Two Years And Counting
I was having a desultory conversation the other day with a colleague who was putting together his first CD. He readily agreed that 'desultory' might also be the appropriate word for the making of the CD as well, since its many meanings do seem to embrace the whole process - from rambling to haphazard via lacking in a definite plan or purpose. He had been working on his project for two years and was moving really really fast. Like all first CDs, it is sure to be incredibly brilliant, original and ground-breaking.
The Hat has seen this long three act drama close up on a number of occasions and it is not a pretty sight. The Creative Process does of course have something of a reputation for being painful - I painted this picture/wrote this play/penned this lyric after trying to kill my lover; long winded - did someone mention Brian Wilson; disruptive - check out Pete Frame's Rock Family Trees and try and count the battered relationships; and occasionally terminal - fill in the gap. Happily none of this has stopped the more determined from trying to get their talent published to a wider audience. The mechanics of getting something recorded these days are light years from the plastic and acetate days of yore - and while we are on the subject, is it still a prerequisite to record in your bathroom like Joe Meek or in your bedroom with your mother shouting from downstairs? I can name a few for whom this worked quite well.
Nevertheless, some things never change. For a solo artist, this can still be a long, lonely and difficult process despite the wonders of digital equipment but once you are in a band the self-doubts and daft arguments can escalate. Putting aside the provision of the material and crikey, is that a big put-aside, let's get straight to what to include. First, the Hat has pinpointed the 'Partner' problem, He/she thinks you can do no wrong, your lyrics are inspired, your playing is awesome and your mates don't appreciate your talents. Your bandmates beg to differ and besides the bass man has better lyrics and your partner sings out of tune. Trouble Ahead. Then there is what we shall call the 'Interesting Theme' argument, which can last for ever. Is ten tracks about suffering and pain a tad too many? On the other hand will the singer going on about undying love for seven minutes and thirty seconds induce an urgent need to take the cat for a walk? Why don't we go all Surreal and write, sing and play really deep stuff about the cosmos that no-one understands? Why is his solo so long anyway? Hey, wait a minute, it's all been done before, surely...Stand By For Friction. It is easy to understand how several years of your life can slip by whilst you wrestle with these career-changing problems -occasionally having to get up and go to work at the same time. If you check out your local vinyl shop you can't help but notice the three feet run of 'prog rock' LPs where the average track is four months long and probably involved several divorces and a number of court cases.....and we haven't even mentioned the fight over the design for the sleeve or who writes the cheques....
Of course it's not essential to suffer for your art, notwithstanding the vast industry of learned blues books on the subject. On the contrary. it's quite all right to be in love with the lead singer and perfectly acceptable to laugh a lot and not fight with your bandmates. Indeed the Hat has been in many a recording studio where the 'having a good time' buzz got infectiously recorded to great advantage - despite upsetting the engineer and his carefully laid plans. It certainly shows through on the tracks.
None of this should detract from the stunning high of the live performance. Many of the brilliant acts who are lined up to play at the 2012 Hebden Bridge Blues Festival have already struggled through that long and tortuous first Cd process. However, the Hat knows that some of the others right now are grappling with it as we speak. But - my bet is that if you cornered any of them, they would, without exception, forego all the pain, arguments and sales simply to stand on a stage in front of a big appreciative audience and do their thing. The very least we can do is go along and support them this June - and of course buy their CD - just in case they've managed to get one together.
Pip Pip!
The Man in the Hat.