John Tabacco is an American composer, singer songwriter, producer, recording engineer, multi instrumentalist and graphic artist. He has engineered /mixed and mastered music for hundreds of New York recording artists as well as projects released on BMG: The Kemelions, RCA: Faze, Rampage/Rhino: Rhett Forrester, Columbia: Rebbie Jackson, Rykodisc : Bob Marley, Columbia: Chris Jasper, Electra: Sonia Dada and Nickleodeon’s Are You Afraid Of The Dark? He is the CEO of It Iz What It Iz Music Publishing which currently holds over 750 songs in its catalog. He has been an associate producer for IndiMusic TV and hosts a bi-weekly radio program (CLAM RADIO) on college radio WUSB.fm since 1999. He is currently the head of A&R at Modern Voices Digital Distribution.

His musical background consists of extensive study of orchestration with noted 20th century composer John Lessard, harmony with the late electronic music maverick Bulent Arel, and composition with Stony Brook University professor Peter Winkler. He received his BA in Music from Stony Brook University in 1983. 

Like an unfolding musical diary / puzzle, Tabacco’s music and art are constantly being re-worked, juxtaposed and intertwined. His style is a melding of pop - jazz -rock - avant garde / aleatory, classical and comedy.  He has been recording his music non stop since 1979.

Of note: In 1989 the satirical, absurd house song "Go House Yourself" co-written by Tabacco, Pati and DiMauro reached position 39 on Billboard's dance chart. 

In 2014 Tabacco signed a record deal with Texas, indie label, Muffin Records. They released his CD “Unfulfilled Shopping Carts Syndrome” internationally.

What you're looking at, and - we hope - will listen to, is an unusual cooperation involving
musicians Huub Gulikers and Wouter Post, together The Takes. 
 
At the time these tracks were recorded, mixed and mastered (march 2012 - febr 2013)
Wouter Post lived in Belgium Europe. Huub Gulikers resided in San Diego CA. 
 
In Belgium Wouter Post recorded instrumental and vocal tracks, using his Ipad and the
acoustics of the bathroom, bedroom, diningroom and other selected area's of his home. 
In San Diego Huub Gulikers did miracles mixing, mastering and redoing drums, adding
keyboards and backing vocals in his home studio, using Pro Tools.
 
Tracks, takes, mixes, temp masters and all other sorts of masters crossed continents more
than once over the net during these months... Were rejected, approved, revised....
 
In the proces of making this collection of songs Wouter Post re-acquired an illness that struck
him first in 2008, and from which he eventually cured. The character of his voice profoundly
changed as a result of this in the course of making these recordings. This minor setback
however did not keep The Takes from working intensely on this project. 
 
The 6000 miles distance between the two musicians involved, the two distinctive characters
of the same lead voice, and the extraordinary circumstances of recording, mixing and
mastering result in this collection of Assorted Sh*t.
 
We loved making these tracks.

THE TAKES - NON SMOKERS DIE TOO (and other assorted sh*t)
 
1  - I Ain't Never 2.09 (Tillis, Pierce)
2  - Solitary Man 2.26 (Diamond)
3  - Fix You 4.06 (Martin, Buckland, Berryman, Champion)
4  - Neighbor Tend To Your Business 3.06 (Valier, Meaux)
5  - Long Distance Love 2.46 (George)
6  - Green Onions 2.50 (Jones, Cropper, Steinberg, Jackson)
7  - When I'm Dead & Gone 4.23 (Gallagher, Lyle)
8  - Reeling & Rocking 4.24 (Berry)
9  - I'm a King Bee  3.02 (Moore)
10 - I Won't Back Down 2.08 (Petty, Lynne)
11 - Smoke! Smoke! Smoke! That Cigarette 3.34 (Travis, Williams)
12 - Willin' 2.47 (George)
 
The Takes are:
Huub Gulikers : Drums, Percussion, Strings, Keyboards, Backing Vox, Soundprocessing,
Mixing, Mastering and Production.
Wouter Post : Vox, Bass, Guitars, Mandolines, Strings, Keyboards, Harp, Kazoo,
Percussion, Mixing, Mastering and Production.
 
Tracks were recorded - both analog and digitally - using an Ipad in Lanaken and Genk,
Belgium, except the strings on 2, 3, 10, piano on 12, background vox on 5, and all
drumtracks, which were re-recorded and/or re-processed in San Diego CA.
Marion Gilissen did backgroundvox on 10.
Mixing, mastering and re-recordings were done in San Diego, using Pro Tools. 
This whole thing evolved between march 2012 and februari 2013.
 
Tracks with husky vox recorded may 2012 - february 2013.
All other tracks march 2012 - may 2012.


Malcolm Hunter is a New York City based singer/songwriter/keyboardist.  


Followers of Gina Vodegel