– News –

It has finally happened. Chaise Lounge has taken a giant leap ( well not so giant for us- we already live in 1962) into the past and put out Insomnia on vinyl!

It is just as exciting as I thought it would be having boxes and boxes of heavy records— yes records!– shipped here.  One of my first stops with the record was to deliver one to Greg Lukens, one of our mastering engineers along with Bill Wolf.  During all the oohs and ahhs of our conversation I asked Greg the dumb question that everyone asks about vinyl vs. Cds.  Why do they sound so different?  Notice that I didn’t say “better”.  They are just decidedly “different”.  Here is what I came out with:  CDs have true stereo.  The right and left channels are completely discrete. With vinyl there is no true stereo on a stereo record.  The left channel is actually cut with the lathe as “left minus right”  and the right channel is cut as “left plus right”.  If you take the old panning knob on your antique stereo amplifier and turn it all the way to the right or left you will hear that there is still a weird ghost of the other channel playing, no matter how completely you try and hear only one side.  This is what that “different” sound is all about.  You feel like you are listening more into the center of the sound. Does that make sense?  There is a heavy nuclear mass that feels more solid and more focused. At this point my technical knowledge of this process comes to a grinding halt.  All I know is this is why you need to have old-school dudes in your corner when it comes to submitting a master for vinyl.

I don’t think we can go back now.  All our CDs from now on will have a vinyl companion release. 

Had a great session with Marilyn last night.  For those looking ahead… past the brand new Insomnia CD.   The next one- whatever it is – is going to be great.

We recorded the vocals to Dot Dot Dot last night and it sounds terrific.

I am curious to know what venues people think we should be looking for in Georgia and South Carolina?   Someday I would like to play The Fox Theater in Atlanta

But that is well beyond us right now.

I admit it freely, I am oriented to a larger city.  Washington DC suits me.  And every time I find myself in a small town or a rural area I suffer from a weird claustrophobia. ( this might be agoraphobia??)  One would think that I would embrace the wide open spaces, but it is just the opposite with me. I fear the wide open spaces and mostly long for the crush of houses, people and stuff that I am used to.   The ride from Milwaukee to Stevens Point was everything I get nervous about… nothing.. Lots and lots of nothing. A three hour drive through nothing. I know that farmers and hunters and outdoorsmen would see it differently.  But to me it is just a vast stretch of vaguely  threatening nothing; a place where, if your car broke down you could hope for….nothing.  But on we pressed until we came to the near- nothingness of Plover, Wisconsin, where our hotel was. Luckily the hard part of our trip was over and the delightful part ahead.

     The concert was a gem.  The hospitality shown to us throughout our trip was amazing.  The CWSO played beautifully.  Pat Miles, the maestro, was a solid rock of a conductor, melding the loose ends of a jazz band with the strictures of an orchestra seamlessly. The audience was one of the most appreciative we have ever had.  The after-party on Sunday was a warm embrace of food and bright conversation.  Now that I know what lies just beyond the nothingness between Milwaukee’s General Mitchell Airport and Stevens Point- I can hardly wait to go back. 

Yes that is the correct spelling.  I just finished writing a song about Mathew Brady.  Ask you…. is this a rational way for me to spend what precious time I have left on this mortal coil?

Well, we will see.  It is def not a Chaise Lounge song.  It might be good for The Fablers?  That will all depend on Marilyn. It is a song that will have a niche audience: Civil War photography buffs.

Maybe this is how I will write songs from now on… with a niche audience in mind?   Say…. citrus growers. Or maybe bookbinders.

Chaise Lounge is off to Wisconsin today.  Should be a great trip.  The Central Wisconsin Symphony Orchestra is a good orchestra and Maestro Pat Miles is an excellent conductor.  And there is fried cheese curd!

I have been working on film score for Les Francis for a film about Washington insider Harry McPherson.  It will be a 1hour show for PBS.

Unfortunately I heard this morning that Harry suffered a tragic fall and is in the hospital.  I hope he gets out in time to see the film.  The Film  is an amazing look inside the LBJ administration.

The Germano’s show on Tuesday was really fun.  I just looked at the videos we took and I am struck by how naturally Marilyn swings. 

It is just an amazing, and particularly American trait that she comes by naturally.   Can I just say that Germano’s would benefit from just a “little” stage….

Just a 4 inch stage would make a world of difference.   Also, it is worth noting that Valentine’s day…. or St. Valentines Day ( as I usually call it) is a supremely weird night to play.

At least half the audience was there as sort of a pre-game warm-up for the “actual” Valentine’s Day event. ( sex) . There were quite a few couples who left before the show was over… but had quirky somehow complicit smiles on their faces as they left.  I felt like we had done our jobs in making their lives just a little more complete for at least that one night.