Vacancy

Release Date: 2015

Vacancy is the first album that was completely recorded in the band rehearsal room of my house. Initially we intended to record with our long-time engineer buddy, Jeff Ling at the Recording Workshop, but as time grew closer to the date we decided to bite the bullet and purchase some recording gear to do it ourselves.

A lot had to do with how advanced and more inexpensive the recording gear has become, but knowledge and experience also played a part. Having the luxury of recording whenever you want (in your underwear at 3 a.m. – yes, I have done it!), and as many takes as it takes to get it right without a costly studio clock ticking is liberating.

We spent quite a bit of time positioning the Audix and Shure mics on the drum kit, until we really liked the sound. That was the foundation of our recordings, and then the rest of the instruments were tracked. Since we don’t have a separate sound booth – the Apple Macbook Pro computer loaded with Logic X is in the same room as the drums and amps – we kept recording and listening back until we landed on the best tone for every instrument.

After countless mixes, tweaking every part until it all jived, we ended up happy with the production. The last step of the process was mastering. That is not something we can do on our own so we opted to hire to a seasoned pro.

While in California prior to the recording process, I was turned onto Chris Unck, who used to be in Butch Walker’s Black Widows – a personal favorite of mine. Chris is a talented musician – slide, guitar, drums, voice, etc. His Country Roads & Love album is one of the best sounding albums I’ve ever heard. We sent him a tune to see what he could do with it. We were blown away with the results and delivered the remaining tracks for him to master.

We’re in the recording phase of a follow up album to Vacancy.

Steve Carter plays Sonor drums and Sabian cymbals
Don Argento plays a Fender guitar through a VOX amp
Dan Nicol plays a Yamaha bass through an Ampeg amp

1. Let It Rain
2. Dirty Rotten
3. Burn
4. Vacancy
5. Love Someone
6. Stop
7. So Sexy
8. Animal
9. Down
10. No More Drinks

Fifth of a Friend

Release Date: 2012

The writing for my latest album, "Fifth of a Friend," started in 2010. I accumulated songs along the way, tossing several "maybes" out. The first song for the album was "Cry Baby Cry," which I wrote on piano. I'm not a trained piano player, but certain instruments just inspire a song. I will work tirelessly on a part to get it close enough for another professional to make it their own…and better. The album features several musicians including; Deane Arnold (bass, guitars, backing vocals, Steve Carter (drums and percussion), Pete Tender (piano and organ), Alie Joyner (fiddle), Cate Arnold (vocals on Scotch & Soda). My good friend, Jeff Ling recorded most of the tracks at The Recording Workshop in Chillicothe, Ohio. The rest were recorded at my home studio or Deane's. The digital age is pretty damn cool! We were able to work out parts, send ideas, scrap them, start over…all without leaving the comfort of our own studios. We worked feverishly for about a month. Once we decided we were done, we both felt a big letdown that it was over - we wanted to do more, but we did everything we could think of without over cooking the tunes. Jeff Ling mixed the songs at his home studio as I sat looking over his shoulder asking a million questions and absorbing as much experience as I could. The grasshopper tried to learn from the master, but I'm afraid I still leave marks on the rice paper.

1. She Gets It
2. Fifth of a Friend
3. Hear Those Guitars Play
4. Fever
5. Scotch & Soda
6. Rain or Shine
7. Cry Baby Cry
8. Howl at the Moon
9. My Ohio (Featured on TheBuckeyeBattleCry.com)
10. Fifth of a Friend Reprise
11. Livin' the Dream

Welcome To Your Life

1. 6 Foot 3
2. MacDac City
3. Junkie
4. When You Go
5. Miss Oliver's Suite
6. I Am Free
7. Welcome To Your Life
8. Friends of Polyester
9. I Love Y.O.U. & B.E.E.R.
10. To Where We Are
11. T.I. Pirate

You Got Me

1. You Got Me (Featuring Pete Way)
2. Shake
3. What She Meant
4. Sweet Valentine
5. Long Ride
6. Comet
7. Fool
8. I Ain't From There
9. California
10. Not The One You See
11. Smile
12. I'm No Hero

Jigsaw

Release Date: 1997

All the songs on my first album, Jigsaw, were recorded at The Recording Workshop by Jeff Ling, master engineer. We would typically record two songs each session; from 4 p.m. until midnight. Then Jeff would mix the songs. By 2 am we'd have our final mix-down. Our ability to get two songs recorded and mixed in about 10 hours was primarily due to the tightness of our band and the effort we put into preparing for the sessions...and Jeff's magical hands and ears. We thrived under the pressure of the studio environment. Knowing that you had to finish that night pushed everyone to perform at their best. We captured some great performances and had a lot of good times during those sessions.

1. Every Day
2. I'll Be There In The Night
3. Too Slow
4. Back In My Arms Again
5. It's Around
6. Goin' Nowhere
7. 1-2-3-4
8. Melanie
9. A Deeper Shade Of Blue
10. Straight Back To You
11. Before The Night
12. Say Goodbye
13. This Way
14. Bad Feeling
    
15. Can't Let Go
16. You, You, You
17. Daisies & Roses
18. Never Again
19. Pins & Needles
20. Another Mark