Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

I managed to convert a tape of two songs that I wrote and recorded in 1980 to mp3's. I discovered an old cassette tape (that unfortunately is a bit worn in spots) that I had presumed to be lost. It is the only record I have of producing these two works.

Much of my catalogue of material from that time period was lost as a result of the recording studio going into bankruptcy.

The musicians on these two songs consists of myself and my two former Pegasus band members, and suffice it to say the material is not at all like anything that Pegasus played when we were together.

I wrote these songs and we got together in the studio to record them as a tribute to John Lennon very shortly after he died. It was also a bit of a nod to the Beatles.

This is the first of those songs. Its called "Dear John". It is very representative of the music that I was playing for some time in the early 60's. I hope you like it.

If there is sufficient interest generated by "Dear John" from forumites to hear the other song, then I shall proceed to post a song called "Photographs" in this thread.

(BTW my bass player is playing a 4001 and the 12 string is a 360.)

http://s11.yousendit.com/d.aspx?id=0S95E62ABDI6Y05PRWY8AJMJ7G

I'll say it again, Brian..... "Dear John" is just fantastic - I love it!! Great stuff!!

Thanks for sharing this. Nice tribute! Please do make "Photographs" available to download also.

Very nice. Great sound. I was in Grade 10 when I heard the news, I think the afternoon of the next day. Brings me back 25 years.

Since many of you freely share your Rickenbacker expertise and your good cheer I though perhaps I should share the only thing I really have that may be of interest, some of my music.

Thank you for being so kind.

Darn, Brian, I wish I could hear it! The sound system on my PC works only intermittently, and today seems to be one of the days it's fizzled out, again..... I will have to go and use hubby's PC when he's taking a break! Looking forward to hearing it....

So Brian, who is one of your influences? Just kidding.

You have capturee the essence of John Lennon with regard to his vocals, his musical composition and his comment on life. I love the chord formations and the falsetto. A fine tribute. Very well done.

I felt like I was in 1965 while listening to this recording. Thanks for sharing it Brian.

Thanks Peter,

I was then and still am a big fan of the works of the Beatles. Their music was so polished and ahead of it's time.

Here is "Photographs" This was to be the "B" side of the intended release. Unfortunately or fortunately, however one views life in the rear view mirror, circumstances beyond our control stopped the release in it's tracks.

This is a little different view of Lennon through my eyes. The reference to books of course is his written works, "In His Own Write" and "A Spaniard in the Works". Everything else is pretty well self explanatory when taken in context.

The tape of Photographs suffered a little more in the quality department. I intend to do some restoration in my studio when I get some free time. Both of these songs have been untouched and are exactly as I found them.

http://s32.yousendit.com/d.aspx?id=1R5J1MZI3QZH33VONQ94O926AY

I should perhaps mention that the bed tracks (with the exception of the vocals and the lead guitar) were taped live from mikes set up in the studio. The engineer was asked to help me achieve a live vintage feel so the only separation was a set of baffles for our drummer.

So Peter that's probably why it sounds like a song recorded in the 60's.

Very cool, Brian, thanks for sharing them. I was 11 when they were on Sullivan, 28 when Lennon was killed. Your arrangements are terrific, and the words and references are very clever. It brings back some of those feelings of both Feb. 1964 and, sadly, Dec. 1980.

Thanks again for sharing. Sound-wise, they're in pretty good shape for 25-year-old cassette tapes. It would be interesting to hear them again after you've done the restoration work.

Thanks Jerry and everyone else who has taken the time to listen and comment. Jerry, after I have done the restoration work I'll send you a copy so you can hear the finished product.

Very nice Brian, brings back lots of memories/associations... thank you a lot (is this you on lead vocals?)
(BTW if you like instrumentals with flute i may come up with something that might be of interest for you).

Thanks Sheena,

Yes that's me on vocals as well. I was a bit tired that night.

I wrote those songs the day after John died. Then I worked like a madman to finalize the arrangements, wrote the chord charts and got us into a studio and recorded the songs two days later. My old band mates from Pegasus were great at ad-libbing new material so that part was not too much of a challenge.

We could only get into the studio after 10:00PM. So, after studio setup and sound checks(about 1.5 hours) I believe we laid down four or five takes of the bed tracks.

The vocals and the overdubs were done in the wee hours of the morning. I had had about two hours of sleep and then I went to my real job.

I love flute BTW.

Geez Brian... you sound great. All sincere, where true feeling shows, moves my heart, and it's great to hear your voice. And the conditions were almost 'impossible', it reminded me of how my own record was made (just include four or five drunk people, uh, guess i'm moving too far off the main topic).
Here's a bit of "fluting" just for you (a good friend of mine plays in this band BTW, guitar not flute):
http://s56.yousendit.com/d.aspx?id=0ORT0ZWZOFXHY2TZD7ETPBDP5P

Thanks for sending that along Sheena. The flautist sounds a little tentative. Breath control is everything when you play a flute.