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Late 1973 I purchased a TEAC-3340
recorder and equipped a home demo studio to record my songwriting efforts.
It was the learn as you record method. "Modern Recording Techniques" by
Robert Runstein became my best reading friend. I was
fortunate to know some respectable musicians that, without pay, helped
me to record many of the songs on the “Unfamiliar to Radio” CD. I would usually write and record about 3-4 songs and pitch the material
on reel to reel tape to
record companies, publishers and recording studio’s in Nashville and
Muscle Shoals. In the early 70’s Nashville was very traditional
country music center, but some of the larger publishers would listen and
forward my material to LA and New York. Through these contacts I
signed several single song contracts with Interior Music (publisher of the
Bill Whiters music LA) and CMA-USA Inc (publisher of Eric Carmen of the
Raspberries NY). None of those songs every got covered or released. With great expectations I signed a recording and songwriting contract with a Muscle Shoals recording studio in early 1976. Before the ink had dried the arrangement turned bad. I recorded very little and I can honestly say I never completely finished a song. Also I couldn't get my material promoted to the other artist that were recording in the Shoals area. Even though the studio wouldn't honor the contract they also refused to release me. I didn't have the funds for a legal challenge. Limbo of sorts. Somewhere in the turmoil, I lost the passion for songwriting. Eventually, I changed my major in college from commercial music to accounting and finance, becoming a CPA. Early in my accounting career I often felt like I had wasted all those years writing & recording. Now in retrospect, it was the best of life’s magic. I put my soul into the words and music without reservation and there's no regrets. By
1983 I sold all of my studio equipment. The reels of tape soon
found a new home in the closets and basements of various homes. I
lost all contact with my former life since I had moved away from Decatur
and Muscle Shoals. In 1998 an old friend Greg Tanksley contacted me. I discussed
with Greg the idea of making a CD of some of the demo tapes that were recorded in
1970’s. Greg fortunately had a working TEAC 3340 4-Track reel to reel
recorder. So I borrowed the recorder and over the next year I went through
over 20 reels of tape repairing, splicing, and converting more than 60
songs to digital
format. The 15 songs on the “Unfamiliar to Radio” CD Volume 2 is the
product of that effort. The "Unfamiliar to Radio" recordings are demo's and not “studio” quality even by 1970’s standards. In retrospect though, I am pleased of how much sound we got out of only 4 tracks. It was the time of possibilities. When it could all happen. I just kept writing, recording, and pitching the songs, thinking it was far better to do my own material. The collection is really a tribute to all the aspiring songwriters, musicians, and demo studios of the early 1970's. The contributions from the "Unfamiliar Musicians" is magnetically remembered. I wish I could have rewarded their dedication and contributions with just one "Unfamiliar" hit song.
J.
David Humphrey |
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