Darren Watson's Greatest Hit | Live In The Studio

Darren Watson's Greatest Hit | Live In The Studio

Project 2019-02-13 16:49:32 +1300

Last year I released what I think might be the best album of my career so far. It’s called Too Many Millionaires and recording it was a real revelation to me. After thirty something years of working in studios I finally felt comfortable enough to record everything totally live in the room at the same time. And I think the results speak for themselves. Not only did the album receive absolutely amazing reviews here and overseas, it also went straight to #1 on the IMNZ Album Chart and #3 on the Official NZ Album Top 20 Chart and stayed there for five weeks.

So thanks SO much to everyone who helped me crowdfund for that one here at Pledge Me! What a result!

So, what next? Well, recently I got to thinking about how much I’ve learned as a musician and producer since my early days in the mid-eighties. I think I have some pretty cool tunes in my back catalog that aren’t really all they could be in terms of the recorded versions. I reckon I can make a pretty good NEW album of the best of my old songs. I want to re-visit them from the top down, change some settings, re-do arrangements, maybe even tweak a few lyrics here and there. But most importantly I want to try to capture some of that ‘lightning in a bottle’ we got for Too Many Millionaires. This time with a stonking electric band, horns and even some backing vocals. I have about twenty songs on the long list so far which I’ll pare down to twelve or so for recording. Hopefully nine or ten of the very best performances will make it to disc. Some were 'hits' and some weren't but they all have something and I can't wait to present them in the raw. 

I want to use the core of my great new band The Dangerous Experts - Delia Shanly on percussion, Dayle Jellyman on piano, Steve Moodie on bass, and Rick Cranson on drums – and add horns, backing vocals, and whatever else as required for specific tunes. The plan is to record live in the studio over four or five sessions at the Surgery in Wellington. To make things interesting I also plan on inviting guests to hang out during the recording sessions to check things out and keep us on our performing toes.

So, that’s it. A live in the studio ‘greatest hits’ album. It’d be awesome to have your support for this one. I think you’ll all enjoy the finished product.

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Budget

Given the scope and scale of this one the budget is a little larger than Too Many Millionaires. I really hope we can get this over the line. I reckon it’s gonna be AWESOME to realise my vision for these great old tunes!

1. Recording time: $ 3250 (5 sessions)

2. Mixing: $ 1950 (4 sessions)

3. Mastering: $ 1200 (1 session)

4. Musicians: $ 3000

5. Pressing: $ 1800

6. Photography: $ 1000

7. Artwork: $ 500

8. Postage: $ 500

9. Pledge Me fees: $ 800

Total: $14,000

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The songs

originally recorded with Chicago Smoke Shop

1986 – (You Want) Another Man
1988 – Mind On My Sleeve
1990 – I Can’t Live (Without Your Love)
1990 – I’m So Glad
1990 – Patient Little Boy
1990 – A Typical Man
1990 – Truth In My Life

originally recorded for solo album

1995 – Looking For A Place
2000 – Big Water
2000 – Love Ain’t No Game
2000 – Black Cadillac
2005 – Sometimes A Man . . .
2005 – All Going Wrong
2005 – Nothing About Her
2005 – Got No Soul
2010 – Saint Hilda’s Faithless Boy
2010 – She Got It All
2010 – Here In My Arms
2010 – He Don’t Love You
2014 – Slow Cooker
2014 – Every Morning

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Timeline

Recording, mixing and mastering hopefully complete by end of 2019. Album early/mid 2020. 

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