and Adam concurred the rental guitar was worth it  for this song alone!

Day 7 Studio
We continued on with our recording of guitar tracks today. Beginning the session with an edit of the guitars for both mine and Adams on Dizzy. Adam also decided to record a tambourine for this funkified song as well. Next was an edit for my guitar on Fire Flames, Adam added a tremolo on my part and wow it really gave it a dreamy 60s effect so groovey! After our edits I recorded my acoustic steel string guitar for How Would We Know. I struggled with this as the groove is a reggae style and a new approach for me but after 6 takes, we had what we needed. Today Adam added maracas today to this tune as well as a gorgeous classical nylon string guitar for the upstrokes, the tune is getting nicely hypnotic and thick. Finally, I recorded for Boy and I was really in the pocket for this one. I love how the dynamics and intensity build on this for my guitar part and the drums parts as well. We also edited these parts and we are finished 5 tracks for rhythm guitar!

Day 6 Studio
Friday was a day that we began recording my guitar tracks. I brought in three of my guitars. My Simon Patrick Luthier handmade acoustic 6 string with 2 pickups which is my favorite. I have played this guitar over 15 years and is the one I usually play live with. I love the tone and the feel and it has rich sound. I am using the lightweight DR handmade strings by sunbeam for this guitar. This SP guitar has found its way on many of my previous recordings. I also brought my 12 string acoustic Yamaha another lovely guitar that has aged well. This was a gift from my parents when I graduated high school long, long ago. I recorded with it before on the song Love and Not Fear from my first album, Modern Anguish  My newest guitar was purchased 2 months ago and is a Cort, a Larry Coryell signature archtop and we played him alot in this session!

We began the session with the song I felt most confidant about called No More and I played the Cort guitar in the jazz position for pick up and Adam added some extra edge for it on the amp. This is an older song of mine and one Alice and I already play live so the track was a snap to lay down and I had a great funky flow going on.

Next up was Dizzy, now this is a new tune and much more of a challenge for me. We recorded it about 3 times and then Adam asked if I wanted an acoustic dreamy sound for the guitar or a tight jazzy funk style. I wanted the latter so I was quickly fired for the moment and Adam stepped in and laid it down super tight and funky wow!! He loved the sound of my Cort and he played the rhythm and lead with the Cort for this song. He sounds amazing!! I gotta work on my tightness but in the end we did add the dreamy to the funk. I was re-hired with my 12 string guitar and we added this huge sound for all the pre-choruses and choruses. Not only that we doubled the instrument so I had to play it many, many times and be locked in or as precise as possible to get that huge layered effect. My hands were sore and I had to take a break as I was getting a burn but sure was worth the pain. Now I can say I suffered for my art. :)

We also did Fire Flames a sexy, sultry slippery groove with Latin influences. I was worried about my squeaks in the finger picking section but Adam thought it added a charm to the playing. I also played the Cort for this song.

It was a very productive session and I am loving how the songs are coming alive.

Day 5 Studio
Monday found me in the studio with Adam editing the drum and bass tracks from the weekend. In this process we listen and decide on the best take and then Adam goes through each beat of the drum, crashes, etc. and makes sure everything is solid, in time, that each mic recording the various drums/snare/cymbals/kick etc are at optimum levels and not leaking into others or are gated or adjusted for tone/leakage and we determine the kind of room we want the drums to portray for example a hall sound. It's a tedious process but very important and Adam's ears are the best! We edited 3 songs before I left for the beach :) and I think Adam may have started another. I'm not a whole lot of help in this particular process but it is still good for me to observe and see how drums are edited for the song and how the final sound is determined.

Tuesday's planned studio time encountered a bit of a hiccup to our schedule. Adam had a sudden job opportunity/interview arise in the morning and landed the part time job on the spot. This means of course his studio time is lessened now so we will have to move things around and the recording may take a little longer than planned but on the plus side this delay will give me more time to practice and get my chops all the more polished. Good things come to those that wait! :)

DAY 4 STUDIO
It's a wrap for the drum and bass session! Fantastic session as we captured some amazing feels and rhythms and in a short period of time. When it flows it flows, the gods were smiling just like the glorious sunshine outside! From a wandering drug induced heroin-like energy, to the rock n rollier side and even a major dance groove yes dance complete with a doubled snare and high hat wowowowow. We are thinking outside the box as Adam suggested, both Adam and Elliot got experimental and adventurous, its so exciting I can't wait to share it with you!  Next on the agenda is the editing for the drum and bass over the next 2 days. Stay tuned!

DAY 3 STUDIO
Today we laid the foundation for the new album with drums and bass. Master percussionist Elliot Polsky pulled out all the stops and breathed life into this new creation. He was absolutely superb and it was a gift to watch such a great musician up close and personal wow! Adam was equally magnificent with his tasty and sexy bass grooves lighting up for in the pocket Polsky. We are ahead of schedule and recorded 6 songs today leaving 4 for tomorrow!
We started things off with the track How Would We know the happiest and most upbeat of the tunes and Elliot ska funkified it so schmokin the toms are a standout! Lightening Strikes Twice is definitely cousin to 99% and is devilishly soulified. Perfect Love Affair's rhythm is totally immoral and alluring I know people will be tantalized. Dizzy is spectacular and will hypnotize listeners for sure and Fire Flames with a slightly latin slippery snake with a nod to the bossa nova . No more is electrified in a full on funkified blues and Elliot used his secret weapon for the amazing effect. I only wish you could hear the process of how the songs are coming alive....what a fantastic day!

 Adam multitasking, engineering, producing and funking out on the bass.

Elliot 

Elliot's secret weapon, I'll say no more.

Eliot brought down the house well at least the percussion  instruments toppled to the floor during his BIG grooves....awesome session!

Day 2 Studio
Yesterday Adam and I were in the studio to lay down the scratch tracks for each song. Scratch tracks are a ghost form to give the song shape for the drummer and bassist. Basically my vocals and guitar are recorded with a click track and various drum samples. This gives us and the drummer a sense of direction and the feel we'd like him to experiment and develop as he lays the foundation. Scratch tracks help me and the musicians get in sync and in time as well helps me focus my vocal phrasing and meter. To prepare for our time I sat down a few weeks ago and picked out some tempos and click tracks on Alice's roland and gave Adam the bpm's (beats per measure) to speed the process. We ended up changing the tempo or bpm's only for a couple of songs, one a little faster and the other a tad slower.
Adam suggested adding a solo section for a slide guitar in the song take the sleek train and that will be great. Adam also thought my guitar lick on the song Today was reminiscent of a late Nick Drake tune and he played it for me. I haven't discovered this 70s singer songwriter and really liked what I heard. I could hear the similarity for sure though Nick's is far more intricate than my little hook. Adam thinks at this point the song How Would We Know is the most radio friendly  and will be interesting to see if it remains so at the end of the project. The title track is more flushed out now too. Adam had suggested reintroducing the intro to the song in the middle but instead I did 2 variations of the melody with the intro lyric and we both feel the song flows and is complete now. We still may add the intro though depends on how the production evolves. The song Lightening Strikes Twice is going to be a bluesy edgy song and will be cousin to 99%. I had a hard time keeping my groovey little blues lick solid in the verse and glad I can focus just on guitar when we record rather than voice and guitar. I think this one will be electric guitar rather than acoustic as well. Our session was about 3 hours and a very windy day outside. I had wondered if he might have a power outage as his studio backs into a luscious forest. The blue sky was a lovely backdrop with the fresh new green leaves swaying in the blustery air. Now back to practicing :).
Drum and percussion record next weekend!