Inspired by seeing Willie, Mike went home from the concert and wrote this tune. Friday night Mike played the tune for me and we recorded the acoustic rhythm and vocals. Then Mike said, “hey, it’s just like Good Hearted Woman”. Off to iTunes to find Good Hearted Woman. How many versions of Good Hearted Woman do you […]

To add some more character the vocal track I selected a compressor plug-in that emulates a vintage analog compressor. It adds a little bit of grind or distortion to the signal which has the effect of creating a bit more warmth in the vocal. Compressors bring out more of the sound between the notes as […]

As per my last posting, I was looking for a mandolin to add to the track. My friend Ari was kind enough to lend me his mandolin last Wendesday in prepartion for Thursday’s session. Well, we never did get around to tracking mandolin on Thursday. Instead we replaced the scratch vocal track. Now the acoustic […]

2 AM on Sunday. Can’t resist it. Have to pickup the Daneletro and try a slide track. But which slide to use? What sound? I settle on the brass AcoustaGlide seen in the centre of the picture. This is a tapered brass slide designed by Leo Kottke. The polished finish gives a sound very similar […]

Saturday mornings before things really get going is a good time for me to work on tracks that I can track with headphones only like Bass. This morning I first fixed up the drum loops a bit taking the kick out of the track during the breakdown section. I used some different “real drummer” loops […]

Mike Blair has graciously agreed to allow me to post each phase of the recording process on my blog. The slow evolution of the track will unfold from one posting to the next. This song is a tribute to Mike’s grandfather. The tune take a very traditional 3/2 feel. Mike sat down with an acoustic […]

Long lazy summer days give way to evening thunder showers on the prairies where I live. One such day I laid down this rhythm track with my Telecaster through my Swart AST. The rich tremolo effect on this amp inspired me. I left the track for several weeks while I prepared for another gig. I had […]

I’ve been doing so much tracking for this country project I thought I might break out a little. I found this heavy drum loop and right away knew it would do. I threw down the rhythm guitar track just fooling around. Its not perfect but I liked the intensity of it. Inspired by word that […]

I’ve just finished mixing this song. Mike brought this tune in and I knew it would be fun. This is just a good old twang fest. On this tune the Telecaster through the Swart Atomic Space Tone amp is pitted against a Fralin Blues Special equiped Stratocaster into the Fuchs TDS. The open room sounds […]

Over the last month I’ve been working with Mike Blair on some Country tunes for his band Mike Blair and Rafter B. Check out his website at www.rafterb.net. I’ve enjoyed our initial sessions. Mike has given me the go ahead to share samples of the tunes we record. This first one is Alone Under The Stars. […]