Re: GG: Studios, Puppies and Burgers; Oh My!

[Bradley P Lehman <bpl@umich.edu>]

On Mon, 26 Jul 1999, John Hill wrote:

> > Does anyone remember where this GG anecdote originally came from? When
> > he was on his way to the studio, GG used to find stray dogs on the
> > streets of Toronto (or maybe they found him). He would feed the dog by
> > buying it a hamburger. Then, he would bring the dog into the recording
> > studio and hand it over to the guys in the sound booth. I just love
> > the image of recording engineers trying to do their jobs while a stray
> > terrier keeps trying to jump into their lap (or worse). 
> 
(...)
> and it seems a bit too offbeat for Kazdin to have not included it.  Somehow, I
> really can't picture Andy Kazdin feeding puppies at a GG session.
> 
> >I'm sure the
> > recording engineers don't think the story is so funny! :->
> 
> Well, I like dogs and cats, but the idea of feeding them hamburgers in
> the control room does seem quite wrong.  And the chief engineer would
> *certainly* not have been saddled with that type of thing at a session.
> 
> It does, however, qualify as yet
> one more enticing job for the SECOND ENGINEER, who gets to do all the
> stuff that the chief engineer doesn't really want to.  For a good look at the
> role of the second (assistant) engineer, just check out the guy who makes
> the tea and gives the backrubs, etc. in ON THE RECORD.  I don't know
> the identity of this particular fellow, but he certainly did everything
> he could to keep the "vibe" of the session upbeat and to let the other studio
> folk concentrate on the things they needed to.

And as you and I proved recently, sometimes the whole project can be done
effectively by two people multitasking: one to do all the tech, announce
takes, drive, listen enthusiastically, and kill flies; the other to do all
the tuning, performing, composing, and cat maintenance; both to consume
Javachip, arrowroots, and Arizona iced tea (green with plum); both to
patronize the local Thai restaurant and the 1947 diner.

[John was here for three days of recording clavichord, and we came out of
it with enough usable stuff for three CD's worth.  I'll be posting info
about it soon, as we're starting to seek a publisher for this project.  
Anyone here have contacts to companies?]

Bradley Lehman ~ http://www-personal.umich.edu/~bpl/ 
Dayton, VA, USA ~ 38.43N+78.98W

"Music must cause fire to flare up from the spirit - and not only 
sparks from the clavier...." - Alfred Cortot