recordings
Schlarb Family Plays Steely Dan (Xmas 2011)
To make a long story short, we were supposed to do this last year. I got sick and spent some time in the hospital and it never came together. Thankfully, 2011 has been better in every imaginable way and I set a date to start recording the weekend after Thanksgiving. Danny Miller and Tabor Allen came over and we knocked out the rhythm tracks and a large pizza. Over the next few days, we all recorded our vocal parts, Andrew laid down some percussion, Naima designed the cover art, Elisha drew a family portrait, and I set about mixing and finishing up.
This is the third album we have done for Christmas and although these aren’t holiday songs, the important thing is that we all worked, laughed, and spent time together. It was a great joy to share my “work” with my family. A simple thing like listening back to multi-tracked vocals or harmonies sent my kids (and Adriana) into flights of euphoric disbelief. It’s easy to forget that what we can do with sound is a form of magic.
Everyone picked their own song to sing and I love that you can hear a little bit of each family member’s personality in their vocal delivery. These were not easy tunes to learn and it was fun to approach the music of Steely Dan with a kind of slap-dash perfectionism; we knocked out “Do It Again” in one take but I worked for hours (and 20+ takes) to record “Gaucho” all the way through. Did I mention that “Gaucho” was six pages of difficult sheet music with chord voicings written on piano? Hello Ab add2 with a Bb bass…
Anyhow, thanks so much for listening and Merry Christmas!
01. Do It Again [mp3]
02. Peg [mp3]
03. Reeling In The Years [mp3]
04. Gaucho [mp3]
Download high quality mp3s in a .zip file here! Artwork included.
CREDITS
All songs written by Walter Becker and Donald Fagen
Naima Schlarb- vocals on “Do It Again”
Elisha Schlarb- vocals “Peg”
Adriana Schlarb- vocals on “Reeling In The Years”
Chris Schlarb- acoustic and electric guitars, melodica, electric bass on “Do It Again”, vocals on “Gaucho”
with:
Tabor Allen- drums on “Do It Again”, “Peg”, and “Reeling In The Years”
Danny Miller- electric bass on “Peg” and “Reeling In The Years”, acoustic guitar on “Do It Again”
Andrew Pompey- percussion on “Do It Again” and “Peg”
Cover art by Naima Schlarb, family portrait by Elisha Schlarb
Produced, Arranged and Recorded by Chris Schlarb
Recorded from November 26th through December 16th in the room next to the kitchen
Collecting Spirits
In mid-July 2011, I started producing a new album for prolific singer/songwriter/composer Paulie Pesh. We spent the first four days tracking inside of Downey First Presbyterian. The 84-year-old sanctuary, with its vaulted ceilings, and sun-filled, stained glass windows was perfect for tracking rhythm section, strings, and brass. The environment, the music, and the people involved have made for an unforgettable experience. In the above photo, I am using an AKG D112 on the cello, a pair of AKG 451 EB’s in an XY pattern to capture the viola and violin, and a Sennheiser 421 on the flute running into the Allen & Heath Zed R-16. Many thanks to my assistant engineers, Jet Elfman and Jason Chavez.
Fallin’ Ditch
On December 17th, 2010, Don Van Vliet, better known as Captain Beefheart, passed away due to complications from multiple sclerosis. In 1969 he released the song “Fallin’ Ditch” on the album Trout Mask Replica. In 1996 he released this powerful reading of the song’s lyrics. Listening to this new version while thinking of his passing, I felt as though I understood the song for the first time.
Fallin’ Ditch
When I get lonesome the wind begin t’ moan?
When I trip fallin’ ditch?
Somebody wanna’ throw the dirt right down?
When I feel like dyin’ the sun come out?
’n stole m’ fear ‘n gone
Who’s afraid of the spirit with the bluesferbones?
Who’s afraid of the fallin’ ditch
Fallin’ ditch ain’t gonna get my bones
How’s that for the spirit
How’s that for the things?
Ain’t my fault the thing’s gone wrong?
‘n when I’m smilin’ my face wrinkles up real warm
’n when um frownin’ things just turn t’ stone?
Fallin’ ditch ain’t gonna get my bones
’n when I get lonesome the wind begin t’ moan
Fallin’ ditch ain’t gonna get my bones
Download it here. Rest in peace Captain.
Electric Guitar Pedal Board
I try to keep it simple. In fact, for most of the last 10 years, my use of effects pedals has been downright spartan. At this point, I think I have finally put the right combination of sounds together. The only difference with this photo and my actual performance set up is that the BOSS RC-50 Loop Station is placed to the left of the pedal board and not on top of it.
From left to right (beginning at the top):
BOSS RC-50 Loop Station: I just replaced my Digitech JamMan with the RC-50. I used the JamMan for every live performance and recording session over the last few years and it never failed me. My only frustration was the last of control over the loops and the large amount of noise produced by the unit when attempting to record direct. So far the RC-50 has been amazing. Three stereo loops, each with their own pan, volume and forward/reverse settings.
BOSS RE-20 Roland Space Echo: I imagine this is about as close as I will ever get to a real Space Echo sound. I toyed with the idea of buying a vintage RE-201 but the cost and upkeep are a little prohibitive. Thankfully the RE-20 sounds amazing. I use it mostly on guitar but it is hard to be on a snare drum too.
Electro-Harmonix Stereo Electric Mistress: Believe it or not but this is the only modulation pedal I have ever owned in 15 years of playing guitar. The ability to combine flange and chorus leads to a number of beautiful, shimmering accidents. Play and record in stereo if at all possible.
T-Rex Mudhoney: Unlike modulation pedals, I have owned my fair share of distortion boxes. From the ugly sounds of the BOSS MT-2 Metal Zone to the underwhelming overdrive and fuzz boxes from Electro-Harmonix, I have had a difficult time finding a sound that was right for me. It just so happened that I booked a recording session for I Heart Lung at Matt Wignall‘s Long Beach studio, Tackyland, when I found a Mudhoney pedal among the cables and wires. I plugged it in and ordered my own a few days later.
Ernie Ball VPJR: Volume pedals aren’t very sexy. They rank up there with DI boxes and power supplies as the last thing any musician wants to spend their money on. A volume pedal helps me add texture and thoughtful accompaniment to whatever style of music I am playing. It might be boring but it’s also my secret weapon.
Not Pictured
I still have two pedals that aren’t in this setup. One is the BOSS DD-20 Gigadelay, which I have used extensively for many years now. The other is a Digitech Synth Wah which is a decent/weird envelope filter. Depending on the setting, I’ll swap out the DD-20 for the RE-20 and if I’m feeling adventurous, I’ll plug the synth wah.
LINKS
Schlarb Family White Christmas Album 2009
The response to last year’s Schlarb Family Christmas Album was so enthusiastic that we couldn’t wait to get another one out in time for this Christmas. Things got started in October when kids really dug into a few Paul McCartney tunes on The White Album. Soon, Elisha knew the melody and lyrics to “Rocky Raccoon” by heart and Naima was whistling “I Will” throughout the house. Adriana loved “Mother Nature’s Son” and I was stuck picking a tune that would compliment the other three songs. I went so far as to start recording a solo electric guitar demo of “Long, Long, Long” but I chose “Dear Prudence” instead.
We pulled in a few ringers this year and are very happy to have family friend Tabor Allen playing drums on two songs. One of those songs, “Rocky Raccoon”, also happens to feature the talents of Andrew Durkin of Industrial Jazz Group on piano. Lastly, we present the recording debut of Amparo Lomas (Adriana’s mother) on vocals. Although not “Christmas songs”, the real gift was making music together with family and friends.
We recorded and rehearsed everything in about two weeks. Naima knew from the beginning she wanted to whistle “I Will” and she knocked it out in two takes. Elisha IS “Rocky Raccoon” and my wife Adriana, our mom Amparo and I recorded “Mother Nature’s Son” in two takes with a stereo mic set up, just the three of us playing and singing in a room. Just for the record, that’s me hitting the high notes on “Dear Prudence”. Merry Christmas!
01. I Will [mp3]
02. Mother Nature’s Son [mp3]
03. Rocky Raccoon [mp3]
04. Dear Prudence [mp3]
Download high quality mp3s in a .zip file here!
CREDITS
Naima Schlarb- whistling on “I Will” and co-lead vocals on “Dear Prudence”
Elisha Schlarb- lead vocals and harmonica on “Rocky Raccoon” and co-lead vocals on “Dear Prudence”
Adriana Schlarb- vocals on “Mother Nature’s Son” and backing vocals on “Dear Prudence”, handclaps on “Rocky Raccoon”
Chris Schlarb- acoustic and electric guitars, vocals on “Mother Nature’s Son”, backing vocals, drums, jingle bells and bass on “Dear Prudence”, handclaps on “Rocky Raccoon”
with:
Tabor Allen- drums on “I Will” and “Rocky Raccoon”
Andrew Durkin- piano on “Rocky Raccoon”
Amparo Lomas- vocals on “Mother Nature’s Son” and handclaps on “Rocky Raccoon”
Produced, Arranged and Recorded by Chris Schlarb
Recorded from November 21st through December 6th in the Red Room (next to the kitchen)