A little ditty inspired by my nephew, Shawn. Composed and recorded using Fruity Loops and Audacity.

When We Get There (Scratch demo)

The song that was "too gay" for the B side of our single. In some ways I'm happy that we didn't record it in the studio; this 4 track version has proper grittiness. Unfortunately, this is not from the master tape, but rather a cassette copy that I kept. Somewhere around here is a cassette with the 4 track mixdown of the band alone. That was our pre-production routine: record the band on four tracks, mix it down to two tracks, bounce it to the 4 track, and record the vocals and solos on the remaining tracks. I kept it so I could sing the song "in camera", but I have no idea where it is. If I find it, I'll record and "in camera" version.

Henry Cox deserves all of the credit for the arrangement. I wrote the melody and lyrics, but the guitar is all Hank-o-rama.

Catalogue Boys

The Litany of the Japanese. A list of Japanese brands, some mispronounced quite egregiously, to a dance beat, followed by one U.S. export, a bomb for Nagasaki. The folks in the club always liked this number, and it was fun to play, but I didn't want to put it on the B side. I wanted to do Catalogue Boys, but the manager nixed it as "too gay."

I had the engineer, Philip Adler, quite discombobulated when I had him turn the 16 track tape over to record the descending pre-echo of "Nagasaki" using an Echoplex. I told him to play track 16 into the Echoplex. He protested that the vocal I wanted was on track 1. I reminded him that we just turned the tape upside down, so 1 was 16. I used a dbx NR unit on the in/out of the Echoplex to keep the noise low, and we ran the tape at half speed sending "ikasagaN" into the 'plex as I ran the slider from long to short echo and recorded the output on track 1.  A lot of work for something you can do in two seconds today, but it was fun, and I got it in one take. The picture at left is the reverse of the 45 sleeve.

HakkaTakkaHa

Fire Dept.'s only regionally charted "hit" record.  Written and sung by Steve Cox. Another inimitable Henry Cox solo. I wish I had done a better job on the synth intro; I didn't really catch the rhythm of the song until years afterward. Although it did well, I would love to have the chance to re-record it. I do like the mix, and it required no tweaking in the cutting room, but I would make it slightly punchier today, with no vinyl constraints on the bass/drums.
Steve Cox, bass, lead vocal
REK, piano, synth, vocal
Henry Cox, guitar, vocal
Joe Maduri, drums

Run Away With Me

Probably the best collaborative piece Fire Dept. ever did. I wrote the lyrics, piano and vocal parts, but the bass, drums and guitar drive the song, Henry's solo is chock full of tastiness and builds to the climax. Joe's understated ruffle kicks it off again, the lyric culminates with "We're being You," and Henry takes us out with the help of the "people" in a long slow fade.
REK piano, lead vocal
Henry Cox, guitar, vocal
Steven Cox, bass, vocal
Joe Maduri, drums


We, The People

Originally written upon the death of John Belushi (it just flowed out of my fingers,) and played In many sets by the Fire Dept., this version was recorded in Ken French's home studio. He was working on a "sports" theme, and I liked the drum part, so I started to play the organ part of "Sudden Sunset". He stopped me, restarted the part, and I recorded it on MIDI.  Then we overdubbed the bass part. I had him slow the repay so I could improvise more freely, and voila, it was complete. It's too bad I didn't have Henry Cox  there to play the lead guitar part, 'cause his solo was quite somethin'.

Sudden Sunset

The Swine Flu Singalong Public Service Announcement

Recorded late one night in my apartment studio with the oversized, Victorian-era double hung, 4x4 plate glass window overlooking Highland Ave and the grounds of the Somerville High School and Public Library in Somerville, MA.  Another production of the Revox A77 1/2 track, Sony 1/4 track, ARP 2600, and EV CS15. 

Late Night REK (1978)

A piece inspired by my love of fantasy & science fiction intersecting with the Carter-Reagan years. Recorded using a Revox A77 1/2 track, Sony 1/4 trk, ARP 2600, EV CS-15, Beyer Dynamic 101N

Who Can Believe When the Ray Guns Come? (1978)

The story of a young man from Colorado who tried to kill a Californian. 

Recording created with video for 2016 NPR TIny Desk Contest

rekording

Popular tracks