MASTERING AT THE EXCHANGE LONDON, MONDAY
This was the start of a very busy week. Phil and I set off for London on the train, to relax? It was bleedin packed, unbelievable! At least we reserved our seats? AAH, someone’s in ‘em.............
“ Your in my seat mate!” says I!
“ But someone’s in mine!” says he!
“ That’s your problem! “ says I! “My problem is some twat’s in mine!!” Voice and hackles rising.
Then just as i’m about to go off, phil pushes me down the aisle to another seat................
”There’s an empty one “ he says jollily........................GGGGRRRR!
Bleedin’ freezin’ in London, but glad to be here to master, the final touch,(mastering is the final balancing and equalisation of individual songs, because the songs are recorded separately when they are finished and put together, there are usually differences both in level/volume and Treble and Bass, these are smoothed out and matched at the mastering end so they play and sound balanced and smooth. With digital computer recording it is also important to WARM the sound / song up, it makes it more palatable to the human ear! Remember all that there will be a test later!
FREEBASS E.P.
4 tracks.............
YOU DONT KNOW (THIS ABOUT ME)
by hook, mounfield, rourke, burgess sung by TIM BURGESS
THE MILKY WAY IS OUR PLAYGROUND
by hook, mounfield, rourke, wylie sung by PETER WYLIE
DARK STARR
By hook, mounfield, rourke, marks sung by HOWARD MARKS
LIVE TOMORROW YOU GO DOWN by hook, mounfield, rourke, Richard from wigan (who disappeared shortly after never to be heard of again?) sung by PETER HOOK
The e.p. will be available ONLY here on HACIENDA RECORDS
Uneventful trip back, packed to the rafters again though, meet JOEL PERRY FROM VERSUS CANCER (lovely bloke) so chatted all the way home , and apart from seeing an old friend in the buffet b ar, one of the wonderful people who used to look after us so well in the 90’s, we were up and down all the time then and the girls used to leave us drinks while we slept, so when we woke we could start again? O m g! Them were the days! Makes me shudder to think...............funny tho, there were always napkins too ?
” Why?” I ask.........
“For the drool!” she said! “ you were always drooling , you lot! All of you! HA HA!”
how attractive?
“Anyway why you on the MUMBAI EXPRESS?” she say ”thats what we call it cos it’s always packed!”
“ very funny,” says I! “ needs must!” what with illegal downloading it’s a wonder were not hitching HA HA!”
Home eventually.
CHANNEL FOUR 50 GREATEST VIDEOS OF ALL TIME, TUESDAY
Filmed at the FACTORY................. TRUE FAITH has been voted one of the 50 best videos of ALL TIME! Weirdly at the time i didn’t like it.
why?
Cos i’m not in it!
Simple! I remember we flew Phillippe de couffle (hope that’s right?) over to film us at Glasto, spent a fortune on an outside crew , and we were hardly in it? Tom Atenscio went mad.....again! Saying that it is a fantastic video, it nearly got banned, like the TANGOED adverts because all the kids were going round slapping each other, not wearing the suits? But i always harboured a grudge because it only had my leg in it, and then fleetingyl? the others, of course, thought that was really funny? Typical!
So we are doing the telly thing , you know waffling on about it , cheap T.V. I’m recounting the Top Of The Pops story, where tony W. Hired the one legged bloke to hop across while we played it live? Without telling us? That made great T.V! They had to dump the first take because we fell apart. Then ............i got it? The one legged bloke? He’s looking for something? He finds it?
IT,S MY LEG!!
Phillippe is a Genius!
Took me 25 years to get it! Now i feel better!
NOISELAB, MANCHESTER, WEDNESDAY
Another noble cause one of my advice specials? Don’t give up your day job? God it’s difficult these days, great place though......used to be The Co-operative U.C.P. Tripe House on Market Street ha ha, now a pop up shop to help young people get a career in the media, nice bunch, loved the old lady who i think had wandered in? asking the mad questions? Hope it’s like that on the UNKNOWN PLEASURES Tour.............. liven it up! Maybe i should hire her?
URBIS, CLOSING PARTY, THURSDAY
I’ve been delighted since the Hacienda Exhibition to be involved quite closely with Urbis, and came to realize via THE TONY WILSON EXPERIENCE how important it was to Manchester. I am very sad to see it go but i’m sure Pollyanna and Andy will do a great job with the football museum. But do fear we’ve lost something vital? Aah well! Was a great goodbye party, DJ Woody on before me was top! He’s our new recruit to THE HACIENDA nights............ a great addition!
STOCKHOLM, HACIENDA NIGHT @ GIRLS AND BOYS CLUB, FRIDAY
Uneventful flight to Stockholm, empty seats great! one of my favourite cities, we played here very early with N.O and consistently went back, why? I’ll tell you in the New Order Book. Some great stories, mainly concerning a club called The Opera, i remember a great one with Def Leppard bass player ha ha! Tell you later! Place is packed, goes very well, the boys tell me i did the opening night 5 years ago, i remember but tonight was better, i play a lot of new stuff, which goes down really well, only one complaint.............. i couldn’t understand him anyway....but i’m sure he ended it with.......... “Voodoo Ray you bastard!” Stayed in Benny from ABBA’s hotel .....lovely..couldn’t relax tho’ only time for a shower then off to the airport 4.a.m. flight to Manc. Interesting loads of snow and freezing , everyone slipping all over the place.......with a Government Warning to walk in the middle of the road? Why? Because the icicles on the buildings are huge and fall off without warning landing on cars and pedestrians alike? And you think we’ve got problems?
HACIENDA PRESENTS @ FACTORY 251, SATURDAY
My second time at the Factory, very excited and tonight we are featuring two new acts, DJ Danny Mac and a new acoustic act Ben Marron, i love variety. Unfortunately , they get the timing wrong ? The room was supposed to open at 11.30 but because it was packed they opened early, Ben was on first but is nowhere to be found?............ so Danny Mac goes on, very enthusiastically, and by 20 past is RIPPIN IT UP! Then ben turns up and we have to bring it down, but he is excellent and as` i said.......i lov variety! Then me, and aided by a STEAMING ROWETTA its a great night. Great having a place we can all meet up again, Twinny and the boys, John and the Canal Street boys its TOP! Lovely Crowd Again! Here’s to March 27th.......................
SUNDAY, In bed all day fooked!
JUST A FINAL THOUGHT....................Thanks for the support for the website and THE MANRAY E.P.
THE FREEBASS E.P. should be up by now, so hopefully we’ll get your support for that too.
HERE’S TO THE FUTURE.
Hooky’10
