My first real recording session...
Have you ever been... |
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...to Electric Ladyland? |
My first real recording session was at Electric Lady Studios in Greenwich Village, New York City in October of 1975. Somehow I had found out that they were having a special starter package deal of 4 hours of 4 track recording time for $200.00. At the time, I was working nights at the UPS in Maspeth. I saved up the money and excitedly went in with drummer Vinny Signorelli and bass guitarist Charlie Gozzer to record a demo of a song I wrote with guitarist/vocalist Robert Tietse entitled, "Alexis". I was 19 years old and doubly excited that this was in fact "the house that Jimi built". During the recording, Bill Davis the engineer, took a liking to me and my song and later that week, put in some extra hours in the cutting room to splice on a new ending with a cool echo repeat effect. (I'm searching for a copy of it to post to the site.)
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I found the receipt in a box of keepsakes...
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I actually got to go back to Electric Lady a few years later. I was working with a singer/songwriter named Alan Wauters, and a kid we knew named Mike Loye, was in a work-study program as a go-fer at the studio. He managed to persuade the owner at the time (Alan Selby), to come see us play at the Great Gildersleeves on Bowery. They liked us and signed us to a spec deal. We got half way through the album and Alan (Wauters) pulled out of the deal. I also attended a WNEW/Pat St. John simulcast and got to see Procol Harum perform there.
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Some views of the original front and entrance to Electric Lady Studios. 52 West 8th Street in Greenwich Village, NYC.
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Recording the basic rhythm track for "Alexis" in Studio "B" at Electric Lady. Vinny Signorelli on drums in the background.
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Recording engineer, Bill Davis gives us some suggestions in between takes. Charlie Gozzer on the Rickenbacker Bass.
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Buddies Andy Randazzo and Warren "Ernie" Terrel came along for the "experience". At the time, Ernie was aspiring to be a studio engineer.
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A very rare photo of Jimi at the mixing console...
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A high school buddy of mine, Pat Mahon was a huge Hendrix freak. He was also a real "trippy" artist/painter. I arranged for him to be commissioned to do some murals at the studio.
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An inside view of one of the murals...
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