Mark Harvey is the owner/operator of Nobody Records, Pumpkinland Studios and 13thTrack.com Halloween Radio.
In my world it tends to be Halloween much of the time. Strange most of the time. Busy all of the time. Join in on the fun, leave a comment and enjoy your stay...
So Jay has posted a bunch of tracks from our upcoming CD and I thought I'd share them here. "We Are The Ones From The Underground" is the first track that we "finished" (although none of the songs are officially finished) and you can download it here.
Here's a little video of me recording the bass track.
Jay is in Maine right now and I'm looking forward to having him return so we can get back to work on the disc. We have a lot of work to do - recording, mixing, more recording, more mixing, but it is always fun working with Jay and seeing the finished product.
Many times I am at a loss for words (yeah, right Mark)...and for moments like that there is instrumental mopehead. Many of these songs have lyrics written - fully - partly - while others not at all. Some of this music was made for soundtracks, independent movies, video and film. You can find these tracks featured in the NYU grad film "Ozone", the Independent Video "The Anemic Butcher", the web sci-fi saga Super Spy Chick and The SOB Puppet Hour. Jay helped me select the tracks that made the final cut. I have what might amount to a TON of instrumental tracks that have not been released. I should make another pass through them and put out instrumental mopehead volume two...maybe that'd be a good Summer project.
The tracks:
1. sandbag - I envision the Sandman as he travels through the night gently sprinkling sand into our shut and dreaming eyes. Things pick up in the tune mid way through and I don't know what to say about it...in hindsight I probably should have kept it mellow. Somewhere this song has lyrics partly written.
2. If I were - fill in the blank - a song about longing.
3. revolution - This song features a sample of Jay saying "revolution" taken from "The Living Room Sessions". I really dig this track. One of my favorites on the disc.
4. Stanley Rockbottom - A track about not allowing yourself to hit rock bottom - you don't want to be Stanley Rockbottom, do you? This song has lyrics as well, but they've never been recorded.
5. untitled - so...a song named untitled...hmmm...here's what happens - when I start a new song on my E-Mu Darwin the song is called untitled until I title it. This time, I chose not to change it. This song takes me far away each time I hear it. Sometimes I wish I could stay there.
6. girl - This song was written for a man I know who was involved in a long distance relationship with a woman. Each day he would come to work bleary eyed as he spent his nights on the phone with his love. His phone bill was legendary. They are married now with two kids.
7. holloween - This song has some lyrics written for it, but I have yet to complete them which is surprising since it is a song about Halloween.
8. Crushed Black Velvet - I'll never tell what this song is about, but safe to say that I love it when women wear crushed black velvet.
9. blue bar - If I had a bar of my own this would the theme song. Lo-fi, seedy, good drinks and music. I've always wanted to own my own bar or brew pub. I enjoy bar tending and I like to home brew my own beer. Someday...
10. better suited for heaven - Sometimes in life you meet people that are just too good to be true. They seem to be better suited for heaven.
11. ...and he's waiting - The feeling of waiting and hoping she will return. Longing.
12. if - It is good to dream...good to ponder..."if".
And now without delay...instrumental mopehead...
I'll be a little out of pocket for the next few days. I'm going to travel to Tennessee, Alabama and Kentucky. I may blog from the road, but if not I'll be back next week.
"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'!
"It's Always Good" is another compilation of mopehead tracks some of which are REALLY old. This CD only has one guest appearance by Brian Peet (backing vocals on "Phate"). This grouping of songs is full of memories, pain, growth and a little happiness. When I hear these old songs I am always compelled to get of my rear and get back to doing what I love to do. Recording music is something that really fulfills me. It is a musical history lesson - my musical memory. OK, I'll get on with it...
"Somewhere Out" ...a song about wanting to escape the every day grind - a track written while working for the good guys.
"Get Happy" ...a song about what else, getting happy in spite of what might be going on in life. Let's face it, we all have hurdles in life, "Life's no major chore, get happy".
"He Goes To Parties" was written while I was living in SF (recorded at the Rain Station). After drinking a bottle of wine I recorded this track. My buddy Brian Peet liked the track so much we re-recorded it (I blogged about it here). Although the song is written about a specific woman from my past it is not really based in reality. Whenever I hear this song I think of her. She was very special to me. She changed my life. "Flying East" is about going to visit Jay in New York. It was just after I had gotten married, my work life was REALLY getting me down and I was missing my good friend. I recall driving down Interstate 580 and thinking I could just let go of the wheel and let my car crash. I needed some creative time with my creative friend and I had to get away from work for awhile. Jay was living in a mansion on Staten Island and it sounded so magical to me. The years Jay spent in New York were great for him and probably good for me, but I am always happier when he's in California. What I really need is for him to be my next door neighbor so we can create whenever the feeling hits us. "Phate" ...about living life, accepting fate and giving yourself a break every now and then. I am harder on myself than anyone could ever be. More boat references in this track as well.
"It Feels Like I'm Home" ...about a nightly journey to Oakland. I was working at the good guys store on Van Ness in San Francisco and my girlfriend was living in Oakland. Many nights I would commute across the Bay Bridge on my way to her place...driving my VW Bus, listening to Rain Station, burning a stick of nag champa incense.
"Little"...what would a mopehead CD be without a Halloween song on it? This song is about the haunting of a lover.
"Older & Wiser"...about growing up, learning and enjoying life. "We all grow old, some grow wise"...very true.
"It's Always Good"...the title track of the disc and at one minute fifteen seconds is quite the little ditty. I've always loved this one. Music as THE drug. Music can heal. Music!
"A Friend Of Yours"...another song written for/about Jay. Regardless of where we live...I will be a friend.
So there you have it. A song by song account - to the best of my recollection. Have a listen...
Thanks as always for reading...commenting...and hopefully listening.
After I moved to Oakland (and Jay to New York) I began recording and compiling quite a few mopehead songs. Some of the tracks I recorded with Brian Peet, but most of them I recorded on my own. I'm not sure why some of the tracks made it onto mopehead discs while others made it onto Rain Station discs. Both "Big Top Blues" and "It's Always Good" were put together after the songs were recorded. Jay provided the cover art for "Big Top Blues". He also helped me decide which tracks should be put on which disc. The tracks on "Big Top Blues" are all pretty strange - in a sort of novelty vibe sort of way. Most of them were written to give me some weirdness to send East to Jay.
Some of these tracks were recorded on the digital 8 while others were on my old 4-track.
"Pimp Rock Superstar" features vocals by Brian Peet and my ex. Bubo (the "person" referenced in the track) is a statue of an African drummer that we found in the Rain Station in SF. I've had him ever since.
"Mr. Moores In New York" is obviously about Jay in his NY habitat. The "chickie count count" backing vocal is My Monkey.
"Monkey Times" yet another song about My Monkey. More "chickie count count" goin' on.
"Big Top Blues" laments the existence of circus life. And, yes, more of My Monkey. Boat references as this is related to my other CD - SS-MOPEHEAD - which I have yet to get onto Bandcamp. Jay does have some Flash videos for that though...here...
"International Monkey" is yet another song about, what else, My Monkey - and more "chickie chickie count". Brian Peet sings backing vocals on this one as well.
OK, I think it is time to talk about My Monkey (and I do sing about it in my song called, "My Monkey" on SS-MOPEHEAD...another disc I'll try and get up onto Bandcamp). My Grandma made me a sock monkey and from I recall she gave it to me when I was around five. I really loved that monkey and named him "Funky Monkey". Well, my Mom didn't like that name since it sounded too much like the "F" word, so she forbade me from calling him that. I didn't understand (and at five who could blame me). So I called him my monkey, but I knew his name was "Funky Monkey". Anyhow, I've kept that sock monkey and still have him today. A few years after I got him I also got a Snoopy stuffed animal (the ones that you can buy clothes for). I got disco clothes for Snoopy and decided to put the pants on My Monkey (and he's still wearing those pants today). Anyhow, that's a little monkey history lesson for you.
"Every Day, Every Year" is a Halloween tune pure and simple. I have quite a few Halloween tracks that have never been released. I supposed I should some day unleash them onto the public.
"Funky Monkey" is a lo-fi tune about, what else, My Monkey.
"Feelin' Sci-Fi" is another "Halloweenie" track. It sort of reminds me of the music I listened to when I was a kid - Steve Miller Band, Steely Dan, Wings and 70s/80s funk (I could go on and on since I am a music fiend and listened to nearly everything growing up).
"Chompo The Clown" is yet another Halloween track with the added bonus of the "chickie count count" going on.
"I Like The Breeze" finishes up the CD - a bit of a love song - another song about boats.
So what's with the boats, Mark. Well, I can try and explain it two ways. My father was in the Navy - he loved boats. I can remember spending time with him on all sorts of boats - from yachts to row boats to steam boats to destroyers. His naval years made a huge impact on him and he made a huge impact on me. It could also be due to my near drowning as a kid (I think I've nearly drown a few times). I've always had an iffinity to water, oceans, lakes and rivers. So, now that you've learned more about the CD - me, My Monkey and boats...have a listen...
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.
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'sCriminal 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)
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'sCriminal 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.
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'sCriminal 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.
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'sCriminal 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)
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'sCriminal 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)
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'sCriminal 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.
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'sCriminal 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.
This is a repeated blog entry. Since I already wrote about "Summer Home" I figured I'd get lazy and just repost the entry. Plus this being Easter Sunday there are eggs to hunt... So...here goes...
"Summer Home" is one of those rare tracks that has been recorded twice (I think three times actually). It is one of my favorite Rain Station tracks. As the story goes...In the summer of 1992, Hoagie Malone (Jay Moores) 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 (Mark Harvey) 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". "Summer Home" was one of the tracks on "Criminal Goat". Jay recorded drum tracks in his large Mission Street house. I'd come over and record guitar tracks to his tracks and then he'd flesh out the rest. On the original "Criminal Goat" version of "Summer Home" the bass track was played by Jay's buddy Dave Mintim. I moved out to the Sunset (from the Peninsula) and after a few roommates came and left I convinced Jay to move out of the Mission and out towards the ocean. The place we lived in was fairly large and allowed for setting up and playing (as a band). Tony Iuppa (my buddy who played bass in The Screaming Paisleys) joined us as did a friend from work, Brian Peet (on drums - pictured left). Rain Station (the band) was formed and we recorded a three song demo to shop around for gigs. Jay and I also named our home in the Sunset The Rain Station.
"Summer Home" was one of the tracks we recorded for our three song demo - this time on my 4-track. "Summer Home" was added to "Fancy Fancy" as were the other two songs we recorded - "Widdershins" and "Quiet Morning".
Jay and I have yet to record a version of "Summer Home" on something better than a 4-track. I'm sure someday we will as we both love the tune.
So...here you'll find the FREE MP3 downloads of "Summer Home".
"Summer Home" by Rain Station found on "Criminal Goat" (here) (link disabled)
"Summer Home" by Rain Station found on "Fancy Fancy" (here) (link disabled)
So this "Criminal Goat" entry comes with the bonus "Fancy Fancy" version.
Enjoy the FREE tracks and please drop me a comment. Remember, all of my CDs are available for purchase at Nobody Records. Be sure and support independent music and purchasing CDs from us!
Here is a FREE MP3 download of "Heated Afternoon" (click here to download) (link disabled) taken from Rain Station'sCriminal 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)
Here is a FREE MP3 download of "Bull Whisky" (click here to download) (link disabled) taken from Rain Station'sCriminal 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)
Here is a FREE MP3 download of "Fade Away" (click here to download) (link disabled) taken from Rain Station'sCriminal 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.
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'sCriminal 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.
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'sCriminal 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.
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'sCriminal 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.
