Well, dear readers, I must write these here notes in a hurry and post them early so I can get a lovelier than lovely good night’s sleep. For tomorrow I shall be on my way to the Land of Port to do the JMK event. My flight is at noon and I’m leaving here at ten-fifteen. Before that, I have to get ready and also get to the bank because, of course, the bank wasn’t open yesterday. So, let us not dip our toe in the water, notes-wise, let us dive right in. Has anyone actually ever JUST dipped a toe in the water? I have to think that it would be difficult to dip just one toe in water – several toes yes, but one toe? I guess one could dip a big toe in the water. I must try it sometime. What the HELL am I talking about? Don’t I have notes to write? I do and I shall, not necessarily in that order. Yesterday was a really busy day. I decided to try and get everything done for our next release, in terms of the packaging. I began doing the edit road map at nine and finished it and the track titles (all of which thankfully were on the cue sheet) by eleven-thirty. The road map was pretty easy, but I just did it methodically so that there would be no confusion, even though it should be very simple to assemble. Then I had to hurry to the Hamburger Hamlet to have lunch with a friend I hadn’t seen in about fifteen or sixteen years. It was grand fun to catch up with said friend and now we’ll stay in touch. Since I knew her, she got married, adopted a son, and now works for some congressman in the San Fernando Valley. I had my beloved California Market Salad and garlic toast, and we ordered their intense, huge chocolate cake with fudge and ice cream. I had four small bites, she had likewise, and then boxed up the rest for her son. After that, I went directly to the bank only to find it was a holiday and the bank closed – and that meant no mail either. So, I came home and began writing the liner notes and wouldn’t stop until I finished them, which I did. I then sent them off to the designer. So, I think my work is done and now it’s up to the designer to get it done in time for what I hope will be a Monday announcement. That’s going to depend wholly on whether the mastering guy finishes the full version of the score – I don’t need audio samples from the album presentation, since that’s been out before – I just need audio samples for at least seven tracks by Sunday afternoon. He knows that’s what we’re aiming for and hopefully he can get it done. After that, I packed my suitcase, and then I finally sat on my couch like so much fish.
Last night, I finished watching a motion picture entitled The Bridge On The River Kwai on Blu and Ray. It’s a wonderful motion picture, with a great script and great direction and great performances. They don’t know how to make ’em like that anymore. The transfer, supposedly from the camera negative, has moments of great clarity and beauty, with excellent color. But it has other moments where the image verges on being out of focus. I have no idea if it’s always been like that, but I kind of doubt it. Then again, who knows? In any case, if you’re a fan of the film, I think you’ll be very pleased with the Blu-Ray.
I then did a quick tour of the Blu-Ray of the film whose soundtrack we’re releasing next, just to make sure all the cues were used in the film (they were) and to see how some violin stabs were used in certain cues – while that was created in post production, I made the decision to only replicate one cue’s use of the stabs because it wouldn’t sound good on the other cues – they’re there to punctuate a visual briefly, and without the visual it just sounds weird. I think fans of this film (of which I’m one) are going to be over the moon about this release. For anyone who’s only had the LP or previous CD release it will be a revelation having the other twenty-five minutes of score cues in excellent sound. It’s a weird kind of faux stereo we have to do – the instruments are on three tracks but separated strangely – this was done so that the film’s mixers could have control over those parts of the orchestra. The original album was mixed from the original twenty-four track masters, but there was no way for us to do that. Consequently, while the sound is pristine, all the strings are on the left, while other parts of the band are center and right – when folded in together it makes a pleasing sort of stereo – but very different from the album mix. The film itself was originally released in mono, at least I’m pretty sure that’s the case.
Well, why don’t we all click on the Unseemly Button below because I must get these here notes posted and get my beauty sleep.
Today, I shall be up at eight, I shall shave and shower and make myself presentable, then I’ll get over to the bank to get a little cash and to make a deposit. Then my ride comes at ten-fifteen and I’ll hopefully be to the airport by 10:45. So, send your most excellent vibes and xylophones for a safe, secure and on-time flight to the Land of Port. Once I arrive, JMK will pick me up, I’ll check into my hotel, and then hopefully we can go play at a bookstore or two, and rehearse the two songs I’ll apparently be singing. Then there’s some sort of haineshisway.com get-together in the evening, which, of course, I’m very much looking forward to.
Saturday, not sure what’s happening during the day, but the evening will be the event, which will hopefully be followed by some kind of supper with folks. Then I shall be on my way back home on Sunday morning, so send most excellent vibes and xylophones for a safe, secure, and on-time flight home. Once home, I’m sure I’ll have to get everything ready for our announcement, plus Xerox music and make CDRs for singers to pick up on Monday.
Well, dear readers, I must take the day, I must do the things I do, I must, for example, get up, I must get ready, I must get to the bank, I must go to the airport, I must fly to the Land of Port, I must be whisked to my hotel, I must visit a bookstore or three, I must rehearse a couple of songs, and I must attend a get-together. Today’s topic of discussion: It’s Friday – what is currently in your CD player and your DVD/video player? I’ll start – Blu and Ray, Miyazaki’s Naussica. CD, many upcoming Kritzerland projects. Your turn. Let’s have loads of lovely postings, shall we, and don’t forget those excellent vibes and xylophones for a safe, secure, and on-time flight to the Land of Port.