August 12th!!!

Greetings and sal-mutations everyone!

I am VERY much looking forward to Fall. Last weekend we purchased the first Halloween costume of the season for the baby girl...she's going to be Tinkerbell and my son, Peter Pan. Should be pretty cute. My wife sent me photos via text message last Friday night with Halloween clothes they already had on the racks at Babies R Us. The pumpkin sweatsuit was also picked up along with a Halloween pajama set. As I've blogged about before I enjoy buying the kids clothes to wear during the month of October and I'm hoping this year's offerings are as good as they've been in years past.

...and now...I'm am getting ready to go into full blown Halloween mode. I feel the need to shop and buy all sorts of Halloween things...I'm going to start trolling the stores lurking for Halloween goodies. I did order the Rising Reaper I was looking for last year as it was on sale. I'm hoping it arrives in the next month or so.

So with that...I'll be starting my annual blitz on eBay with some of the Halloween discs I have available for sale. If you don't already own one, pick one up there, at HauntCDs or email me and I can arrange a sale to you that way.

Buy the Pumpkinland CD here

Epitaph Magazine.com
"Within the Haunt Industry there is a large number of companies and individuals producing soundscapes, sound effects and theme music in cd format. The advent of which is one of recent history's most valuable contributions to the industry. Hassle-free sound without the bother of rewinds, broken tapes and distortion caused by wear. Reviewing these products presents a challenge. It is as much a matter of taste as expertise, not dissimilar to trying to compare a heavy metal music track to rap or classical music. What makes a haunt cd good or bad is more the application it is intended for than the product itself. Many well-produced cd's simply will not work in every type of haunt. First a haunter must ask, "What do I want the sound to do?" Is the haunt to be built around a theme that requires a tightly woven sound track to help enhance the storyline? Or, as is often the case, does the haunt need a background soundscape to merely set the tone a haunter desires? If your desire is in the latter category, take a listen to Pumpkinland and Pumpkinland II. The creator of the Pumpkinland cd's does soundscapes and does them well. Built primarily of skillfully layered sound effects, these soundscapes provide a series of background tracks that are eerie, effective and, in some cases very long allowing almost gap-free use. While not as music based as some others, the tracks definitely have a place in the industry. Used in sets such as cemeteries and other outdoor scenes the final tracks of both I and II are superb. Pumpkinland shows it's true strength in mixes that are tailored for the night with wind, weather and animal noises perfectly balanced whether the application is subtle or at full volume. The variety of tracks on each cd does cover multiple types of scenes however, and haunters will find them useful in many other scenarios. Perhaps the only shortcoming of Pumpkinland is the packaging. It tends to portray a more simple and "Halloweenie" product than is hidden within and may unfortunately "put off" some serious haunters. Don't let it fool you, underneath the somewhat mainstream cover is a product sufficiently dark for most applications and far removed from the "scary sounds" cd's found in retail stores that it unfortunately may bring to mind. While the soundscapes of Pumpkinland may not have the recognizability of music-based haunt tracks, nor are they presented in slick packaging, they are well produced and provide yet another valuable tool to the industry. Take the time to visit their web site (Pumpkinland) and listen to the product. It could well be just the thing you've been looking for."

Buy the Fleshrot: Songs from the Dead CD here

The soundtrack to Fleshrot: Tales from the Dead is a companion to the graphic novel. This CD features 13 tracks of music inspired by the book. The music is a combination of edgy and gritty songs and ambient/soundtrack 'HauntScapes' capturing the feel of the art and stories from the pages of the book. Mark Harvey of Nobody Records has written/recorded/produced the album in association with Frightworld Studios. The CD titled Fleshrot: Songs of the Dead is available NOW! Mark Harvey has been writing and recording music for 17 years. He founded Nobody Records in 1987 at age 18 to promote and release his first LP. He opened Pumpkinland Studios to record various solo and band efforts. In 1999 he released his first Halloween 'HauntScape', Pumpkinland, for use in theme parks, haunted attractions and by home haunters. His work includes commercials, custom haunt tracks, soundscapes and sound effects. His work has been heard on radio, television and film.

Buy Rain Station's DARK RIDE CD here

Underground DJ from Haunted Attraction Magazine
Now it is time to run away and join the carnival. "Step right up and see the amazing, the unbelievable, the available for your attraction CD, Dark Ride by Rain Station." A journey through a veritable midway of new music written for old pretzel rides. The use of sound effects is limited only to those that help create the feel of the piece. The styles of music range widely from Heavy Metal beats through old time Rock and Roll to the almost cutesy Trick Or Treatin. This nostalgically fun selection, took me back to my early days as a young zombie, heading out on Halloween with the lust for candy in my heart. The CD would be great for line entertainment or a party, with a little bit for every taste and some of the beats are infectious.

Tomorrow is a BIG day...Friday the 13th. Ya'll be safe now...

Mark Harvey

The FUN Begins!

Live...Acoustic...Rain Station

"The Living Room Sessions" is a relaxed recording of an acoustic "unplugged" Rain Station event. Well...actually Jay and I were just sitting around in our living room at the Rain Station in SF. Two guitars, two guys...heavy mellow. I had purchased a portable DAT recorder and had been playing around with the mic input. I took a pair of my high end Sennheiser headphones and took them off the headband and placed them in front of Jay and I. The recording quality was pretty remarkable. Jay brought out his book of tunes and we just ran through them (with little or no practice). Jay's songwriting skills are really highlighted on this disc and these tracks are some of my favorites. Jay was saying the other day that he'd really like to record these songs in a "real" studio. I am hoping to provide him with a "real studio" to record in by having a nice Pro Tools set up to get these tracks recorded with Jay. I'd like nothing more than to get these produced and released. So without further comment, click below for the Bandcampiness that is "The Living Room Sessions":

Please enjoy this release...comment if you would...click above...it don't cost nuthin'!

Mark Harvey

Fancy this!

Rain Station's "Fancy Fancy" is a combination of tracks written at different times and put together by Jay and I as a sort of compilation CD. The CD features tracks recorded by Jay and I, Brian Peet and I and by Jay, Tony Iuppa, Brian Peet and I. Soon after Jay's recording project gave us "Criminal Goat" I moved to San Francisco with Tony Iuppa and Yun Shin, but after a short while Tony and Yun decided that the commute to the Peninsula was just too tough so they wanted to move out. Jay was living in San Francisco's Mission District, I was in need of some roommates and since Jay's living situation was a bit..let's say, different, I convinced him to move into the house in the Sunset. For a time Jay and I tried to put together a "live" act with Jay on vocals (and sometimes acoustic guitar), Tony Iuppa (The Screaming Paisleys) on bass, Brian Peet on drums and me on guitar. We recorded a three song demo in our Sunset livingroom (re-recording "Summer Home", "Widdershins" and "Quiet Morning") with the hopes of getting some gigs and gaining some momentum, but it didn't pan out as it was really tough to get together and rehearse. Unless you're living together, as Jay and I were, it is nearly impossible.
So since Jay and I were living together we had the ability to create whatever whenever the feeling hit us. The "SOB Puppet Hour" was born out of this living arrangement. Jay and I recorded "Hold The Sky", "Solitude", "More Out Of Life", "Smile Like A Monster", "Empty Home" and "Fancy Fancy" in various rooms of what became The Rain Station.

I got engaged and decided to move in with my fiance, Jay got more roommates and eventually moved to New York (where he met his wife). During that time Brian Peet (here) and I recorded some tracks together - some on his gear - some on my gear (which I upgraded from a 4-track tape machine to a digital 8-track recorder with MIDI capabilities - the same gear I have today). To test out the gear, I recorded "The Place I Once Came From" and "Slice A Piece Of Heaven" with Brian lending vocals on the tracks. We recorded in his (much better studio) some tracks for his Syrinx project. Brian had access to a pro studio and he wanted to try out recording some of my old mopehead tunes so we did "It's A Good Day" there with Brian playing drums and lending backing vocals and me recording guitar, bass as well as singing. "It's A Good Day" is by far the best engineered and sounding track on the CD and it is one of the things that motivates me to get new gear.

Like "Criminal Goat" you may not like some of these tracks, but keep listening as you may find one that you do dig.

Thanks agan for reading,

Mark Harvey

Step by Step Criminal Goat- Track 15 of 15

Well...the Criminal Goat posts are coming to an end with this FREE MP3 download. And since we've come to an end I thought that I would once again post the story of Criminal Goat and Rain Station. As many of you know Jay and I are working on the next Rain Station "experience" and we're creating music using the "Criminal Goat" method of recording. There are two versions of the "Criminal Goat" story (which is the Rain Station story) floating around. I'll post both and maybe Jay and I can decide which one is accurate. I know at some point we wrote both of these accounts...maybe it is supposed to be a mystery. Maybe they are both correct.

Oh...and as you may or may not be aware:
Hoagie Malone = Jay E. Moores
mopehead = Mark Harvey
Version one:
In the summer of 1992, Hoagie Malone began coaxing musicians for his recording project "Equator". These sessions produced 33 tracks. Originally released as "Khaki Circus" by Equator, Hoagie felt that the recordings between he and mopehead were going particularly well, so when mixing time came, the 33 tracks became two separate releases. Rain Station was born with the release "Criminal Goat" and Hoagie released the rest as "Equator".

Version two:

"Criminal Goat" was recorded over the summer of '93 at two locations in San Francisco on an old Tascam 4-track.The formula consisted of Hoagie Malone recording beats with two different drum sets, mopehead would then record guitars and/or bass, then guest musicians would come in to record (guitar, bass,keys), and finally Hoagie Malone would write lyrics and do the finishing touches before mopehead and Hoagie would do the final mixes.
OK...now that you've been reacquainted, here is a FREE MP3 download of "Dandylions" (click here to download) (link disabled)taken from Rain Station's Criminal Goat CD. Jay made a Flash video of the song (here). Again, Jay on drums and vocals, me on bass and guitar. This rivals "Summer Home" for my favorite track on the CD. This is vintage Rain Station and a great way to finish off the "Criminal Goat" blog entries.



I hope you have been enjoying the FREE tracks. All I ask is that you please drop me a comment. All of Rain Station's CDs are available for purchase at NobodyRecords.com.




Be sure and support our art and independent music by purchasing CDs from us.

Many thanks for tuning in,

Mark Harvey (a.k.a. mopehead)

Click here if you can't figure out where you're supposed to click to download the song. (link disabled)

Step by Step Criminal Goat- Track 14 of 15

Hey everyone. You know, I've been really enjoying posting the Criminal Goat tracks here on my blog. As I write these posts I listen to the track du jour over and over and get inspired by it. It inspires me, but at the same time it bums me out. I would love to record more with Jay. The freedom we had back when Criminal Goat was recorded is now long gone as Jay and I both have kids and responsibilities. My job takes a lot out of me and then when I'm done at work I'm off to go home to be a husband and father. The Sundays with Jay have been great and I'm looking forward to the finished product of the current recording sessions. So on to the next track in this extravaganza! Here is a FREE MP3 download of "Move Again" (click here to download) (link disabled) taken from Rain Station's Criminal Goat CD. More creeping guitar and bass tracks from yours truly and drums and vocals by Jay. This is yet another creepy Rain Station track.

I hope ya'll like it...

Mark Harvey (a.k.a. mopehead)

Click here if you can't figure out where you're supposed to click to download the song.

(link disabled)

Step by Step Criminal Goat- Track 13 of 15

This may have been a better choice for 4/20 - more floaty Rain Station heavy mellow music for you. We've nearly made it through the whole disc and if you've been keeping up you've gotten Criminal Goat for FREE. How about that? So here is a FREE MP3 download of "Against The Knife" (click here to download) (link disabled) taken from Rain Station's Criminal Goat CD. Again, Jay is playing drums and singing and I'm playing bass and guitar. This is another one of those tracks that I can just listen to over and over.

Enjoy the FREE track and please drop me a comment.

Remember, Rain Station CDs are available for purchase at NobodyRecords.com.

Be sure and support independent music by purchasing CDs from us.

I hope you enjoy this one,

Mark Harvey (a.k.a. mopehead)

Click here if you can't figure out where you're supposed to click to download the song.

(link disabled)

Step by Step Criminal Goat- Track 12 of 15

Happy 4/20 everyone! This rockin' song might not be the right vibe for Bob Marley's birthday, but what the heck...I'm not posting these songs out of order. I'm not sure what this song is about - Jay's lyrics are a bit random, but I love 'em. I have many favorite tracks on Criminal Goat and this is one of them. I like the way Jay says "backyard" - you can really hear his Maine roots. Here is a FREE MP3 download of "Pullin' Up Some Nails" (click here to download) (link disabled) taken from Rain Station's Criminal Goat CD. Jay is playing drums, singing and adding sound effects. I'm playing guitar and bass.

What do you think?

Mark Harvey (a.k.a. mopehead)

Click here if you can't figure out where you're supposed to click to download the song.
(link disabled)

Step by Step Criminal Goat- Track 11 of 15

WARNING! This song contains some language that might not be suitable for the YOUTH. Jay commuted for years taking BART (Bay Area Rapid Transit). He lived in Berkeley, Oakland and San Francisco. He worked for some years in Hayward. Certain parts of the BART line can be a little surly, but mostly the surrounding areas. There was a time when crime surrounding MacArthur Station was in the news particularly the disappearance and murder of Francia Young. So Jay wrote a song about "people disappearing from MacArthur Station". Here is a FREE MP3 download of "MacArthur Station" (click here to download) (link disabled) taken from Rain Station's Criminal Goat CD. Jay on vocals and drums (and sound effects) and I'm playing guitar and bass.

Be safe out there,

Mark Harvey (a.k.a. mopehead)
Click here if you can't figure out where you're supposed to click to download the song.
(link disabled)

Step by Step Criminal Goat- Track 10 of 15

What is Rain Station? Well, most people know of Rain Station as being Jay E. Moores and Mark Harvey, but Jay and I have often enlisted other musicians in an attempt to heighten our enjoyment of music making and get more brains in on the process. We're always seeking inspiration from others. Today's FREE MP3 download is "I Can't Fly" (click here to download) (link disabled)taken from Rain Station's Criminal Goat CD. This is another one of those tracks that I can listen to over and over again. Jay on drums and vocals and I recorded two guitar tracks. The floating jazz guitar solos are by Gary Brain. As Jay said the other day when we were recording, "This sounds like Rain Station". "I Can't Fly" sounds like Rain Station.

Please enjoy the FREE track and please do drop me a comment.

Rain Station CDs are available for purchase at NobodyRecords.com.

Many thanks for reading and listening,

Mark Harvey (a.k.a. mopehead)

Click here if you can't figure out where you're supposed to click to download the song.

(link disabled)

Step by Step Criminal Goat- Track 9 of 15

Years ago when Jay and I were living together we'd hang out in the living room with our acoustic guitars and play and sing. Our CD "The Living Room Sessions" epitomizes this time of our lives (songs captured live with two mics and a portable DAT recorder). Today's free track is "Slap On The Back" - a track recorded with the same mindset as "The Living Rooms Sessions". We were hanging out in Jay's room in the Mission District of SF (from what I recall there were a few of us) and Jay started playing this song he wrote. I added another guitar and some vocals and there you have it. Another song recorded. So, here is the FREE MP3 download of "Slap On The Back" (click here to download) (link disabled) taken from Rain Station's Criminal Goat CD. From what I understand Jay began playing (or had been playing) this song at a camp that he was a counselor at - Camp Tapawingo, in Sweden, Maine.

I hope you enjoy this track as much as I do.

Mark Harvey (a.k.a. mopehead)

Click here if you can't figure out where you're supposed to click to download the song.

(link disabled)

Step by Step Criminal Goat- Track 7 of 15

Here is a FREE MP3 download of "Heated Afternoon" (click here to download) (link disabled) taken from Rain Station's Criminal Goat CD.
Here's another clunky ditty for ya...giving you one minute twenty seven seconds more of THE GOAT. I'm sharing vocals duties with Jay on this one.
Know your goat!

Mark Harvey (a.k.a. mopehead)

Click here if you can't figure out where you're supposed to click to download the song.
(link disabled)

Step by Step Criminal Goat- Track 6 of 15

Here is a FREE MP3 download of "Bull Whisky" (click here to download) (link disabled) taken from Rain Station's Criminal Goat CD. This song is certainly...special... I'm not sure what Jay is singing about - Bull Whisky? I found a brand called Black Bull, but Jay doesn't drink so who knows? Guess I'll have to ask him.

Rock on,

Mark Harvey (a.k.a. mopehead)

Click here if you can't figure out where you're supposed to click to download the song.
(link disabled)

Step by Step Criminal Goat- Track 5 of 15

Here is a FREE MP3 download of "Fade Away" (click here to download) (link disabled) taken from Rain Station's Criminal Goat CD. I like the vibe of this one - I'm playing bass and guitar and doin' some background singin' - Jay's got the drum track (all of these songs began that way) and singin' as well as handlin' the sounds and samples. It is a short tune - just over two minutes.

Many thanks for readin', commentin' and possibly downloadin' the free track,

Mark Harvey (a.k.a. mopehead)

Click here if you can't figure out where you're supposed to click to download the song.

(link disabled)

Step by Step Criminal Goat- Track 4 of 15

How nice...the fourth installment of the Criminal Goat blog posts on April 4th. Nice how that worked out. Here is a FREE MP3 download of "Along The Way" (click here to download) (link disabled) taken from Rain Station's Criminal Goat CD. I hope you enjoy the track and leave me a comment if you would.

Enjoy the FREE track,

Mark Harvey (a.k.a. mopehead)

Click here if you can't figure out where you're supposed to click to download the song.

(link disabled)

Step by Step Criminal Goat- Track 3 of 15

Here we go...OK everyone...he comes the third installment of fifteen. If you keep visiting you'll eventually have the entire CD - for FREE! So, here's the FREE MP3 download of "He Went Away" (click here to download) (link disabled)taken from Rain Station's Criminal Goat CD. Creepin' into your ear holes..."He Went Away" is a slimy, slinky track that Jay and I recorded during the Goat sessions.
The track is a bit creepy, but you all know that Rain Station can get a bit creepy...so there.

Enjoy the FREE track and please drop me a comment.

Remember, Rain Station CDs are available for purchase at NobodyRecords.com.

Be sure and support independent music by purchasing CDs from us.

Thank you for visiting,

Mark Harvey (a.k.a. mopehead)

Click here if you can't figure out where you're supposed to click to download the song.

(link disabled)

Step by Step Criminal Goat- Track 2 of 15

So to keep the download fest going, here's track two - a FREE MP3 download of "Attack At Dawn" (click here to download) (link disabled) taken from Rain Station's Criminal Goat CD.
Enjoy the FREE track and please drop me a comment.
Remember, Rain Station CDs are available for purchase at NobodyRecords.com.

Be sure and support independent music by purchasing CDs from us.


Many thanks,

Mark Harvey (a.k.a. mopehead)

Click here if you can't figure out where you're supposed to click to download the song.

(link disabled)

Step by Step Criminal Goat- Track 1 of 15

Since Jay and I are embarking on the next Rain Station "experience" and since we're creating music using the "Criminal Goat" method of recording (if there is such a thing) I thought I'd post tracks from "Criminal Goat" and as time goes by you will become familiar with that project, thus this new project. I found two versions of the "Criminal Goat" story (which is the Rain Station story) that I'll post and maybe Jay and I can talk 'em over and decide which one is accurate. I know at some point we wrote both of these accounts...maybe it is supposed to be a mystery. Maybe they are both correct.

Oh...and as you may or may not be aware:

Hoagie Malone = Jay E. Moores

mopehead = Mark Harvey

Version one:

In the summer of 1992, Hoagie Malone began coaxing musicians for his recording project "Equator". These sessions produced 33 tracks. Originally released as "Khaki Circus" by Equator, Hoagie felt that the recordings between he and mopehead were going particularly well, so when mixing time came, the 33 tracks became two separate releases. Rain Station was born with the release "Criminal Goat" and Hoagie released the rest as "Equator".

Version two:

"Criminal Goat" was recorded over the summer of '93 at two locations in San Francisco on an old Tascam 4-track.The formula consisted of Hoagie Malone recording beats with two different drum sets, mopehead would then record guitars and/or bass, then guest musicians would come in to record (guitar, bass,keys), and finally Hoagie Malone would write lyrics and do the finishing touches before mopehead and Hoagie would do the final mixes.

Here is a FREE MP3 download of "Sound Of The Summer" (click here to download) (link disabled) taken from Rain Station's Criminal Goat CD. I could listen to this song over and over. At the end of the song the guitar solo by Gary Brain amazes me...really caps off the track. Vintage Rain Station and a great way to start off the "Criminal Goat" blog entries.

Enjoy the FREE track and please drop me a comment.

Remember, Rain Station CDs are available for purchase at NobodyRecords.com.
Be sure and support independent music by purchasing CDs from us.
Many thanks,
Mark Harvey
(a.k.a. mopehead)
Click here if you can't figure out where you're supposed to click to download the song.

(link disabled)