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Showing posts from April, 2018

TIP OF THE WEEK #03 - WORKING WITH LIVE MUSICIANS CONVERTED TO STUDIO MUSICIANS

WORKING WITH PERFORMANCE MUSICIANS CONVERTED TO STUDIO MUSICIANS As you may be aware of now,  the John-Paul Jones Group is a band that consists of a revolving door of musicians who contribute at one time or another to either live performance, rehearsals or recording sessions. When working within the context of a studio, its important to understand the dynamic the self-produced solo artist has with schedules and musicians.  The first thing, to remember, NEVER ask your fellow musicians to play on your record for free in your studio... its something that should not happen unless you are all going to share in the expenses and profits of the project. If its not in your budget to pay cash, then trade studio time or something tangible with them.  I personally live in an area that musicians are traditionally not paid for such activity.  Most of the musicians I know hold day jobs.  We are what I call "semi-pro"  meaning some of us make a partial living from playing music

John-Paul Jones Group Journal Entry 04212018 - The EP IS HERE

CopperTop Studio Journal 04-21-2018 Well the EP Volume No. 2 are in from the duplication house.  I would like to thank EasyDisc.Net for their great service. I also want to thank Jesse Price for all the help he gave here at CopperTop Studios.  We are wanting to sell these EP's if you want an early bird price ($6.00) come over to the Best Western in Fairfield, Iowa we will be supporting the Southeast Iowa Blues Society and we will be giving away a CD Sampler and if you would like you can also purchase the EP Volume #2 - A Tribute to Rory Gallagher.  (Those who are fans will  know why I named the EP "Volume #2". I want to give special thanks to the musicians who worked on EP Volume #2  Don Brown thanks for giving us a hand on the drums.   Sally Henry, thank you for all your support and great bass playing, can't do it without you.   I want to thank my manager Heather Dawn for all the hard work and support you give us. I also need to thank our affiliate

CopperTop Studio Journal 04-17-2018

Well as you all know its tax season, and after going through all my businesses taxes, my children's taxes and my wife's taxes.  I was a bit frazzled to say the least. Well instead of wallowing in my frustration? (which should of been relief.  I went straight to the studio and recorded vocals for two songs for the NEXT EP Volume 3 which is to be released June 1st 2018 Listening to the third track the drums were not recorded well, so we have to record this song over again. Again don't forget May 1st, EP Volume No. 2  "A Tribute to Rory Gallagher" will be available to purchase. We are taking pre-orders on our website. We will have some at the Southeast Iowa Blues Society Member Appreciation Celebration in Fairfield Iowa this Saturday April 21st, come on down and listen to Bluzillion and Tony Blew play some great blues. Don't forget about the upcoming shows we have the first being in Ft. Madison 2:30pm at Vinnie's Longbranch in support of the RiverFes

TIP OF THE WEEK #04 - EDUCATING YOURSELF TO BE A SELF-PRODUCED ARTIST

When I was a young lad, I was totally interested in music, as I grew older I remember there was an album by Aldo Nova called "Fantasy" and I remember Aldo Nova on some late night news clip or magazine interview talking about how he played all of the instruments on this album.  It fascinated me that he could record everything himself.   I was unaware that it was even possible.  Fast forward a few years later, I receive a Guitar Player or similar magazine with a Flexible Record in it and it contained a song called, "Blue Powder" by Steve Vai, and it blew my mind as I read the interview on how he built his first studio.  Steve Vai was always able to share knowledge in a way that allowed even the teenager mind to understand that its possible to record music themselves. Before I get too far off track.  What do you need to do to start your own production?  Well you have to have access to recording equipment (a laptop and a microphone and mixer/interface)   You need

COPPERTOP STUDIO HUT JOURNAL ENTRY 04-04-2018

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COPPERTOP STUDIO HUT JOURNAL ENTRY 04-04-2018 CLIENT:  John-Paul Jones Group TIME: 6:30PM to 8:10PM MUSICIANS:    Guitar/Vocals  Jp Jones   Drums - Steven Jones Bass - Sally Ward The John-Paul Jones Group was in the studio today recording an old Sonny Boy Williamson classic tune.  We will keep the actual song under wraps. The band recorded with a minimal setup. The goal is to mimic a direct to recording disc recording.  Sonny Boy Williamson had a unique style of singing.  Jp worked hard at melding his style with this style of blues. But one of the biggest changes, was Jp traded (for this session) his Ibanez Universe 7 String for an Ibanez 6 String Tallman Guitar. Who knew the 7-String Heavy Bluesman could have a softer side. Jp stated, " I was trying to put a LIMITATION" on myself. First couple takes I played finger style, but the band couldn't bite into it.  So he switched to a dunlop pick.  This brought out attack, and also gave the

EP VOLUME 02 TRIBUTE TO RORY GALLAGHER

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I am a child of 60's meaning I was born in the 60's.  I feel like I was born during the time of music prolifercation.  When I was young Chuck Berry's Greatest Hits turned on our record player for hours on end. As I grew older I became influenced by the great guitarists who came on the scene 1965-1969.  Of those great guitarist Rory Gallagher was one who just blew my mind. So when I decided to record an EP I decided it would affectionately and simply be called. John-Paul Jones Group EP Volume No.2 A Tribute To Rory Gallagher I picked three Rory Gallagher songs to record on this album.  I picked three songs that mean something to me. Cradle Rock Laundromat Shadow Play I recorded Cradle Rock because of the power in the riff and the vocal.  And in my interpretation the lyrics are about others accepting you for who you are and letting you be who you are.  I recorded Laundromat because when I was young I spent a lot of time in laundromats.  I was poor and had to make d