Higher - Super Heavy Weights

[CaptainJimbo]

This is an original tune I recorded recently with one of the bands I play with called Super Heavy Weights. Sam, the vocalist in this band is a much better singer than me, I can assure you.
Sam has written the bulk of these songs where the rest of the band have helped flesh them out and add all of the riffs and colour etc.

These recordings were mostly done totally live, the guitar solo on this is an over dub as are the backing vocals.

These tracks are basically a rough mix, when we've got some more cash in the kitty we'll go back in to redo most of the vocals and overdub more percussion and guitars etc and then try and knock out a final mix.

[Mach]

Wow if the bassist threw in a little pop-n-slap this song would fit right in with any RHCP tunes. Extra funky and groovy.
There's those wonderful keys again with a little sharper tone than the other song, but great sound and playing.
I like the production, nice presence and warmth you guys were getting on tape or disc. Could you tell us about some of the techniques (mic placement, preamps, etc.) and what you used to record these songs?

Mach

[Mike_S]

This is pure class.

Really, really classy. Fantastic work to all concerned. Singing is top drawer and all round song construction is great. But analysis aside, this is just super.

Mike

[Johnny Robbo]

Absolutely superb! Really tight playing & a great bit of vintage sounding funk. This one definitely floats my boat!

[Redler]

Fantastic funky groove! A real toe tapping tune!

Superb job by all of you!

[CaptainJimbo]

Could you tell us about some of the techniques (mic placement, preamps, etc.) and what you used to record these songs?

Thanks for your encouraging words gentlemen.

To answer your questions Mach, we are recording this at Linear Studios in Sydney, http://www.linear-recording.com.au/ definitely check out the website as it gives you a pretty clear picture of some of the gear we are using.

The guy who owns this place has spent a lot of time collecting a hell of a lot of cool old vintage gear especially keys, organs and synths. (plus a real clavinette which sounds freaking amazing!!!). I never actually knew that it was a stringed instrument not too dissimilar to a harpsichord. There's a Wurlitzer Student Organ that looks hilarious plus a Hammond M3 which sounds lile GOD when you run it through the massive Leslie rotating speaker box.
The key's player we've got on this is a seriously good player and like most players of that calibre he's a very busy boy, we were lucky to be able to book him for these sessions.

Theres also a lot of great old radio mics, ribbon mics and a whole bunch of cool old compressors and effects as well as loads of vintage amps and drums. The most frustrating thing is not having a whole lot of time to play around with all of the various gear. For myself, I'm mainly just using my stage rig; Vox AC30, a bunch of guitar pedals and the main guitar I'm using on this is an Ibanez Artcore Archtop jazz guitar plus I've also got the Tele, a strat and a Gibson SG that I've used on a few of my overdubbed solos. The amp was set up in a separate sound booth, whilst my pedals and myslf etc were in the main tracking room.

The Bass player was playing a Fender precision bass straight into a DI which then feeds out into a separate compressor from the mid fifties which looks like a beat up wooden box about the size of a milk crate.

We spent one day tracking plus another day doing overdubs (some doubled up keys, percussion and some guitar solos and a few BVs) and we've had one day mixing. We've laid down nine songs 7 of which we're happy enough to keep, two tunes that we regularly play live we just could't get the right vibe on.

At the moment we're sitting on these mixes trying to spend a bit more time listening before we go back in and for more vocals and overdubs.

I'll add a few more of the tracks shortly.

[Farrell Jackson]

Good and funky! I read the bit about the studio set up and you are getting a nice and warm (analog) sound from there. It's great that you have this place at your disposal. Nice playing and singing all around! Good luck on building up the kitty to finish out the songs.

Farrell

[stoman]

You guys really know what you're doing. Great vocals!