ROCK + ROLL IN COLOR, Part Four
Salem Saberhagen
presents
ROCK + ROLL IN COLOR!
SESSION LOGS OF THE NEW ARCHIES
Part Four:
RECORDING SESSIONS
2049 - 2050
THE NEW ARCHIES:
RITCHIE "RIKKI NINJA" FONSECA
- LEAD + BACKING VOCALS, KEYBOARDS
MALACHI "MAL HYPSTER" HIPP
- LEAD + BACKING VOCALS, DRUMS, PERCUSSION
BLOSSOM "DONNA DANTE" LUONGO
- LEAD + BACKING VOCALS, BASS
TOBIAS "TOBY MAXX" MAXWELL
- SAXOPHONE, FLUTE, HARMONICA
SVETLANA "LANA SUZUKI" PRESNYETJEKOVA
- GUITARS, BACKING VOCALS, MUSIC DIRECTION
EMPLOYER:
REPUBLIC USA RECORDS
TARA NATION FAWS SEEMS TO BE A MINOR CHARACTER IN THE NEW ARCHIES SAGA, BUT SHE'S MUCH MORE THAN THAT. SHE'LL START OUT AS A STREET CRIMINAL WHO LURKS ON THE PERIPHERY OF THE MUSIC INDUSTRY. MY FELINE INTUITION WILL PERCEIVE HER ROTTEN CHARACTER, AND I'LL WARN SABRINA ABOUT HER - BUT WHEN HAS BREE EVER LISTENED TO ME? NOT THAT TARA ISN'T CAPABLE: SHE'LL COMPILE A BEST-SELLING COMPILATION FOR THE NEW ARCHIES IN 2050 (SEE BELOW). BUT IT WON'T SURPRISE ME WHEN SHE'S LATER CAUGHT DEALING CRYSTAL METH ON THE SIDE!
BREE KICKS HER ASS TO THE CURB, BUT TARA WILL TURN UP LATER IN A FAR MORE LETHAL ROLE: AS THE ATTEMPTED MURDERER OF RIKKI NINJA'S INFANT SON! SHE FALLS UNDER THE INFLUENCE OF BREE'S ARCH ENEMY CARMEN SERNA, AND THAT MEANS TROUBLE FROM THEN ON. TARA PLAYS A MAJOR ROLE IN AN ADVENTURE I CALL "THE FREAKING OUT OF GERALDINE GRUNDY"! ME, BREE, NERO THE DOG AND THE NEW ARCHIES ARE HURLED SEVEN DECADES INTO THE PAST. WE'LL BARELY SURVIVE THAT ORDEAL!
TWICE, TARA NATION FAWS WILL APPEAR TO BITE THE BIG ONE, BUT LOOKS ARE DECEIVING. I KNOW MORE THAN I'LL SAY, BUT I CAN TELL YOU THIS MUCH: TARA IS NEVER WHO AND NEVER WHERE YOU THINK SHE IS! IT'S A MISTAKE TO ASSUME THAT YOU'VE SEEN THE LAST OF HER, SO JUST STAY TUNED.
MARCH 19 - 21, 2049
THE MAD GROOVY PAD, CAMBRIDGE
SINGLES SESSIONS
VOCAL ARRANGERS:
DONNA DANTE, MAL HYPSTER,
RIKKI NINJA
ARRANGERS/PRODUCERS:
RIKKI NINJA, TOBY MAXX
CONDUCTOR: LANA SUZUKI
SOUND ENGINEER: SHELLY SUZUKI
LET'S DANCE ON! (BOYCE, HART)
- SUNSHINE MIND ALBUM
BABY, DON'T GO (SONNY BONO)
- SUNSHINE MIND ALBUM
HUMPTY DUMPTY (COHEN, ROSTELLI)
- SINGLE A-SIDE
GET HIM! (TONI WINE)
- SUNSHINE MIND ALBUM
RUN FOR YOUR LIFE (LENNON, McCARTNEY)
- SUNSHINE MIND ALBUM
DON'T MENTION MY NAME (CREWE, GAUDIO)
- SINGLE B-SIDE
THESE SESSIONS WILL BE SCHEDULED IN ORDER TO CUT "HUMPTY DUMPTY", A SONG ORIGINALLY RECORDED BY THE VOGUES. THE OTHER SELECTIONS HAIL FROM THE CATALOGUES OF THE MONKEES, SONNY + CHER, LITTLE EVA, THE SHEPHERD SISTERS AND THE BEATLES. SINGER/ACTRESS DONNA DANTE WILL HAVE PERFORMED "HUMPTY DUMPTY" IN A MOVIE. FOR PROMOTIONAL PURPOSES, THE FILM'S DIRECTOR WANTS A NEW ARCHIES RECORDING. WHAT HE DOESN'T KNOW IS THAT DEE DEE DESPISES THE TUNE! SHE'S CONFIDENT HER BANDMATES WILL FEEL THE SAME WAY. WHEN THEY DON'T, SHE REFUSES TO RECORD IT UNLESS SINGLE CANDIDATES OF HER OWN CHOICE ARE INCLUDED ON THE DATE. ALL OF HER CHOICES ARE EXCELLENT, ESPECIALLY THE CHI/NINJA DUET "DON'T MENTION MY NAME"- IT'S DESTINED TO BECOME A HIT FLIPSIDE! YET DESPITE DEE DEE'S CLENCHED-TEETH PERFORMANCE, "HUMPTY DUMPTY" GETS THE A-SIDE NOD. SHE'S FURTHER BLINDSIDED WHEN THE "SILLY" BUBBLEGUM NUMBER TOPS THE POP CHARTS! HER RETICENCE TO PERFORM IT WILL FINALLY VANISH WHEN, WITHOUT EXCEPTION, CONCERT AUDIENCES ROAR THEIR APPROVAL AT HEARING THE OPENING CHORDS.
MAY 4 - 7, 2049
CENTURION SOUND + VIDEO, TORONTO
TV SOUNDTRACK SESSIONS
"FOR PETE'S SAKE"
EXECUTIVE PRODUCERS:
BREE SPELLMAN, LYLE JASON BLOSSOM
VOCAL ARRANGER: RIKKI NINJA
ARRANGERS/PRODUCERS:
RIKKI NINJA, TOBY MAXX
CONDUCTOR: LANA SUZUKI
SOUND ENGINEER: SHELLY SUZUKI
THE GIRL I KNEW SOMEWHERE
(MICHAEL NESMITH)
SHE (BOYCE, HART)
LOOK OUT! HERE COMES TOMORROW
(NEIL DIAMOND)
I WON'T BE THE SAME WITHOUT HER
(GOFFIN, KING)
YOU JUST MAY BE THE ONE (MICHAEL NESMITH)
LOVE TO LOVE (NEIL DIAMOND)
AFTER 2046, BREE SPELLMAN TAKES A BACKSEAT IN THE CAREER OF THE BAND SHE CREATED. THAT SAID, SHE'S STILL VERY MUCH IN THE PICTURE! SABRINA ARRANGES FOR THE NEW ARCHIES TO STAR IN A LIMITED-RUN TV SERIES THAT CELEBRATES MUSIC FROM THE SIXTIES. THESE KINDS OF SHOWS WILL BE VERY POPULAR IN THE LATE 2040s. BY UNANIMOUS VOTE, THE GROUP MEMBERS DECIDE TO COVER THE MONKEES' SONG CATALOG. IT MAKES SENSE, BECAUSE "THE PRE-FAB FOUR" WAS ONE OF THE BANDS THAT INSPIRED THEIR PREDECESSORS, THE ARCHIES! "FOR PETE'S SAKE" IS FILMED AND RECORDED IN TORONTO, CANADA, ON A STATE-OF-THE-ART SOUNDSTAGE. NINJA KICKS OFF THE SOUNDTRACK RECORDING SESSIONS WITH SIX OF THE BEST VOCAL PERFORMANCES HE'S EVER LAID DOWN.
MAY 10 - 14, 2049
CENTURION SOUND + VIDEO, TORONTO
TV SOUNDTRACK SESSIONS
"FOR PETE'S SAKE"
WITH THE BRASS MONKEY
EXECUTIVE PRODUCERS:
BREE SPELLMAN, LYLE JASON BLOSSOM
VOCAL ARRANGER: MAL HYPSTER
ARRANGERS/PRODUCERS:
RIKKI NINJA, TOBY MAXX
CONDUCTOR: LANA SUZUKI
SOUND ENGINEERS: SHELLY SUZUKI
A LITTLE BIT ME, A LITTLE BIT YOU
(NEIL DIAMOND)
YOU CAN'T TIE A MUSTANG DOWN (JEFF BARRY)
I'M A BELIEVER (NEIL DIAMOND)
LISTEN TO THE BAND (MICHAEL NESMITH)
IF I EVER GET TO SAGINAW AGAIN
(KELLER, RUSSELL)
PLEASANT VALLEY SUNDAY (GOFFIN, KING)
DRAWN TO COUNTRY ROCKERS IN THE MONKEES' CATALOG, CHI LEAVES AN INDELIBLE MARK ON SIX OF THEIR GREATEST NUMBERS. TOTO DIRECTS THE HORN ACCOMPANIMENT, WHICH IS PLAYED BY THE SERENDIPITOUSLY-NAMED BRASS MONKEY; THEY'RE A HORN-DOMINATED, SIX-PIECE JAZZ/ROCK ENSEMBLE FROM VANCOUVER.
MAY 18 - 22, 2049
CENTURION SOUND + VIDEO, TORONTO
SOUNDTRACK SESSIONS
"FOR PETE'S SAKE"
EXECUTIVE PRODUCERS:
BREE SPELLMAN, LYLE JASON BLOSSOM
VOCAL ARRANGERS:
DONNA DANTE, MAL HYPSTER
ARRANGERS/PRODUCERS:
RIKKI NINJA, TOBY MAXX
CONDUCTOR: LANA SUZUKI
SOUND ENGINEER: SHELLY SUZUKI
LAST TRAIN TO CLARKSVILLE (BOYCE, HART)
I'M NOT YOUR STEPPIN' STONE (BOYCE, HART)
TEARDROP CITY (BOYCE, HART)
STEAM ENGINE NINETY-NINE (CHIP DOUGLAS)
VALLERI (BOYCE, HART)
CIRCLE SKY (MICHAEL NESMITH)
THESE SESSIONS PRODUCE DEE DEE'S PERSONAL FAVORITES OUT OF ALL THE RELEASES ON WHICH SHE SINGS LEAD: "I'M NOT YOUR STEPPIN' STONE", "STEAM ENGINE NINETY-NINE", "VALLERI" AND "CIRCLE SKY". HOWEVER, SHE DOES HERSELF PROUD ON ALL SIX OF THE SONGS CUT AT THIS VERY PRODUCTIVE MID-MAY SESSION.
MAY 25 - 30, 2049
CENTURION SOUND + VIDEO, TORONTO
TV SOUNDTRACK SESSIONS
"FOR PETE'S SAKE"
WITH THE BRASS MONKEY
EXECUTIVE PRODUCERS:
BREE SPELLMAN, LYLE JASON BLOSSOM
VOCAL ARRANGERS:
DONNA DANTE, MAL HYPSTER,
RIKKI NINJA
ARRANGERS/PRODUCERS:
RIKKI NINJA, TOBY MAXX
CONDUCTOR: LANA SUZUKI
SOUND ENGINEER: SHELLY SUZUKI
FOR PETE'S SAKE (RICHARDS, TORKELSON)
- SINGLE B-SIDE
GOIN' DOWN (HILDEBRAND, THE MONKEES)
ALL THE KING'S HORSES (MICHAEL NESMITH)
SHADES OF GRAY (MANN, WEIL)
DAYDREAM BELIEVER (JOHN STEWART)
THE DOOR INTO SUMMER (DOUGLAS, MARTIN)
- SINGLE A-SIDE
ALTHOUGH NOT OFFICIALLY SINGLES SESSIONS, THESE LAST SOUNDTRACK DATES CAPTURE SONGS THAT TOTO + NINJA FEEL HAVE SINGLE POTENTIAL. STRONG CONTENDERS INCLUDE "GOIN' DOWN", FOR WHICH NINJA FLEXES PREVIOUSLY-UNHEARD JAZZ CHOPS, AND A GORGEOUS CHI/DEE DEE/NINJA TRIO PERFORMANCE OF "SHADES OF GRAY". (THE LATTER IS BASED ON AN AS-YET UNRELEASED ARCHIES RECORDING THAT WILL SCORE A EUROPEAN HIT TWO YEARS HENCE.) HOWEVER, IT'S MAL HYPSTER'S SUPERB READING OF "THE DOOR INTO SUMMER" THAT GETS THE NOD, BACKED BY DONNA DANTE'S SCORCHER OF A VOCAL ON "FOR PETE'S SAKE". THE LATTER TUNE WILL BE THE SERIES THEME SONG. BOTH SONGS CHART BUT UNFORTUNATELY, NEITHER SIDE WILL MEET SALES EXPECTATIONS.
JUNE 6 -8, 2049
CENTURION SOUND + VIDEO, TORONTO
TV SOUNDTRACK REMIX SESSIONS
"FOR PETE'S SAKE"
WITH THE BOSTON BRASS ENSEMBLE
REMIX PRODUCER: TOBY MAXX
REMIX ENGINEER: CORKY CLAYTON
LAST TRAIN TO CLARKSVILLE
I'M A BELIEVER
SHE
I DON'T THINK YOU KNOW ME
TEARDROP CITY
LISTEN TO THE BAND
ALL THE KING'S HORSES
VALLERI
IF I EVER GET TO SAGINAW AGAIN
YOU JUST MAY BE THE ONE
CIRCLE SKY
SHADES OF GRAY
PLEASANT VALLEY SUNDAY
GOIN' DOWN
WHEN TIME COMES TO MIX THE SOUNDTRACK RECORDINGS, AGING ENGINEER SHELLY SUZUKI BEGINS SHOWING SIGNS OF DEMENTIA. SHE CAN'T REMEMBER WHAT TO DO! HER DAUGHTER LANA SUZUKI FLIES HER BACK TO BOSTON FOR DIAGNOSIS AND TREATMENT. NEW ARCHIES MANAGER LYLE JASON BLOSSOM OFFERS TO TAKE OVER THE MIXING AND TOBY MAXX AGREES; BUT LJB MAKES A MAJOR BOTCH OF THE JOB! IN FACT, SOME TRACKS ARE DAMAGED BEYOND REPAIR. (LITTLE DOES THE BAND SUSPECT THAT THEIR MANAGER IS UNDER THE PSYCHIC CONTROL OF CARMEN SERNA, HIS EVIL SORCERESS STEPSISTER!) TOTO PULLS HIM OFF THE MIXING DESK AND CALLS IN QUINN "CORKY" CLAYTON TO SALVAGE THE TAPES. CORKY IS THE YOUNGER BROTHER OF SOMETIME ARCHIES MEMBER CHUCK CLAYTON. HE TAKES A RED-EYE FLIGHT TO TORONTO, IMMEDIATELY GOES TO WORK AND ENDS UP SAVING THE PRODUCTION! IN THE END, ONLY A HANDFUL OF SONGS NEED RECORDING AGAIN, AND THEN ONLY PARTIALLY. IT'S THE BEGINNING OF WHAT WILL BE A VERY FRUITFUL RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN CORKY AND THE BAND!
NOVEMBER 13, 2049
CHAPEL OF ROCK, SANTA BARBARA
A NEW ARCHIES/DAKOTA PRODUCTION
DUET SESSION WITH
GO GO MANISCHEVITZ
VOCAL ARRANGERS:
MAL HYPSTER, FOX PRINTEMPS
ARRANGERS:
RIKKI NINJA, TOBY MAXX
CONDUCTOR: NERO THE DOG
PRODUCERS:
*FOX PRINTEMPS, LANA SUZUKI
EXECUTIVE PRODUCERS:
RIKKI NINJA, TOBY MAXX,
DAKOTA PHILPOTT
SOUND ENGINEER:
JON-MARK TROUTEN
CARPET MAN (JIMMY WEBB)
- SUNSHINE MIND LP*
READY, STEADY, GO (HARRY THOMAS)
- ROCKIN' READY STEADY GO LP
(BONUS TRACK)
THE TV SERIES "FOR PETE'S SAKE" ENDS UP BEING A MIXED BAG FOR THE NEW ARCHIES. THE SHOW FLOPS BADLY AND GETS TRASHED BY CRITICS! FORTUNATELY, THE SOUNDTRACK IS HAILED AS A SINGULARLY FINE RECORDING BUT FANS DON'T SEEM TO AGREE: IT BECOMES THEIR SECOND CONSECUTIVE ALBUM TO TANK IN NORTH AMERICA. DEE DEE IN PARTICULAR IS UPSET BY THIS DEBACLE; IT REFLECTS BADLY ON BOTH HER SINGING AND ACTING CAREERS. YET SHE'S EXCITED WHEN OLD FRIEND DAKOTA PHILPOTT CALLS WITH A SPECIAL REQUEST. SHE WANTS THE NEW ARCHIES TO COLLABORATE WITH ROCK DIVA GO GO MANISCHEVITZ! DAKOTA OWNED THE INDIE LABEL THAT RELEASED DONNA + THE MOTHERF*CKERS' RUNAWAY LOVE ALBUM; NOW SHE MANAGES THE HOTTEST POP STAR IN THE WORLD. THE SESSION IS HELD IN SANTA BARBARA AT A FAMOUS STUDIO THE ARCHIES OFTEN USED. WITH GO GO ON LEAD VOCALS, THE BAND CUTS AN OLD FIFTH DIMENSION HIT. THE FINISHED TRACK SOUNDS FANTASTIC AND IS SLATED FOR RELEASE ON THE SINGER'S FORTHCOMING ALBUM. THE NEW ARCHIES STAY ON AFTER SHE AND HER PRODUCER LEAVE. ON NOVEMBER 14 AND 15, THEY SALVAGE A 1965 CULT HIT BY PRINCE AND PRINCESS AND CUT IT AS A THEME SONG FOR THE RELAUNCHED "READY, STEADY, GO" TV SERIES. THEY ALSO TRACK DEMOS FOR AN ALBUM CELEBRATING COUNTRY/POP DIVA BRENDA LEE. (TWENTY-TWO YEARS LATER, SONG SELECTIONS FROM THIS DEMO SESSION WILL BE OVERDUBBED. ALL OF THOSE TITLES ARE LISTED UNDER THE OCTOBER 16th, 2071 LOG ENTRY.) DEE DEE SINGS MOST OF THE LEADS AND HER VOCALS SIZZLE! SHE LOOKS FORWARD TO WORKING ON THE SWEET NOTHIN'S PROJECT BUT EAGERNESS TURNS TO DISGUST WHEN IT'S SUDDENLY ABANDONED. THEN SHE LEARNS THAT GO GO MANISCHEVITZ WILL SHELVE "CARPET MAN", THE GREAT JIMMY WEBB SONG THE NEW ARCHIES RECORDED WITH HER. IT'S THE LAST STRAW FOR HER: SHE QUITS THE BAND A SECOND TIME!
DURING THEIR YEARS LIVING IN THE PAST, THE MEMBERS OF THE NEW ARCHIES INVOLUNTARILY TOOK ON DIFFERENT IDENTITIES. MAL HYPSTER BECAME ARCHIE ANDREWS. RIKKI NINJA BECAME REGGIE MANTLE. IRONICALLY, FRANKIE FUJIYAMA TOOK ON THE ROLE OF JUGGY JONES, SOMETHING HE WOULD LATER DO ON A BROADWAY STAGE! TOBY MAXX BECAME WALDO WEATHERBEE, WHO IN THIS ALTERNATE TIMELINE WAS A RECORD PRODUCER. DONNA DANTE WAS A VERY SASSY BETTY COOPER, AND GARCY BRISEÑO IMPERSONATED VERONICA LODGE. SHOCKINGLY, "REGGIE" NEARLY COMMITTED SUICIDE, "BETTY" BARELY ESCAPED A MURDER ATTEMPT, AND "RONI" GAVE BIRTH TO A BABY! WHEN THE NEW ARCHIES RETURNED TO THEIR PROPER TIME, ALL MEMORY OF THESE EVENTS WERE WIPED OUT. THE SURPRISING IDENTITY OF GARCY BRISEÑO'S CHILD WILL BE REVEALED IN A FUTURE CANTINA NARRATIVE.
JUNE 21 - 23, 2050
WITCH QUEEN RECORDING STUDIO, BOSTON
REMIX SESSIONS
A WITCH QUEEN PRODUCTION
LIGHT OF DAY
REMIX PRODUCER:TARA NATION FAWS
EXECUTIVE PRODUCER: BREE SPELLMAN
REMIX ENGINEER: YVONNE REMY
VIP (BOND, JOHNSON, PERRY)
Alternate Take: LIAR! (RUSS BALLARD)
SHADES OF GRAY (MANN, WEIL)
Alternate Take: THIS IS MY SONG
(CHAPLIN, DELANOÉ)
THE DOOR INTO SUMMER (DOUGLAS, MARTIN)
Previously Unreleased: IF WE BOTH HOLD ON (BARRY, WINE)
Alternate Take: I DON'T THINK YOU KNOW ME (GOFFIN, KING)
Alternate Take:
RUNNING IN AND OUT OF MY LIFE
(BROWN, GORDY, STORY)
I SEE THE LIGHT (ELLIOTT CHIPRUT)
Alternate Take: NEVER BEEN TO SPAIN
(HOYT AXTON)
WHERE DO YOU GO? (SONNY BONO)
IF I EVER GET TO SAGINAW AGAIN
(KELLER, RUSSELL)
LIGHT OF DAY (JAMES, KING)
Previously Unreleased: THAT'S THE BOY
(MANN, WEIL)
OH, HOW HAPPY (EDWIN STARR)
JUST SAY GOODBYE (CLARK, HATCH, DELANOÉ)
WHILE THE NEW ARCHIES CONTEMPLATE THEIR FUTURE, BREE SPELLMAN DECIDES THAT THEY NEED A NEW ALBUM ON THE MARKET. SHE ASSIGNS HER PRODUCTION ASSISTANT, TARA NATION FAWS, TO PRODUCE A COMPILATION. TARA DECIDES TO EXPLOIT A CURRENT TREND FOR BALLAD COLLECTIONS: SHE CULLS MATERIAL FROM ALL THE GROUP'S ALBUM SESSIONS TO DATE AND ALSO PROGRAMS TWO PREVIOUSLY-UNRELEASED SIDES: "IF WE BOTH HOLD ON" IS A RARE JEFF BARRY/TONI WINE BALLAD AND THAT'S THE BOY" IS A CULT FAVORITE FROM LESLEY GORE'S CATALOGUE. BOTH SONGS WERE PREVIOUSLY TRACKED BY THE ARCHIES! TARA IS A HUGE FAN OF NEO-GOTH MUSIC, SO SHE REMIXES ALL SIXTEEN TRACKS TO HAVE AN OMINOUS FEEL. NO ARTIFICIAL SOUND EFFECTS ARE NEEDED, BECAUSE SPOOKY SOUNDS ARE PLENTIFUL AT WITCH QUEEN STUDIOS! ESPECIALLY DURING MIDNIGHT RECORDING SESSIONS: SOUND ENGINEER YVONNE REMY HAS HER PICK OF LIVE CREAKS, GROANS, RATTLES AND SHRIEKS TO CHOOSE FROM. TOTO + NINJA HAVE MIXED REACTIONS TO TARA'S WORK, BUT CHI IS VERY UNHAPPY WITH IT. HE DISMISSES THE GOTH SOUND AS "WEIRD-ASS HORROR MOVIE SHIT!" MORE THAN A FEW MUSIC CRITICS AGREE WITH HIM, BUT THAT DOESN'T STOP LIGHT OF DAY FROM BECOMING A TOP TWENTY POP ALBUM. ITS SUCCESS CONVINCES THE NEW ARCHIES TO SOLDIER ON WITHOUT DONNA DANTE AND ONCE AGAIN, THEY CHOOSE NOT TO AUDITION A REPLACEMENT.
AUGUST 19, 2050
THE MAD GROOVY PAD, CAMBRIDGE
DEMO/OVERDUB SESSION
YOU SEXY THING!
RIKKI NINJA
2002 PLAYBACK PRODUCER:
PAM-PAM
OVERDUB ARRANGER/PRODUCER:
RIKKI NINJA
SOUND ENGINEER: CORKY CLAYTON
YOU SEXY THING! (BROWN, WILSON)
EVERY ONE'S A WINNER (ERROL BROWN)
COULD'VE BEEN A LADY (BROWN, WILSON)
DISCO QUEEN (BROWN, WILSON)
THE NEW ARCHIES WILL BE FAMILIAR WITH RECORDINGS IN RIVERDALE MUSIC ACADEMY'S ARCHIE ARCHIVE; MAL HYPSTER AND TOBY MAXX IN PARTICULAR BROWSE IT FREQUENTLY! ONE OF TOTO'S FORAYS UNEARTHS THE ONLY ARCHIES RECORDINGS IN CHINESE: AN EP TRIBUTE TO BRITISH DISCO BAND HOT CHOCOLATE THAT, SAVE FOR ONE SONG, WAS NEVER RELEASED! HE SHARES IT WITH FORMER NEW ARCHIES MEMBER GARCY BRISEÑO, WHO SPEAKS MANDARIN (HER LATE MOTHER JULIE WAS PART TAIWANESE). GARCY DECLARES THE CHINESE VOCALS "UNDECIPHERABLE" AND THE PRODUCTION "EMBARASSINGLY BAD!" SHE SUGGESTS THAT THE NEW ARCHIES CUT THEIR OWN HOT CHOCOLATE TRIBUTE, BUT TOTO HAS A BETTER IDEA: REMIXING THE ARCHIES' ORIGINAL BACKING TRACKS, OVERDUBBING NEW ARCHIES LEAD VOCALS AND RELEASING THE EP AS A UNIQUE COLLABORATION! "AFTER ALL," HE NOTES, "WE CREATED BACKING TRACKS FOR ARCHIES' VOCALS ON RIDE, RIDE, BABY. TURNABOUT IS FAIR PLAY!" EVERYBODY LOVES THE IDEA EXCEPT ARCHIE ANDREWS, WHOSE PERMISSION IS NEEDED TO GREENLIGHT THE PROJECT. NEVER A FAN OF DISCO MUSIC, ARCHIE OPPOSED RECORDING HOT CHOCOLATE SONGS IN THE FIRST PLACE! HIS THUMBS-DOWN CASTS A PALL OVER TOTO'S CONCEPT. IT GOES DOWN IN FLAMES, BUT NOT BEFORE RIKKI NINJA COMPLETES DEMO VOCALS IN ENGLISH FOR ALL FOUR SELECTIONS. IN THE YEAR 2131, THE WALT DISNEY COMPANY WILL OVERLAY THE ARCHIES' BACKING TRACKS WITH NINJA'S DEMO VOCALS AND CREATE EXACTLY THE KIND OF RECORDING TOBY MAXX ENVISIONED! FOR THAT REASON, THE DEMO SESSION IS DOCUMENTED HERE. THE DISNEY RELEASE WILL CREDIT VOCALS TO THE NEW ARCHIES, EVEN THOUGH NO GROUP MEMBER BUT RIKKI NINJA ATTENDS THE DEMO DATE.
WILL BE ALTERNATE LEAD VOCALIST FOR THE NEW ARCHIES
THROUGH THE BAND'S TWENTY-YEAR EXISTENCE. HE'S
A VETERAN BACKGROUND SINGER WHO'S WORKED
WITH MANY OF COUNTRY MUSIC'S BIGGEST ACTS.
"SESSION LOGS OF THE NEW ARCHIES"
