understanding "Understanding" ~ June & Jean Millington w the Slammin' Babes
ฝัง
- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 22 ต.ค. 2023
- Looking through files, I discovered something I created in ... 2016. Although, the recording itself was done at IMAWest in Bodega, CA, around 1997/1998. It took at least a year, off and on, to create!
This is actually a short tutorial on the process of recording and mixing. I go through a couple of phases, and the entire finished track (or "Mix") starts at 2:45 (mixed by Jane Clarke, who also mixed "Brick House," for Motown).
At around 00:37 I talk about listening to "relationships." Which you have to hear first! Like, how is the rhythm guitar part blending with the drum part (you can get even more specific, like with the hi hat part), the percussion to the drums - is it adding, or just calling attention to itself?; the bass part, which is the backbone of the entire track, what is it doing?? (in this case, Jean is both playing ferociously and holding the entire creation together); the backing vocals to the lead, and so on ... it's kind of endless, but decisions have to be made, and the track then starts to build itself.
The basic was a recorded rehearsal at IMAWest. We were set up in the "Big Room," which coincidentally was where all the performances were also held, and was where the cows were milked originally at The Old Creamery, the arts "colony" IMA was folded into. A totally magical space!
The recording studio was adjacent, in half of the magnificent (that is, restored and remodeled) room which was originally a walk-in freezer, pre-WWII, where milk was stored and refrigerated. The other half was the kitchen, super-convenient because not only was it beautiful, but everything was right there! So for rehearsals and recording, it was perfect, and the mics and inputs were known and easily available - I asked one of our engineers, Alan, to come and record our loose session, and I'm glad he did, because we managed to catch gold. Everything I said at top was spontaneous ("We're heading towards Oakland!"); I couldn't help it, because it felt so good! And I was, of course, referring to the deep funk which emanated from Oakland and still does - for example, Tower of Power and so many other bands that played in clubs all up and down San Pablo, Shattuck, Ashby and University Avenues, my god what a scene! I spent a lot of time hanging, haunting, and doing gigs in that area starting in the mid-60 because the Svelts did gigs there, too. The after-hour clubs were good to us, because people were ready to dance!
Actually, Jean and I were struggling that day, but we did get this track. In the band were Leo Adamian on drums and also Lyn Vidal, second guitar. Janelle Burdelle came in later and created that great cowbell part in the middle section, and Ms Bobbye Hall joined in on congas on a later date (she had flown up from LA to record with and do some local gigs with us).
I managed to snag those horn parts when Mary Watkins came up to do something in the studio, and just before she walked out I asked her as a favor to throw in some horn parts on synthesizer. I knew she could spontaneously create the perfect horn "stabs," which she sure did! And that provided the perfect ambience (and space) to then create my lead guitar parts.
You can hear the horn parts (and cowbell creation!) starting at about 0:44, and then the lead part filling that sketch in at about 1:42. And if you "know" how to listen, the two guitar rhythm parts (different sounds) I created to delineate Pt 1 from Pt 2 ... also, just before V3 coming out of that, there's an intense "Aaahhh" vocal background part to close out the intensity of that section. I started out the layering of that, then Jean and Lyn joined in maybe a week or two later for added emphasis, and in the mix phase we put in a special reverb chamber and placed it so that you could feel it, but not be too diverted to move on into catching the third Verse!
So much to say about this song and track; one of the things I want to be sure to point out is that this is what I call "Buddhist funk," as the lyrics refer to my getting to Right Understanding, one of the Eightfold Path. And it was Ruth Denison (my root teacher in Vipassana, who is pictured in the caption photo) who unfolded that for me. I will never forget the dawning realization, how it opened up so much space in me, allowing me to view circumstances and situations from so many other points of view. All eight (including Right View, Thought, Speech, Action, Livelihood, Right Effort, Mindfulness, and Concentration) were carefully taught - so many layers! - in afternoon sessions at Ruth's silent meditation retreats up at Damma Dhena, her center in the high desert above and past Joshua Tree. Those were literally mind-blowing sessions for me.
The cover for the album this is on, "Melting Pot," focuses on photos (one in particular) taken up at a petroglyph in New Mexico, which pal Melanie Monsour turned Ann onto. It was a big hike up a mountain (Ann, her sister Katie and Mel went together) and is no longer available to the public. - ภาพยนตร์และแอนิเมชัน
Thanks for sharing
Great video June
June, I love that you are not afraid to "show your work"! 👍❤
(Btw, I view you and Jean in the same glorious light as Nile Rodgers & Bernard Edwards!)
Wow, what great comments. Thank you! (by the way I would recommend getting my latest, "Snapshots" ~ not Jean, but her son Lee on both dr/bass, and he is incredible. I know you'd love it ~ only available at IMA, at www.ima.org/shop/ You oughta know about IMA anyway, if you don’t!:)!). Anyway, glad wrote in, thanks ... xx
I literally don't any income of my own at this juncture in my life, but
I will ask Santa to put it in my stocking!
Yay!!! I'm loving it already ❤🎉🎉
So much greatness...and that bass line: wowza!!
Still:)) xx
Jean is playing some badass bass lines!
One of my favorite songs from Melting Pot, and I love the tutorial that goes along with it. Oakland funk indeed. That bass groove hits the spot and blends perfectly with the guitars, everything fillings its space just right. Well-done June, and thanks for sharing!
You are so welcome, glad you received it in just the right way:)) xx
Funky and I love it! It’s a hit!
Right?? Thanks! xx
I finally invested in a decent pair of headphones, so this couldn't have come at a better time. This was so great June! Thank you & cheers from Canada.
Yay, glad it came to you at just the right time! xx
I’m such a huge Fanny fan love you ladies 😊
You' great as always!
Totally made my day bright and cheery hearing the magnificence of you and Jean groovin’ this magic! So very much appreciate you sharing this Ms. June! 🙏💪🏻🎸🎤🎸🥁🎶🫶🏻Maraming salamat po.
Wala'ng Anuman! Very, very happy you caught it.:)) xx
This is awesome!! I'm a huge fan of Jean's bass playing :)
nice tune, girls.
Wow!
Was listening to Fanny on a walk today after hitting some relationship troubles, and it immediately had me singing. Thanks for the lift.
So welcome!! Glad to be of help:))xx
killer.
What kind of guitar did you use
Several (esp for overdubs), but I think the main one was my Les Paul. xx June