|  ometime around the beginning of 1995 Tracie approached us to see about a collaboration on songwriting and to record two 1/2 hour programs for National Radio, which we could then lease or buy the tapes of, and release an album. She had recorded an album (The Longest Day) in this manner with her husband, Brian, a couple of years before and had half a dozen lyrics without music from
Kieran Martin, who they had written with then. So that's what we did: wrote music for those, and added 5 songs of Derek's, and Sleepwalking Blues, which Luke Hurley kindly donated.Martin Winch did a fantastic production job, and brought in some great musicians to play on the sessions, including Jim Lawrie from the legendary NZ band Streettalk. What an honour to have him play on the album. The recording was quite eventful, actually, as we were dogged by illness: Derek
was just recovering from bronchitis, Grant was hospitalised half way through (luckily the day after we'd finished the harp parts!) with pneumonia, and the same thing happened to Tracie the day after we finished. The album title came from something Roger said at a very wrecked party in Ahipara: it doesn't mean anything at all, but seemed to have the right vibe. Then we ended up in a pitched battle with the CD pressing plant in Australia who
screwed up the first pressing and then spent a year lying through their teeth and denying responsibility. Bastards. Sadly, Ode Records has since been sold to BMG and the album seems to have been filed in the "forget-about-it" bin, so it's damn near impossible to get hold of. A shame, because we reckon its bloody good, and Tracie sings fantastically. If you haven't heard her yet, you should. GOTTA HAVE THIS ALBUM TODAY !!Tracie De Jong - Vocals
Derek Jacombs - Vocals (5, 8, 11), Guitar
Grant Bullot - Harmonica
Roger Bullot - Bass Brian De Jong - Electric Rhythm Guitar (3, 6, 7)
Martin Winch - Electric Lead Guitar (2, 11, 12)
Terry Crayford - Keyboards (1, 4, 5, 8)
Jim Lawrie - Drums
Luke Hurley - 12 String Guitar (3) Produced by Martin Winch
Engineered by Neil Maddever
Recorded at Broadcasting House, Wellington, mid 1995
Mastered by Nigel Stone
Artwork & Design Roger Bullot
Cover Photo Ruth Oliver | |
