inside opinion

Arif & I

2009-11-02T14:32:36Z

Let me tell you about my very first session with the great Arif Mardin.

It was somewhere around mid-1981. By this time, as a keyboardist, I was definitely the new kid on the block, so to speak. Yet, I was busy, and a lot of sessions were happening all at once.

Arif was producing Aretha Franklin and needed a piano part replaced. His office booked me for a night session. Earlier that day I had been at Hollywood Sound recording Charlie Dore with most of the boys from TOTO. I rushed over for a 7pm start at Sunset Sound, also in Hollywood, and met Arif for the very first time.

Find The Joy

2009-09-21T14:15:13Z

I was thankful for the opportunity to write this article for Eddy and Rick at Inside MusiCast, until I realized that I would have to try to make sense of a career that makes very little sense. Trying to order steps to achieve some sort of successful livelihood in an unstable and insecure business is actually impossible.

In a way, for me, at its very core is the need for the miraculous. I am still doing what I think I love after 37 years. The reason I say, “what I think I love”, is that much of the time I found myself trying to figure out the ever-changing task of figuring out what someone else wanted to hear. That wasn’t necessarily a bad thing, but it would take some of the joy out of the creative process. This is truly a fact that follows anyone through a career in the music business. I used to say that I could count the number of times I was truly satisfied on one hand.

What a Great Life

2009-09-14T22:02:08Z

My friends at Inside MusiCast recently invited me to submit a guest editorial about “musical challenges in respect to creating and playing for TV, live performance, and studio recording.” Wow! I’m honored to share my views on this stuff. I’m clearly much more useful writing an editorial on this subject versus an editorial on, say, fixing the carburetor on your ’82 Chevette or the joys of using thyme in one’s gravy recipe!

Song Royalties 101

2009-09-03T11:49:10Z

When Eddy and I were discussing the subject of songwriting royalties, it brought back a memory I had back when I was working in a Fine Art Gallery in Los Angeles and a woman brought in a certificate for custom framing… As I was getting matting and frame samples ready, I could see that it was actually a Publishing Certificate commemorating two million plays (on radio) for the song “Windy” made famous by the group The Association and that she was the writer, Ruthann Friedman. Being into music and also being a bit curious, I acknowledged that I’d heard the song (who hasn’t - “Everyone knows it’s Windy”) and that I didn’t mean to be rude, but I had to ask… “Are you able to live off the royalties from this one song?”

Diplomacy and Democracy in the Office.

2009-08-27T12:07:04Z

THEN: Remember the first iPods? I do. I bought one for about $400+…(must’ve been nuts). The first generation iPod was a slick, 10GB hard drive…with an earphone. I still have it in the box it came in (in case anyone wants to buy it). It was small, and HEAVY! It would pull your pants down to the floor. No kidding. It happened to me once while running in the rain to my car. Portable, digital music had arrived – music that I wanted to listen to. No more lugging around CDs or a Walkman that skipped. My daughter, who’s a freshman at Cornell this year (brag), uses a new Video iPod and her Mac for “BIG” storage….and the tiniest iPod Shuffle for her mobile listening. Have you seen how tiny that thing is? Amazing.

A little bit Country... A little bit Steely Dan.

2009-08-17T18:51:21Z

OK. Rick and I are not what you might call Country Music fans. (That probably doesn’t surprise you). In fact I’ve never…ever…bought a ticket for a Country Music concert nor a Country album. I don’t think Rick has either. But once in a blue moon an opportunity comes around to jump into a new pool with an open-minded objectivity and see what “new” music tastes like.

That’s what Rick and I did this past weekend…thanks to our good friend Chris Rodriguez, who is currently on tour with one of Country’s biggest stars – Keith Urban – playing guitar and assisting on BGVs.

It all happened so quickly…I called Chris (a past IMC guest), a few weeks back and asked if we might get together for dinner, hanging a little, and maybe interviewing him during the tour’s stop in Indianapolis. To my surprise, we got it all! FREE tickets to the show; backstage passes (to look important while wearing our Inside MusiCast Media badges), and a chance to witness the “behind the scenes” world of the Keith Urban tour. This would be their second outdoor show this year.

Feelin' Horny

2009-08-14T19:17:18Z

Don’t let the title fool you. I’m talking about horn bands, so get your mind out of the gutter! I love bands with solid horn sections and I’ve been listening to a lot of Tower, Chicago, EW&F and Chase lately. Of course, I always take in several doses of Steely Dan, which never leaves my rotation. Good horn arrangements add a dimension to music that’s exciting, powerful, and fills the space of a song so nicely between all of the other instrumentation. Some of my very favorite concerts have been bands that include horn sections. A few weeks ago I caught Chicago with EW&F and I was in a brass nirvana, especially when both bands took the stage together. A few years ago, Eddy and I caught Tower Of Power at the Embassy Theater in Ft. Wayne, Indiana and it was nothing short of amazing. After so many years of tearin’ it up, these guys are still the kings of bump. The seats in the theater got a break that night, as people were on their feet and groovin’ to every tune. Sure, bands like Tower have such a great groove to their tunes, but what electrifies the crowd is that slammin’ horn section and makes the hair on your arms stand up when they throw down a killer arrangement.

That’s my musical thought for a Friday afternoon. I hope you all have a good weekend!

Rick Such
Inside MusiCast

Coming Soon: Guest Editorials!

2009-08-07T19:08:08Z

Want to hear more from our past Inside MusiCast guests? Then stay tuned for some great Editorials from great musicians such as Jeff Babko, Jeff Lorber and many more. Our IMC correspondents will also be adding their two cents with great Editorials with great music biz insight.

Stay tuned.

E&R

A Cup o' Joe and Inside MusiCast

2009-02-27T07:31:31Z

I recently did something I don't do too often. I listened to an archived interview that Rick and I had posted a while back with David Paich and Scott Page...the one where they talk about Jeff and how he affected their lives. WOW...amazing...the interview went all over the place, but just to hear them talk about Jeff, his abilities, his approaches along with their own stories about playing for Seals and Crofts, Sonny and Cher captivated me once more. These stories and comments weren't dated at all...they were as fresh as when we first talked to these two influential musicians. One thing that we have always strived for in our interviews is to create a vibe that is comfortable for our guests to chill, chat, and open up about their careers. This one did just that. Comments were flowing like an open faucet...and we didn't do much of the talking! And that's how we'd rather have it! So, if you haven't gone back and checked out any of our 50 (can you believe it?) interviews, then I encourage you to take a listen to at least this one with Paich and Page. You won't go wrong. They will still engage and entertain you. With that in mind, here are a few interviews that really stand out as being some of the neatest: Michael Omartian; Lee Sklar; Paich; Greg Phillinganes; Futureman (this one was a music history lesson); JR Robinson; and Jon Herington....take some time...get a cup o' Joe and chill with an Inside MusiCast interview. You won't be dissappointed. Eddy

Inside MusiCast 2009

2009-01-07T18:16:28Z

So, 2008 is behind us...and not soon enough (economically speaking). The bad news: EVERYONE lost in 08...we watched the world move from equities to bonds...or to savings accounts. The good news: This didn't affect Inside MusiCast...because we do this for FREE! HA! Take that, economy! Couldn't touch us! MORE GOOD NEWS: 2009 is taking off like a rocket for Inside MusiCast! We are starting off with the "long awaited interview" with Richard Page. On deck is keyboardist and fusionist Steve Weingart! What a start! Thanks for all of your recommendations for new guests...we're working so hard to bring the best to you this year. But, in regards to GREAT music, we're going to inject occasional "gem" artists that we've encountered that are wonderful musicians in their own right. We're looking forward to sharing them with you all. After all, GREAT MUSIC is GREAT MUSIC...no matter the genre. We'll be talking to some of the classic GREATS....such as Chuck Rainey and Clarence McDonald. Great new talent that is making an impact...such artists as bassist Carlitos DelPuerto! And the list goes on! Yeah, me and Rick are jazzed about what's in store for 2009 and Inside MusiCast...but, please stay in touch. Your encouragement is our fuel for us to continue what we love to do! So, post your comments! We love to hear from you. Eddy and Rick Your Inside MusiCast hosts