Wednesday, April 30, 2008

Writing With Sue

I've been writing songs for 35 years, but co-writing for around six months. It is a new experience for me, and I'm loving it!! Last Friday and Saturday I had the opportunity to write with Sue Smith, a very established and successful song writer. Friday we worked on a song that I had completely written, but felt needed a new chorus and some touch-ups. We struggled and came up with some new stuff, but I'm not sure either of us think it is where it needs to be yet. Work in progress.

We were scheduled to write again on Saturday morning before Sue taught a conference here in town. The pressure was on. All during my morning bible study I kept praying, "God, give me an idea we can work on today." I felt I needed to bring something especially good to the table (we songwriters are an insecure lot.) The fact that Sue had won a Dove award a few days before, didn't add to the pressure. Oh, no. I did come up with a couple of concepts, probably too big for a 3 minute song, but worth a try someday. Then, while driving I had a catchy title pop in my head. When we got back to my writing/piano room, I shared all my ideas, saving that one for last. When I mentioned the title, she nodded her head and said, "we can write that!" About 90 minutes later we had a complete lyric. Now I need to go back and work on the music.

Did we write a hit? Who knows, but I think it will be cuttable. Whatever the final destination, I enjoyed the journey.

Tuesday, April 29, 2008

Grazing

A buddy of mine came over to help me spray my yard for weeds. He brought his tractor with 100 gallon sprayer attachment, maybe a bit much for my acre and a half, but the manly factor is thru the roof!!

He used a product called Pasture something. I read the label and was amazed to discover all the weeds this one treatment would eliminate.

I also discovered that it is safe for me to graze in my backyard the same day we sprayed.

Even if I'm lactating.

Monday, April 28, 2008

On Again, Off Again, On...

Hey everybody,

After a two week hiatus, I'm back. Believe me, those two weeks have been jam packed finishing up our new CD!! I'll back track and give you more details in coming days but in summary, I (most of these include Pam)...

- rushed home to sing a concert
- recorded my twelve year old daughter's lead vocal at a friend's studio.
- had a "creative meeting" with our photographer.
- went back to the studio to finish up "comping" the local vocal.
- Spent several hours standing in the middle of a downtown Kansas City street having my picture taken.
- reviewed mixes of 7 songs for the new CD
- reviewed hundreds of pictures of Pam and me standing in the middle of the street.
- wrote two songs with Sue Smith, founder of Write About Jesus.
- worked the "Snack Stroll" at my youngest daughter's school carnival.

There's bunch more, but I'm tired. Good night.

Friday, April 11, 2008

Wrapping up

We are coming to the end of a very long and very fun week in the studio. As I type, Kevin is in the vocal booth adding about the fiftieth part of background vocals to a song. Very talented young man! Actually, I discovered he is about eight months older than me, even though he still looks twelve.

The whole recording process very humbling. Anyone who can listen to themselves sing multiple versions of imperfect lines, and have an ego must be deaf. Yesterday morning my Bible reading included the story of Jesus feeding the five thousand. I could see myself in the bread and fish. What talents I have to offer seem pretty meager (and I think one of those fish is starting to smell a bit). So now I have to trust the hands of engineers, mixers and masterers to make it the best humanly possible. Ultimately, that will still fall short unless Jesus blesses it and uses it to feed the multitude.

Everyday I'm reminded that it's not about me. It's all about Him. AMEN!

Wednesday, April 9, 2008

Studio-speak

Another fun day in the studio yesterday. We are cruising through the vocals and having a blast. Thomas, our engineer, is keeping a file of all our bloopers and funny remarks. We'll have to do something with those on the website sometime, they are hilarious.

When you get a bunch of creative people in one room, strange things are bound to happen. At times we even speak our own language. Here are a couple of examples for your reading pleasure.

INCOMPLETUS GROOVUS INTERRUPTUS - Latin for what happens when a musician stops playing before the section is finished, thus interrupting the groove or feel of the song.

PREMATURE VOCALATION - When a singer starts singing ahead of the actual starting point.

Tuesday, April 8, 2008

Sure Feels Like Tuesday

Everyone is excited to start another day of recording, as you can tell from this energetic picture of our producer, Kevin Stokes. Yesterday was awesome! We recorded a live horn section in the morning and early afternoon, plus some way cool sax solos on a couple of songs.

In the afternoon/evening we started on lead vocals with me cutting three songs. We'll knock out a bunch more today. Sounding good!

Monday, April 7, 2008

Sing, Sing, Sing!

Monday morning and we are about to head back to the studio. Saturday was a loooooong day. The players decided to cut everything in one day instead of coming back for a second, so eleven songs (twelve if you count the two versions we did of one) made for a fourteen hour day. Great stuff!!! We can't wait for the finished product. Yesterday we had a free day to do nothing but rest.

Today we will be cutting overdubs with a horn section and starting vocals. Time to sing pretty.

Friday, April 4, 2008

We're Off To See The Wizard...

Here we are at the airport, heading out to North Carolina to record our new CD!! The last couple of weeks have been an emotional roller coaster, which explains why I've been absent from Blogville. There were songs to finish, songs to start (ouch), rough demos to make, and so much more. Besides the huge quantity of work, my mind likes to play tricks on me at times like this. I'll go from "This song is awesome!" to "This song stinks" several times a day and usually on the same song. Maybe my old adversary, the devil, is whispering discouragement one more time.

Right now I can honestly look at the songs we are going to record and say I'm pleased. There are some new, fun sounds for us, and the message is as strong as anything we've ever done. A lot of thought went into planning the message of this CD and I feel this is going to be a tool God can use.

Tomorrow is tracking with some of the best players in the world! Good times.