An Excerpt from Ira's Blog:
A year starts out with many promises and at the end of that year one looks back to see how one measures up to those lofty goals. Looking back at the past year’s resolutions, there are some that I’m proud of (since this is a music site, I’ll keep these resolutions mainly to the music resolutions and not family ones), starting off with pairing up Bill Toms and Will Kimbrough in January to record what turned out to be a great CD, Memphis. I’ve never been through that process from start to finish and it was fascinating!! Starting off with acoustic one off recordings by a great songwriter, bouncing ideas around as to how they fit together and if there is a commonality about them, coming up with a treatment, then hearing those songs come to life after being introduced to a great band and a producer of Will Kimbrough’s stature.
It was a typical snowy week when we did the recording in Weirton, WV right outside of Pittsburgh, PA at Studio L, a house of engineer extraordinaire Rick Witkowski. It was like going back to college, shacking up in a house full of guys who were music geeks!! I’d go to see accounts during the day, usually using Will’s or Bill’s van, while the band recorded live tracks, then come back at night, cook dinner for the band, while having a cold beer and listening to fantastic music. After dinner we’d go downstairs and I’d watch them do overdubs, stay up late talking music... and then I’d get up and do it over again. I was able to stay for 4 days, the band for 5 and, while I’m sure it was old hat for these guys, it was an awesome learning experience for me!! Most memorable for me, outside of actually watching the sessions at night, were the moments I’d be upstairs doing follow up work after returning from visiting accounts, and hearing the music going on downstairs from these professionals... many was the time I’d have to tip toe ( so I wouldn’t mess up the recording) down there because it was so good, I just had to see what I was hearing!! The rave reviews were so nice to hear after watching all of the sweat which went into that process... incredible.. watching a piece of audible art being created and having it move other people!!! Way to go guys!
