changin' times [notes]

changin' times

original louisiana soul & blues

foto: recording session, monroe, louisiana

 music clips, downloads and cds are available from:

  http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/duffey 

+++++++

1. carnival time in the city *** 2. fallen angels  3. bitter wine *** 4. nothing ventured, nothing gained  5. home sweet bourbon street * 6. love into my life  7. it’s time

8.  reach out for me  9. sweet soul sister *  10. sweet disposition *  11. changin’ times  12. the first taste of trouble  13. workin’ man’s blues

  *** horns arranged by josh keene- * horns arranged by doug duffey

---

doug duffey: vocal/piano/organ - jerry beach: guitar - tommy miller: guitar - doug johnson: bass - steve wade: drums - lisa spann: vocals - michael rasbury: vocals/percussion - josh keene: trumpet - thad noland: saxophones - jeremy davis: saxophone

engineered, recorded, mixed, and mastered by michael rasbury

all songs written/arranged by doug duffey (C)(P)2006 published by doug duffey music, bmi

executive producers: jacqueline trachsel & doug duffey

special thanks to jimmy and ellen balfour for the use of "little chicago" 

---

fotos from the sessions : left to right: jerry beach;  tommy miller; steve wade; doug johnson; doug duffey: michael rasbury; lisa spann; jeremy davis, thad noland, & josh keene

 

click on fotos to enlarge

---

doug's notes:
[on the sessions]
for this cd i wanted to record in a relaxed no-stress environment. I find most studios to be sterile and uncomfortable; too much like offices or work places. I can’t stand sitting around in them for days, weeks, or months, twiddling knobs, listening over and over, dissecting/editing/changing the music, etc. The end product usually ends up being over produced and far from the original concept [sometimes better but more often worse] - although it seems to be a necessary evil, I don’t really like the multi track approach to recording anymore [i can do that alone, on my computer, thank you]
I find that live recordings always have the best energy. I wanted something that sounded closer to what I do live.
I wanted to record more like people did in the old days: with everyone in one big room, playing at the same time. I find this a much more honest approach to making music. I also wanted to record where we could take our time, work at our own pace, come and go when we wanted to- with no time-clock or restrictions- but get the tracks cut right... and quickly. ‘back in the day’ most records were recorded ‘live in the studio’- to a 2 track machine- in one take; if someone screwed up… they started over… then kept the best ‘cut’. [Unfortunately “little chicago” is right by the railroad tracks AND directly on the street- so train horns and loud cars often stopped everything! so, we had to start over many times! we'd just have a smoke break when that happened... then started over! ]
I asked michael rasbury if he could do the recordings ‘on location’. I asked my friends jimmy and ellen balfour is we could use “little chicago” [which they own] to record in. luckily everyone said “yes!” and so the project began.
“little chicago” [500 desiard street, monroe, louisiana] is a landmark, and was a bar from time immemorial. It’s a great space, downtown, with old brick walls and hardwood floors. it has a long history and it’s been various bars/clubs over the years. [it’s unfortunately not a music club anymore] we’ve all played there, at various times, in it’s different incarnations, since the 70s… so we felt right at home!
The basic tracks [guitar, bass, drums, piano, scratch vocal] were recorded live- in 3 different sessions over 3 days time- at “little chicago”. We set up in a circle, Michael mic-ed everything, got the levels, we ran through a song once or twice, then recorded it, and kept the best version, then went onto the next song. We knocked out 4 or 5 songs a day!
We didn’t go completely old school, as much as I would’ve liked to. we recorded the basic tracks live, then did overdubs [horns, backing vocals, some of my lead vocals, guitars, extra keys] at Michael’s house or mine, afterwards.
I find this cd to capture the musical ‘feel’ of this region [north Louisiana] where blues, soul, r&b, rock & roll, country and gospel have all intermingled forever. I also find this cd to be very organic, with most of the songs written here in Louisiana, recorded “smack dab in the middle” of my home town, in an old club I used to play, with great friends I have luckily had most of my life. 
a big “thank you” to everyone who participated in this project, and made it possible.  
[about the songs]
I decided to go through my archive of songs for this project, and find those that would best fit the overall ‘louisiana flavored’ blues and soul concept, and songs that would feel good played live. there are some songs about new orleans [my former residence and ‘spiritual’ home] mixed with some cajun, some songs that almost sound ‘country-ish’, as well as ‘old school’ Memphis style r&b - and some rock… all done North Louisiana style! i call it "louisiana americana"
Although, I’ve recorded some of the songs solo they’ve never been released, or haven’t been released as recorded with a band; many are from my writer's tapes- and have been waiting for years for their chance to come to light. I hope you enjoy them!
[c]2011 DOUG DUFFEY

THE SOLO SESSIONS 1988-1992 [notes]

Doug Duffey- vocal/acoustic grand piano

All songs written, arranged, performed and produced by Doug Duffey [except: House of the Rising Sun*- Traditional- adapted & arranged by Doug Duffey]. All songs published by Doug Duffey Music, BMI. Recorded at Ultrasonic Studios, New Orleans; JY Recording Studio, West Monroe, LA;  The John Cale Studio, Monroe, LA

Doug's notes:

LOUISIANA: most of the material on this cd relates to louisiana, new orleans, and/or the south, or has a southern, bluesy, rootsy, americana feel about it. there are a lot of southern images floating around in the lyrics. 

               CABARET VIEUX CARRE: these are some of my darker, more dramatic, somewhat cabaret/theatrical ballad type songs. combined they have the feel of a late night bistro; rather like the late shift where i worked on bourbon street. the only UP tempo song is 'leave the man alone' ...which i wrote about elvis. 

although i had played piano since i was 12, i mostly worked in groups, playing keys, in the 1960s until the late 1980s. i'd always written songs on the piano, or keyboard, and did a lot of home recordings- but never went in real studio and recorded solo. i began playing some solo gigs around 1987... and did my 1st solo recordings in 1988. 

there is something special about a real acoustic grand piano;  playing it, and singing at the same time, you become one with it. you get totally in sync, in a rhythm... and that's the way it should be. you can lose yourself. i cannot imagine recording solo any other way. 

i went in JY Studios in 1988, sat at the piano and played and sang one song after the other, off the top of my head. nothing was planned; nothing was rehearsed; i had no repertoire. there was absolutely no stress... i just did it. it was a very magical session. everything just seemed to flow... the songs rolled out.  if there was a tiny mistake, i didn't really bother about it ... unless it was VERY noticeable, in which case we would stop the tape, and start again. i dont really get hung up on technicalities... as long as the overall feel is there. for that reason i named the collection of those recordings "honest mistakes" [released on cassette] 

several years later, when i was living in new orleans, i'd written some new songs and wanted to do more recordings. i went to ultrasonic. it was a nightmare from hell :due to some personal issues, and the fact that the piano keys were stiff; hard as hell to play. everything seemed to go wrong. it did not go well at all; but i got several usable cuts, after much torture. i did a good version of 'trouble in mind'- but due to copyright/legal hassles i am not including it on this collection. 

when i was home for a visit, my friend john cale offered me the use of his steinway grand. we recorded in his living room with a big 2 track tascam. i had all my religious votive candles and incense burning... and a friend [wayne hopper] across the street brought cocktails... it went great.  again... no stress. everything i did that day just 'worked'. mais, c'est la vie! sometimes it goes, sometimes it doesn't. 2 out of 3 ain't bad!

later, when i was working solo on bourbon street, i had some of the songs from these sessions put on  cassettes and sold them on the gig. in the  mid 90s some of the songs were released on cd on a european label, but is now out of print. [long story] i gave the company 2 dats with 30+ songs on them and told them to choose- something i shouldn't have done. for that reason i have decided to make 2 cds from the 3 sessions... and sort them as i feel they flow better. 

so now... almost 20 years since the original recordings,  i've  released these songs to the world... through the miracle of new technology and cdbaby! 

the fotos on this page are from the era of the recordings [1988-1992]... most were shot in new orleans. the big one at top is one of my favorites.  it was taken in a k-mart foto-booth in little rock when i was doing a 2-week solo 'run' there.

 FOTO GALLERY: click on image to enlarge