Well, dear readers, I must write these here notes in a hurry for she of the Evil Eye will be here all too soon. Happily, we finished mixing the third of the STAGE benefit CDs – the Andrew Lloyd Webber show. As I wrote last night, this one was a real ordeal. No need to reiterate what I wrote, other than to say act two was a little easier than act one. Sadly, one decent number can’t be used because the singer’s mic malfunctioned the entire number – a loud crackle and buzz so that’s gone. And by the time the band began the Sunset Blvd. section it was like they all just gave up and decided to play whatever notes came into their head at any given moment. It’s too bad – the nice fellow who originated the role sang it well, but there’s no way to use it because there’s no way to mix it without it sounding like a Warner Bros. cartoon. Any chance it had was completely undone by the recordist’s inane decision to record the violin and viola or cello (it’s impossible to tell what they really are) using a pickup – there is no real sound coming off the string instruments – they sound like cats being strangled, or, in the case of this album, Cats being strangled. But we’ve managed to make most of it sound okay and I think people will understand. The performances are very good. We’ll probably lose about four or five numbers, but this was a VERY long show, a little over three hours, so there’ll still be plenty of stuff. My big suggestion is to switch out the openings of act one and two, since the act two opening segment, several songs from JC Superstar, sounds better and one wants to lead with the best foot forward. Then the original act one opener, several songs from Joseph, can open CD II. I think that will help a lot, and then with some other judicious moves I think it will play fairly well. Funnily, the two comedy numbers, one from Mary Jo Catlett, and one from Carole Cook, play great, so that’s good. I’m glad to be done with this one, and I’m sure the director’s notes will only be about cuts to make – there’s certainly nothing to be done about the mix.
Prior to that, I had a busy little day. I got up, the errant and truant helper came by and organized everything that had come in since she left, and then she got everything shipped out. I did some errands and whatnot, picked up some packages and an important envelope, did some banking, then came home. The husband and wife book dealers arrived an hour late, but we still managed to have a faboo dinner at Casa Vega (it really is the best Mexican food in LA), and then they looked through the garage books for about an hour, then we made our deal and that was that. It was good for all of us, and I now have seventy or eighty less books out there and more room to store things after we do a little reorganizing.
After that, it was on to the mix, then home. Well, why don’t we all click on the Unseemly Button below because I must get some beauty sleep before she of the Evil Eye arrives.
Today, I shall go to storage and get the charts I need for the next Kritzerland show. Then I’ll do some errands and whatnot, put some gas in the motor car, hopefully pick up some packages, then relax until it’s time to meet up with the Geissmans to go see their daughter Greer in her college musical. I’m sure I’ll eat something light but amusing before that.
Tomorrow, I think I can relax till about three, then we have a Melody rehearsal and then we eat, after which I’ll come home and watch a motion picture or three and maybe catch up on last week’s Mad Men episode, as well as write liner notes and get the Lloyd Webber packaging approved and out the door. And also do whatever little fixes we may do the mix because that has to be to the mastering guy Monday morning. I think he’s going to be able to get all three masters to the pressing plant by Wednesday, which would be perfect. No matter what, it’s still going to be very close in terms of meeting the delivery date, but hopefully all will go smoothly.
Well, dear readers, I must take the day, I must do the things I do, I must, for example, go to storage and get charts, put gas in the motor car, do errands and whatnot, relax, and then see a show. Today’s topic of discussion: What are your favorite “live” albums – those that you feel really capture the event and also manage to sound good? Let’s have loads of lovely postings, shall we, whilst I hit the road to dreamland, happy to have finished mixing three STAGE benefit recordings in five days.