Archive
Studio Diary - 01/09/2001 (Day #3)
Neal Morse:Hi,
Tuesday January 9, 2001
Well....it's day 3 and we're still working on the 1st piece of music!! We've got about 10 or 12 minutes of music ready (if we stop changing it everytime we run through it!) and only 2 days left before we start laying it down. (Actually at about 5:00 this morning I woke up with an idea to put this great theme of Roine's in the beginning so we'll have to change it AGAIN!)
I cooked for the guys last night myself. OK, actually Cherie prepared the stuff and I put it in the oven but.....I made the salad! I'm really digging having them all here in my house and being the host guy. I have to say that 'cause they're all going to read this, right?
On Thursday we're recording at a studio here in Nashville (a little bit south in Franklin TN.) called Dark Horse which is run by a guy named Robin Crow who is working on an album with Jon Anderson. Maybe we can get Jon to do a guest spot?! Wouldn't that rule the universe. We haven't discussed the possibility yet, but I'm going to ask.
Anyway, gottta go pick Roine and Pete up at the holiday Inn. Later....
Neal
Mike Portnoy:
Wow!! A very productive day!
My head is spinning!!!!!!!!!!
We wrapped up "Dance with the Devil" (or whatever it will be called)...it is currently clocking in somewhere in the 20 minute zone...
The song has taken so many twists and turns that it is a completely different song from Neal's original demo. (hats off to him for being so open to our changing everything!! He's either becoming a way more open-minded writer .....or he secretly wants to KILL me and just hasn't exploded yet!!!) : )
No time to waste....we jump right into another epic.....
This next one we start work on is a new piece that Neal put together specifically for this album...In its original form it was entitled "Hanging in the Balance" (once again, it will probably change). We immediately start fiddling with the song and add a real cool Genesis/Duke thing that Pete had onto the intro. HUGE intro!!!! Possible album opener potential....
We keep alot of Neal's stuff but do alot of re-arranging and re-orchestrating. Even some cool Who/Led Zeppelin Power Trio-type Jams...
By the time we call it quits at the end of the night, we're already 11 minutes in....
Here's a tease to all you DT fans: I received the "test DVD" today!!! : ) After rehearsals, I go back to my hotel and spend the night investigating every nook and cranny on the disc in order to give the OK to the manufacturer to begin production....It is awesome! You guys are gonna love it!!!!!
C-ya tomorrow for the last night of writing and rehearsals!
MP
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