ROCK + ROLL IN COLOR, Part Five
Salem Saberhagen
presents
ROCK + ROLL IN COLOR!
SESSION LOGS OF THE NEW ARCHIES
Part Five:
RECORDING SESSIONS
2051 - 2055
A + R SUPERVISION:
NERO the DOG
MUSIC DIRECTOR:
RAMSAY KHALID SHARMA
THE ARCHIES:
RITCHIE "RIKKI NINJA" FONSECA
- LEAD + BACKING VOCALS, KEYBOARDS
MALACHI "MAL HYPSTER" HIPP
- LEAD + BACKING VOCALS, DRUMS, PERCUSSION
JAVIER CORTEZ QUINTANILLA
- SAXOPHONE, FLUTE, HARMONICA, BACKING VOCALS
LANA SUZUKI
- GUITARS, BASS, BACKING VOCALS, PRODUCTION
EMPLOYERS:
REPUBLIC USA RECORDS
BLUE CAT RECORDS
remix sessions
album sessions
singles sessions
ep sessions
overdub sessions
FROM HAVING ATTENDED MANY SESSIONS AT SABRINA'S WITCH QUEEN RECORDING STUDIO, I CAN TELL YOU THAT IT'S ONE OF THE FINEST AUDIO FACILITIES IN THE WORLD. BY THE 2030s, THAT FACT WILL BE WIDELY KNOWN AND EVERYBODY WILL WANT TO RECORD THERE, DESPITE RUMORS THAT THE BUILDING IS HAUNTED!
BEING A WARLOCK, I KNOW THOSE RUMORS ARE TRUE. IN FACT, SOME OF THOSE GHOSTS ARE FRIENDS OF MINE! BUT WITCH QUEEN'S ACOUSTICS ARE SUPERB, CAPABLE OF PICKING UP EVERY NUANCE OF A MUSICAL INSTRUMENT AS WELL AS EVERY GHASTLY MOAN, SHRIEK AND RATTLE! THE NEW-EDITION ARCHIES WILL BE TOTALLY DOWN WITH GHOSTS AND GHOULS, AND THEY'LL FAVOR RECORDING AT WITCH QUEEN OVER ANY OTHER STUDIO.
YET TEZ + NINJA WILL HOPE THAT THEY 'LL WANT TO CUT MASTERS AT A STUDIO OF THEIR OWN! ALTHOUGH THEY’LL BUILD THE MAD GROOVY PAD FOR THEIR OWN USE, THEY INTEND TO SHARE OWNERSHIP WITH THE GROUP. THAT WILL NEVER HAPPEN BECAUSE, FRANKLY, MAD GROOVY HAS SHITTY ACOUSTICS! NOT EVEN THE PRESENCE OF TWO HIGHLY COMPETENT RECORDING ENGINEERS (LANA SUZUKI'S MOTHER SHELLY AND CHUCK CLAYTON'S BROTHER CORKY) CAN COMPENSATE FOR THE DEFICIENCIES.
THE BAND WILL BE EVEN MORE DISSATISFIED WITH VOX POPULI, A HOLE-IN-THE-WALL RECORDING STUDIO LOCATED IN TOKYO'S KABUKICHO DISTRICT. THE ONLY REASON THEY'LL CUT MASTERS THERE IS TO ACCOMMODATE SUSU, WHO'LL OFFICIALLY BECOME THEIR PRODUCER IN THE YEAR 2051. SHE RELOCATES TO JAPAN IN ORDER TO CARE FOR AN AILING MAMA SHELLY.
REGARDLESS OF WHERE TRACKING TAKES PLACE, AUDIO MASTERING FOR NEW ARCHIES RECORDS WILL ALWAYS BE DONE BY SONNY YIN-BAO. PRODUCERS FROM ALL OVER THE WORLD BEAT A PATH TO THE DOOR OF HIS MASTERGROOVE COMPLEX IN PHILADELPHIA! SONNY IS A TOTAL PRO AS WELL AS A GREAT PIECE OF ASS! HOW DO I KNOW THAT? BECAUSE HERE IN THE 2060s, WHERE I'VE RECLAIMED MY HUMAN FORM, DUDE IS MY HUSBAND! SONNY IS CURRENTLY CHIEF ENGINEER @ WITCH QUEEN'S SALT LAKE CITY LOCATION.
JANUARY 16 - 18, 2051
THE MAD GROOVY PAD, CAMBRIDGE
A MAD GROOVY PRODUCTION
REMIX SESSIONS
¡VATOS!
REMIX PRODUCER: LANA SUZUKI
REMIX ENGINEER: CORKY CLAYTON
ÓYE CÓMO VA (TITO PUENTE)
-UNRELEASED
ANY WAY YOU WANTA (FUQUA, GORDY) - UNRELEASED
MESS AROUND (HARLOW, MIRANDA)
EL WATUSI (RAY BARRETO) - UNRELEASED
THE BOTTLE (GIL SCOTT-HERON)
AFRICAN TWIST (CYNTHIA ELLIS)
LUCY'S SPANISH HARLEM (MARÍN, RAMÍREZ)
- UNRELEASED
EVIL WAYS (CLARENCE HENRY)
-UNRELEASED
WADE IN THE WATER (FONSECA, HIPP, WORK)
GYPSY WOMAN (JOE BATAAN)
BAD BREATH (BOBBY VALENTÍN)
- UNRELEASED
AT THE PARTY (HÉCTOR RIVERA)
SPANISH GREASE (CORREA, LASTIE)
FUNKY BLUES (JOSÉ LEBRÓN)
- UNRELEASED
BANG BANG (CUBA, SABATER)
-UNRELEASED
Instrumental: SUGAR, SUGAR
(BARRY, KIM, MILSTEIN)
IN DECEMBER OF 2040, THE ARCHIES WILL HAVE CUT SOME DEMOS FOR A PROSPECTIVE TRIBUTE TO THE BOOGALOO SOUND OF LATE SIXTIES LATIN NEW YORK. NINJA FEELS STRONGLY THAT COVERS OF SONGS LIKE "GYPSY WOMAN", “SPANISH GREASE” AND "AT THE PARTY" CAN HELP THE GROUP BREAK THROUGH COMMERCIALLY IN LATIN AMERICA (SOMETHING THEY UNFORTUNATELY WILL NEVER DO). BREE SPELLMAN IS SKEPTICAL AND PUTS THE KIBOSH ON HIS IDEA; BUT NOW NINJA'S EP CONCEPT IS REALIZED UNDER LANA SUZUKI'S SUPERVISION. ONCE NEW INSTRUMENTS AND VOCALS ARE ADDED, SUSU AND CORKY CLAYTON APPLY A HEAVY "GOTH" SOUND TO THE MIXES. THIS IS DONE AT THE REQUEST OF RECORD LABEL EXECUTIVES; THEY EXPECT THE EP TO DUPLICATE THE SUCCESS OF THE NEW ARCHIES' GOTH-ORIENTED LIGHT OF DAY ALBUM. UNFORTUNATELY, LIGHTNING FAILS TO STRIKE TWICE: FANS TAKE A PASS ON ¡VATOS!
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THERE'S NO MARKET FOR A LATIN GOTH RECORD IN 2051; BUT A CRAZE FOR THAT KIND OF MUSIC IN THE 2080s WILL TURN THE ARCHIES' ROCK EN ESPAÑOL RARITY INTO A COVETED COLLECTOR'S ITEM. IN THE FINAL YEAR OF THAT DECADE, THEIR VATOS! RECORDINGS WILL APPEAR AS BONUS TRACKS ON A CHART-TOPPING REGGIE MANTLE ALBUM REISSUE.
APRIL 2 - 3, 2051
VOX POPULI STUDIOS, TOKYO
A MAD GROOVY PRODUCTION
WITH RAM SHARMA
ALBUM SESSIONS
LOVE JONES
VOCAL ARRANGERS: MAL HYPSTER, RIKKI NINJA
RHYTHM ARRANGERS: RIKKI NINJA, LANA SUZUKI
BRASS ARRANGER: CORTEZ QUINTANILLA
MUSIC DIRECTOR: RAM SHARMA
PRODUCER: LANA SUZUKI
EXECUTIVE PRODUCERS:
BREE SPELLMAN, LYLE JASON BLOSSOM
SOUND ENGINEER: CORKY CLAYTON
IT'S NOT UNUSUAL (MILLS, REED)
- INCOMPLETE
LOVE ME TONIGHT
(MASON, PACE, PANZERI, PILAT)
- INCOMPLETE
DAUGHTER OF DARKNESS (REED, STEPHENS)
- INCOMPLETE
RING OF FIRE (CARTER-CASH, KILGORE)
- SUNSHINE MIND ALBUM
LANA SUZUKI WILL MOVE TO JAPAN TO CARE FOR HER AILING MOTHER AT THE SAME TIME THAT SHE BECOMES NOMINAL PRODUCER OF THE ARCHIES. CONSEQUENTLY, SEVERAL RECORD DATES TAKE PLACE IN TOKYO. SUSU'S OLD FRIEND RAMSAY KHALID "RAM" SHARMA IS IN TOWN, AND SHE ASKS HIM TO PLAY BASS AND SERVE AS MUSIC DIRECTOR. NINJA CONVINCES HIS BANDMATES TO RECORD AN ALBUM TRIBUTE TO SIR TOM JONES, GREAT BRITAIN'S KING OF BLUE-EYED SOUL. HOWEVER, SUSU IS ADAMANTLY OPPOSED TO COVERING JONES' BALLAD HITS, AND THE REST OF THE GROUP IS UNCOMFORTABLE WITH THE CONCEPT. THE ABORTED LOVE JONES SESSIONS YIELD ONLY ONE USABLE TRACK.
THE YEARS 2049, 2050 AND 2051 WILL BE HIT-AND-MISS FOR THE ARCHIES IN TERMS OF COMMERCIAL SUCCESS. THE HIGH POINTS ARE "HUMPTY DUMPTY", THEIR FIRST NUMBER ONE SINGLE, A SMASH HIT ALBUM RECORDED IN FRENCH, A CRITICALLY-ACCLAIMED TELEVISION SOUNDTRACK, AND THE WARM WELCOME THEIR FANS GIVE RIKKI NINJA AS MALE LEAD VOCALIST. THE LOW POINTS ARE A SERIES OF SINGLES THAT FAIL TO SELL, A FLOP TV SERIES AND THE DEPARTURE OF DONNA DANTE FOR AN ACTING CAREER. YET SOME OF THE GROUP'S BIGGEST TRIUMPHS LAY IN THE NEAR FUTURE!
APRIL 16 - 18, 2051
VOX POPULI STUDIOS, TOKYO
A MAD GROOVY PRODUCTION
WITH RAM SHARMA + CLITORIS CLUB
SINGLES SESSIONS
VOCAL ARRANGER: MAL HYPSTER
RHYTHM ARRANGER: RIKKI NINJA
BRASS ARRANGER: CORTEZ QUINTANILLA
MUSIC DIRECTOR: RAM SHARMA
PRODUCER: LANA SUZUKI
EXECUTIVE PRODUCERS:
BREE SPELLMAN, LYLE JASON BLOSSOM
SOUND ENGINEER: CORKY CLAYTON
TRAIN OF LOVE (PAUL ANKA)
- KITSCHANNETTE ALBUM
HEY, MAMA! (PAUL ANKA)
- SINGLE A-SIDE
PROMISE ME ANYTHING (HEMRIC, STYNER)
- SINGLE A-SIDE
DRAGGIN' USA (CHRISTIAN, USHER)
- KITSCHANNETTE ALBUM
TALL PAUL (ROBERTS, SHERMAN)
- KITSCHANNETTE ALBUM
HAPPINESS IS JUST AROUND THE CORNER
(VAN McCOY)
- SUNSHINE MIND ALBUM
MAL HYPSTER AND RIKKI NINJA CHANNEL THE BUBBLEGUM POP SENSIBILITY OF ANNETTE FUNICELLO! THE NEXT ARCHIES ALBUM WILL FEATURE COVERS OF ANNETTE'S NOVELTY-ORIENTED HITS FROM THE LATE 1950s AND EARLY '60s. LANA SUZUKI IS THE DRIVING FORCE BEHIND THIS UNLIKELY CONCEPT. SHE AND MUSIC DIRECTOR RAM SHARMA INVEST THE COVER VERSIONS WITH A CHAOTIC PUNK ROCK SENSIBILITY, BEST EXEMPLIFIED BY "HEY, MAMA!" THE FIRST SINGLE. TO CALL THIS A STYLISTIC LEFT TURN IS AN UNDERSTATEMENT, BUT THE BOMBASTIC PRODUCTION BREAKS FOR A HIT! FORTUNATELY, SUSU KNOWS WHEN TO PULL BACK AND LET A PURE POP SONG BREATHE: "PROMISE ME ANYTHING", DESTINED TO BE THE ALBUM'S THIRD BEST-SELLER, IS A COOL BOSSA NOVA RECORD. CHI AND NINJA SHARE LEAD VOCALS ON BOTH SINGLES. THEY’RE ACCOMPANIED BY CLITORIS CLUB, AN UP-AND-COMING GIRL GROUP ON THE TOKYO MUSIC SCENE.
RIKKI NINJA WILL PASS EXCEPTIONAL SINGING TALENT DOWN TO FONZI NERO, HIS SON WITH ARCHIES MANAGER LYLE JASON BLOSSOM. HOWEVER, IT WILL TAKE TIME FOR FONZI'S STAR TO ASCEND. FROM THE AGE OF EIGHTEEN, HE'LL LEAD NINJA'S TOURING BAND. AT AGE 26, HE'LL BREAK AWAY TO LAUNCH HIS OWN GROUP. WHEN THAT DOESN'T WORK OUT, HE JOINS AN ACT CALLED THE JEFF JUNE XPERIENCE; IT'S LED BY THE SON OF RAM SHARMA, MUSIC DIRECTOR FOR THE ARCHIES. INITIALLY A BACKGROUND SINGER, FONZI MOVES UP TO LEAD VOCALS JUST IN TIME TO BE FEATURED ON TWIST-O-RAMA, ONE OF THE TOP POP ALBUMS OF 2084! IT'S PUBLIC KNOWLEDGE THAT "THE FONZ" IS AN HEIR TO THE BLOSSOM FORTUNE, BUT THERE'S SOMETHING SHOCKING ABOUT HIM THAT VERY FEW PEOPLE KNOW: HE'S ALSO THE HUMAN REINCARNATION OF A PET POODLE! AND NOT JUST ANY POODLE: NERO THE DOG WILL HAVE BEEN A CANINE WONDER WITH PRONOUNCED HUMAN QUALITIES. AFTER SABRINA USES MAGIC TO ENHANCE THOSE GIFTS, HE'LL BECOME HER PRODUCTION ASSISTANT. THE STORY OF HOW NERO THE DOG BECOMES FONZI THE POP STAR IS A CONVOLUTED ONE! SUFFICE IT TO SAY THAT IT INVOLVES TWO WITCHES: SABRINA AND HER ARCH-ENEMY, CARMEN SERNA. FONZI WILL HAVE NO MEMORY OF HIS PAST LIFE, JUST A BODY DYSPHORIA THAT GROWS PROGRESSIVELY WORSE!
APRIL 20 - 22, 2051
VOX POPULI STUDIOS, TOKYO
A MAD GROOVY PRODUCTION
WITH RAM SHARMA + CLITORIS CLUB
ALBUM SESSIONS
KITSCHANNETTE
VOCAL ARRANGER: MAL HYPSTER
RHYTHM ARRANGER: RIKKI NINJA
BRASS ARRANGER: CORTEZ QUINTANILLA
MUSIC DIRECTOR: RAM SHARMA
PRODUCER: LANA SUZUKI
EXECUTIVE PRODUCERS:
BREE SPELLMAN, LYLE JASON BLOSSOM
SOUND ENGINEER: CORKY CLAYTON
DANCE ANNETTE (BOB + DICK SHERMAN)
WALKIN' + TALKIN' (MANNING, TWOMEY)
FIRST NAME INITIAL
(KALMANOFF, SCHROEDER)
PINEAPPLE PRINCESS (BOB + DICK SHERMAN)
JO-JO, THE DOG-FACED BOY
(ROBERTS, SHERMAN)
THE STRUMMIN' SONG
(BOB + DICK SHERMAN)
MAL HYPSTER SINGS EXUBERANT LEAD VOCALS ON ALL OF THESE SELECTIONS. PROMINENT B-52'S STYLE BACKGROUND HARMONIES ARE SUPPLIED BY MAY, KAY AND FAY CLITORIS. THE TEENAGE TRIO ARE A KEY INGREDIENT IN THE SUCCESS OF THE KITSCHANNETTE ALBUM. LATER ON, THEY'LL PLAY A BIG PART IN CHI'S SOLO CAREER. MEMBERS OF THE TOKYO SYMPHONY WILL MISTAKENLY BE CREDITED FOR THE BIG BAND SOUND OF THIS ALBUM, BUT IT’S ACTUALLY TEZ QUINTANILLA AND RAM SHARMA PLAYING DIFFERENT HORNS ON LOAN FROM THE SYMPHONY. LANA SUZUKI LOVES TO OVERDUB INSTRUMENTS, AND ON THIS PROJECT SHE NEARLY DRIVES POOR CORKY CLAYTON CRAZY!
APRIL 25 - 27, 2051
VOX POPULI STUDIOS, TOKYO
A MAD GROOVY PRODUCTION
WITH RAM SHARMA + CLITORIS CLUB
ALBUM SESSIONS
KITSCHANNETTE
VOCAL ARRANGER: MAL HYPSTER
RHYTHM ARRANGER: RIKKI NINJA
BRASS ARRANGER: CORTEZ QUINTANILLA
MUSIC DIRECTOR: RAM SHARMA
PRODUCER: LANA SUZUKI
EXECUTIVE PRODUCERS:
BREE SPELLMAN, LYLE JASON BLOSSOM
SOUND ENGINEER: CORKY CLAYTON
OH, DIO MIO (HOFFMAN, MANNING)
HE'S MY IDEAL (CAMARATA, DUNHAM)
SURFER'S HOLIDAY
(CHRISTIAN, USHER, WILSON)
CANZONE D'AMORE (BOB + DICK SHERMAN)
- SINGLE B-SIDE
RIKKI NINJA NEVER WARMS UP TO THE ANNETTE FUNICELLO ALBUM CONCEPT. HOWEVER, YOU'D NEVER KNOW IT FROM THE SURE-FOOTED READINGS HE GIVES THESE DEEP CUTS FROM HER SONG CATALOG. HE’S ALSO RESPONSIBLE FOR THE EXQUISITE ACCORDION ACCOMPANIMENT! PARTIALLY SUNG IN ITALIAN, "OH, DIO MIO" AND THE EXTREMELY CAMPY "CANZONE D'AMORE" PREVIEW NINJA'S SOLO CAREER; TWENTY YEARS FROM NOW, DUDE WILL BE A SUPERSTAR IN ITALY.
APRIL 29 - MAY 1, 2051
VOX POPULI STUDIOS, TOKYO
A MAD GROOVY PRODUCTION
WITH RAM SHARMA + CLITORIS CLUB
ALBUM SESSIONS
KITSCHANNETTE
VOCAL ARRANGER: MAL HYPSTER
RHYTHM ARRANGER: RIKKI NINJA
BRASS ARRANGER: CORTEZ QUINTANILLA
MUSIC DIRECTOR: RAM SHARMA
PRODUCER: LANA SUZUKI
EXECUTIVE PRODUCERS:
BREE SPELLMAN, LYLE JASON BLOSSOM
SOUND ENGINEER: CORKY CLAYTON
DREAMIN' ABOUT YOU (GOFFIN, KING)
ANNETTE MEDLEY:
Rock-A-Cha/Rock-A-Polka
(BOB + DICK SHERMAN)
BLUE MUU MUU (JACK PITMAN)
- SINGLE B-SIDE
WAIKIKI (CHRISTIAN, USHER)
- SINGLE B-SIDE
MAL HYPSTER SINGS LEAD ON "DREAMIN' ABOUT YOU" AND "BLUE MUU MUU", WHILE RIKKI NINJA FEATURES ON THE ANNETTE MEDLEY AND "WAIKIKI". LANA SUZUKI DEMONSTRATES IMPRESSIVE UKULELE SKILLS ON ALL OF THESE TRACKS. NINJA'S LATIN MUSIC BACKGROUND IS EVIDENT ON HIS SALSA-LICIOUS ARRANGEMENT OF "ROCK-A-CHA" - HE FALLS IN LOVE WITH THE TUNE, AND IT WILL LATER RESURFACE IN HIS SOLO REPERTOIRE. CONVERSELY, DUDE HATES "ROCK-A-POLKA" WITH A PASSION AND CAN BARELY GET THROUGH IT! AFTER SEVEN FAILED TAKES, SUSU HAS TO RECORD HIM SINGING THE TWO PARTS OF THE ANNETTE MEDLEY SEPARATELY. LATER SHE'LL SPLICE THEM TOGETHER, ALL THE WHILE GRUMBLING ABOUT WASTED TIME; BUT HAVING THOSE TWO SEPARATE TRACKS WILL PROVE MUCH TO HER BENEFIT IN A COUPLE OF MONTHS.
IN THE YEAR 2063, ARCHIE ANDREWS COMMISSIONS TWO LIMITED-EDITION BOX SETS FROM VOX SOUND + IMAGE. ONE WILL BE A COLLECTION OF SINGLES BY THE ORIGINAL ARCHIES, AND THE OTHER WILL SHOWCASE SINGLES BY THE SUCCESSOR GROUP. BOTH BOXES FEATURE PREVIOUSLY-UNRELEASED SIDES. ONLY A PAIR OF EACH BOX WILL BE MANUFACTURED, AND NONE OF THE FOUR ARE MEANT FOR COMMERCIAL SALE. SONNY YIN-BAO WILL SUPERVISE THEIR PRODUCTION AND RETAIN ONE FOR HIS HUSBAND, SALEM SABERHAGEN. IN THE YEAR 2136, THE WALT DISNEY COMPANY WILL OBTAIN THAT RARE SET FOR ITS ARCHIVES. WHEN ARCHIVISTS OPEN THE BOX AND SEE LABELS FOR DISNEY'S BUENA VISTA SUBSIDIARY ON THE VINYL INSTEAD OF VOX LABELS, THEY'LL BEDUMBFOUNDED! DISNEY WON'T PURCHASE VOX UNTIL 2124 - HOW CAN THIS BE? EVER THE PRANKSTER, SALEM "DA KATT" WILL HAVE HAD ONE OF HIS LITTLE JOKES!
JULY 8, 2051
VOX POPULI STUDIOS, TOKYO
A MAD GROOVY PRODUCTION
REMIX SESSION
REMIX PRODUCER: LANA SUZUKI
REMIX ENGINEER: CORKY CLAYTON
ROCK-A-POLKA (BOB + DICK SHERMAN)
- SINGLE A-SIDE
THE KITSCHANNETTE ALBUM BREAKS FOR A SMASH HIT, BUT ONLY AFTER THE NEW ARCHIES PROMOTE IT WITH AN ELABORATE ROAD SHOW. A SURREAL MIX OF MUSIC AND SATIRE DIRECTED BY SABRINA'S COUSIN AMBROSE, CRITICS WILL COMPARE THE KITSCHANNETTE TOUR TO A VINTAGE MONTY PYTHON REVUE. THE SONG THAT DRIVES AUDIENCES WILD EVERY NIGHT IS THE ONE RIKKI NINJA CAN'T STAND: "ROCK-A-POLKA"! LANA SUZUKI RUSHES TO COMPLETE A REMIX OF THE TRACK, AND BECAUSE SHE DOESN'T HAVE TO EDIT IT OUT OF THE ANNETTE MEDLEY, THE JOB IS FINISHED QUICKLY. HER REMIX IS RELEASED AS A DVD SINGLE TWO DAYS LATER; THE VIDEO, IN WHICH A NOTICEABLY PREGNANT NINJA IMPERSONATES GROUCHO MARX, IS AN OUTTAKE FROM THE ROAD SHOW. TWO WEEKS LATER, IT'S IN THE TOP TEN! ONE WEEK LATER THE SINGLE VAULTS TO NUMBER ONE, WHERE IT WILL REMAIN FOR FIVE WEEKS.
JUNE 5 -8, 2052
VOX POPULI STUDIOS, TOKYO
THE MAD GROOVY PAD, CAMBRIDGE
A MAD GROOVY PRODUCTION
WITH RAM SHARMA + THE HYPSTERZ
SINGLES SESSIONS
VOCAL ARRANGERS:
MAL HYPSTER WITH THE HYPSTERZ
RHYTHM ARRANGER: RIKKI NINJA
BRASS ARRANGER: CORTEZ QUINTANILLA
PRODUCER: LANA SUZUKI
EXECUTIVE PRODUCERS:
BREE SPELLMAN, LYLE JASON BLOSSOM
SOUND ENGINEERS:
JAXXON HOTODA, CORKY CLAYTON
JUDY IN DISGUISE (BERNARD, GOURRIER)
- SUNSHINE MIND ALBUM
SUGAR MAN (LINZER, RANDELL)
- SINGLE B-SIDE
PANTS ON FIRE (JAMES DONNA)
- SUNSHINE MIND ALBUM
KEEP ON TRYIN' (VAN McCOY)*
- SUNSHINE MIND ALBUM
THE SECRET (FASMAN, SPERRY)
- SINGLES COLLECTION (PRIVATE PRESSING)
LOVE THE ONE YOU'RE WITH
(STEPHEN STILLS)
- SINGLES COLLECTION (PRIVATE PRESSING)
LANA SUZUKI SUPERVISES THESE SESSIONS FROM TOKYO WHILE RIKKI NINJA, MAL HYPSTER + CORTEZ QUINTANILLA PERFORM MUSIC AND VOCALS IN CAMBRIDGE. CHI'S LITTLE SISTER CASS AND OLDER BROTHER JESSE (THE HYPSTERZ) ARE ON HAND TO SING BACKGROUND VOCALS. NOTHING BUT A NON-CHARTING B-SIDE WILL BE RELEASED, BUT THESE BI-NATIONAL TRACKING DATES ARE PIVOTAL: THEY'RE THE FIRST SESSIONS NINJA TAKES PART IN AFTER THE BIRTH OF HIS SON, FUTURE POP STAR FONZI NERO! HE SINGS LEAD ON JOHN FRED AND THE PLAYBOYS' "JUDY IN DISGUISE" AND DUETS WITH CHI ON "PANTS ON FIRE" AND "LOVE THE ONE YOU'RE WITH"( TUNES INTRODUCED BY THE CASTAWAYS AND STEPHEN STILLS, RESPECTIVELY.) TEZ TAKES A RARE TURN AT THE MIKE FOR "SUGAR MAN" (WRITTEN FOR BUT NEVER RECORDED BY THE MONKEES) AND "THE SECRET," A SONG FIRST HEARD IN THE POPULAR EIGHTIES TV SERIES FAME. THESE ARE ALSO THE FIRST SESSIONS AT WHICH FUTURE ARCHIES MEMBER RAM SHARMA SINGS A LEAD VOCAL: THE BOBBY VEE OLDIE "KEEP ON TRYIN" (LISTED HERE AS A GUEST APPEARANCE). FINALLY, THEY'RE THE LAST SESSIONS THAT SUSU PRODUCES IN JAPAN. SADLY, MAMA SHELLY WILL DIE WITHIN DAYS, AND AT HER BANDMATES’ URGING, LANA SUZUKI WILL RETURN TO NEW ENGLAND.
TV HOST DEAN STAFFORD IS THE SIMON COWELL OF HIS ERA: A BRUTALLY HONEST IMPRESARIO WHO NEVER HESITATES TO TRASH ARTISTS ON THE AIR, RIGHT TO THEIR FACES! JUST AS THIS KIND OF APPROACH MADE "AMERICAN IDOL" A RATINGS SMASH, SO DOES IT TURN A CANADIAN REVIVAL OF THE BRITISH ROCK SERIES "READY, STEADY, GO!" INTO MUST-SEE TELEVISION. IT'S A RATINGS WINNER FROM 2039 TO 2057. THE ARCHIES ARE ONE OF THE FEW BANDS THAT CAN MEET DINO'S EXPECTATIONS; HE DECLARES THEM "ROCK ROYALTY" AND FEATURES THEM AS OFTEN AS POSSIBLE. THE SHOW AND THE BAND BOTH CALL IT QUITS THE SAME YEAR, BUT THEIR SHARED HEYDAY WILL BE CAPTURED ON A 2087 COMPILATION. NEW ARCHIES AT RSG FEATURES FIFTEEN OF THE GROUP'S TV PERFORMANCES ALONG WITH A BONUS TRACK: A NEVER-COMMERCIALLY-RELEASED THEME SONG THAT THEY RECORDED FOR THE SERIES IN 2049.
SEPTEMBER 1 - 5, 2052
WITCH QUEEN RECORDING STUDIO, BOSTON
A WITCH QUEEN PRODUCTION
WITH RAM SHARMA
EP SESSIONS
"HEY, MISTER SUN"
VOCAL ARRANGER: MAL HYPSTER
RHYTHM ARRANGER: RIKKI NINJA
BRASS ARRANGER: CORTEZ QUINTANILLA
MUSIC DIRECTOR: RAM SHARMA
PRODUCER: LANA SUZUKI
EXECUTIVE PRODUCERS:
BREE SPELLMAN, LYLE JASON BLOSSOM
SOUND ENGINEER: CORKY CLAYTON
HEY, LEROY! (CASTOR, PRUITT) - UNRELEASED
SUAVECITO (BEAN, TELLEZ, ZERATE) - UNRELEASED
BOOGALOO BLUES (JOHNNY COLÓN) - UNRELEASED
DON{T LET ME BE MISUNDERSTOOD
(BENJAMIN, CALDWELL, MARCUS) - UNRELEASED
LITTLE WOMAN (DANNY JANSSEN)
LA-LA-LA IF I HAD YOU (DANNY JANSSEN)
THE DRUM (ALAN O'DAY)
JULIE, DO YA LOVE ME? (TOM BAHLER)
EASY COME, EASY GO
(HILDERBRAND, KELLER)
HEY, MISTER SUN (DANNY JANSSEN)
WATUSI BOOGALOO (WILLIE ROSARIO)
- UNRELEASED
Instrumental: WATERMELON MAN
(HERBIE HANCOCK)
- UNRELEASED
SUSU HELMS THIS ABORTED EP SESSION IN HER NEW JOB AS MANAGER OF WITCH QUEEN RECORDING STUDIO. SABRINA AND SOUND ENGINEER YVONNE REMY ARE LEAVING BOSTON FOR HOLLYWOOD AND PRESTIGE JOBS IN THE MUSIC DIVISION OF DISNEY STUDIOS! BREE'S PRODUCTION ASSISTANT NERO THE DOG HAS BEEN PROMOTED TO A + R SUPERVISOR, AND HER RIGHT-HAND MAN SALEM SABERHAGEN IS BUSY LAUNCHING HIS OWN RECORD LABEL. CORKY CLAYTON LEAVES THE MAD GROOVY PAD TO CONTINUE WORKING WITH SUSU; HE’LL TAKE OVER THE CONTROL BOARD IN WITCH QUEEN’S SKELETON HEAD SOUND BOOTH. THE MAIN PURPOSE OF THESE SESSIONS IS TO CUT A GOTH-FREE FOLLOW-UP TO THE ¡VATOS! EP - SOMETHING NINJA FERVENTLY DESIRES, EVEN THOUGH CHANCES OF GETTING IT RELEASED ARE SLIM. HOWEVER, SUSU WANTS TO APPLY THE KITSCHANNETTE FORMULA TO BOBBY SHERMAN'S CATALOG, AND SHE SUCCEEDS IN SHIFTING THE GROUP'S FOCUS TO TEEN IDOL POP. UNFORTUNATEY, NOBODY'S HEART IS IN THE EFFORT; TEZ + NINJA IN PARTICULAR DON’T WANT TO GO DOWN THE PUNK ROCK/CHILDREN'S NOVELTY ROAD AGAIN! THE REMAINDER OF THE SESSION IS DEVOTED TO MORE LATIN SOUL, BUT NINJA COMPLAINS THAT THE SPARK IS GONE. HEY, MISTER SUN WILL BE RELEASED AS AN EP IN THE YEAR 2077.
JANUARY 14 - 20, 2053
WITCH QUEEN RECORDING STUDIO, BOSTON
A WITCH QUEEN PRODUCTION
WITH LANA SUZUKI, SUCCUBUS + FAST FLOSSIE
ALBUM SESSIONS
RED LIGHT ROCK + ROLL
DONNA DANTE
VOCAL ARRANGER: DONNA DANTE
MUSIC DIRECTOR: RAM SHARMA
PRODUCER: LANA SUZUKI
SOUND ENGINEER: CORKY CLAYTON
UNDERCOVER LOVER (PAUL SABU)
WHAT I DO TO MEN (PAUL SABU)
- SINGLE B-SIDE
HOT! HOT! GIVE IT ALL YA GOT (PAUL SABU)
HOLD ME, SQUEEZE ME (PAUL SABU)
RED LIGHT ROCKER (PAUL SABU)
- 12-INCH SINGLE B-SIDE
HEAVY BREATHIN' (PAUL SABU)
- UNRELEASED
ACTRESS DONNA DANTE TAKES A BREAK FROM HER SUCCESSFUL MOVIE CAREER TO CUT HER FIRST SOLO ALBUM. THE PROJECT HAS TAKEN YEARS TO SCHEDULE, BUT SHE HOLDS LANA SUZUKI TO A LONG-AGO PROMISE TO PRODUCE IT FOR HER. FANS OF THE STRAWBERRY-BLONDE PUNK ROCKER WILL BE BLINDSIDED WHEN SHE RELEASES THIS COLLECTION OF VINTAGE DISCO TUNES, WITH BACKING VOCALS BY RETRO-DISCO GROUP FAST FLOSSIE! ALL SONGS WERE ORIGINALLY RECORDED BY ANN-MARGRET, DEBBIE JACOBS-ROCK AND OTHER DANCE DIVAS FROM THE LATE SEVENTIES. LANA SUZUKI’S BLISTERING LEAD GUITAR KEEPS THE MUSIC FROM SOUNDING FORMULAIC, BUT NEITHER CRITICS NOR MUSIC BUYERS WILL SHOW MUCH INTEREST. RED LIGHT ROCK + ROLL COMES AND GOES WITHOUT MAKING MUCH IMPACT. ALL THE SAME, THESE SESSIONS PRECIPITATE A SEISMIC CHANGE IN DEE DEE'S LIFE: THEY'RE WHERE SHE FIRST MEETS AND WORKS WITH RAM SHARMA, HER FUTURE HUSBAND!
THERE'S NO TRUTH TO REPORTS THAT SABRINA "BREE" SPELLMAN IS THE PRODUCT OF AN INTER-SPECIES MARRIAGE: MORTAL AND WICCAN! BOTH OF HER PARENTS WERE WICCANS, AND HER MOTHER IS DELLA
NIGHTSHADE, A PAST WITCH QUEEN OF THE UNIVERSAL REALM. HOWEVER, BREE'S LINEAGE DOES INCLUDE MORTALS: HER GRANDMOTHER WAS HOLLYWOOD LEGEND ANNA MAY WONG, THE FIRST CHINESE-AMERICAN MOVIE STAR! SHE ALSO BOASTS ITALIAN AND JEWISH HERITAGE. WHILE WICCANS CAN RENOUNCE THEIR HERITAGE AND VOLUNTARILY GIVE UP THEIR MAGIC POWERS - AS BOTH SABRINA’S FATHER AND AUNT DID - THEY CAN NEVER BECOME FULLY MORTAL.
FEBRUARY 6 - 9, 2053
THE MAD GROOVY PAD, CAMBRIDGE
A MAD GROOVY PRODUCTION
WITH RAM SHARMA
ALBUM SESSIONS
RED LIGHT ROCK + ROLL
DONNA DANTE WITH THE ARCHIES
VOCAL ARRANGERS:
DONNA DANTE, MAL HYPSTER
RHYTHM ARRANGER: RIKKI NINJA
BRASS ARRANGER: CORTEZ QUINTANILLA
MUSIC DIRECTOR: RAM SHARMA
PRODUCERS: THE ARCHIES
SOUND ENGINEER: JON TAGGERT
DESTINY (PAUL SABU)
LOVE RUSH (PAUL SABU)
SHOTGUN (PAUL SABU)
MIDNIGHT MESSAGE (PAUL SABU)
HELP ME LOVE AGAIN (PAUL SABU)
SHAKE YOUR BAIT (PAUL SABU)
SINGLE A-SIDE
IT SEEMS INEVITABLE THAT THE REST OF DEE DEE'S BANDMATES WOULD GET INVOLVED WITH HER SOLO ALBUM. WITH MUSIC DIRECTOR RAM IN TOW, SHE COMMUTES TO CAMBRIDGE IN ORDER TO CUT HALF THE TRACKS WITH CHI, TEZ + NINJA. THIS IS ONE OF THE LAST SESSIONS THAT RIKKI NINJA LOGS WITH THE ARCHIES; HE’LL SOON QUIT THE BAND TO PURSUE A SOLO CAREER! HIS PENULTIMATE COLLABORATION WITH BANDMATES WILL BE HIS DÉBUT ALBUM, TO BE RECORDED LATER IN THE YEAR.
AUGUST 25 - 28, 2053
ROCK MASTERS STUDIO, NORFOLK
A SHARMANTE PRODUCTION
SINGLES SESSIONS
DONNA DANTE
WITH THE NEW ARCHIES
VOCAL ARRANGERS:
MAL HYPSTER, DONNA DANTE
RHYTHM ARRANGER: RAM SHARMA
BRASS ARRANGER: CORTEZ QUINTANILLA
MUSIC DIRECTOR: RAM SHARMA
PRODUCER: DR. BLUE
EXECUTIVE PRODUCERS:
DONNA DANTE, RAM SHARMA
SOUND ENGINEER: VELMA HATHAWAY
A LOTTA LOVE (BANKS, PARKER)
- SUNSHINE MIND ALBUM
HALOS MEDLEY:
Come Softly To Me (THE FLEETWOODS)/
Do I? (ANDREW, KAYE, SHAYNE)
- SUNSHINE MIND ALBUM
CORTEZ QUINTANILLA IS MARRIED TO LESTER BLUE, A FORMER PRODUCER AND RECORD EXECUTIVE. IN THE MID-2050s,THEIR RELATIONSHIP WILL HIT A ROCKY PATCH; THEY’LL CHOOSE TO DEAL WITH IT BY DOING THINGS TOGETHER WHENEVER POSSIBLE - INCLUDING THEIR JOBS. THIS IS WHY THEY BOTH GO TO NORFOLK, VIRGINIA, WHERE DONNA DANTE IS WORKING ON A FILM. AT THE SAME TIME, SHE AND RAMSAY KHALID SHARMA ARE ATTEMPTING TO CUT A FOLLOW-UP SOLO SINGLE FOR HER. THEY INTEND "A LOTTA LOVE" (FIRST RECORDED BY HOMER BANKS) TO BE COUPLED WITH A MEDLEY OF OLDIES INTRODUCED IN 1966 BY THE HALOS. THE COUPLE BOOKS A FAMOUS LOCAL STUDIO BUT THEY HIT A CREATIVE STONE WALL, SO DEE DEE ASKS HER FORMER BANDMATES FOR HELP. MUCH TO HER DISAPPOINTMENT, RIKKI NINJA AND LANA SUZUKI ARE TOO BUSY BUT CHI AND TEZ ARE AVAILABLE, AND SHE’S THRILLED TO HAVE DR. BLUE ON THE DATE! HE HAS SEVERAL NEO SOUL SMASHES ON HIS PRODUCTION RESUME. NO FAN OF LONG-DISTANCE COLLABORATIONS, SHE INSISTS ON FLYING THEM DOWN. NINJA AND SUSU WILL LATER LEARN HOW LUCKY THEY WERE TO MISS OUT: THE REUNION WON'T HAVE BEEN A HAPPY ONE DUE TO BATTLING HUSBANDS! NOT GIVING EACH OTHER ANY PERSONAL SPACE HAS PROVEN TO BE A POOR WAY TO KEEP THE PEACE: BEFORE LONG, TEZ AND LESTER ARE SCREAMING PROFANITIES AT EACH OTHER! EVEN BEFORE THE SESSION IS FINISHED, RAM DECIDES TO SHELVE THE SINGLE: THE VIBE IN THE STUDIO IS JUST TOO NEGATIVE! AND THAT'S JUST TOO BAD, BECAUSE DESPITE THE VOLATILE ATMOSPHERE, A GREAT PAIR OF TRACKS ARE LAID DOWN. AS FOR THE DOCTOR AND HIS HUBBY, THEY WILL SEPARATE FOR A FEW MONTHS BUT THEIR MARRIAGE BOND PROVES STRONG; ULTIMATELY, IT WILL HOLD.
OCTOBER 2 - 5, 2053
THE MAD GROOVY PAD, CAMBRIDGE
A MAD GROOVY PRODUCTION
WITH CORKY CLAYTON
ALBUM SESSIONS
N I N J A
IN A TOM JONES GROOVE!
ARRANGER/CONDUCTOR/PRODUCER:
RIKKI NINJA
SOUND ENGINEER: JON TAGGERT
ONCE UPON A TIME (GORDON MILLS)
WITH THESE HANDS (DAVIS, SILVER)
HELP YOURSELF! (DONIDA, FISHMAN, RAPETTI)
IT'S NOT UNUSUAL (MILLS, REED)
(LOOKS LIKE) I'LL NEVER FALL IN LOVE AGAIN
(CURRIE, DONEGAN)
DAUGHTER OF DARKNESS (REED, STEPHENS)
RIKKI NINJA REALIZES HIS DREAM OF CUTTING AN ALBUM TRIBUTE TO TOM JONES! ALTHOUGH HE TAKES SOLE PRODUCTION CREDIT, MAL HYPSTER AND CORTEZ QUINTANILLA (THANKFULLY, WITHOUT HIS HUSBAND IN TOW) LEND MUCH MORE THAN A HELPING HAND. NINJA PLAYS ALL OF THE INSTRUMENTS HIMSELF, BUT CHI CONTRIBUTES ADDITIONAL PERCUSSION AND VOCAL ARRANGEMENTS, AND TEZ REINFORCES HIS KEYBOARD RIFFS WITH SUBTLE HORN, FLUTE AND HARMONICA OVERDUBS. NATURALLY, THEY JOIN FORCES WITH HIM TO CREATE THE BACKGROUND HARMONIES. NOT SATISFIED WITH HIS OWN GUITAR PARTS, NINJA CALLS ON LANA SUZUKI - IN VAIN, BECAUSE SHE’S UP TO HER NECK IN STUDIO BOOKINGS! SHE DOES LEND HIM THE SERVICES OF SOUND ENGINEER CORKY CLAYTON, WHO’S COMPETENT ON BOTH GUITAR AND BASS. CORKY ENDS UP TRACKING BOTH INSTRUMENTS FOR THE ALBUM AND ADVISING SOUND ENGINEER JON TAGGERT ON MIXES.
OCTOBER 17 - 20, 2053
THE MAD GROOVY PAD, CAMBRIDGE
A MAD GROOVY PRODUCTION
WITH CORKY CLAYTON
ALBUM SESSIONS
N I N J A
IN A TOM JONES GROOVE!
RIKKI NINJA
ARRANGER/CONDUCTOR/PRODUCER:
RIKKI NINJA
SOUND ENGINEER: JON TAGGERT
GREEN, GREEN, GRASS OF HOME
(CURLY PUTNAM)
I'M NOT RESPONSIBLE (GORDON MILLS)
KEY TO MY HEART (GORDON MILLS)
CAN'T STOP LOVING YOU!
(BICKERTON, WADDINGTON)
LOVE ME TONIGHT
(MASON, PACE, PANZERI, PILAT)
'TIL (DANVERS, GAIANO, SIGMAN)
IT'S DURING THESE SESSIONS THAT NINJA SITS FOR CONTROVERSIAL NUDE PORTRAITS TO PROMOTE HIS FORTHCOMING ALBUM. THESE FULL-FRONTAL POSES ARE THE MOST EXPLICIT ROCK STAR PHOTOS SINCE JOHN LENNON AND YOKO ONO POSED AS "TWO VIRGINS!" THEY TRANSFORM THE FORMER NANCY ROCHELLE FONSECA INTO AN INTERNATIONAL TRANSSEXUAL ICON. HOWEVER, NINJA'S SUBSEQUENT ALBUM SALES OWE NOTHING TO SENSATIONAL PRESS: THE QUALITY OF HIS MUSIC SPEAKS FOR ITSELF.
NOVEMBER 2 -3, 2053
THE MAD GROOVY PAD, CAMBRIDGE
SINGLES SESSIONS
A MAD GROOVY PRODUCTION
RIKKI NINJA
WITH THE ARCHIES
ARRANGER/CONDUCTOR/PRODUCER:
RIKKI NINJA
SOUND ENGINEER: JON TAGGERT
A MINUTE OF YOUR TIME (CLIVE WESTLAKE)
- SINGLE B-SIDE
RESURRECTION SHUFFLE (TONY ASHTON)
-SINGLE A-SIDE
SABRINA MAY NO LONGER RESIDES IN NEW ENGLAND, BUT SHE OCCASIONALLY CHECKS IN ON HER PROTEGÉS. SHE MATERIALIZES IN THE CONTROL BOOTH WHILE NINJA IS MIXING HIS SOLO ALBUM, AND HE INVITES HER TO PREVIEW THE TRACKS. AS SHE DID ONCE BEFORE (SEE THE ENTRY FOR SEPTEMBER 4-5, 2041), SHE INFURIATES HIM BY SAYING "THERE'S NO SINGLE HERE!" MAL HYPSTER SUGGESTS THAT THEY ALL WORK TOGETHER TO REMEDY THE PROBLEM. BREE CONVINCES NINJA TO COVER "RESURRECTION SHUFFLE" AND "A MINUTE OF YOUR TIME", TWO LESSER-KNOWN TOM JONES HITS, AND SHE HELPS FINE-TUNE THE ARRANGEMENTS. SHE DECLARES THESE SONGS SUREFIRE HITS FOR HIM AND IS PROVEN RIGHT: THE DOUBLE-A-SIDE DVD SINGLE WILL BREAK FOR A SMASH IN EUROPE! SABRINA CO-PRODUCES THE DATE WITH NINJA BUT DECLINES TO TAKE CREDIT. HOWEVER, SHE SCOLDS HIM FOR NOT GIVING THE ARCHIES CREDIT FOR MUSICAL ACCOMPANIMENT! PROPERLY SHAMED, HE RECTIFIES THE OMISSION. BY THE TIME HIS SOLO PROJECT IS ISSUED, NINJA WILL HAVE SOLD HIS SHARE OF THE MAD GROOVY PAD TO TEZ; WHO, HAVING DETERMINED THAT HIS EXTENSIVE WORK THERE WAS A MAJOR SOURCE OF MARITAL STRIFE FOR HIM, WILL SHUTTER THE COMPLEX AT THE END OF 2053.
IT TAKES MORE THAN A DRASTIC CHANGE OF MUSICAL DIRECTION FOR THE ARCHIES TO RECLAIM THE TOP OF THE CHARTS AGAIN. A WILDLY POPULAR CONCERT TOUR MIXING MUSIC WITH COMEDY LIGHTS A FIRE UNDER THEIR LATEST RELEASES: THE NOVELTY SINGLE "ROCK-A-POLKA" AND ITS SIMILARLY-THEMED PARENT ALBUM, KITSCHANNETTE! THE SINGLE GOES STRAIGHT TO NUMBER ONE. HOWEVER, HALF OF THE GROUP IS UNHAPPY WITH THIS NEW SOUND AND IS AGAINST KEEPING IT. RIKKI NINJA IS EAGER TO CHART HIS OWN COURSE AND GOES SOLO. THE OTHER MEMBERS WILL DO LIKEWISE UNTIL 2057, WHEN THEY DECIDE TO GIVE THEIR FANS A PROPER FAREWELL ALBUM. HAPPILY, THOSE FINAL SESSIONS MARK A RETURN TO SERIOUS MUSICMAKING, AND THEY YIELD A THIRD NUMBER ONE SINGLE!
FEBRUARY 7 - 20, 2054
WITCH QUEEN RECORDING STUDIO, BOSTON
ALBUM SESSIONS
A HIPPY DIPPY SHAKE PRODUCTION
WITH SUCCUBUS, CLITORIS CLUB, GARCY BRISEÑO
+ CASSIDY HIPP
MALACHI'S BIG BOAT
MAL HYPSTER
ARRANGER/PRODUCER:
MAL HYPSTER
EXECUTIVE PRODUCER:
SALEM SABERHAGEN
SOUND ENGINEER: CORKY CLAYTON
MY TUBE WORM'S GOT A HEADACHE
DUMBO, THE HIP-HOP OCTOPUS
COOKIE CUTTIN' @ THE CORAL REEF
SHARKIE, DON'T'CHA KNOW ME?
WHEN A JELLYFISH PLAYS JACKS
SCOTOPLANE SYMPHONY
TRIPPIN' WITH A TRIPOD FISH
TELL ME THIS, GIGANTACTIS
BRITTLE STARS IN BUMPER CARS*
NEVER JUMP ROPE WITH A GIANT SQUID!
(JESSE + MALACHI HIPP)
CHI SIGNS AS A SOLO ARTIST TO SALEM SABERHAGEN'S INDIE LABEL, BLUE CAT RECORDS. HIS DÉBUT ALBUM COMPLETES A LONG-OVERDUE TRANSITION FROM ADULT TO CHILDREN'S MUSIC; HIS AFFINITY FOR THE GENRE WILL HAVE COME TO LIGHT DURING THE KITSCHANNETTE ALBUM SESSIONS AND CONCERT TOUR. FOR YEARS, CHI WILL HAVE BEEN ITCHING TO WRITE HIS OWN SONGS, BUT WHAT HE LACKED WAS A DECENT LYRICIST. THAT PERSON TURNS OUT TO BE HIS OLDER BROTHER JESSE! THESE SESSIONS TURN INTO MORE OF A FAMILY AFFAIR WHEN HIS SISTER AND FAMOUS SISTER-IN-LAW SURPRISE HIM IN THE STUDIO. AT HIS INVITATION, GARCY AND CASSIDY HIPP-BRISEÑO SING BACKGROUND ON ONE SONG. FLOWN IN FROM TOKYO AT CHI’S EXPENSE, CLITORIS CLUB PROVIDES BACKING VOCALS FOR THE REST OF THE ALBUM; BUT WHEN HE LISTENS BACK TO THEIR TRACKS HE'LL HEAR A HIGH HARMONY PART HE KNOWS THEY DIDN'T SING. CHI WILL SWEAR THAT THE MYSTERY VOICE BELONGS TO SABRINA!
SEPTEMBER 17 - 26, 2054
WITCH QUEEN RECORDING STUDIO, BOSTON
SINGLES SESSIONS
A HIPPY DIPPY SHAKE PRODUCTION
WITH CLITORIS CLUB + CASSIDY HIPP
SINGLES SESSIONS
MAL HYPSTER
WITH LANA SUZUKI, CLITORIS CLUB + CASSIDY HIPP
ARRANGER/PRODUCER:
MAL HYPSTER
EXECUTIVE PRODUCER:
SALEM SABERHAGEN
SOUND ENGINEER: CORKY CLAYTON
BOUNCE ME SILLY!
TABBY CAT IN A TAILSPIN
(CASSIDY, JESSE + MALACHI HIPP)
CHI CUTS HIS FIRST SOLO SINGLE, BOTH SIDES OF WHICH ARE CO-WRITTEN WITH HIS OLDER BROTHER AND SISTER. ITS POPULARITY WILL LEAD DIRECTLY TO HIS DÉBUT AS A CHILDREN'S TV HOST! WITCH QUEEN'S ALL-FEMALE HOUSE BAND SUCCUBUS WILL HAVE ACCOMPANIED CHI ON HIS DÉBUT ALBUM; THEY REPORTEDLY SKIP THIS SESSION BECAUSE THEY'RE BUSY ON ANOTHER DATE. HOWEVER, RUMOR HAS IT THAT THERE'S ANOTHER REASON: CASSIDY HIPP IS TERRIFIED OF THEM! DESPITE HAVING DONE SO ONCE BEFORE, CASS JUST CAN'T WARM UP TO THE IDEA OF CUTTING TRACKS WITH VAMPIRE WOMEN! WHATEVER THE FACTS OF THE MATTER ARE, SHE AND CHI WILL PLAY NEARLY ALL THE INSTRUMENTS AT THIS SESSION. THE EXCEPTION IS LEAD GUITAR: THOSE SEARING TRACKS COME COURTESY OF NOBODY BUT LANA SUZUKI!
APRIL 19 - 20, 2055
WITCH QUEEN RECORDING STUDIO, BOSTON
A WITCH QUEEN PRODUCTION
OVERDUB SESSION
SABBATH
SABRINA with THE ARCHIES
2037 PLAYBACK ARRANGER/PRODUCER:
BREE SPELLMAN
OVERDUB PRODUCER:
LANA SUZUKI
SOUND ENGINEER/EXECUTIVE PRODUCER:
SALEM SAGERHAGEN
BAHÍA (GONÇALVES, QUINTANILLA)
THE BED (GARLAND, SPELLMAN)
EVERYTHING IS GONNA CHANGE
(FONSECA, GONÇALVES)
CISSY STRUT
(GONÇALVES, MODELISTE, NEVILLE, NOCENTELLI, PORTER)
BLACK SUGAR
(BRISEÑO, GONÇALVES, SPELLMAN)
BOCHECHAS (GONÇALVES, QUINTANILLA)
HEY, JOE! (BILLY ROBERTS)
THE GOOD BOOK (GARLAND, GONÇALVES)
SVENGALI
(BRISEÑO, GONÇALVES, SPELLMAN)
SOOKIE, SOOKIE (COVAY, CROPPER)
TIGER'S MILK STRUT
(FONSECA, GONÇALVES, SPELLMAN)
RODRIGO QUENTE
(GARLAND, GONÇALVES, SPELLMAN)
SABBATH (GONÇALVES, SPELLMAN)
THE ANGEL AND THE IMAGE
(BRISEÑO, FONSECA, GONÇALVES)
FLASH OF MEMORY (SPELLMAN, TREMAYNE)
BREE SPELLMAN RETURNS TO BOSTON TO COMPLETE WHAT SHE CALLS "UNFINISHED BUSINESS". IN THE YEAR 2037 WHEN THE ARCHIES ARE WORKING AS HER HOUSE BAND, BREE DISCOVERS SINGER/SONGWRITER LURLEEN GONÇALVES. SHE DECLARES LURLEEN "THE LATINA TAYLOR SWIFT!" THE BRAZILIAN IMMIGRANT WRITES SONGS FOR HER DÉBUT ALBUM WITH HELP FROM BREE, GARCY BRISEÑO, RIKKI NINJA, MAL HYPSTER'S DAD TIMOTHY GARLAND AND CORTEZ QUINTANILLA. MEANWHILE, THE BAND COMPLETES FOURTEEN BACKING TRACKS; THEN, TRAGICALLY, LURLEEN IS ACCIDENTALLY SHOT TO DEATH BY POLICE! THEY MISTAKE HER FOR A CULPRIT AT LARGE. THIS HAPPENS ON THE SAME DAY SHE'S SCHEDULED TO CUT HER VOCALS. BREE IS DEVASTATED BY THE LOSS; COLLEAGUES WILL URGE HER TO RECYCLE THE ARCHIES' SUPERB BACKING TRACKS, BUT OUT OF RESPECT FOR LURLEEN'S MEMORY SHE REFUSES. THE TAPES GATHER DUST FOR EIGHTEEN YEARS! ONE EVENING IN 2055, THE WITCH QUEEN MATERIALIZES AT SALEM SABERHAGEN'S BEDSIDE. CRYPTICALLY ALLUDING TO SPIRIT POSSESSION, SHE INSTRUCTS HIM TO BOOK A MIDNIGHT RECORD DATE. DURING THAT SESSION, WHICH IS PRODUCED BY LANA SUZUKI, SABRINA LAYS HER OWN VOCALS OVER THE TRACKS INTENDED FOR LURLEEN GONÇALVES. SHE ALSO CUTS A NEW SONG, "FLASHES OF MEMORY", WHICH SHE'LL HAVE WRITTEN IN TRIBUTE TO HER FALLEN PROTEGÉE. ALL OF BREE'S TRACKING IS COMPLETED IN A SINGLE TAKE DURING AN INCREDIBLY FAST THREE-HOUR SESSION; BUT BEFORE THE ALBUM CAN BE MIXED, SABRINA VANISHES, TAKING THE RAW TAPES WITH HER. SUSU IS CONFUSED AND UPSET! ALL SALEM WILL SAY IS: "SHE'LL RETURN THEM WHEN SHE'S READY." THEY WON’T RESURFACE UNTIL THE YEAR 2137, EXACTLY 100 YEARS AFTER THE BACKING TRACKS WERE CUT! AT THAT TIME, THE WALT DISNEY COMPANY WILL MARKET SABBATH TO RAVE REVIEWS.
WILL SERVE AS THE NEW ARCHIES' SAXOPHONE PLAYER AND BRASS ARRANGER. HE'LL ALSO CO-PRODUCE THE BAND'S RECORDS FROM 2047 TO 2049. NOT JUST HIS GROUP MEMBERSHIP BUT HIS ENTIRE EXISTENCE HAS BEEN DELETED FROM THE HISTORICAL RECORD!
CONCLUDES WITH PART SIX!
