It seems like a blink since last I wrote about progress on this record. True that so much happens in a short amount of time, or that not much happens in a long period. Either way I can say that at this point six tunes truly are in the can. They are: Ben Backstay, Islands In The Deep Blue Sea, Room Of Thieves, Sad Tunes And Rhymes, Helena Blues, and There You Go. The title of the album is The Ballad of Ben Backstay, 'cause it's all about him. Turns out he's a lot like anyone else who finds himself in a situation where others are dependent on him yet he answers to someone else. 'Cept he's out at sea, and a frothy, dangerous sea it is.
So while Joshua Pearl and I are hammering out the next six tunes, which are enthusiastically underway, I will offer a clue as to how I'm approaching the delivery of these tunes. New in the Music section of this site are my latest renditions of the Dylan tunes Visions Of Johanna and Just Like A Woman. While these sparely arranged versions really have little to do with the orchestrations that my songs are getting, they have have allowed me to better understand where the bar is.
Steve
[Archive]
How are you coming along, maestro?
It takes a long time to make an album
It's true, and I wonder whether the length of time it takes to make an album is somehow related to that adage that a task will expand to take exactly the amount of time allotted for it. Well, I'm hoping that's not true because this album project has only one end date: Stevie's final sign off.
Anyway, this project is the most serious I've ever undertaken musically and I'm pleased to say that the work that's in the can is amazing. But despite pithy earlier declamations, this album won't be done anytime soon. My producer, Joshua Pearl, and I determined that with the 15 or so songs I showed up with that in order to keep them moving at a rate of development that was consistent with one another we would best attack them in bunches. Therefore, we've been working on the the first six. This batch of Steve Shalit originals is almost done.
The songs are acoustic-based, but include layers of electric guitars, piano, drums, bass, and other instruments. The subject matter deals with love and heartbreak, jealousy and murder, thievery and truth, mostly happening in wild scenes out on the high seas. Putting down tracks is like a painter covering the canvas and then reworking the surface until the expression that shows through is just so. de Kooning would do layers of wild images on canvas only to mostly cover it with white and a few lyrical gestures. You wouldn't know what went into creating the works without looking up close to see all the paint textures showing through from beneath. I want these songs to succeed not only as songs, but as recordings. And I can tell you that they will.
So as soon as the first six are locked in via another session or three, we'll get into the second batch which will probably take another 6 months at least what with the full plate of responsibilities that yours truly balances. But it is precisely this writer's participation in the full range of life experience that is what's making the songs and recordings matter.
Stay tuned and I'll update these notes occasionally. Maybe I'll give some specific information about the tunes, but I'm going to do my best not to drop anything out there until the whole package is complete. Interested ears will dig this album when it hits.
Steve
Anyway, this project is the most serious I've ever undertaken musically and I'm pleased to say that the work that's in the can is amazing. But despite pithy earlier declamations, this album won't be done anytime soon. My producer, Joshua Pearl, and I determined that with the 15 or so songs I showed up with that in order to keep them moving at a rate of development that was consistent with one another we would best attack them in bunches. Therefore, we've been working on the the first six. This batch of Steve Shalit originals is almost done.
The songs are acoustic-based, but include layers of electric guitars, piano, drums, bass, and other instruments. The subject matter deals with love and heartbreak, jealousy and murder, thievery and truth, mostly happening in wild scenes out on the high seas. Putting down tracks is like a painter covering the canvas and then reworking the surface until the expression that shows through is just so. de Kooning would do layers of wild images on canvas only to mostly cover it with white and a few lyrical gestures. You wouldn't know what went into creating the works without looking up close to see all the paint textures showing through from beneath. I want these songs to succeed not only as songs, but as recordings. And I can tell you that they will.
So as soon as the first six are locked in via another session or three, we'll get into the second batch which will probably take another 6 months at least what with the full plate of responsibilities that yours truly balances. But it is precisely this writer's participation in the full range of life experience that is what's making the songs and recordings matter.
Stay tuned and I'll update these notes occasionally. Maybe I'll give some specific information about the tunes, but I'm going to do my best not to drop anything out there until the whole package is complete. Interested ears will dig this album when it hits.
Steve
New album update: Night Before Stars Bloomed
All time is at once. In the smallest spaces, traces of the beginning remain. Night exists only when light isn't seen. Newton is dead: A falling tree in the forest, observed by no one, will make no sound.
There are 6 Steve Shalit new original recordings nearing completion. You will have heard them before, yet once you hear them they will become completely unknown to you.
In your quantum living room now or this Fall, as you like. Until then, listen to new/old tracks at steveshalit.com.
There are 6 Steve Shalit new original recordings nearing completion. You will have heard them before, yet once you hear them they will become completely unknown to you.
In your quantum living room now or this Fall, as you like. Until then, listen to new/old tracks at steveshalit.com.
New album update: 12 songs in Woodstock can
There's a lot of magic, metaphysical sundries, and just plain great sounding Americana in the works. Up in the rolling hills of Ulster County, NY, Steve and Joshua Pearl have coaxed at least 12 new Steve Shalit original songs into reality. The sounds hearken back to sea shanties, work songs, folk ballads, Blind Lemon blues, and early rock 'n roll all the while showing clear contemporary stripes. And what was originally looking like a solo acoustic record is now showing myriad electric dimensions.
Joshua Pearl to produce Steve's upcoming album
Steve Shalit's forthcoming solo record is being produced by Joshua Pearl (www.joshuapearl.com) and engineered by Mark Dann (www.markdannrecording.com).
The record will feature a slew of originals by Steve, some by Steve and Mike Mok, and a few choice interpretations from the depths of Americana.
Record release slated for late 2007.
The record will feature a slew of originals by Steve, some by Steve and Mike Mok, and a few choice interpretations from the depths of Americana.
Record release slated for late 2007.