Phil Spector

[Paul L.]

Steve,

Did you ever remaster any isolated Phil Spector songs, say on one of those thousands of compilation CDs you've done? If so, PLMK which ones.

Also, you probably know the answer to this: Did Phil mix his stuff to sound good on old car radio speakers or something like that rather than high fidelity equipment?

[Steve Hoffman]

I have not done a single Phil Spector remaster. He controls his catalog, and, well, you know...

I DO have breakfast with his old engineer Larry Levine and his cronies every Tuesday morning (hey, that's tomorrow, goody!)

Larry has told me that Phil mixed his mono records to sound good on the big Altec monitor at Gold Star Studios AND on a car radio speaker.

And you know what, the little 45's DO sound great on just about any type of playback unit!

[RetroSmith]

Steve, if Hal Blaine is at breakfast tomorrow, could you ask him if he played on Turn Turn Turn?

thanks!!

Mikey

[Steve Hoffman]

He'll be there.

I'll be happy to ask him, but remember, the guy played on over 5,000 recordings!

The first time I met Hal, (after I made him autograph my Ludwig Tom Tom :D ), I asked him what it was like to record The Beach Boys "Surfin' U.S.A", The Byrds "Mr. Tambourine Man" and The Grassroots "Midnight Confessions". He told me that honestly, he couldn't tell me. I guess from the shocked look on my face, he took pity and said that when he was recording the basic tracks to these songs, he really didn't know what the end result was going to be. All he heard was his drums, and a few other instruments getting into a groove and then "doin' it" in a few takes. When he left the session is when the vocals and sweet stuff were added.

He told me he did up to 4 sessions (of 4 hours duration each) at 4 different studios a day for years and years. That's a lot of work!

But, yes, I'll ask him tomorrow! ;)

[RetroSmith]

Thank you Steve, I really appreciate that.

I'm a big fan of Hal, and my own drumming style is so much like his that I should probably be arrested...but hey, I only steal from the best!!!


Steve, please also tell Hal what a great drum track he did on "Youre The One" by The Vogues. If I had to pick ONE 60s record for a time capsule, that would be it.

thanks again.

Mikey

[Steve Hoffman]

I'll tell him. He likes that song as well. He caught himself humming it once and asked us what it was. I told him and he went "oh yeah, good bass player on that one".

Love that guy. Go here to hear more from Hal:

http://www.halblaine.com

[RetroSmith]

Steve, I beat you to it , big guy!!

I'm already a member on Hals site. Very interesting stuff there.

thanks!!

Mikey