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Speechless
Inspiration & History
Speechless was the first collaboration between Dawn and I. I wrote the music right about the same time Dawn and I got together (which would place it at about October 1998). I have always loved Dawn's voice, and even before we got together I wanted to collaborate on ideas musically. We had kicked around some ideas before this, but this was the first completed song we had done. I had played her a tape of the music I had for this, and I wanted her to write lyrics for it. She said that she needed a melody to write the lyrics, so I overdubbed a quick guitar lead onto the tape so she could use it as a guideline. I by no means felt that it had to (or even should) be the melody. I guess I was wrong. She actually counted out how many syllables each line of the guitar melody would be, so she could write lyrics that would match it exactly. I never fathomed such an approach before this. I tried to tell her to just write the words and adjust the melody as needed, but she did it this way. Just amazing. I was hoping that she would actually write her own melody, but in a way that kind of came true anyway. The words she wrote for the bridge ("I run and strike out...") didn't particularly go with what I played on that tape. Probably because what I played on that tape didn't really go either. So when she actually recorded the vocals, the melody in the bridge was actually ad libbed by her, and I think it's great. She was so embarrased to have me hear her recording the vocals, that she actually made me show her how to use the 4-track, and MADE me sit across the house and watch TV so I would not hear her.
Technical Info
According to my MiniDiscs, the original "Aiwa" mix of this track was dropped to MD on 12-11-98. My lead melody was added soon after. The original recording is notably slower than the "final" version. It has a distinct "Purple Rain" feel about it. It also orignally had guitar swells during the choruses, that were later discarded when they seemed to interfere and distract from the vocals. The rhythm tracks of the 4-track "master" were recorded on 05-10-99. This was about a week or two after I brought my 4-track back from NJ. The vocals were recorded shortly thereafter. I believe the final version was mixed and finished on 05-12-99. This was the first song that actually had a 4 track "master" version.
Rhythm Guitar:
Ibanez UV777BK through Korg A4 Bass direct
Lead Guitar:
Ibanez UV777BK through Korg G1 direct (2x12 Car Subwoofer Hatchback wedgebox used as a monitor provided controlled feedback)
Bass:
Rickenbacker 4001 through Korg A4 Bass direct
Drums:
Yamaha RY-10
Lead & Background Vocals:
Radio Shack 33-3002 through Korg A4 Bass
Recording:
Recorded and mixed onto Yamaha MT120S 4-track. Mixed to Sony MDS-JE320 for final mix. Transferred to PC and mixed and finalized with GoldWave.
-={E-Mail Jake}=-
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