Begobs Christy, mixing seems complicated ….you gotta be like a conductor in an orchestra….an ear to everything. And a dozy A&R w**ker thought the album would be better with a bit less of that, and a bit more of the udder……
Tried to buy tickets for Tulla, ticketmaster not helping me….
There’s surely enough gigs in Vicar St for me to be able to make one of them …looks like a massive season of sessions!
Christy's reply
it happened on the Voyage album 35 years ago…..a man from WEA London came over to Dublin and asked me to consider having the album remixed…I would not describe him as a dozy A&R wanker….he was a decent man with years of experience and success in the industry…I was flattered by the attention and agreed to give it a go…. the tracks came back remixed and I liked what I heard…some of those who worked on the album thought I’d made the wrong decision but I forged ahead with the remixes….it caused certain bitterness which ,thankfully, has long since faded away….about ten years ago I had the chance to compare the original mixes with the remixes….my companeros were right…the original mixes were better….a tiny blip in retrospect….but an interesting retro reflection….
working hard here on the next album..there’ll be no shaggin remixin when thats done !!!
Hello Christy,
Just musing on what you said about mixing and remixing. When you’re playing live all that stuff will have to happen on the fly. So the soundman is kind of part of the band. Unless you’re fully acoustic and then you get whatever you get. Like playing at home.
There will be hybrid stuff too? Start with a live recording and then maybe add to it?
It’s like making soup. At least it is the way I make it. All sorts can end up in there. I keep hearing a didgeridoo on one of the tracks on the Live in Vicar Street album. That can’t be right, can it?
Rebecca
Christy's reply
Yes…David who has been mixing my sound for 21 years plays a vital part in all gigs….
Yes….I have betimes taken live recordings and tricked around in the studio and, on one occasion, which I wont identify, I did precisely the opposite…
So far I’ve not experienced working with a Didgeridoo but I have heard tracks with sounds coming from instruments that are not there…on one Planxty album I heard ,and still hear , a very distinctive sound coming thru…I’ve sat in the studio with the other members and the engineer and producer…no one could hear that sound but myself…..we all have different acoustic set ups in our ears, personal mixing desks in our brains…its all a glorious mystery
Morning Christy,
I was listening to one of my guilty pleasures last night ( be bop deluxe’s song ‘modern music’) . On the LP its the first track, on spotty fly its ‘modern music, reprise, remastered 2019’ , no idea if it is even on twatter or faceslap.
Anyway the first minute of the 70s song modern music is someone turning their dial through the frequencies of their radio , past sport, comedy and music , it reminds me of my youth.
Not just because of recalling buying the album from Hawick’s main ( of 2) record shops in their sale window, but because as most will recall that is how we tuned our way past Athlone, Luxembourg and Hilversum…..them were the days.
Do we have too much choice now?
Now we have to travel nearly 50 miles to find a record shop, so maybe not.
Anyway, what is this post about? Not sure really, nostalgia for john peel, for long wave, for gigs costing a pound, for our english teacher organising bus trips to gigs without parental consent or headcounts……
Am off to listen to ‘america, you are not the world’ to reminisce of days when morrissey’s politics made sense….you can shove your hamburger…..fine song, you interpreted it wonderfully.
Rory
Christy's reply
I still listen to Mess of Blues, Hound Dog, Heartbreak Hotel, they were among my first 78″ and 45rpm singles from way back..purchased from McGovern’s Electrical Shop, Main St., Newbridge, County Kildare…back before The Clancy Brothers came to Town (on an LP from New York)…
When will I get to see you in the barrowlands again. Still remember the time I got to see the boy from tamlaghtduff live there about 6 years ago. Unreal stuff
Christy's reply
its the kinda thing many of us dream about…..lets see what happens….
Be Janey Gitser! A quick slip down to Tullamore in the middle of the Vicar Street run! Anyone for the last few briquettes!
Christy's reply
hopin to pick up a trailer of Black turf for the Christmas in Lullymore…I’ve the promise of a Turkey in Blacktrench and a hank of Sprouts in Mylerstown
Hi Christy, this post may come across as a bit preachy, so please feel free to deleate it if appropriate. I’ve been listening to a few radio phone ins with various celebrities saying what a close friend Sinead O’Conner was and how they will miss her, but when asked the last time they spoke with her “‘well it must be a year, maybe 18 months, well you know what its like”. It got me thinking if a fraction of the people who said they will miss her now shes gone actually told her,,maybe, just maybe, she would still be with us? So can I politely suggest that if anyone has half an hour to spare rather than spend it composing a eulogy for someone you never met only to post it on social media to be read by people you will never meet, use the time to phone a friend. You know the one who is a bit of a pain in the arse because they are always complaing about not being able to cope, after all its not as if were not all in the same boat. Well we may all be in the same boat but when life gets a bit choppy some of us aren’t luckey enough to ‘have our own crewe’ and they need someone to talk to.
Christy's reply
Warrior Woman..Fearless Yet Fragile…May Sinéad Rest in Peace…
Christy, Sinéad has brought us to some interesting places, I didn’t know you had collaborated so much. I have had another listen to the album Voyage, where there are four Jimmy McCarthy songs, among them yourself and Sinéad performing ‘The mad lady and me’. Strange sad story
I note your comments on this album, the men in suits talked you into a remix, something you regret to this day. I don’t really understand the significance of a remix and it’s influence on the songs, but I must say, I like the album. I remember the Ann Lovett scandal, and the nothing that was done about it.
Christy's reply
I record a song:
lets say 16 channels…. vocal channel, keyboard channel, 2 guitar channels etc etc
when the song is recorded
I listen to the recording and mix the different constituents channels until I’m happy with the “mix”
if I later become dissatisfied with the overall sound I’ll sometimes go back and REMIX the various constituent channels….. (eg more vocal, less drums , some echo on the lead guitar, a bit of rezzamatazz on the lead guitar etc etc or whatever you’re havin yourself)
occasionally, (if the budget permits) scrap the whole feckin lot and start again OR drop the song completely !!!!
hope this makes some slight sense
Hello Christy,
I was listening to you song Bord Na Mona Man last night. It’s such a happy gem of a song.
“when the Yankee steered his module down to the moon to land
Who was there to hold the ladder but the Bord Na Mona Man”
Sorry for any mistakes, it’s from memory.
I remember Rory talking about this song before Flying into Mystery was released.
Dear Christy
I hope you are well.
I walked home from work today from Marylebone to Harlesden. At my age it was long.
On my way I stopped to look at the corner of 234 Kilburn Park Road and Messina Avenue where the Kilburn National Ballroom once resided. I remembered April 1st 1987 when I was first amazed by Sinead O Connor. I remember jumping up and down. I continued to be amazed until last time ever 2 years ago at the Shepherd’s Bush Empire. How much must I owe now to her and to those have given so much to me. I am indebted. Take good care. No more jumping up and down. I’m off to soak my feet. Anuk
Christy's reply
Dear Anuk….. 1987…I first met Sinéad around that time….she came to a studio and sang on “The Middle of The Island”….Nigel Rolfe’s lyric in memory of Anne Lovett…..as always, Sinéad inhabited the song…brought that beautiful spirited singing….
What a tragic story, myself and my wife were only saying your new song ‘Lyra McKee’ Sinead would have done a lovely version of the song and would have suited her so well. May she rest in peace.
Christy's reply
she sure would have sung it beautifully
we’ll never hear her like again
Warrior Woman..Fearless Yet Fragile…May Sinéad Rest in Peace…
Not really any tribute I can add to Sinead other than those already mentioned. Such a sad day. I hope she finds the peace and rest that she deserves. Offering my sympathy to yourself as well as I always felt there was a beautiful and special connection between you and you were always there to support her when many weren’t. Thankfully her beautiful soul still shone through x
Christy, this is just lovely. Yourself, Sinéad and Néill McColl singing one of Ewan’s great compositions. I can’t place the setting? Was it a private recording?
Thank you for posting this..I’d forgotten that we sang it together…. Sinéad, Neil MacColl joined me for this on an RTE series many years back The song written by Neil’s Father…Ewan MacColl……always a joy to sing with Sinéad….the country is mourning the loss of our vital beautiful, fearless, fragile artist
RIP Sinéad
Is minic gur fearr bas na breoiteacht
She was a rare thing fine as a bees wing
So fine a breath of wind might blow her away
She was a lost child she was running wild…
Christy's reply
Warrior Woman..Fearless Yet Fragile…May Sinéad Rest in Peace…
A sad,grey Manchester day, absorbing the news about Sinead O’Connor… Heartening to read the tributes and emotional hitting YouTube for the wonderful duet with you on Lord Baker…
Like few others, SO’C hits the heart of a song… Your voices are perfect together and bearing in mind how much the song means to you,it must have been quite something to share.
Very understandable if you’d rather not give details,but,if possible,it would be interesting to know about the Lord Baker recording etc.
Back to YouTube now,with music fit to raise the spirits…
All good wishes
Dave
Christy's reply
Warrior Woman..Fearless Yet Fragile…May Sinéad Rest in Peace…
Coming back home an switching TV-news on: Sinéad. Oh no. I love her ‘Lord Baker’ with you, Christy. Günter
Christy's reply
“and seven years been past and over
and seven more they were rollin on
she’s bundled up all her gold and clothin
and swore Lord Baker she would go find”
Begobs Christy, mixing seems complicated ….you gotta be like a conductor in an orchestra….an ear to everything. And a dozy A&R w**ker thought the album would be better with a bit less of that, and a bit more of the udder……
Tried to buy tickets for Tulla, ticketmaster not helping me….
There’s surely enough gigs in Vicar St for me to be able to make one of them …looks like a massive season of sessions!
it happened on the Voyage album 35 years ago…..a man from WEA London came over to Dublin and asked me to consider having the album remixed…I would not describe him as a dozy A&R wanker….he was a decent man with years of experience and success in the industry…I was flattered by the attention and agreed to give it a go…. the tracks came back remixed and I liked what I heard…some of those who worked on the album thought I’d made the wrong decision but I forged ahead with the remixes….it caused certain bitterness which ,thankfully, has long since faded away….about ten years ago I had the chance to compare the original mixes with the remixes….my companeros were right…the original mixes were better….a tiny blip in retrospect….but an interesting retro reflection….
working hard here on the next album..there’ll be no shaggin remixin when thats done !!!
Hello Christy,
Just musing on what you said about mixing and remixing. When you’re playing live all that stuff will have to happen on the fly. So the soundman is kind of part of the band. Unless you’re fully acoustic and then you get whatever you get. Like playing at home.
There will be hybrid stuff too? Start with a live recording and then maybe add to it?
It’s like making soup. At least it is the way I make it. All sorts can end up in there. I keep hearing a didgeridoo on one of the tracks on the Live in Vicar Street album. That can’t be right, can it?
Rebecca
Yes…David who has been mixing my sound for 21 years plays a vital part in all gigs….
Yes….I have betimes taken live recordings and tricked around in the studio and, on one occasion, which I wont identify, I did precisely the opposite…
So far I’ve not experienced working with a Didgeridoo but I have heard tracks with sounds coming from instruments that are not there…on one Planxty album I heard ,and still hear , a very distinctive sound coming thru…I’ve sat in the studio with the other members and the engineer and producer…no one could hear that sound but myself…..we all have different acoustic set ups in our ears, personal mixing desks in our brains…its all a glorious mystery
Morning Christy,
I was listening to one of my guilty pleasures last night ( be bop deluxe’s song ‘modern music’) . On the LP its the first track, on spotty fly its ‘modern music, reprise, remastered 2019’ , no idea if it is even on twatter or faceslap.
Anyway the first minute of the 70s song modern music is someone turning their dial through the frequencies of their radio , past sport, comedy and music , it reminds me of my youth.
Not just because of recalling buying the album from Hawick’s main ( of 2) record shops in their sale window, but because as most will recall that is how we tuned our way past Athlone, Luxembourg and Hilversum…..them were the days.
Do we have too much choice now?
Now we have to travel nearly 50 miles to find a record shop, so maybe not.
Anyway, what is this post about? Not sure really, nostalgia for john peel, for long wave, for gigs costing a pound, for our english teacher organising bus trips to gigs without parental consent or headcounts……
Am off to listen to ‘america, you are not the world’ to reminisce of days when morrissey’s politics made sense….you can shove your hamburger…..fine song, you interpreted it wonderfully.
Rory
I still listen to Mess of Blues, Hound Dog, Heartbreak Hotel, they were among my first 78″ and 45rpm singles from way back..purchased from McGovern’s Electrical Shop, Main St., Newbridge, County Kildare…back before The Clancy Brothers came to Town (on an LP from New York)…
When will I get to see you in the barrowlands again. Still remember the time I got to see the boy from tamlaghtduff live there about 6 years ago. Unreal stuff
its the kinda thing many of us dream about…..lets see what happens….
Be Janey Gitser! A quick slip down to Tullamore in the middle of the Vicar Street run! Anyone for the last few briquettes!
hopin to pick up a trailer of Black turf for the Christmas in Lullymore…I’ve the promise of a Turkey in Blacktrench and a hank of Sprouts in Mylerstown
Hi Christy, this post may come across as a bit preachy, so please feel free to deleate it if appropriate. I’ve been listening to a few radio phone ins with various celebrities saying what a close friend Sinead O’Conner was and how they will miss her, but when asked the last time they spoke with her “‘well it must be a year, maybe 18 months, well you know what its like”. It got me thinking if a fraction of the people who said they will miss her now shes gone actually told her,,maybe, just maybe, she would still be with us? So can I politely suggest that if anyone has half an hour to spare rather than spend it composing a eulogy for someone you never met only to post it on social media to be read by people you will never meet, use the time to phone a friend. You know the one who is a bit of a pain in the arse because they are always complaing about not being able to cope, after all its not as if were not all in the same boat. Well we may all be in the same boat but when life gets a bit choppy some of us aren’t luckey enough to ‘have our own crewe’ and they need someone to talk to.
Warrior Woman..Fearless Yet Fragile…May Sinéad Rest in Peace…
Christy, Sinéad has brought us to some interesting places, I didn’t know you had collaborated so much. I have had another listen to the album Voyage, where there are four Jimmy McCarthy songs, among them yourself and Sinéad performing ‘The mad lady and me’. Strange sad story
https://youtu.be/FNwjQx4tqgU
I note your comments on this album, the men in suits talked you into a remix, something you regret to this day. I don’t really understand the significance of a remix and it’s influence on the songs, but I must say, I like the album. I remember the Ann Lovett scandal, and the nothing that was done about it.
I record a song:
lets say 16 channels…. vocal channel, keyboard channel, 2 guitar channels etc etc
when the song is recorded
I listen to the recording and mix the different constituents channels until I’m happy with the “mix”
if I later become dissatisfied with the overall sound I’ll sometimes go back and REMIX the various constituent channels….. (eg more vocal, less drums , some echo on the lead guitar, a bit of rezzamatazz on the lead guitar etc etc or whatever you’re havin yourself)
occasionally, (if the budget permits) scrap the whole feckin lot and start again OR drop the song completely !!!!
hope this makes some slight sense
Hello Christy,
I was listening to you song Bord Na Mona Man last night. It’s such a happy gem of a song.
“when the Yankee steered his module down to the moon to land
Who was there to hold the ladder but the Bord Na Mona Man”
Sorry for any mistakes, it’s from memory.
I remember Rory talking about this song before Flying into Mystery was released.
Exciting prospects for Vicar Street!
Rebecca
Dear Christy
I hope you are well.
I walked home from work today from Marylebone to Harlesden. At my age it was long.
On my way I stopped to look at the corner of 234 Kilburn Park Road and Messina Avenue where the Kilburn National Ballroom once resided. I remembered April 1st 1987 when I was first amazed by Sinead O Connor. I remember jumping up and down. I continued to be amazed until last time ever 2 years ago at the Shepherd’s Bush Empire. How much must I owe now to her and to those have given so much to me. I am indebted. Take good care. No more jumping up and down. I’m off to soak my feet. Anuk
Dear Anuk….. 1987…I first met Sinéad around that time….she came to a studio and sang on “The Middle of The Island”….Nigel Rolfe’s lyric in memory of Anne Lovett…..as always, Sinéad inhabited the song…brought that beautiful spirited singing….
What a tragic story, myself and my wife were only saying your new song ‘Lyra McKee’ Sinead would have done a lovely version of the song and would have suited her so well. May she rest in peace.
she sure would have sung it beautifully
we’ll never hear her like again
Warrior Woman..Fearless Yet Fragile…May Sinéad Rest in Peace…
Not really any tribute I can add to Sinead other than those already mentioned. Such a sad day. I hope she finds the peace and rest that she deserves. Offering my sympathy to yourself as well as I always felt there was a beautiful and special connection between you and you were always there to support her when many weren’t. Thankfully her beautiful soul still shone through x
No words would say it better Christy
Here’s to her inspiration to young women especially
RIP Sinead
Christy, this is just lovely. Yourself, Sinéad and Néill McColl singing one of Ewan’s great compositions. I can’t place the setting? Was it a private recording?
https://youtu.be/Tgwtl-s0CNI
Thank you for posting this..I’d forgotten that we sang it together…. Sinéad, Neil MacColl joined me for this on an RTE series many years back The song written by Neil’s Father…Ewan MacColl……always a joy to sing with Sinéad….the country is mourning the loss of our vital beautiful, fearless, fragile artist
RIP Sinéad
Is minic gur fearr bas na breoiteacht
She was a rare thing fine as a bees wing
So fine a breath of wind might blow her away
She was a lost child she was running wild…
Warrior Woman..Fearless Yet Fragile…May Sinéad Rest in Peace…
Hello Christy,
Here’s something for today. For Sinead. For everybody here.
https://youtu.be/17VdUlxarMg
Rebecca
Warrior Woman..Fearless Yet Fragile…May Sinéad Rest in Peace…
Sinéad
When the Madison Square crowd blood her on stage, she replaced her planned Bob song with this one.
Good choice, good idea Rory.
https://youtu.be/X0VpfiMcPPA
Warrior Woman..Fearless Yet Fragile…May Sinéad Rest in Peace…
Hi Christy
A sad,grey Manchester day, absorbing the news about Sinead O’Connor… Heartening to read the tributes and emotional hitting YouTube for the wonderful duet with you on Lord Baker…
Like few others, SO’C hits the heart of a song… Your voices are perfect together and bearing in mind how much the song means to you,it must have been quite something to share.
Very understandable if you’d rather not give details,but,if possible,it would be interesting to know about the Lord Baker recording etc.
Back to YouTube now,with music fit to raise the spirits…
All good wishes
Dave
Warrior Woman..Fearless Yet Fragile…May Sinéad Rest in Peace…
Coming back home an switching TV-news on: Sinéad. Oh no. I love her ‘Lord Baker’ with you, Christy. Günter
“and seven years been past and over
and seven more they were rollin on
she’s bundled up all her gold and clothin
and swore Lord Baker she would go find”
I was going to attach Sinead’s video of ‘War’ from you tube but failed.
Anyway folks can ‘google’ it, she will remain outstanding.
Rory
Warrior Woman….may she rest in peace
Sinead sang from the heart and the soul, sad news.
Rory
Warrior Woman..Fearless Yet Fragile…May Sinéad Rest in Peace…