The Song Fight Bulletin Board

So I found a cassette tape (Artie Shaw's Big Band Hits) in a parking garage a few days ago. I was like, showing it to people going, "look, a tape!" all the while thinking about how I haven't even owned a tape player for like, a dozen years. But I've been hearing about how they're cool again and seeing these new tape-only imprints black metal blah blah blah --

Then suddenly... I remembered the four-track.

I acquired a four-track long ago in some trade, remembered it a few years later, powered it on, and proceeded to sell it on Craigslist for $40. And the guy called me back and was like this shit four track doesn't work, I want my money back. I was like, okay -- gave him his cash back and popped the four track in a box in the garage. Where it has sat for like six or seven years.

So I find the box and pop it open to see what's wrong with the four track. A corner of the circuit board is broken off, dozens of corner routed traces broken clean off. It was a dual sided solder masked board and I was like, pffbt, not worth fixing. So I unceremoniously dumped it in the ewaste box with the dead batteries and stuff.

Then I thought... wait. I make crap music with home made analog synthesizers. If I'm going to be making retro music with retro gear, shouldn't I be recording this LIVE TO TAPE? I'm gonna fix that stupid four track, do minimal wave thing and record live to tape right over Artie Shaw's magnetized plastic corpse like I was living in 1983.

So I fixed the four track, and that's what I'm with this week.

vote.






-Mike Lamb

thehipcola wrote:Word is, Gert is.

Yea, but up here we just call them "Girlfriends."

Jim of Seattle wrote:My favorite Canada joke:

How do Canadians spell Canada?
C, eh? N, eh? D, eh?

Naw, that's how EVERYONE spells Canada. The joke is: C, eh? A, eh? N, eh? A, eh? And so forth.

I'm in

I'm in.

Yes gert is pleased. That lady from Whistler drinking Ceasars or was it beer and whiskey at the cottage. Either way such a Rush!

reve wrote:So I found a cassette tape (Artie Shaw's Big Band Hits) in a parking garage a few days ago. I was like, showing it to people going, "look, a tape!" all the while thinking about how I haven't even owned a tape player for like, a dozen years. But I've been hearing about how they're cool again and seeing these new tape-only imprints black metal blah blah blah --

Then suddenly... I remembered the four-track.

I acquired a four-track long ago in some trade, remembered it a few years later, powered it on, and proceeded to sell it on Craigslist for $40. And the guy called me back and was like this shit four track doesn't work, I want my money back. I was like, okay -- gave him his cash back and popped the four track in a box in the garage. Where it has sat for like six or seven years.

So I find the box and pop it open to see what's wrong with the four track. A corner of the circuit board is broken off, dozens of corner routed traces broken clean off. It was a dual sided solder masked board and I was like, pffbt, not worth fixing. So I unceremoniously dumped it in the ewaste box with the dead batteries and stuff.

Then I thought... wait. I make crap music with home made analog synthesizers. If I'm going to be making retro music with retro gear, shouldn't I be recording this LIVE TO TAPE? I'm gonna fix that stupid four track, do minimal wave thing and record live to tape right over Artie Shaw's magnetized plastic corpse like I was living in 1983.

So I fixed the four track, and that's what I'm with this week.

That a frickin' awesome story, reve. A lot of us older song Edisons have fond memories of our one percent inspiration, ninety-nine percent perspiration 4 track endeavors. So I look forward to yours. Kudos!

My favourite thing about 4 tracks was how freaking noisy they were, but you kind of lived with it cuz that's all there was available. I've recorded whole records on 4 tracks. Gawd I'm dating myself.

tonetripper wrote:Gawd I'm dating myself.

Is that a euphemism for masturbating?

Ya cept I'm rubbing dates all over my body whilst thinking of you in that fur coat.

Excellent, the Canadian super group fell for the Canadian title bait. Mua ha ha ha ha!

Good to hear you guys are back for a song, can't wait to hear it!

Smalltown Mike wrote:

tonetripper wrote:Gawd I'm dating myself.

Is that a euphemism for masturbating?

Win!

Two days ago, I finished transferring my 4 track stuff to MP3. 1722 'items'. A few good ones, too. I did not enter this week, but had to pipe in with that fascinating nugget. But I'm watching you, Ross. Oh yes. Don't get too cozy.

Glad to see Gert around, too. Yay Canadia!

I just sent in my first collaboration submission - with JoAnn Abbott (lyrics & backing vocals) and Caravan Ray (lead vocals.)

Submitted as Chips, Abbott, & Ray.

I was pretty stoked when Gert contacted me to tell me he had organized the five other gerties to do a songfight. Truth be told, it's difficult to get Gert to do anything unless it's SF related... what can I say, you go with your roots. He mysteriously tempted me with the... slightly coded phrase..."it's time... 2013. The year of the Gert".

I haven't done much recording at all in the past 5 or so years... jamming, gigging, but no recording. I've spent the last few years designing and building my studio on my property... and while I have lots of money to still earn so I can spend it on gear, drywall and other details.. (*lol.. .it never ends does it) at the same time, the "main" room, the tracking room is essentially done, and this is my first recording in the room!! (well, the drum tracks are all I recorded by you get the drift...) if anyone cares to see a photo of the room.. well I tried to attach it but I'm too stupid right now to figure out how to NOT make it take up the whole thread... so I'd be happy to share those if anyone is curious.

So I am very stoked that Gert got me off my ass to set up PC up (it's been so long since I recorded, I'm using the same machine I used the last time I SF'ed... I think that was 2009....) and my mics and gear.. .cause it's super fun to jam with people around the continent and have something come together.

I guess I'll have to find a review method and do the review thing... I hope the songfight experience will be just as much fun as I remember it being!! cheers...

tonetripper wrote:My favourite thing about 4 tracks was how freaking noisy they were, but you kind of lived with it cuz that's all there was available. I've recorded whole records on 4 tracks. Gawd I'm dating myself.

I just discovered that cassette tape cases, swiveled backward all the way, make excellent smartphone stands. Cassette (cases) will never die!!

You know how in Argo Ben makes us feel like a Canadian Girlfriend? Despite the mis-translation (for entertainment purposes) gert is still pleased!

kaz wrote:

chocolatechips wrote:working on a tune with lyrics from JoAnn Abbott. Looking for another collaborator to do the lead vocal. Dudes apply here (i posted in the collab area too with slightly more details)

Gah, wish I'd have seen this 3 days ago. If there's a next time, let me know.

Definitely! I think the main way I'd like to collaborate with people is to have other folks (ladies & gents) sing on my tracks ... so if there's any people here that like to sing but don't necessarily always want to write a song & record an instrumental ... they would be the perfect collaborator for me. I guess the key for me with these collab possibilities is that I really want to write the melody (but not necessarily the lyrics) as that's the bit that I'm most interested in working on (and I guess my real interest is in hearing other singers sing my melody)

Lawks a Lordy!!! Look what has emerged from the frozen North!!! GERT!!!!

As a member of Gert Boltophs been given an honorary dual citizenship although Boston can get crazier winter wise than where I live. Geez I remember two years ago that east coast got nailed w four feet of snow.

Jim of Seattle wrote: I just discovered that cassette tape cases, swiveled backward all the way, make excellent smartphone stands. Cassette (cases) will never die!!

That is cool. I should go out to my studio and raid the three thousand cassettes I have in boxes and put them in different areas just so I don't have to lift up my phone to check on updates. Heh. That is a cool ting. Fish glue unfortunately does deteriorate which is why cassette tapes were a lousy medium.

I'm waiting for the next era of vintage recording. Cutting vinyl live. That's freaking cool!

hello. tis me again. I sent mine in earlier today. then tried again. I did not ever receive a confirmation mail and checked my spam folders. did I get mine in? I tried again a third time and do not want to mail yet again and thusly be Annoying. It's not really that big a deal, because I sent it about five minutes before the deadline, but Officially, my computer may have been stupid and made the first one go out a few minutes late. not sure. i sent it right on the dot so the spinny wheel made it woosh out about five minutes shy. i'm a pain.