haven't I eaten enough crow lately?

          THURSDAY 4/29/2020 10:30 PM--part of me wants to participate in the Marsh's open mic...the easiest way to do that is submit the video for LMYR...the hard way to do that is to combine a "live" vocal and acoustic guitar with a pre-recorded "band" playing behind me...the open mic is next Wednesday...I've got time to think about it...frankly, the reception my vids have gotten are making me wonder why I would do all that work for nothing...
11:50 AM--the recording of CLOWN (acoustic) is done...I'll completely finish it later...
4:36 PM--and other than packaging and loading it into iTunes the Acoustic ClownProject is finished...on to the rockin' version...
6PM--well, it sounds pretty good in the car...a teeny bit muddy, but still listenable to me...the acoustic isn't as "up front" as I woulda liked it to be...the harmonies make up for any sonic flaws IMO...
9:11 PM--actually getting excited about working on the Electric Clown tomorrow...
FRIDAY 5/1/2020 12:27 PM--In no particular order I laid down a scratch vocal, a metronome track and a Bass track which might be a keeper...the keyboard part is kinda easy, but I'm gonna practice some more before I put it down...maybe later today, that would make me very happy...in addition, acoustic Clown (the video) is on you Tube...I have yet to put it on Flakebook, maybe I'll put it on Twitter...
6:05 PM--I THOUGHT I was laying down the keyboard part...I played it, either as practices or attempted takes, probably 25 times, if not more...apparently I forgot to DO something before recording it...I'm seriously thinking about scrapping everything I've tried to do and start over...I'm considering participating in a virtual open mic on Zoom...I think it's this coming Monday...Dan Mack is the host...he used to host the Gumbo Ya Ya open mic...

this time for sure--maybe

     
                TUESDAY 4/28/2020 7:02 PM--it took three tries, maybe four, but (I think) RISING SUN on youTube...just as an experiment I might play the CD thru the 1180 just to hear what that sounds like...it sounded good in the car, but I had to use the "treble booster" EQ preset for iTunes...what do I know? it sounds good to me...
8:47 PM-I caved and put RISING SUN BLUES on Flakebook...I’m not completely sure but I THINK that I’m gonna try EVERYBODY LOVES A CLOWN  next... I just can’t decide how I’m going to arrange it…as a rocker or a slowed down laid back semi-acoustic number...
9:46 PM-the video has been on FB for an hour and there’s been NO reaction at all...the assessment of any art form is subjective...*I* think it’s good, not great or the work of Genius but I would give it a 7 on a scale of Ten...
      It sounds conceited but I think certain people are at least a little impressed but don’t wanna tell me that they are...
WEDNESDAY 4/29/2020 10:13 AM--hoping to go to the Lab in about 15 minutes and work on ELAC...dunno exactly what I'm gonna do...I'll let ya know...I made a tentative list...I guess the first thing I should do is set up the metronome...then I think I'm gonna lay down the acoustic...I'm gonna do the laid back version first...
12:27 PM--and that's what I've done...an hour and a half just to get the metronome and acoustic guitar--for a song that doesn't last five minutes--sheesh...
12:49 PM--I had a project for us to work on--clean up the deck debris...Dianne thinks I might fall off the deck...that's not outta the question, actually...so the Project is on hold...I guess I'll TRY to get a nap and then go back to the Lab...
5:40 PM--not much of a nap, got a lot done in the Lab--two Piano tracks, a percussion track and a Bass track...possibly all "keepers"...no wonder I'm tired, it wasn't easy...I hope to lay down the vocals tomorrow...at least "work" vocals to check the harmonies...
6:13 PM--if I put acoustic CLOWN on FB, my comment might be--"I'm gonna keep doin' 'em anyway..." I'm still obsessing over the lack of responses to my solo recordings...For now, I refuse to believe my FB "friends" think they aren't very good...

one less band to worry about?

           MONDAY 4/27/2020 7:52 AM--I got an e-mail from Butch basically saying "You SAID you wanted nothing to do with the open mic..." I wrote back saying "No, I asked for technical assistance and got none, THEN I figured to hell with it..."
           I'm pretty sure Barnaby wanted me out, and Brian too...What *I* think happened is that STONEY finally let our political differences get in the way...I certainly didn't care that Stoney is a Chumpster--I can't for the Life of me imagine why he would be, but it didn't stop me from playing Music with him...
12:32 PM--I laid down a vocal track and an electric guitar solo...the vocal is likely to be kept...the guitar solo? I dunno for sure...and track 8 is currently empty...might/could do a twin lead thing for the coda...I WANT to do EVERYBODY LOVES A CLOWN next, but I'm wondering if that is aiming higher than I'm capable of...
             Dunno when I'm gonna do the video, maybe tomorrow...I might try to get RISING SUN  mixed/mastered later today--or not...
7:05 PM--I may still be a member of the FHB after all...if they'll have me...no matter what ya top it with, crow still tastes like sh*t...
           I'm hoping to finish RISING SUN tomorrow...by which I mean mix, master, burn a CD and/or feed it into my iTunes Library...as for what's next, I'm not sure...
9:14 PM--listened to Ray and Savannah's sorta live broadcast a little...she is really good IMO...
TUESDAY 4/28/2020--Possibly going to the 1180 Lab in a few minutes...dunno how long I'll be down there...
12:41 PM--YESTERDAY is all finished--I guess...it's on a CD and in the iTunes Library...I seem to be compiling a playlist of my performances, slowly but surely...I may be wrong but shooting the video might be the easiest part of the whole Project...
1:25 PM--tomorrow I'll start thinking about what's next...there’s no need to hurry...

not today/not anymore

FRIDAY 4/24/2020 6:25 PM--I don't see me doing any lab work today...I'm too zonked out on pills; I can barely walk straight...I fell down the stairs and hit my head...and bummed out about being stabbed in the back by my so-called friends...maybe I'll got to the Lab tomorrow...
7:52 PM--I was wonderin when the BR-1180CD was introduced so I would know just how old the technology was that I've been working with...I think it was introduced in about 2002, more or less...eighteen years IS ancient in the tech world...
SATURDAY 4/25/2020 9:45 AM--not one SOB has asked why I wasn't at the virtual open mic last night...as far as I can tell, no one even mentioned my name...THAT really really hurts...seriuosly considering handing in my resignation...
5:45 PM--and so I just did...
6:50 PM--I sent an e-mail to the members of the Full House band...maybe I was too vague or trying too hard to be clever or smarmy or something...fuckit...
8:05 PM--no response from anybody...ok, cool...
10:37 PM--I suspect the FHB is just happy that they didn't have to fire Stoney's "friend"--he (I) quit...
SUNDAY 4/26/2020 10:16 AM--still haven't heard from anybody...oh well...I sent an e-mail to Ray asking him what he would do if this had happened to him...I wouldn't be surprised if he chooses not to respond...he has more important things going on in his Life...
5:25 PM--Ray DID answer the e-mail I sent him...he indicated he would do what I did...spent about an hour or so in the 1180 Lab...I THINK all I've gotta do is put down the lead guitar and lead vocal...Dunno if I'm gonna put it on youTube before I mix/master it or after...to me it feels like six of one, half a dozen of the other...and they'll probably sound the same to ME, be they mixed or not...I'll put the lead guitar on it sometime tomorrow...and then there's the lead vocal...
7:39 PM--Still haven't heard from ANY of the members of the Full House Band...and that's STILL OK by me...
10:19 PM--still nothing...it hurts, but I'll get over it eventually...

but I'm still doing it

          WEDNESDAY 4/22/2020 4:35 PM--well,YESTERDAY is done, finished, etc.--missing gtr. solo notwithstanding...the version released to the public has all the parts but hadn't been mixed/mastered yet...oh well, we learn from our mistakes, right? I started on RISING SUN BLUES... laid down a rhythm guitar part (a keeper) and a lead vocal (MAYBE a keeper) struggled with a Bass part, gave up for the day...
        Thinking of trying CLANCY next--who knows? I'm starting to wonder if  I've been fired from the FHB...right NOW, I don't give a fuck...Have I been that much of a jerk? or hypocrite? or backstabber? *I* don't think so, but I dunno for sure...NONE of the other members of the group have contacted me...*I* contacted Butch, if only once...
9:21 PM--I'm gonna try running the bass thru the ME-70...I think that will make a big difference...at least I sure hope so...
THURSDAY 4/23/2020 9:12 AM--I might not be a member of the Full Hoise Band anymore..at the very least it looks like I'm not involved with the virtual open mic...NOBODY has explained how to be involved in it...that's OK by me, I don't feel like being in the FHB anymore anyway...few awhile I was thinking that maybe I wasn't quite as talented as I thought I might be and the solo thing was beyond my abilities...then I realized that my impatience was the big obstacle...after all, there's no schedule or timetable or deadline, right? I think RISING SUN BLUES is roughly 25% finished...
   I have to fix the Bass part and probably both drum parts before I can add the organ and guitar solo...the computer keyboard is fucked up again...it's always some fucking thing...
5:35 PM--one of the cables I'm using downstairs is cuting in and out; luckily I have another one...with regard to the drum part, I guess Charlie Watts is as fancy as I can get...well, there's a saying--"less is more"... ok, I'll try to cling to that idea...I'll try again tomorrow...
     I still haven't heard from anybody regarding tonight's virtual open mic...okie dokie...I caved in and mentioned the situation to Dianne...typically, her resonse was "well, did you contact THEM?" I DID, once, either to just Butch or possibly the whole band...I ain't gonna beg the bastards to be included in their groovy Club...

FWIW, it's done (sorta)

          MONDAY 4/20/2020 2:30 PM--so at this point, YESTERDAY is done, more or less...thinking of putting it on Flakebook and let the chips fall where they may...
5:30PM--and so I did...I think the FHB is cooking up a project without me...they seem to be up to something...I just dunno what that something is...so, to some degree, I posted my newest youTube video (YESTERDAY) on Flakebook as a way of saying "I can make Music w/o you guys..." Of course I can't (yet) do gigs by myself...and I really don't want to...and I didn't get paid for any of my videos, and I won't, but it's not always about the money...I'm sure some of my Musician "friends" can do what I did--play and sing all the parts--but I haven't seen any of them do it yet...
       6:51 PM--thinking of going to Victor Litz tomorrow to see if I can get a Bass...of course, the Plan is to charge it...I don't have the stimulus check yet...not really happy about THAT...
9:42 PM--with each passing day I'm less sure that I'm even gonna get one...ya can't lose what ya never had...quite surprised I haven't gotten more feedback from YESTERDAY...maybe it's not as cool as I think it is...I suppose it's possible that people are stunned by it...it's equally possible that people think it's terrible...my honest opinion? it ain't bad...maybe, like me, a lot of people are taking a break from Flakebook...
10 PM--I think I'm gonna do RISING SUN BLUES the same way I did YESTERDAY...that is, play all the parts...I don't hear any three part harmony happening on it, but who knows? Brainstorm--save it for the last verse...
TUESDAY 4/21/2020 7:40 AM--I should completely finish YESTERDAY--mix and master it and burn it to a CD...I don't need to have RISING SUN BLUES online somewhere by the end of the day today...I can take my time doing it...kinda bummed about the (lack of) reaction to YESTERDAY...whatever, *I* know it's halfway decent...
12:05 PM--I went to Litz and came home with a Bass! It's not the one I had my eye on, but a Bass that seems to fit my hand and definitely fit my budget...I got there before they opened (at 10AM) and was back home by 10:30...
7:27 PM--a tree fell onto the deck...I put up a couple of photos on FB...getting way more attention from that than my latest Musical adventure--that actually hurts...I guess it's not as good as I've been thinking it is...
9:45 PM--apparently the other members of the FHB are still cooking up some kind of Event...I don't have the technical knowledge to be a part of it, so fuckit...the  next youTube video I do WON'T be going on Fakebook--why bother?
WEDNESDAY 4/22/2020 9:03 AM--if I do any "labwork" it will likely be after my nap--maybe...I'm not quite bored, but I'm pretty sure I AM depressed...covered from head to toe in APATHY...

still working on it

              SATURDAY 4/18/2020 10:55 AM--I think I'm gonna have an early Lunch; I went to the store and bought fake cheese AND real cheese... Dianne found some CHOCOLATE Italian Ice, like we used to get at Rita's...it feels like 20 years since I last had any...
          I'm having a rather early Lunch, followed by a rather early nap, followed by a visit to the 1180 Lab...gonna re-do the drum tracks...Dianne will be "zooming" with her parents and sister...because of my wacky (self imposed) schedule, I could be in bed before 11 PM...In fact, I could be napping before 12:30 or so...
11:07 AM--I haven't sung in public(or in the car) since Friday March the 13th...the problem with my throat (the raspiness) may have gone away...that would be a good thing...If/when I do YESTERDAY, I'm gonna do a bunch of singing...
3:23 PM--took awhile. but I laid down the rhythm guitar track for YESTERDAY, alongside the metronome/drum track...
5:50PM--I shouldn't,  but I kinda wanna go to the 1180 Lab...I think YESTERDAY will be a lot easier than that original tune I've been working on...
7:46 PM--I laid down a KB Bass track that I just might keep, and a lead guitar test track to hear what that could sound like...
8:01 PM--the vocals are not gonna be easy, because Dianne will hear them...dunno when I'm gonna get around to doing them...maybe tomorrow...I hope to put something on youTube sometime on Monday...we'll see...I want the performance to be as PERFECT as it can be and it's not--not yet anyway...
SUNDAY 4/19/2020 10:51 AM--just finished the scratch vocals for YESTERDAY...what I might do is get the various parts performed perfectly (as close as I can get) and then put it on youTube...I'll probably will mix it to some degree, but mostly I wanna get it out there...
4 PM--I think Dianne has a Zoom meeting tomorrow...maybe I'll get the vocals done at that time...I don't think I'm going to the Lab until then...
7PM--nope, not going to the Lab this evening...I think I need to warm up my throat and/or vocal cords tomorrow...I 'll likely do that in my car...
MONDAY 4/20/2020 9:35 AM--the roomie asked me if I would mail something for her--maybe THAT'S when I'll warm up my throat...
12:27 PM--and that's what I did...gonna go to the Lab in a few minutes...gonna lay down the vocals and lead guitar, mix it a little then attempt to do a video...

do I have a choice?

           MONDAY 4/13/2020 3:30 PM-I don't THINK I have a choice--I have to buy a Bass guitar, I can't lay down a keyboard bass part I can live with...and  *I* feel as though I need to add something to the basic metronomic "drum" track--cymbals, fills,etc. Maybe I should lay down the piano track first after all...
9:05PM--It turns out I can control the touch sensitivity of the keyboard…In other words, the harder I hit the key the louder the sound that it makes will be, kinda like a real piano…I’d like to think that this will make building my own drum tracks a whole lot easier…
TUESDAY 4/14/2020 11:32 AM--finally finally FINALLY got the keyboard track down...maybe switiching from piano to organ made a difference...I think I'm done for the day, but who knows? I may be wrong but if I feel like laying down at least some of the drum track, I just might try...after my nap but before Dinner...we'll see...or I can wait until tomorrow...
4:20 PM--when it comes to the 1180 Lab, I'm re-learning as I go...for instance, I just re-learned NOT to turn up the master volume of the keyboard...the sounds come out somewhat distorted...the only thing I got done is an organ track (that needs to be done again) AND I put the keyboard where the 1180 was and the 1180 where the keyboard was...I think it will make a BIG difference, once I get used to it...
5:15 PM--I'm thinking of buying a Bass through AMAZON...fully aware that you get what you pay for there are some inexpensive basses on their site...Like I've said before, IF I'm gonna get a $1200 check from the Gov't I'll pay off my TWO credit cards and give Dianne the rest of it, about $400 bucks...In what *I* felt was a subtle way, I suggested to the FHB that they permanently replace ME with a guy who, in addition to being a better guitarist, is WAY more tech savvy...Somebody (Barnaby?) wants to somehow do a cyber open mic...*I* dunno why and I'm not really interested in participating...I told Dianne I was planning to buy a Bass...the idea didn't thrill her in the least...
WEDNESDAY 4/15/2020 10:42 AM--I don't feel like doing any "lab work" today, not yet anyway...maybe after my nap...
4:34 PM--it feels like a mistake, but I went to the 1180 Lab...it took about an hour to lay down a new organ track and the first of two drum tracks...making mistakes is very frustrating and makes me tired...maybe (MAYBE) I'll do cymbals tomorrow...
THURSDAY 4/16/2020 8AM--but don't bet on it...
4:52 PM--My brain picks the strangest times to wanna do stuff...I've had all day to go to the Lab, and I didn't...but now I kinda want to...sheesh...
7:10 PM--and now I'm tired or sleepy or something...just like most nights, after Dinner...and by 9:00 or so I'll probably have a second wind, whether I want one or not...
FRIDAY 11AM--so I went to the 1180 Lab and laid down a guitar part...kinda surprised I remembered how to adjust the various parameters of the particular patch I was using...I wanted CHORUS and I got it...I got interrupted, but at least I accomplished a little bit of something...I was gonna start a new recording, but I really feel like I need to get a Bass guitar first and finish this original composition, whatever it may be called...
2 PM-I laid down an electric guitar track… I also kinda performed my first punch in;

what happens next, and when?

               SATURDAY 4/11/2020 9:16 AM--I kinda wanna go downstairs and work in the 1180 Lab...I dunno if there's a "best" time to work down there...I think I can record ALL the various parts (except vocals, if there would be any) w/o anybody hearing anything...as opposed to doing a youTube video...
       I feel as though I need to come up with a title...FLASH-I found the Manual!!! I was half-heartedly looking for it...might go downstairs now, just do a teeny bit at a time...actually re-thinking the chord progression, probably should rehearse the piano part a lot before I record it...
12:20PM--I think the "verse" is ok as is, but the "chorus" or whatever it's called, has changed a bit...as anxious as I am record the piano part, I plan to rehearse it a bunch first...might go back down there after my nap...
5:27PM--and so I did, and came up with a startling idea--record the BASS track first THEN add the piano track...I need to practice both parts (seperately) for the sake of smoothness, but it worked!!! I'm hoping to replace the key-board Bass part with a guitar running thru the ME70 Octave patch...might at least set things up this evening...
6:32 PM--my desire to do stuff, especially Musical stuff, is just as strong, if not stronger, at this point in time than it is earlier...after Dinner is when I should start winding down, at least a little...
8:11PM--the whole "guitar as Bass" idea seems to work...I accidently switched on "auto punch" and it won't turn OFF...having it ON might not be having any effect on anything for all I know, so I'll just try to ignore that switch as best as I can...the more or less immediate goal is to lay down a complete Bass part then a piano part...after which who knows?
SUNDAY  4/12/2020 8:35 AM--I erased/deleted the whole thing, which was only two tracks...I just laid down another metronome/drum track...the "Auto Punch" light is OFF, I think...
10:10 AM- I’m. trying to get going on this recording project this morning, but I think somebody up there doesn’t want me to work on it yet...I keep messing up and having to start all over…So maybe the thing to do is give up for a little while and go back upstairs and read a book or watch TV…I’ll be back at some point... I’m not ready to give up just yet...
10:31 AM--I now know that the concept of doing the Bass track first is a valid one...I just need to simplify the part itself, stop trying to impress anybody...
9:02 PM--on the other hand, I don't wanna dumb down the keyboard bass part due to my relative lack of ability playing keyboards...I think I might have to buy a Bass guitar...

took long enough

         SATURDAY 4/4/2020 12:26 PM--I put new strings on the acoustic, thinking I might do more song  videos at some point...sometimes I really wanna and sometimes I don't want to do anything at all except sleep...
8:16 PM--SLR just gave me permission to do RISING SUN BLUES if I want to...it IS after all, MY arrangement...maybe sometime tomorrow...
SUNDAY 4/5/2020 10:50 AM--I might go downstairs and do CLANCY shortly, while Dianne is in the office; and go downstairs again later when she is doing the Family Zoom thing...
12:39 PM--it took about 35 minutes, but I got CLANCY (a three minute song, more or less) onto youTube and FB...apparently I couldn't fix the sloppy finish...life is like that...
1:14 PM--it turns out I DID fix it! just don't ask me how...dunno when Lisa Barton is gonna get to see it...
3:37 PM--listening to a live broadcast from Ray in Denmark...guess I wasn't quite supposed to get a nap..got about an hour's worth...not enouh IMO...oh well...
4:13 PM--hadn't counted on Savannah performing HOUSE OF THE RISING SUN, but they're doing it...I still might do it myself, after a few rehearsals...
TUESDAY 4/7/2020 4:40 PM--my Musical career, meaning being a member of a band or bands that make public appearences, is currently non-existant...and I'm OK with that...and at this point in time, I certainly don't feel like doing any solo stuff...
WEDNESDAY 4/8/2020 8:25 AM--if I get bored enough, I might do RISING SUN at some point...I still don't feel like doing ANYTHING today...
FRIDAY 4/10/2020 12:25 PM--the last time I touched my BR-1180CD was for the purposes of putting it away...until this morning...without one single page of the Manual, I recorded a (very raw) short instrumental piece mostly to determine how much I remember...I DO wish I knew where the manual is, but I'm sure I'll find it when I'm NOT looking for it...I really don't wanna have to print/build another one...
5:43 PM--laid down a metronome track which could become the snare/kick track--that would probably be easier in the long run...just need to add the hi-hat, cymbals and fills...tomorrow...
7:23PM--as I currently don't have a Musical Life in my neighborhood, and I currently don't feel like doing a youTube video, I'm gonna focus on recording with the BR-1180CD... But I would really like to have the use of the manual…I don’t think it’s anywhere BUT in the basement...I guess that’s what I’ll be doing tomorrow...looking for it...
9:16 PM--...and getting done whatever I can without it with whatever knowledge I've retained from past usage...