Pribek

Well, I looked at my watch
I looked at my wrist
Punched myself in the face
With my fist
I took my potatoes
Down to be mashed
Then I made it over
To that million dollar bash

“Million Dollar Bash” by Bob Dylan

A while back, I heard about this memorabilia auction that Christie’s was putting on. This is mind boggling; they got over a million bucks for a drum head. $1,067,346 to be exact. Christie’s says that it is “The world’s most famous drumskin”…

…and, I suppose it is. Still, a million bucks for a drum head! Well, they threw in a copy of the record too.

accompanied by a corresponding copy of the album; and a hand-written letter from Sir Peter Blake, signed, stating This is to confirm that…I have examined the painted drumskin that appears on the L.P. record ‘Sgt. Peppers Lonely Hearts Club’ by The Beatles, and that is the same drumskin, and is the genuine, original one painted by Joe Ephgrave

Tomorrow is the 40th anniversary of the release of the Beatles “Sergeant Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band”. Sgt. Pepper is one of the things in this world that lives up to the hype. It really did change the game.

One of my favorite moments has always been, “Being For The Benefit Of Mr. Kite!” I have heard that John came up with the lyrics after seeing this circus poster.

It’s kind of hard to read here’s the text.

PABLO FANQUE’S CIRCUS ROYAL
TOWN-MEADOWS, ROCHDALE
Grandest Night of the Season!
AND POSITIVELY THE
LAST NIGHT BUT THREE!
BEING FOR THE
BENEFIT OF MR. KITE,
(LATE OF WELLS’S CIRCUS) AND
MR. J. HENDERSON,
THE CELEBRATED SOMERSET THROWER!
WIRE DANCER, VAULTER, RIDER, etc.
On TUESDAY Evening, February 14, 1843.

Mssrs. KITE and HENDERSON, in announcing the following Entertainments ensure the Public that this Night’s Production will be one of the most splendid ever produced in this Town, having been some days in preparation.
Mr. Kite will, for this night only,
introduce the
CELEBRATED
HORSE, ZANTHUS!
Well known to be one of the
best Broke Horses
IN THE WORLD!!!

Mr. HENDERSON will undertake the arduous Task of
THROWING TWENTY-ONE SOMERSETS,
ON THE SOLID GROUND.
Mr. KITE will appear, for the
first time this season,
On The Tight Rope,
When Two Gentlemen Amateurs
of this Town will
perform with him. Mr. HENDERSON will, for the first time
in Rochdale,
introduce his extraordinary
TRAMPOLINE LEAPS
AND
SOMERSETS!
Over Men & Horses, through Hoops,
over Garters and lastly through a
Hogshead of REAL FIRE!
In this branch of the profession Mr. H challenges THE WORLD!
For particulars see Bills of the day.

I think that’s just so cool. Actually, it was pretty cool even before John got ahold of it.

Now, there has been infinite speculation about the pig story. This is from a transcript of a Fox News interview with the hunter Jamison Stone.

JOHN GIBSON, HOST: A “Big Story” exclusive: Did Jamison Stone really kill one of the biggest pigs on the planet? A lot of people writing on the Internet say no. But the 11-year-old boy from Alabama is determined to prove that he did in fact kill this humongous hog earlier this month in Georgia. He says the picture is not a fake and I, for one, believe him.

So, John Gibson is on the record saying the pig is legit. He is the first media type that has not hedged his bets on this story. Does he know something we don’t or, is he following his reporter’s instinct? It’s not the most ringing endorsement because, Gibson has a habit of saying anything that pops into his brain, but it’s a start. I’m rooting for you Jamison.

I am a fan and student of records. The recording process has always fascinated me. When I was a kid, I used to read all of the liner notes when I would listen to an album. I wanted to know who the bass player was. I wanted to know who mixed it. I wanted to know geographically where it was recorded. I would listen to just the right speaker, then replay listening to the left side to hear how things were panned. I still like to spend time just listening, intensely to a great record.

You can take a great song and make a crappy record. Some great records were technically poorly recorded. Guitars can be out of tune, the drummer a little off, but still something grabs you, transcends.

The Beach Boys “Pet Sounds” is one that I have studied a lot. I think in a lot of ways it was a turning point for rock and roll. I think Brian Wilson was consciously and honestly trying to make art. I think he did. He was approaching his work with the attitude of a serious composer. Musically and lyrically “Wouldn’t It Be Nice” is one of those things that is just on its own level. I can feel the air on that record. I have always heard that Brian Wilson was heavily influenced by records that Phil Spector was making at the time.

The rock legend is that The Beatles heard an advance copy and it changed there outlook.Their musical answer to “Pet Sounds” was “Sgt. Peppers Lonely Hearts Club Band”. That’s another great record. These guys were thinking big, sound as cinema. George Martin could understand thinking big. He could thing big and had the wherewithal to act on it.

Both of these albums are like symphonies to me. Both used the studio like an instrument. By that I am not only talking about the ability to multi-track different parts. When you record things like strings and horns you use the actual room as an instrument. The type of mike used and where it is placed affects the mood of the entire recording. How you use the room is the ambiance of a record.

A few years ago, I co-produced the first Bill Dees c.d. “Saturday Night At The Movies”. It is a collection of songs that Bill wrote with and for Roy Orbison. My first task on the project was to immerse myself in this music. It was the first time I had really picked apart these Roy Orbison records. I was listening to “It’s Over” and something dawned on me. I had always heard the Phil Spector to “Pet Sounds” to “Sgt. Pepper” idea, I realized that “It’s Over” was the missing link in that chain. It is a remarkable record. I have randomly picked lyrical phrases out of a hat and every time said, “I wish I could have thought of that”. The chord structure is unlike any other song. The melody is superb. Roy Orbison tears his heart out in front of you. The strings paint pictures and add drama. Fred Foster is a guy that knows how to work a room. That’s using the studio as an instrument.

Later this year the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame will be putting on a week long Master Series event in tribute to Roy Orbison. Fred Foster, Joe Melson and my good friend Bill Dees will be there. They will be doing An Evening with Bill Dees. It is nice to see all these guys being recognized for their contribution to this rich musical legacy. I heard a rumor that the most recorded bass player on earth, Bob Moore, may be there. Hats off from a life-long record geek guys.