Just got back from a recording session with Jeff.  And, as the title implies, I’m quite spent.  It was a busy day in general, but recording can finish me off.  It was a pretty productive night, though.  Jeff and I managed to touch up Oceans and record Til We Meet Again (piano AND vocals) in about 2 and a half hours.  Not bad, not bad.  We didn’t get to work on Home, but I’m thinking more and more that I’d like to record it live with a djembe (which wouldn’t have happened tonight anyway because my percussion guy is out of town).  But all in all, tonight was good. 

On another positive note, I was able to write some basic string parts for Oceans.  I can’t wait to hear it played by actual musicians and not some cheesy MIDI-strings on the computer.  There are a few more songs to write out and arrange strings for, but one step at a time, one mouthful of elephant at a time…

Goals for the month of October (which is approaching speedily): write out songs; arrange string parts for It Was Me, ‘Til We Meet Again, and….well, if I get that far, that’s GREAT; print out scores and give them to the string players; prep everyone to record sometime in November/December (but hopefully November).

Some pics in the studio (courtesy of Kasey Eckert):

So, if you had been visiting the site at all during the last, ehh…2 weeks, then you would have likely come across the 403 Forbidden screen of Death.  That’s right.  Even Indiana Jones couldn’t penetrate such a fortress as forbidden as that.  But many phone calls to our hosting provider later, and we’re back up and running!

Update on the whole music-recording-thing process: I’m recording with Jeff again on Saturday.  And I’m securing musicians.  And trying to write string parts.  And trying to keep this as simple as possible and yet sound decent.  And trying not to shove the whole stinkin’ elephant in my mouth at once.  Sooooo…this week’s goal: to record the piano parts for Til We Meet Again (I need to re-do that one) and Home.  And also begin working on arranging string parts.

On a more peaceful note, fall is officially upon us.  As hard as that is to believe when you’re in Dallas in 80 degree weather, it’s still a pleasant thought. 

Saturday marked the first recording session since I’ve been back in Dallas.  I’m pleased to say everything went well, and for the time we had, Jeff and I were pretty productive.  We managed to lay down scratch piano tracks for Oceans and Psalm CXXI (121 for all you non-Roman readers…not that I’m Roman, either…).  So, the next step is to go back and finish up the rest of the scratch tracks for the other songs I’d like to record, distribute them to the musicians, then lay down the drums, then I’ll re-record the piano to the drums, then throw in bass, guitar, pads, and garnish it all with some strings.  Oh and vocals.  Yeah.  That’s all.  A trifle really. ;)