Now on Bandcamp: A. Animal "Overhaul".
You know, I've been at this music thing for a really long time now..... :) So it is with great joy, wonder and ultimately a sense of relief that I place on audio "display" this record from my back catalog - "Overhaul", by my now defunct and ancient group "A. Animal". My longest running musical group before NAIL, "A. Animal" was my seminal Punk Jazz/Prog Rock group. We were together from 1978 - 1982, and again from 1986 - 1994. We played all manner of musics: Crimson and Mahavishnu Covers, obscure ELP tunes, Weather Report, Jeff Beck/Jan Hammer classics, John Abercrombie stuff - what a list. And then there were the originals...! I wrote quite a lot for this group, and in a Duke Ellington sort of way it was tailored to this band, these musicians, that moment in time. None of tis material has ever sounded the same since, and I don't play any of it any more - with the exception of "17 Seconds/Infinity", which I have resurrected for the Mahavishnu Trio Project.
"Overhaul" was originally recorded in 1990. Produced by Robert Muso & myself; we never did see eye to eye, and therefore the record doesn't really reflect either of our visions. It sure as hell sounds great tho, as Robert is a fantastic engineer! We spent a long time on the "guitar" sounds, using multiple amps, tracking sometimes up to 4 versions of the same part. It was mixed on an SSL console; I think it was the first time I'd ever seen mix automation. Though slated for European & Japanese release on Robert's "MuWorks Records" label in the fall of 1990, its release was cancelled because of the original "Gulf War". Of course, 6 months later it was considered out of date, and was shelved. I was heartbroken. I had also spent close to $20,000 on the production. ARGH!!!! Chalk it up to lessons learned.We continued to perform, even though the drummer's other commitments (he was and still is a letter carrier for the USPS) made it impossible to tour, until finally breaking up in 1994. At that point I began work on "Alone at Last"....
It wasn't until 2003, with new digital audio tools, that I was able to "reconstruct" the CD and re-release it on our label Pdog Records. The sequence of songs has been changed, bringing it at least a tiny bit closer to my vision. And now, through the magic of Bandcamp, I can finally present to you "A. Animal: Overhaul" in all it's glory. As usual, pay what you wish - even zero.
Thanks for listening!!!!
- Neil
"Overhaul" was originally recorded in 1990. Produced by Robert Muso & myself; we never did see eye to eye, and therefore the record doesn't really reflect either of our visions. It sure as hell sounds great tho, as Robert is a fantastic engineer! We spent a long time on the "guitar" sounds, using multiple amps, tracking sometimes up to 4 versions of the same part. It was mixed on an SSL console; I think it was the first time I'd ever seen mix automation. Though slated for European & Japanese release on Robert's "MuWorks Records" label in the fall of 1990, its release was cancelled because of the original "Gulf War". Of course, 6 months later it was considered out of date, and was shelved. I was heartbroken. I had also spent close to $20,000 on the production. ARGH!!!! Chalk it up to lessons learned.We continued to perform, even though the drummer's other commitments (he was and still is a letter carrier for the USPS) made it impossible to tour, until finally breaking up in 1994. At that point I began work on "Alone at Last"....
It wasn't until 2003, with new digital audio tools, that I was able to "reconstruct" the CD and re-release it on our label Pdog Records. The sequence of songs has been changed, bringing it at least a tiny bit closer to my vision. And now, through the magic of Bandcamp, I can finally present to you "A. Animal: Overhaul" in all it's glory. As usual, pay what you wish - even zero.
Thanks for listening!!!!
- Neil
