How To Records a Blues/Roots CD

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Simple – a piece of cake you say. Just go into the studio with a guitar, 12 songs @ 3 minutes each, I’ll be in and out in an hour, release the CD and I’ll be touring the US in the summer with Eric Clapton to get away from the Australian winter!!!

Well, perhaps not – on the other hand – perhaps!!! Eric got a lucky break – why couldn’t you?

However, more likely is the fact that like most of us, it’s a tough gig being a solo artist or getting a band together, rehearsing, writing songs and recording a CD.

BUT -

(trumpet sound here)

– help is at hand!!!

Jeff Cripps has recorded over 200 CDs at his A# Sharp Recording Studio in Sydney, many of them in the Blues/Roots tradition, and is a multi-“Chain Award” winner for himself and his artists. He will take you through the do’s and don’ts of recording a CD and keep you out of the firing line of the “slings and arrows of recording misfortunes”

Recording a Blues/Roots CD is a specific task, it requires a different approach to recording than a Kylie Minogue CD. Different styles of music require different styles of recording, different styles of instruments, recording studio and musicians.

“oils ain’t oils... styles aren’t styles”

HOW TO RECORD A BLUES/ROOTS CD

Find the right man for the job.

• You don’t take your car to a motorcycle mechanic to get it fixed.
• You don’t hire a plumber when the lights go out.
• So if you walk into a studio, and say that you want to record your blues band and the guy says “Oh I love blues, my favourite band is the Moody Blues” – run away, as quickly as you can, and refer the matter to the police, this man is dangerous.
• You need to record with someone who understands the music and has a CD collection that included many of the CDs in your collection.

(My Dad once told me)

“Use the right tool for the job”

I think this was about the time he caught me coming out of the garage with a shifter and a set of multigrips to fix my busted wrist watch!!

• You wouldn’t enter a VW in the Bathurst 1000;
• Entering the Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race in a rowboat is no guarantee of success!
• The instrument of trade for a blues/roots band are different to a Van Halen cover band. “Strange but true!!!” All guitars are not made equal and they are not all made for the same purpose. Generally instruments that have warmth, age, uniqueness, body and character to them are good - our sort of music - a “2003 Carlos Santana model guitar” is probably not gonna do for your purposed “Robert Johnson revisited” CD.

Bass player says: “That chord’s an “A”.

Guitarist: “No, it’s not, I’ve always played a “C”.

Drummer: “I quit”.

Moral of story – know your songs before you go into the studio – save money!

ROAD TEST YOUR SONGS

You will possibly find that your “Stormy Monday/ I can’t Quite you Baby/The Sky is Crying” slow blues medley isn’t a great closing for your act in a hot sweaty “Do you play Barnsey” pub gig. So before you record the song, give them a workout first if at all possible.

To record “Rock me Baby” or not to record “Rock me Baby” – that is the question!!

• Muddy Waters does Elvis;
• Elmore James plays Elmo Scruggs
• BB King plays CC Rider featuring ZZ Top

If you don’t write original songs, this could happen to you. All artists and bands have to start their schooling somewhere and ‘Rock me Baby’ Spoonful and ‘Messin’ with the Kid’ is as good a start as any, but to make it to the next level you need to get out of nappies into a pair of pants, or dress. (Either/or – not both!!).

Start developing your own songs at the same time as learning from the masters – your best friend is your record collection. Ask yourself if you would spend $30 buying a CD of “The Green & Gold Blues Band” playing your favourite blues songs?

THE RECORDING SESSION

Don’t rehearse till 4.00am the previous morning whilst downing 2 slabs of VB.

Congratulations!!! 12 songs – 12 first takes – don’t count on it!

Plan the time – it’s not a good idea to do a 12 hour session and spend 11½ hours recording the band tracks and leaving ½ the hour for vocals, harmonies, tambourine, cowbell, choir, backward guitar solo and glockenspiel.

THE CD COVER

Calling all favours from all mates.

Wotch yor speling!!

THE CD LAUNCH

Is it a good idea to release your new blues CD at the “Big Daddy Puff Groove Hiphop Dance Ecstasy Rave Party”???

Permission to reproduce this article is available to all,
as long as you include attribution to myself including contact details
and let me know where you have used the material.
Jeff Cripps
A# Sharp Recording Studio
Email: jeff@asharp.com.au
Phone: +612 9153 9988

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