ROCK + ROLL IN COLOR, Part Two
Salem Saberhagen
presents
ROCK + ROLL IN COLOR!
SESSION LOGS OF THE NEW ARCHIES
Part Two:
RECORDING SESSIONS
2040 - 2044
SALEM SABERHAGEN
PRODUCER:
SABRINA "BREE" SPELLMAN
THE ARCHIES:
DELIA GARCIA "GARCY" BRISEÑO
- LEAD + BACKING VOCALS, GUITARS
RITCHIE "RIKKI NINJA" FONSECA
- BACKING VOCALS, KEYBOARDS,
MUSIC DIRECTION
BENJAMIN FRANKLIN "FUJI" FUJIYAMA
- DRUMS, PERCUSSION
MALACHI "MAL HYPSTER" HIPP
- LEAD + BACKING VOCALS, PERCUSSION, HARMONICA
BLOSSOM "DONNA DANTE" LUONGO
- LEAD + BACKING VOCALS, BASS
JAVIER CORTEZ QUINTANILLA
- SAXOPHONE, FLUTE, BACKING VOCALS
EMPLOYERS:
RED-BIRD/REPUBLIC USA
RECORDS
LOOSE STOOL RECORDS
singles sessions
album sessions
movie + tv soundtrack sessions
HEY, IT'S SALEM AGAIN. THE MEMBERS OF THE NEW ARCHIES WILL BE RECRUITED IN THE YEAR 2037 VIA THREE DIFFERENT ROUTES: SOUNDTRACK RECORDING SESSIONS FOR THE MOVIE SAY GOODBYE TO RIVERDALE; TAXI, THE GROUP THAT SERVES AS HOUSE BAND FOR WITCH QUEEN RECORDING STUDIOS; AND AUDITIONS. (I'LL BE ONE OF THE AUDITION JUDGES, AND YOU'D BEST BELIEVE I MAKE SIMON COWELL LOOK LIKE MR. ROGERS!) ALL OF THESE ROUTES LEAD THROUGH WITCH QUEEN, THE STATE-OF-THE-ART AUDIO COMPLEX THAT SABRINA SPELLMAN OPENED IN BOSTON BACK IN 2012.
PRIOR TO THE SESSION DATES YOU SEE DOCUMENTED HERE, TAXI WILL HAVE BROKEN UP. BREE DECIDES TO USE THE NEW-EDITION ARCHIES AS HER REPLACEMENT HOUSE BAND. THEY'LL HAVE MIXED FEELINGS ABOUT THIS, BUT BACKING UP THE ACTS SHE PRODUCES IS ALL TO THEIR BENEFIT: IT AMOUNTS TO A TRAINING PERIOD DURING WHICH THEY GET THEIR SHIT TOGETHER AS A PERFORMING UNIT! BASS GUITARIST DONNA DANTE IS AN AMATEUR THAT BREE RECRUITS FOR THE BAND, AND SHE’LL USE THIS TIME TO BRING HER SKILL LEVEL UP TO THAT OF THE OTHERS. FUJI AND NINJA, WHO WILL QUIT TAXI TO JOIN THE NEW ARCHIES, LEAD GUITARIST GARCY BRISEÑO, BRASS BOSS CORTEZ QUINTANILLA AND PERCUSSIONIST MAL HYPSTER ARE ALL SEASONED PROFESSIONALS.
SABRINA WILL COME TO BELIEVE THAT THE COMBINATION OF EXPERIENCED AND NOVICE TALENT IS WHAT GIVES HER ARCHIES REBOOT ITS COMMERCIAL EDGE. WELL, I DON'T KNOW ABOUT THAT! I THINK SOME BANDS ARE JUST DESTINED FOR SUCCESS, AND SUCCESSFUL THE ARCHIES WILL DAMN SURE CONTINUE TO BE. FIRST, THOUGH, THEY'LL HAVE TO UNDO A NO-HIT HEX CAST ON THEM BY A VOODOO BITCH, THAT IS, WITCH: FIRED MEMBER CARMEN SERNA! AFTER THAT, THEY'LL HAVE THREE PLATINUM LPS AND A BEST-SELLING BROADWAY CAST ALBUM UNDER THEIR BELTS, AND THAT'S JUST TO START WITH.
BEFORE SHE ALLOWS THEM TO CUT THEIR OWN MASTERS, BREE SPELLMAN WILL USE THESE ARCHIES AS BACKING MUSICIANS FOR OTHER ACTS. OVER A DOZEN HIT RECORDS FROM THE YEARS 2037 AND 2038 FEATURE THE GROUP. ACTOR/SINGER ALBERTO BLANCO'S DÉBUT ALBUM WILL BE RELEASED AT THE SAME TIME AS THEIRS.
MARCH 12, 2040
WITCH QUEEN RECORDING STUDIO, BOSTON
A WITCH QUEEN PRODUCTION
SINGLES SESSION
VOCAL ARRANGERS:
MAL HYPSTER, DONNA DANTE
ARRANGER: BREE SPELLMAN
CONDUCTOR: NERO THE DOG
SOUND ENGINEER: YVONNE REMY
ELI'S COMIN' (LAURA NYRO)
- SINGLE A-SIDE
NEVER BEEN TO SPAIN (HOYT AXTON)
- SINBLE B-SIDE
PRIOR TO THIS SESSION, THE ARCHIES WILL HAVE WORKED UP A DYNAMIC NEW ARRANGEMENT FOR THE DOOBIE BROTHERS CLASSIC "CHINA GROVE". AFTER HEARING THEM PERFORM IT IN CONCERT AND SEEING WILD AUDIENCE REACTIONS, SABRINA EARMARKS THE SONG FOR A SINGLES SESSION. HOWEVER, CARMEN SERNA HAS ALSO HEARD "CHINA GROVE" AND BEATS HER TO THE PUNCH! CARMEN'S RUSH-RELEASED COVER VERSION COPIES THE ARCHIES' ARRANGEMENT NOTE-FOR-NOTE AND TOPS THE CHARTS. THE BAND IS DEMORALIZED, BUT BREE BRINGS THEM TWO SONGS SHE THINKS ARE JUST AS GOOD AS "CHINA GROVE". BOTH SIDES OF THIS NEW SINGLE WILL APPEAR ON THE BAND'S NEXT ALBUM, A TRIBUTE TO THREE DOG NIGHT. "ELI'S COMIN'" DOESN'T MAKE NUMBER ONE, BUT IT SCORES A SOLID TOP TWENTY SMASH! "NEVER BEEN TO SPAIN" ALSO CHARTS. CHI SINGS LEAD ON THE TOPSIDE AND DEE DEE HOLDS FORTH ON THE FLIP.
AUGUST 5, 2040
REPUBLIC THEATRE, NEW YORK CITY
A REPUBLIC USA PRODUCTION
LIVE CAST ALBUM RECORDING
"DON'T TOUCH MY GUITAR"
WITH JACINTO ESPINOZA (GUITAR),
NARCISO ESPINOZA (BASS)
+ CALIXTO ST. GEORGE (TAMBOURINE)
VOCAL ARRANGERS:
GARCY BRISEÑO, MAL HYPSTER
RHYTHM ARRANGERS: RIKKI NINJA, KIM TREMAYNE
MUSIC DIRECTOR: KIM TREMAYNE
ALBUM CONSULTANT: NERO THE DOG
PRODUCERS: THE ARCHIES
EXECUTIVE PRODUCERS:
ALEXANDRA CABOT-MAYBERRY, BREE SPELLMAN
SOUND ENGINEER: YVONNE REMY
Instrumental: OVERTURE (JEFF BARRY)
BOYS AND GIRLS (JEFF BARRY)
ROCK 'N' ROLL MUSIC (JEFF BARRY)
JUNGLE GEORGE (NEIL BRIAN GOLDBERG)
ONE BIG FAMILY (NEIL BRIAN GOLDBERG)
Medley:
LA DEE DOO DOWN DOWN (JEFF BARRY)/
HIDE AND SEEK (ADAMS, BARKAN)
Medley:
WHO'S YOUR BABY? (BARRY, KIM)/
LOVE VIBRATIONS (NEIL BRIAN GOLDBERG)
DON'T TOUCH MY GUITAR (JEFF BARRY)
Medley:
OH, BABY (DON'T LET IT GET YOU DOWN)
(NEIL BRIAN GOLDBERG)/
CIRCLE OF BLUE (ADAMS, BARKAN)
Medley:
BANG-SHANG-A-LANG/I'M IN LOVE/
TRUCK DRIVER
(JEFF BARRY)
Medley:
RIDE, RIDE, RIDE (JEFF BARRY)/
HOT DOG (ADAMS, BARKAN)/
YOU MAKE ME WANNA DANCE (JEFF BARRY)/
NURSERY RHYME (BARRY, KIM)
INTERLUDE (NEIL BRIAN GOLDBERG)
OVER AND OVER (BARRY, DANTE)
LOVE LIGHT (JEFF BARRY)
PUPPET ON A STRING (NEIL BRIAN GOLDBERG)
Medley:
LUCKY ME/SWEET SATURDAY NIGHT
(NEIL BRIAN GOLDBERG)
SEVENTEEN AIN'T YOUNG (JEFF BARRY)
Medley:
THE WAYS I LOVE YOU (NEIL BRIAN GOLBERG)/
TOGETHER WE TWO (BARRY, KIM)
EVERYTHING'S ALRIGHT (RON DANTE)
Spanish reprise: SEVENTEEN AIN'T YOUNG
Medley:
HEY! LITTLE ONE/FALLIN' IN LOVE IS FUN/
THE BIG BOAT /OH, SWEET SUZY
(NEIL BRIAN GOLDBERG)
Instrumental: SEVENTEEN AIN'T YOUNG
Finale:
YOU LITTLE ANGEL, YOU (JEFF BARRY)/
GET ON THE LINE (JEFF BARRY)/
SUGAR, SUGAR (BARRY, KIM)
Reprise: DON'T TOUCH MY GUITAR
A THIRD ALBUM IS PUT ON THE BACK BURNER AS SABRINA DROPS AN ENORMOUS CHALLENGE IN THE ARCHIES’ LAPS: STARRING IN A BROADWAY MUSICAL! WRITTEN BY BETTY COOPER AND FEATURING SONGS FROM THE BAND’S EARLY CATALOG, "DON'T TOUCH MY GUITAR" IS THE STORY OF AN INTER-RACIAL COUNTRY MUSIC BAND. THE MUSICIANS STRUGGLE AGAINST SEGREGATION AND BIGOTRY IN NEW ORLEANS DURING THE EARLY 1950s. THIS PREMISE IS UNLIKELY BROADWAY MUSICAL FODDER,BUT IT WINS OVER BOTH CRITICS AND AUDIENCES. THE GRITTY PRODUCTION IS HELMED BY BREE'S COUSIN AMBROSE, A TONY-AWARD-WINNING STAGE DIRECTOR. THE CAST ALBUM CAPTURES THE NEW ARCHIES AT THE HEIGHT OF THEIR TALENTS; IT WILL EARN THE GROUP ITS FIRST AND ONLY TONY AWARD FOR "BEST CAST RECORDING"! GROUP MEMBER FRANKIE FUJIYAMA WILL RATE A "BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR" NOMINATION.
HISTORY IS TURNED UPSIDE-DOWN FOR A FEW YEARS WHEN THE NEW-EDITION ARCHIES CHANGE PLACES WITH THEIR PREDECESSORS IN A TIME WARP. ON THIS ALTERNATE TIMELINE, THE ARCHIES WILL HAVE COME TOGETHER IN 1967, AND AS A SIXTIES ROCK BAND COMPOSED ENTIRELY OF NON-WHITE MEMBERS, THEY'LL FACE CHALLENGES THAT WHITE GROUPS DIDN’T FACE. BETWEEN 1968 AND 1972, THESE ARCHIES WILL CUT ALBUMS, SINGLES AND EPS. MOST OF THESE RELEASES WILL HAVE EQUIVALENTS IN THE ARCHIES' ACTUAL DISCOGRAPHY, BUT SOME WILL NOT: FOR EXAMPLE, THE 1970 "LIVE @ POP TATE'S" EP, ONLY RELEASED IN EUROPE.
SEPTEMBER 10 - 14, 2040
WITCH QUEEN RECORDING STUDIO, BOSTON
A WITCH QUEEN PRODUCTION
ALBUM SESSIONS
FAMILY OF MAN
VOCAL ARRANGER: GARCY BRISEÑO
ARRANGER: BREE SPELLMAN
CONDUCTOR: NERO THE DOG
SOUND ENGINEER: YVONNE REMY
LIAR! (RUSS BALLARD)
SHAMBALA (DANIEL MOORE) - SINGLE A-SIDE
BLACK AND WHITE (ARKIN, ROBINSON)
EASY TO BE HARD
(MacDERMOT, RADO, RAGNI)
- FAMILY OF MAN DVD/LP
TAKING A BREAK FROM THEIR HIT SHOW, THE ARCHIES ASSEMBLE IN BOSTON TO CUT THEIR POSTPONED THREE DOG NIGHT TRIBUTE. GARCY SINGS LEAD AT THESE INITIAL SESSIONS WHICH YIELD THE SINGLE "SHAMBALA". IT BAGS A SECOND MONSTER HIT FOR HER AND THE BAND!
SEPTEMBER 14 - 16, 2040
WITCH QUEEN RECORDING STUDIO, BOSTON
A WITCH QUEEN PRODUCTION
ALBUM SESSIONS
FAMILY OF MAN
VOCAL ARRANGER: MAL HYPSTER
ARRANGER: BREE SPELLMAN
CONDUCTOR: NERO THE DOG
SOUND ENGINEER: YVONNE REMY
ONE (HARRY NILSSON)
SURE AS I'M SITTIN' HERE (JOHN HIATT)
JOY TO THE WORLD (HOYT AXTON)
MAMA TOLD ME NOT TO COME
(RANDY NEWMAN)
- FAMILY OF MAN DVD/LP
MAL "CHI" HYPSTER BRINGS A STRONG COUNTRY FLAVOR TO THE VOCAL TRACKS HE CUTS AT THESE SESSIONS. THEY'RE A REMINDER OF THE YEARS HE'LL HAVE SPENT IN NASHVILLE SINGING WITH HIS FAMILY GROUP, THE HYPSTERZ. DURING THE 2020s AND EARLY 2030s, CHI AND HIS SIBLINGS CASS, GRACE AND JESSE WILL BE SOME OF MUSIC CITY'S MOST IN-DEMAND BACKING VOCALISTS! THE GROUP BREAKS UP WHEN GRACE LEAVES TO PURSUE A SOLO CAREER. SHORTLY AFTERWARD, CHI WILL MOVE EAST AND HIRE ON AS ONE OF BREE SPELLMAN'S STUDIO BACKGROUND SINGERS. SHE'LL HAVE KNOWN OF HIS EXCEPTIONAL TALENT LONG BEFORE THEN: HIS FATHER, TIMOTHY GARLAND, IS HER FORMER SONGWRITING PARTNER AND HIS MOTHER SHIRLEY MENDOZA IS A FRIEND FROM COLLEGE.
SEPTEMBER 22 - 24, 2040
WITCH QUEEN RECORDING STUDIO, BOSTON
A WITCH QUEEN PRODUCTION
ALBUM SESSIONS
FAMILY OF MAN
VOCAL ARRANGERS: MAL HYPSTER, DONNA DANTE
ARRANGER: BREE SPELLMAN
CONDUCTOR: NERO THE DOG
SOUND ENGINEER: YVONNE REMY
THE SHOW MUST GO ON (COURTNEY, SAYER)
LET ME SERENADE YOU (JOHN FINLEY)
- SINGLE B-SIDE
JUST AN OLD-FASHIONED LOVE SONG
(JOHN HIATT)
SINGLE B-SIDE
ONE MAN BAND (DAY, FOX, TYME)
- FAMILY OF MAN DVD/LP
OF THE SEVEN STUDIO ALBUMS SHE CUTS WITH THE ARCHIES, FAMILY OF MAN WILL BE DONNA DANTE'S LEAST FAVORITE. DEE DEE IS A PUNK ROCKER AT HEART, AND MOST OF THE MATERIAL RECORDED HERE IS NOT TO HER TASTE! YET WITH COACHING FROM BANDMATE CHI, SHE ACQUITS HERSELF ADMIRABLY ON THIS RATHER RUSTIC QUARTET OF THREE DOG NIGHT TUNES.
OCTOBER 1 - 5, 2040
WITCH QUEEN RECORDING STUDIO, BOSTON
A WITCH QUEEN PRODUCTION
ALBUM SESSIONS
FAMILY OF MAN
VOCAL ARRANGERS:
GARCY BRISEÑO, MAL HYPSTER, DONNA DANTE
ARRANGER: BREE SPELLMAN
CONDUCTOR: NERO THE DOG
SOUND ENGINEER: YVONNE REMY
GET TOGETHER (CHET POWERS)
- BREE SPELLMAN SESSIONS
FAMILY OF MAN (CONRAD, WILLIAMS)
- SINGLE A-SIDE
CELEBRATE! (BONNER, GORDON)
OUT IN THE COUNTRY (NICHOLS, WILLIAMS)
SABRINA WILL RECALL THESE OCTOBER SESSIONS AS HER FAVORITES WITH THE ARCHIES. SHE'S ECSTATIC AT THE HIGH QUALITY OF MATERIAL LAID DOWN, ALL SUNG TRIO-STYLE BY WHAT SHE CALLS HER "MAGIC CIRCLE" - GARCY ON SOPRANO, CHI ON TENOR AND DEE DEE ON ALTO VOICE. THEIR SUPERB BACKING VOCAL BLEND WILL FEATURE ON TOP FORTY HITS BY OTHER ACTS PRIOR TO THE NEW ARCHIES' LAUNCH. UNFORTUNATELY, BREE'S DELIGHT IS MATCHED BY DEE DEE'S DESPAIR! THAT'S BECAUSE THIS SESSION IS DRUMMER FRANKIE FUJIYAMA'S LAST: HE'S QUITTING THE BAND TO PURSUE AN ACTING CAREER. FUJI WILL HAVE BEEN HER BOYFRIEND UNTIL FALLING UNDER CARMEN SERNA'S SPELL! HIS WITCH OF A SOON-TO-BE WIFE PLAYS NO SMALL ROLE IN HIS DECISION TO LEAVE ROCK 'N' ROLL BEHIND.
NOVEMBER 17, 2040
WITCH QUEEN RECORDING STUDIO, BOSTON
A WITCH QUEEN PRODUCTION
SINGLES SESSION
WITH STRINGS STRUNG BLUE
VOCAL ARRANGERS: GARCY BRISEÑO, MAL HYPSTER
ARRANGER: BREE SPELLMAN
CONDUCTOR: NERO THE DOG
SOUND ENGINEER: YVONNE REMY
SUNNY (GREENFIELD, SEDAKA)
- LOST
DREAMER (GROSSMAN, SEDAKA)
- LOST
THAT'S THE BOY (MANN, WEIL)
- BREE SPELLMAN SESSIONS
FREEDOM '41 (GEORGE MICHAEL)
- UNRELEASED
THEIR STELLAR RESIDENCY ON BROADWAY NOW COMPLETE, THE ARCHIES RESUME THEIR POP MUSIC CAREER FULL-TIME. THIS IS THEIR FIRST RECORDING SESSION WITHOUT FUJI (OR DEE DEE, WHO’S TOO UPSET TO ATTEND); CHI TAKES OVER HIS DRUM KIT AND SINGS LEAD ON THESE FOUR SINGLE CANDIDATES. TEZ TAKES DEE DEE’S PLACE ON BACKING VOCALS. ALTHOUGH SABRINA IS QUITE TAKEN WITH CHI’S PERFORMANCE OF BARRY MANN AND CYNTHIA WEIL'S "THAT'S THE BOY" (AS WELL AS WITH AN ALTERNATE TAKE SUNG BY GARCY), SHE JUDGES NEITHER THAT TRACK NOR THE PAIR OF NEIL SEDAKA SONGS GOOD ENOUGH FOR SINGLES. IN THE YEAR 2078, A REMIX PRODUCER WILL COBBLE "SUNNY" AND "DREAMER" TOGETHER INTO A MEDLEY AND SCORE A BIG CLUB HIT WITH IT. UNFORTUNATELY, THESE SEPARATE, FULL-LENGTH RECORDINGS WILL BE LOST! "FREEDOM 41" WILL BE HEARD IN PROMOS FOR PRIDE 2041; THAT YEAR, THE ARCHIES WILL SERVE AS GRAND MARSHALS FOR THE BOSTON PARADE.
APRIL 9 - 10, 14, 2041
WITCH QUEEN RECORDING STUDIO, BOSTON
A WITCH QUEEN PRODUCTION
SINGLES SESSION
DONNA DANTE
WITH THE NEW ARCHIES
VOCAL ARRANGER: DONNA DANTE
ARRANGER/CONDUCTOR: RIKKI NINJA
SOUND ENGINEER: YVONNE REMY
S.O.S. HEART IN DISTRESS
(CORDELL, TRIMACHI)
- SINGLE A-SIDE
THE ONLY ONE FOR YOU
(CARTER, HARVEY, VALENTINE)
- BREE SPELLMAN SESSIONS
SWEET TALKIN' WILLIE (ELLIOT CHIPRUT)
- SINGLE B-SIDE
OOH, CHILD (STAN VINCENT)
- UNRELEASED UNDERDUB
TO HER DISMAY, SABRINA WATCHES HER SUPERGROUP DISINTEGRATE BEFORE HER EYES. DEE DEE WILL HAVE BEEN UNHAPPY SINCE FUJI LEFT, AND SHE'S DEVASTATED WHEN HE MARRIES UP CARMEN SERNA! NOW SHE'S LEAVING THE BAND, TOO. AS A PARTING GIFT, BREE PRODUCES A SOLO SINGLE FOR HER. RIKKI NINJA IS ALLOWED TO ARRANGE THE DATE, AND HE REQUESTS THAT "OOH, CHILD" (POPULARIZED IN 1970 BY THE FIVE STAIRSTEPS) BE INCLUDED AS HIS PERSONAL FAREWELL TO DEE DEE. HE'S THE ONLY BAND MEMBER PRESENT FOR VOCAL TRACKING, AND HE PLAYS ALL THE INSTRUMENTS; BUT WHEN THE REST OF THE GROUP LEARNS ABOUT DEE DEE'S SOLO DÉBUT, THEY'LL WANT TO CONTRIBUTE. CHI, GARCY AND TEZ WILL ALL RECORD THEIR PARTS ON THE 14th OF APRIL. "S.O.S HEART IN DISTRESS" WAS FIRST RECORDED BY CHRISTINE COOPER IN 1965. "THE ONLY ONE FOR YOU" WAS A 1984 ALBUM TRACK FOR THE GO-GO'S. DATING FROM 1968, "SWEET TALKIN' WILLIE" WAS THE FIRST AND ONLY SINGLE FOR THE TERI NELSON GROUP.
THE ARCHIES ARE THE MOST SUCCESSFUL OF SEVERAL POP GROUPS THAT SABRINA WILL PRODUCE. HERE IS THE EARLIEST KNOWN PHOTOGRAPH OF THE BAND, TAKEN SHORTLY AFTER THE MEMBERS' SUCCESSFUL AUDITIONS IN 2037; IT INCLUDES CARMEN SERNA, WHO WAS FIRED BY BREE LESS THAN A MONTH AFTER THIS PICTURE WAS TAKEN. HER SPOT WAS FILLED BY CORTEZ QUINTANILLA.
JUNE 3, 2041
WITCH QUEEN RECORDING STUDIO, BOSTON
A WITCH QUEEN PRODUCTION
SINGLES SESSION
VOCAL ARRANGERS:
GARCY BRISEÑO, MAL HYPSTER, RIKKI NINJA
RHYTHM ARRANGERS:
RIKKI NINJA, *BREE SPELLMAN
BRASS ARRANGER: CORTEZ QUINTANILLA
CONDUCTOR/PRODUCER: NERO THE DOG
*PRODUCER: BREE SPELLMAN
SOUND ENGINEER: YVONNE REMY
ALONG COMES MARY (TANDYN ALMER)
- SINGLE A-SIDE
EVERYTHING'S WRONG! (ALFRED, FARRELL)*
- BREE SPELLMAN SESSIONS
RIKKI NINJA CLAIMS DEE DEE'S VACATED LEAD VOCALIST SPOT AS WELL AS HER BASS DUTIES. FOR THREE YEARS, NOT BEING ALLOWED TO SING ANY LEADS HAS LEFT HIM SEETHING! NOW SABRINA FEELS THE STING OF HIS RESENTMENT. NINJA DEMANDS THAT SHE LET THE GROUP CHOOSE THE THEME OF THEIR NEXT ALBUM! WHEN THE OTHER MEMBERS SIDE WITH HIM, BREE WASHES HER HANDS OF THE PROJECT. NINJA WANTS TO REDO AN OLDIE BY THE ASSOCIATION, BUT AT THE LAST MINUTE BREE CRASHES THE SESSION: SHE BRINGS IN AN OLD CHUBBY CHECKER SONG THAT SHE DECLARES PERFECT FOR THE GROUP. RECOGNIZING IT FROM THE ARCHIES’ 2014 HOLLYWOOD BOWL ALBUM, THEY EXPRESS DOUBTS ABOUT REVIVING THE NUMBER; TO THEIR SURPRISE (AND NINJA’S OUTRAGE), SHE PULLS RANK AND INSISTS ON PRODUCING IT HERSELF. SABRINA WANTS TO SHOW NINJA THAT HER MUSICAL INSTINCTS ARE BETTER THAN HIS; PREDICTABLY, THEY CLASH AGAIN. HE SINGS POWERFUL LEAD VOCALS ON BOTH TRACKS BUT BADMOUTHS HER PRODUCTION MERCILESSLY! ANGRY AND HURT, BREE SHELVES THE WONDERFUL STUDIO VERSION OF "EVERYTHING'S WRONG!" FORTUNATELY, NERO THE DOG'S PRODUCTION OF "ALONG COMES MARY" IS ALMOST AS GOOD, AND IT SELLS BRISKLY WHEN RELEASED.
JULY 27, 2041
WITCH QUEEN RECORDING STUDIO, BOSTON
A WITCH QUEEN PRODUCTION
MOVIE SOUNDTRACK SESSION
"MARY!"
VOCAL ARRANGER: MAL HYPSTER
RHYTHM ARRANGER: RIKKI NINJA
BRASS ARRANGER: CORTEZ QUINTANILLA
CONDUCTOR/PRODUCER: NERO THE DOG
SOUND ENGINEER: YVONNE REMY
LOVE IS ALL AROUND (SONNY CURTIS)
- MARY! SOUNDTRACK, SINGLE B-SIDE
SHARP-DRESSED MAN (ZZ TOP)
- SINGLE B-SIDE
ALTHOUGH SHE IS NO LONGER THEIR PRODUCER, THE ARCHIES CONTINUE TO BENEFIT FROM SABRINA'S HOLLYWOOD CONNECTIONS. THIS MOVIE SONG RECORDING SESSION YIELDS TWO GREAT NUMBERS. ONLY "LOVE IS ALL AROUND" (THE FAMOUS THEME SONG FROM "THE MARY TYLER MOORE SHOW") WILL MAKE IT TO THE SCREEN, BUT BOTH IT AND ZZ TOP'S "SHARP-DRESSED MAN" WILL HIT THE CHARTS WHEN STREAMED AS SINGLE "FLIPSIDES". CHI AND NINJA SPLIT THE DIFFERENCE ON LEAD VOCALS, SOMETHING THEY'LL DO REGULARLY AFTER THE YEAR 2050. TEZ CONTINUES AS DEE DEE’S REPLACEMENT ON BACKGROUNDS, OFFICIALLY BECOMING A MEMBER OF “THE MAGIC CIRCLE”.
AUGUST 1 - 5, 2041
WITCH QUEEN RECORDING STUDIO, BOSTON
A WITCH QUEEN PRODUCTION
ALBUM SESSIONS
BUBBLEGUM BLITZ
WITH THE BOSTON BRASS ENSEMBLE
VOCAL ARRANGERS: MAL HYPSTER, RIKKI NINJA
RHYTHM ARRANGERS: GARCY BRISEÑO, RIKKI NINJA
BRASS ARRANGER: CORTEZ QUINTANILLA
CONDUCTOR/PRODUCER: NERO THE DOG
SOUND ENGINEER: YVONNE REMY
LATIN SHAKE (LEVINE, RESNICK)
NOTHIN' SWEETER THAN MY BABY
(SONNY GORDON)
SUNSHINE GAMES (ERIC WOOLFSON)
OOO-LA-LA (LEVINE, RESNICK)
DON'T HAVE TO RUN AND HIDE
(MARK + TED GUTKOWSKI)
COME ON DOWN, MARY ANN (JOEY LEVINE)
THE NEW-EDITION ARCHIES FINALLY BEGIN CUTTING THEIR FIFTH ALBUM, AND THEY'VE AMBITIOUSLY DECIDED TO MAKE IT A DOUBLE-LENGTH RELEASE! BUBBLEGUM BLITZ WILL PAY TRIBUTE TO THE OHIO EXPRESS, CRAZY ELEPHANT, 1910 FRUITGUM COMPANY AND OTHER ACTS FROM THE KASENETZ-KATZ BUBBLEGUM ROCK STABLE. RIKKI NINJA SINGS THE FIRST ROUND OF LEAD VOCALS. WITH NERO THE DOG RETURNING AS PRODUCER, A RAWER, EDGIER SOUND EMERGES.
AUGUST 7 - 9, 2041
WITCH QUEEN RECORDING STUDIO, BOSTON
A WITCH QUEEN PRODUCTION
ALBUM SESSIONS
BUBBLEGUM BLITZ
VOCAL ARRANGERS: MAL HYPSTER, RIKKI NINJA
RHYTHM ARRANGERS: GARCY BRISEÑO, RIKKI NINJA
BRASS ARRANGER: CORTEZ QUINTANILLA
CONDUCTOR/PRODUCER: NERO THE DOG
SOUND ENGINEER: YVONNE REMY
PINCH ME, BABY! (KASENETZ, KATZ, WOODS)
I GOT IT BAD FOR YOU (LEVINE, MARTINE)
- SINGLE B-SIDE
HEARTLESS HURTIE GERTIE (KASENETZ, KATZ)
HOT DIGGITY DOG (CARL, WHITELAW)
- SINGLE B-SIDE
MAL HYPSTER AND RIKKI NINJA GIVE “PINCH ME, BABY” A DOUBLE-TEAM VOCAL ATTACK! NINJA ROCKS IT SOLO ON “HEARTLESS HURTIE GERTIE” AND CHI CHANNELS DEE DEE'S PUNK SENSIBILITY ON TWO KICK-ASS STOMPERS FROM THE LATE SIXTIES: “I GOT IT BAD FOR YOU” AND “HOT DIGGITY DOG”. THE OHIO EXPRESS, THE KASENETZ-KATZ SINGING ORCHESTRAL CIRCUS, THE CRAZY ELEPHANT AND THE 1910 FRUITGUM COMPANY TRACKED THE ORIGINAL VERSIONS.
AUGUST 15 - 20, 2041
WITCH QUEEN RECORDING STUDIO, BOSTON
A WITCH QUEEN PRODUCTION
ALBUM SESSIONS
BUBBLEGUM BLITZ
WITH THE BOSTON BRASS ENSEMBLE
VOCAL ARRANGERS: GARCY BRISEÑO, MAL HYPSTER
RHYTHM ARRANGERS: GARCY BRISEÑO, RIKKI NINJA
BRASS ARRANGER: CORTEZ QUINTANILLA
CONDUCTOR/PRODUCER: NERO THE DOG
SOUND ENGINEER: YVONNE REMY
SAUSALITO (GRAHAM GOULDMAN)
- SINGLE A-SIDE
I SEE THE LIGHT (ELLIOT CHIPRUT)
HONEY PIE (KASENETZ, KATZ, LAUFER)
MAYBE YOU DO (FRED MARCUS)
- BUBBLEGUM BLITZ EP (INDONESIA)
BUBBLEGUM ROCK IS HARDLY GARCY BRISEÑO'S FAVORITE MUSIC GENRE, BUT SHE HATES BEING PIGEONHOLED AS A POP BALLAD SINGER. WHILE THESE SELECTIONS DO LEAN TOWARD THE BALLAD STYLE, THEY FREE HER UP TO DISPLAY THE RAW PASSION SHE BROUGHT TO HER ROLE IN THE MUSICAL DON'T TOUCH MY GUITAR. ANOTHER MASSIVE HIT WILL RESULT WHEN THE OHIO EXPRESS OLDIE "SAUSALITO" IS RELEASED AS A SINGLE. GARCY'S MASTERFUL SPANISH GUITAR-PLAYING PROVES TO BE JUST AS IMPRESSIVE AS HER VOCALS: THE PROUD TEJANA WILL HAVE HONED HER SKILLS PLAYING BOLEROS, CUMBIAS AND RANCHERAS IN HER FATHER'S BAND AS A TEENAGER. GARCY'S DAD, BTW, IS ARCHIE ANDREWS' HIGH SCHOOL PAL DILTON DOILEY “TONY” BRISEÑO!
AUGUST 27 - 29, 2041
WITCH QUEEN RECORDING STUDIO, BOSTON
A WITCH QUEEN PRODUCTION
ALBUM SESSIONS
BUBBLEGUM BLITZ
WITH THE BOSTON BRASS ENSEMBLE
VOCAL ARRANGERS: MAL HYPSTER, RIKKI NINJA
RHYTHM ARRANGERS: GARCY BRISEÑO, RIKKI NINJA
BRASS ARRANGER: CORTEZ QUINTANILLA
CONDUCTOR/PRODUCER: NERO THE DOG
SOUND ENGINEER: YVONNE REMY
JACK IN THE BOX (CORDELL, TRIMACHI)
HOOK, LINE AND SINKER (CARL, WHITELAW)
CAN'T STOP NOW! (CHIPRUT, KASENETZ, KATZ)
SWEET, SWEET LOVIN' YOU
(BLOOM, CORDELL, GENTRY)
QUICK JOEY SMALL (LEVINE, RESNICK)
SHAKE! (LEVINE, RESNICK)
CHI AND NINJA SING DUET VOCALS ON ALL THE SONGS RECORDED AT THESE SESSIONS EXCEPT "SHAKE!" ON THAT SHADOWS OF KNIGHT COVER SELECTION, GARCY AND TEZ JOIN IN TO MAKE IT A QUARTET - NOT QUITE A NEW "MAGIC CIRCLE" BUT DAMN GOOD VOCALIZING ALL THE SAME! THEIR PERFORMANCES ARE SO FABULOUS, NERO THE DOG CAN BARELY CONTAIN HIMSELF: HE YELPS, WIGGLES AND BOUNCES LIKE AN EXCITED PUPPY INSIDE THE SKELETON HEAD CONTROL BOOTH AT WITCH QUEEN STUDIOS!
SEPTEMBER 4 - 5, 2041
WITCH QUEEN RECORDING STUDIO, BOSTON
A WITCH QUEEN PRODUCTION
SINGLES SESSIONS
ARRANGER: RIKKI NINJA
CONDUCTOR/PRODUCER: NERO THE DOG
SOUND ENGINEER: YVONNE REMY
SOUL STRUTTIN' (ORLANDO, THAU)
- BUBBLEGUM BLITZ ALBUM
JACKSONVILLE STATION (LEVINE, MARTINE)
- SINGLE A-SIDE
FIREBIRD (LEVINE, RESNICK)
- BUBBLEGUM BLITZ ALBUM
LOOK THROUGH ANY WINDOW
(CHIPRUT, KASENETZ, KATZ)
- BUBBLEGUM BLITZ EP (ASIA)
JUST TO GLOAT, NINJA PLAYS SABRINA SOME RAW TRACKS FROM THE FORTHCOMING ALBUM; ALL OF THEM FEATURE HIS LEAD VOICE. WHEN SHE COOLY RESPONDS THAT SHE DOESN'T HEAR A HIT SINGLE, DUDE IS ROYALLY PISSED OFF! HE BEARS DOWN HARD ON WRITING THE LAST FEW ARRANGEMENTS AND SINGS HIS ASS OFF AT THE FINAL ALBUM SESSION. NERO ACTUALLY BOOKS IT FOR CUTTING SINGLES, BUT ONLY ONE RESULTS FROM NINJA'S EFFORTS. FORTUNATELY, IT'S A KILLER! THE BUBBLEGUM BLITZ LP PACKS A POWERFUL ONE-TWO PUNCH WITH THAT SINGLE, "JACKSONVILLE STATION", AND ITS PREDECESSOR "SAUSALITO". THESE BEST-SELLERS WILL PROPEL THE DOUBLE ALBUM HIGH UP THE CHARTS, MAKING IT THE MOST SUCCESSFUL NEW ARCHIES RELEASE TO DATE! A FRUSTRATED BREE IS FORCED TO ADMIT THAT THE GROUP CAN SCORE HITS WITHOUT HER HELP.
JULY 5, 2042
WITCH QUEEN RECORDING STUDIO, BOSTON
A WITCH QUEEN PRODUCTION
SINGLES SESSION
WITH STRINGS STRUNG BLUE
VOCAL ARRANGERS: GARCY BRISEÑO, MAL HYPSTER
RHYTHM ARRANGER: RIKKI NINJA
BRASS ARRANGER: CORTEZ QUINTANILLA
CONDUCTOR/PRODUCER: NERO THE DOG
SOUND ENGINEER: YVONNE REMY
SPEND SOME TIME LOVIN' ME
(ATKINS, MILLER)
- NEW ARCHIES HIT KIT LP
AMAZING (CICCONE, WAINWRIGHT)
- SINGLE A-SIDE
DURING THE ARCHIES' SUCCESSFUL 2041-2 CONCERT TOUR, GARCY ANNOUNCES THAT SHE IS LEAVING THE GROUP. AT HER LAST TRACKING SESSION AS A MEMBER, SHE CHOOSES TO COVER A MADONNA COMPOSITION. BILLBOARD REPORTS THAT THE NEXT NEW ARCHIES ALBUM WILL FEATURE MADONNA'S SONGS EXCLUSIVELY, BUT THAT ALBUM NEVER MATERIALIZES. NEITHER DOES ANY MADONNA TITLE OTHER THAN "AMAZING", BECAUSE THE SHOCKING NEWS OF REGGIE MANTLE'S DEATH STOPS THE SESSION EARLY!
SEPTEMBER 16 - 17, 2042
WITCH QUEEN RECORDING STUDIO, BOSTON
A WITCH QUEEN PRODUCTION
ALBUM SESSIONS
SEDAKA MANIA
VOCAL ARRANGER: MAL HYPSTER
RHYTHM ARRANGER: RIKKI NINJA
BRASS ARRANGER: CORTEZ QUINTANILLA
CONDUCTOR/PRODUCER: NERO THE DOG
SOUND ENGINEER: YVONNE REMY
COLD GIRL
- LOST
LET THE GOOD TIMES IN
- LOST
WE CAN MAKE IT IF WE TRY
- LOST
WHEN LOVE COMES KNOCKIN' AT YOUR DOOR
- LOST
(BAYER-SAGER, SEDAKA)
AS A TEENAGER, RIKKI NINJA WAS REGGIE MANTLE'S PROTEGÉ, SO HIS DEATH STRIKES THE KEYBOARDIST ESPECIALLY HARD. AT THE FUNERAL IN MÉXICO CITY, NINJA GIVES A TOUCHING EULOGY TO HIS MENTOR AND GARCY SINGS "SAY GOODBYE TO RIVERDALE." AFTER THE ARCHIES ATTEND REGGIE'S MEMORIAL SERVICE, GARCY GOES SOLO AND THERE'S UNCERTAINTY ABOUT THE BAND'S FUTURE. THE REMAINING MEMBERS DISCUSS AUDITIONING REPLACEMENTS, BUT THERE ARE NO NEW FACES AT THESE TENTATIVE SESSIONS FOR A SIXTH LP. SEDAKA MANIA WILL HAVE BEEN BREE SPELLMAN'S REJECTED CONCEPT FOR THE FIFTH ALBUM; CHI, WHOSE SINGING VOICE RESEMBLES NEIL SEDAKA’S, IS UP FOR THE CHALLENGE BUT NINJA NEVER WARMS UP TO IT! HIS LACK OF ENTHUSIASM, COMBINED WITH TEZ’S RETICENCE TO PROCEED WITHOUT GARCY TORPEDOES THE PROJECT. THE BAND DECIDES TO DUMP THESE TRACKS AND BREAK UP: CHI IS HEADED FOR A SHORT-LIVED MODELING CAREER WHILE TEZ AND NINJA WILL TEAM UP TO PRODUCE NEO LATIN HIP-HOP ARTISTS. "AMAZING" LOOKS TO BE THE ARCHIES' FINAL HIT SINGLE, BUT SABRINA IS DETERMINED THAT IT WON'T BE. HOWEVER LONG IT TAKES, SHE VOWS TO BRING THEM BACK TOGETHER!
APRIL 21 - 25, 2044
BLACK ORCHID STUDIOS, ATLANTIC CITY
A MAMA SHELLY PRODUCTION
ALBUM SESSIONS
RUNAWAY LOVE
DONNA + THE MOTHERF*CKERS
PRODUCER: LANA SWITCHBLADE
SOUND ENGINEER: SHELLY SUZUKI
KEEP SEARCHIN' (DEL SHANNON)
LITTLE TOWN FLIRT (McKENZIE, SHANNON)
SHOW ME (DEL SHANNON)
I DON'T CARE ANYMORE (DEL SHANNON)
SO LONG, BABY! (DEL SHANNON)
FOR A LITTLE WHILE (DEL SHANNON)
DONNA + THE MOTHERF*CKERS ARE A PUNK ROCK TRIO COMPRISED OF LEAD SINGER AND BASS GUITARIST DONNA DANTE, LEAD GUITARIST LANA SWITCHBLADE AND DRUMMER PENNY ABORTION. DEE DEE AND LANA WILL HAVE KNOWN EACH OTHER FOR YEARS; PENNY WILL BE RECRUITED AT AN AUDITION. DURING THE MID-2040s, THE MOTHERF*CKERS BECOME INFAMOUS FOR BEATING UP ALL THE MEN IN THEIR AUDIENCE AFTER EVERY SHOW! IT'S A GIMMICK THAT WINS THEM LOADS OF COVERAGE IN THE ROCK PRESS. OF MORE SIGNIFICANCE IS THEIR UNUSUALLY MELODIC BRAND OF PUNK THAT SACRIFICES NONE OF THE GENRE'S FIRE AND CHAOTIC ENERGY. "MAMA SHELLY" IS SUBARU SUZUKI, LANA'S MOTHER. FORMERLY A RADIO DEEJAY IN HER NATIVE JAPAN, SHE ENGINEERS THE BAND'S FIRST AND ONLY SOLO ALBUM.
APRIL 27 - MAY 1, 2044
BLACK ORCHID STUDIOS, ATLANTIC CITY
A MAMA SHELLY PRODUCTION
ALBUM SESSIONS
RUNAWAY LOVE
DONNA + THE MOTHERF*CKERS
PRODUCER: LANA SWITCHBLADE
SOUND ENGINEER: SHELLY SUZUKI
THAT'S THE WAY LOVE IS (DEL SHANNON)
STRANGER IN TOWN (DEL SHANNON)
HE WAS MINE (NIEVELT, SHANNON)
WHAT MAKES YOU RUN? (DEL SHANNON)
BROKEN PROMISES (DEL SHANNON)
RUNAWAY (CROOK, SHANNON)
THE MOTHERF*CKERS MINE THE SONG CATALOG OF THE LATE, GREAT SINGER/SONGWRITER DEL SHANNON. SINCE HEARING AN UNRELEASED DEL SHANNON TRIBUTE BY THE ARCHIES IN 2040, DEE DEE WILL HAVE LONGED TO PUT AN EDGY SPIN ON SOME OF THEIR TRACKS; NOW SHE GETS HER CHANCE. THE RUNAWAY LOVE ALBUM WILL BE A RARITY, ONLY SOLD AT MOTHERF*CKERS SHOWS AND ON THEIR SHORT-LIVED WEBSITE. THE RECORD LABEL, LOOSE STOOL, IS AN INDIE IMPRINT RUN BY ROCK IMPRESARIO DAKOTA PHILPOTT; SHE OWNS A CLUB OF THE SAME NAME, AND DEE DEE'S TRIO HAS A RESIDENCY THERE. DAKOTA WILL CROSS PATHS WITH DEE DEE AGAIN AFTER THE MOTHERF*CKERS BREAK UP.
MAY 6 - 8, 2044
WITCH QUEEN RECORDING STUDIO, BOSTON
A WITCH QUEEN PRODUCTION
SINGLE SESSIONS
WITH PATRICK VERDIER, DRUMS
A & R SUPERVISION:
SALEM SABERHAGEN
ARRANGER: BREE SPELLMAN
CONDUCTOR: NERO THE DOG
PRODUCERS: BREE SPELLMAN, LANA SWITCHBLADE
SOUND ENGINEER: YVONNE REMY
STAND UP! (DEL SHANNON)
AND THE MUSIC PLAYS ON
(BURGOISE, SHANNON)
DEE DEE WANTS A HIT SINGLE FOR HER GROUP, SO SHE ENGAGES THE SERVICES OF HER MENTOR, SABRINA. LANA SWITCHBLADE CO-PRODUCES THIS TURBULENT SESSION AT WITCH QUEEN STUDIOS. DRUMMER PENNY ABORTION ISN'T FOND OF THESE SONGS; IN FACT, BABE HATES ANY KIND OF MELODIC MUSIC! SHE WILL HAVE OPPOSED COVERING DEL SHANNON'S TUNES AND SHE'S ANGRY AT DEE DEE FOR "SELLING OUT". PENNY CONFRONTS SABRINA, ACCUSING HER OF "FOMENTING CRASS COMMERCIALISM". THIS PROMPTS MUSIC DIRECTOR NERO THE DOG TO SNARL AT HER! SCARED SHITLESS, PENNY REFUSES TO TAKE PART IN THE DATE, AND A SESSION DRUMMER TAKES HER PLACE. TO PRESERVE BAND UNITY, DEE DEE WILL ULTIMATELY DECIDE NOT TO RELEASE THE SINGLE, ALTHOUGH BOTH SIDES WILL APPEAR ON THE RUNAWAY LOVE ALBUM IN STRIPPED-DOWN VERSIONS. BREE DISAPPROVES OF MAMA SHELLY'S SOUND MIXES AND ASKS NOT TO BE CREDITED, BUT THERE ARE NO HARD FEELINGS: IN TWO YEARS, WHEN SABRINA AND LANA SWITCHBLADE MEET UP AGAIN, THE LATTER WILL DISCOVER THAT THERE'S LIFE AFTER PUNK ROCK!
WILL BE SECOND FEMALE LEAD FOR THE NEW ARCHIES FROM 2038 TO 2041, AND THEIR PRIMARY LEAD VOICE FROM 2047 TO 2049. SHE'S A SELF-TAUGHT BASS PLAYER AND PUNK ROCK BAND SINGER.
"SESSION LOGS OF THE NEW ARCHIES"
