Ahem. Yes it was Harp Fix-um time on Carls Chair on Monday, with our host, Mr Pete. Hi Mr Pete!
Time to lay down the solo we didn't record on location. How convenient. Heh. That's cheating! I LIKE IT!! Anyone got an auto tuner?? Oh. Pete does....hmmm....
Ok, so despite the temptation, I didn't succumb to perfectionism. Pete is so damn fast on the cueing of the tracks we could have rolled like gattling fire all night. Boy was I tempted. I settled for 4 takes and then moved on to tweaking Cheap Hotel.
Cleaned out two bum notes and moved on to tweaking the solo in Mancow (flattened one note out). We then had a discussion on the merits of Rest My Bones harp Vs guitar tunings. The Harmonica is often tuned to a 'compromise' setting, which mean its not quite the same as the same note played on the guitar. Close but no cigar.
At the beginning of cheap hotel, for example, I am playing a straight chord, but it comes out slightly sharp in comparison to the guitar. Pete actually does have an autotuner thing and nudged the harp chord down by the teeniest fraction. Hurrah!
With things wrapped up reasonably swiftly, I was looking forward to an early night, but Mr Wizard commanded that We Shall Not Pass whilst we have studio time to go. Ok. So I guess we do the vocal fixes.
We tried a new take of Cheap Hotel, Hollow Tree and added a single vowel sound to Sunshine in the rain (seriously, how fussy can ya get? Pretty damn fussy).
Hollow Tree is kind of tough because you have to give it a good solid start, and feeling a bit throaty, Dr Pete offered his Patented Cure All Solution (neat bourbon) which nearly killed me. Between the gurning, strangled phlegmatic donald duck noises I was making and various arm movements, the boys nearly fell over laughing. Indeed, from an outsiders perspective, it would have been amusing.
As for me, it felt like I'd swallowed gasoline. Nonetheless, it did the trick. Half lit from the shot, with a strange warm happy sensation and a slightly numb mouth, I got on with the job and we finished up in good order.
As a result, we're now one session ahead of schedule, although I have reserved the right to freak out and change my mind.
Thanks to GC for loaning us the same mikes we used on location to keep the sound consistent!
Next on the block is Rosie for Solos and Rhythm Guitar tweaks, then Jo's coming down from Cumnock to sing some harmonies along with the boys. After that we'll be into Mixing!