After playing our first real as-a-band gig, we decided that we really needed something to sell at gigs. We didn't see the point in playing gigs if when a fan walked up to talk to us and asked for a recording, we had nothing to give them.
So, while Daniel was away in Europe, Heath and I decided we should demo, then properly record some songs for a CD release. We started with Glory, and eventually recorded and finished a demo of Lucy. I later salvaged a version of Right Again we barely remember recording, and I know we also started drums for City Loop but didn't get any further than hitting things.
We had started quite enthusiastic I think, intending to record a lot of demos, but Bruce (our drummer) quit. I suspect that slowed down the expectations a bit.
We were also trying out a new bass player at the time (Rob). He played on the Lucy demo, but I believe I played on the Glory demo (I can't remember exactly). Right Again had no bass. What was to be the bass line started out as keyboard...
If I was to try to think why we ended up going with Glory and Lucy I'd say that meant one song each (Glory, Heath song, Lucy, Andrew song), and that none of our other songs were really finished enough.
In the end, I'm very happy we did Glory. I still like it. It's the least naff lyrics Heath came up with at the time (themed around William Gibson's Idoru), the bridge is lovely. Heath wrote the entire thing. My only input would be to play the solo on guitar (originally it was made up on keyboard) and the way the chords are strummed.
I'm not so keen on Lucy, a song that is entirely my fault (except the lyrics). I much prefer, and preferred then, the acoustic version I originally came up with. I'd blame me for rocking it up the way it ended up live and on the CD, but I don't remember every really liking it. I suspect I really wanted it to rock, but we were not capable of rocking. We never got it close to what I wanted.
Around May 2001 Heath and I looked around recording studios. I don't remember being very impressed by most of them. We thought our demos sounded better. We were not looking for recording equipment, we were looking for a producer, we just didn't know it. Around the same time we relauched the website, joined APRA, and watched Bruce's new band perform. We also discovered to our horror, despite a lot of online research ensuring it wouldn't happen, that we'd accidentally copied someone's band name. Shame on us. Guess which one of us is still going?
By July we'd decided on Hothouse studios in St. Kilda for our recording. Craig sounded really nice and the deal was good. You got Craig as producer and the use of all his awesome equipment, all on sunny Acland street. Hard to fault.
We had originally intended to record in October but eventually made it to the studio for our two days in December.
I remember nothing but good things about recording. My only frustration I suppose is that the drums did take a while, and that I had to play bass.
Regrets?
I regret not knowing enough about Daniel's bass playing style to think I could replicate it.
I also regret one minor thing about Glory. Shortly after recording I came up with a slightly more interesting guitar part for the chorus. Craig and I talked about it in the studio but I didn't come up with anything thing. You can hear the difference comparing the live version on the single to the studio version.
I vaguely regret Lucy, but we did our best.
The guitar part in the bridge under the xylophone was Craig's idea (he threw a guitar idea into both our EPs, the other being the distorted guitar at the end of Blue Sky). I really wanted to buy an e-bow after that experience, but was horrified to find out they cost hundreds of dollars.
I'd have loved to have recorded more at the time. I wish we'd tried to do three songs, even if we didn't finish one. In the end, it took a lot of time to get the drums right, so we probably wouldn't have had time.
Now, years later, I have a couple of boxes of Glory singles to remind me of the fun I had. Lucky me.
I love recording. I'd love to do it again.
I probably wouldn't print a few hundred copies again.