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Geek-in-Chief
Posts: 606
 
Location: Noo Yawk | I'm surprised no one has come out and reported on this yet, so I guess I'm just the guy to do it...
Last night, roughly 35 SMFs (along with video crew, record company guys, radio people from 98.5 The Bone and WBAB, TS Crew, and MAM and Jay Jay) gathered at a Long Island recording studio to add that special SMF attitude to the upcoming TS Christmas album.
I was going to post a list of all the Slamboarders who were there, but I opted not to because I know I'd forget someone! So those of you who were there can post on this thread and tell your side of the story...
After hanging in the parking lot for a while while the recordings were readied and the video equipment was set up, SMFs caught up with what we've all been doing this Summer, who saw which shows, who was going to which upcoming shows, and general rock'n'roll gab. MAM and Jay Jay mingled with the crowd, greeting the SMFs and thanking us for showing up for the session.
Once everything was set up and ready to go, MAM gave us final instructions on what we were going to be doing. We trooped into the smallish live room to get to laying down some vocals...
My swiss-cheese brain is, as usual, failing on the complete list of songs that we did backups for, but I do remember that the first one was 'Deck The Halls,' which the band did in an arrangement quite like Thin Lizzy's 'The Boys Are Back In Town.' (MAM was explaining to someone on one of the breaks that each song on the album tried to capture the feel of a particular band or song - there are definitely traces of Lizzy, The Stones and Black Sabbath ['Hava Nagila,' anyone?] in the grooves of this album).
We sang backups for 'Let It Snow,' 'Oh, Come All Ye Faithful' and a hilarious re-written version of 'The 12 Days Of Christmas' (SMF's feel free to fill in the blanks here, I know I forgot something). In between songs we herded out to the parking lot where we actually saw a few meteors sail through the LI twilight.
After we got three or four songs done, a local pizza joint delivered 10 pizzas, and we all chowed down and mingled. The video crew wandered about, taking footage of the crowd in and out of the studio, which was decorated with a very cool quilt made out of vintage TS t-shirts.
Another highlight of the night was MAM and Jay Jay using Limes' TS dolls as motivational props to keep everyone loose while doing vocals. Jay Jay and Mark were in fine form throughout (Jay Jay said he was using his best material in years - on a non-paying audience!), and it was the usual give-and-take between MAM, Jay Jay, the chorus and Denny behind the board in the control room.
The dolls were on display throughout the session, and lots of people had fun posing with them (I think SMF Cyndi got a shot of me with them all in my lap at the end of the night), and Limes will be proud to know that everyone there was in awe of the craftsmanship that went into them.
Overall, everyone had a great time, and it was a nice touch that the band brought in us SMFs to do the vocals for the album. MAM explained that he originally had a list of friends and industry people to do the backups, but he and Jay Jay decided that we SMFs were the ones who could really bring the excitement to the session - and we did.
While the tracks we heard weren't fully mixed (in fact, Dee's voacls hadn't even been added to the '12 Days Of Christmas' track and we ended up singing along with AJ and Eddie), but what I heard defintely had the distinctive MAM production and the songs have been switched up to a metal style with pretty good success.
MAM said at the end of the night that the album is on schedule for a mid-October release, and Jay Jay said earlier that it was a sure thing that at least 30 copies would be sold. Like I said, the typical TS humor was in evidence every minute.
Well, that's my take. I'm hoping that everyone else who was there will weigh in and fill in details that I may have missed.
Oh - and I got permission to take photos of the session, which are here. I put up 10 to start, but I'll go through the rest of them and add some more later on.
- D |
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Record Company Good Guy
Posts: 575
 
| Ahhh it was a night to remember for sure. What a thrill and an honor to be a part of this historic occasion. Great to see some old friends, put faces to some names and generally have a great time. I will remember this (twisted) forever |
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| Hell, I was going to post something last night but wanted you or Donna to make the first reveal.
I recall when "Still Hungry" was being worked on how Donna was talking about singing the group background vocals, and how when I heard the tracks it sounded like they were all having fun.
When I was told about the same thing happening for the new album, had to go.
You covered all the details, so I'll just say "ditto" to your comments. It was a blast. Sure I had a shit-eating grin on my face the whole time (except maybe when trying to hit those high "fa-la-la's" ).
It was also pretty interesting, I had no idea they do a fast take and a slow take to fill out the chorus sound. Learned something new.
A definite highlight - and it was a fun night the whole time - was when Donna brought out Limes's dolls. Everything was videotaped in the studio, but what wasn't caught on tape was when Donna first showed them to Jay Jay and Mark in the room outside the studio, they put on a little show. Mark with his and Jay Jay with his and Eddie's doing their moves with both of them making the sounds. It was hilarious.
Good to see some faces I've seen before if only once or twice, and a bunch of new ones. I was worn out by the end of the night. I tried to say goodbye to everyone on the way out though I'm sorry I know I missed a few.
When I heard of this Christmas album lets just say I had some doubts. One reason I wanted to go last night was that I badly wanted to hear what it sounded like. My doubts are gone, it was nothing like what I expected or heard before. Was a great sound, with some old-school flavor to it. I *know* I heard a riff from "Rock 'n' Roll Saviors" in one song.
I'm looking forward to the album and hearing it live. ...and singing along. 
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Geek-in-Chief
Posts: 606
Location: Noo Yawk | It was also pretty interesting, I had no idea they do a fast take and a slow take to fill out the chorus sound. Learned something new.
If you figure there were 30 of us and they did six 'stacks' of vocals on each track, the resultant background 'chorus' is the equivalent of 180 people singing.
We didn't get to hear playback (at least those of us who passed on wearing hedphones didn't), but I heard Denny playing stuff back in the control room, and I gotta tell you, the background vocals are freakin' immense.
Can't wait to hear the mixes once they're done. And it was good to meet you finally, Spark.
- D |
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Nearly A Band Member
Posts: 632
Location: Over the Rainbow. | First and formost the biggest thanks go out to M.A.M. and Jay Jay. The Animal wanted hardcore SMF's as his choir to give it that sense of excitment and man did it work. You could feel the electricity standing around in the parking lot waiting to see what was instore for us behind the magic door.
M.A.M. and Jay Jay may be the Twisted of the Twisted up on stage but were just the nicest most sincere people and made everyone feel welcome and couldn't thank us all enough. They took the time to go around talking to each and every little group of SMF's and really gave it the personal touch. Thanks guys. But, as I heard throughout the crowd countless number of times, we were honored and consider it priviledge to be part of the Twisted legacy. Another rockin chair moment.
And as much as she avoids the spotlight and all her good deeds for fellow SMF's the Lady who rememebred me for this spectacular event and got me in under the radar The One The Only THE MAYOR! We'll be talking about this when we're 80. And that you can take to the bank ;-)
And another special thanks to KLO who gave two SMF's a place to stay so we didn't have to drag our sorry asses home and made us feel like we were home. And non stop laughs. Truely above and beyond the call of duty. Thanks again.
It was great seeing the regular crew, as always, and a special treat meeting some people who've posted for years and have never met. Pat, Sparky and Joe it was a pleasure.
This thing of ours is growing with many new chapters to come. Namely Michigan, Vegas and Pittsburgh. ROAD TRIPS!
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Full-On SMF
Posts: 56
| WE WISH YOU A TWISTED CHRISTMAS, AND A TWISTED NEW YEAR! It was another historic night with T/S. Jay-Jay and Mark were surperb chorus directors. Jay-Jay dressed up for the occasion entering the room in a stunning pink blazer which illuminated the room more so than the camera lights. It took a few out takes before we were on "Q" , and a few times we had to quell "AREATHA" but we finally finished thanks to the perfection and direction of Mark and Jay-Jay.
After we were done with the T/S chorus, we did some blurbs for Marks radio show. My favorite was all the females yelling," I spend friday nights on the BONE with Mark the Animal Mendoza!
We never did capture AREATHA'S laugh on tape, but I promise I'll make her call in on Friday night so you can record it!
It was great to meet some of the many SMF'S on the slamboard. I'm glad I had the opportunity to get to meet you and share T/S stories.
A special thanks to DCT & LADY MENDOZA for helping me control the laughter and sharing in all the fun last night. Thanks to MARTY and JOE ROCK for making the adventure fun and sharing all the great memories for the rocking chair.
Thanks to everyone (because I'll Never remember all your names) for sharing in this exiciting experience with me. |
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Nearly A Band Member
Posts: 513
Location: New Fuckin Yawk | WOW, all you guys took the words right out of my mouth. I have nothing left to comment on, but I will say that it was such an awesome time seeing everyone, old and new faces.
On another note, a special thank you goes out to THE MAYOR for even asking me to attend. It was a very special night for me that I will remember for the rest of my life.
Another thanks goes out to Jay Jay and MAM for being the true gentleman that they are, mingling with us all and really making the night so much fun.
Next stop for me is Michigan.....and I hope to see you all there on the 28th. |
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Location: Graveyard BLVD. | OK peeps, can I hear a rah...rah for the choir? lol...
OK...for me the funniest thing before we even began the session was when ELVIS.....oops...I mean Jay Jay walked into the recording room with that PINK jacket on and said..."only real men can wear pink {or this}"....aaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhh...that was the beginning of fun then...Here is what it looked like...
http://www.epiphone.com/news.asp?NewsID=447
hahaha...
And what Jay Jay? You don't think that Limes got the color right on your dollie clone? Isn't that the same blue that matches your denim TS garb???? LMAO! It's hard to match yarn to denim fabric......haha...
Well, all these posts are right on the money, very nicely stated. It was an honor to be there, it was so much fun. Seeing everyone from the past and meeting new family and friends was just a great experience. I can't wait to hear the album even more now. I will bring my own  {oh this matches Jay Jay's suit jacket too! HAHA!} next time though, it was wayyyy too hot once the A/C went down..lol...I was kinda hoping it would  !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!LMAO...
Well, as for me...I am going to stay... !...
Thanks so much Donna, Mark and Jay Jay for thinking of me and letting me be a part of this Twisted project! It was a pleasure!
Oh, PS...when you find  ....tell her I almost got all my hearing back in my right ear! LOL...she was very funny....
Here are a few photo's I uploaded...
Photo albums
http://www.twistedsister.com/mbbs2/photos/photo-thumbnails.asp?albumid=88
Edited by SMF Cyndi 2006-08-13 10:28 PM
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| Was good to meet you too.
I did manage to get a pair of headphones. The difference between how we sounded live and after they did whatever they did and stacked the different takes was amazing.
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Nearly A Band Member
Posts: 680
Location: MARS | SMFWebmaster - 2006-08-13 3:05 PM
a hilarious re-written version of 'The 12 Days Of Christmas'
Now this I CAN'T wait to hear |
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Record Company Good Guy
Posts: 575
| -K9- - 2006-08-14 5:06 PM
SMFWebmaster - 2006-08-13 3:05 PM
a hilarious re-written version of 'The 12 Days Of Christmas'
Now this I CAN'T wait to hear
4 Quarts of Jack, 3 studded belts, 2 pair of Spandex pants.... |
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Nearly A Band Member
Posts: 513
Location: New Fuckin Yawk | Saber - 2006-08-14 6:13 PM
-K9- - 2006-08-14 5:06 PM
SMFWebmaster - 2006-08-13 3:05 PM
a hilarious re-written version of 'The 12 Days Of Christmas'
Now this I CAN'T wait to hear
4 Quarts of Jack, 3 studded belts, 2 pair of Spandex pants....
And a portrait of Ozzy.......................... |
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Location: Graveyard BLVD. | TS Fan Forever - 2006-08-14 6:21 PM
Saber - 2006-08-14 6:13 PM
-K9- - 2006-08-14 5:06 PM
SMFWebmaster - 2006-08-13 3:05 PM
a hilarious re-written version of 'The 12 Days Of Christmas'
Now this I CAN'T wait to hear
4 Quarts of Jack, 3 studded belts, 2 pair of Spandex pants....
And a portrait of Ozzy..........................
HEY?? I thought it was...."and a tattoo of Ozzzzyyyyyyyyyyy?" lol...damn maybe my hearing is goin' on me... |
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Location: Graveyard BLVD. | Saber - 2006-08-14 6:13 PM
-K9- - 2006-08-14 5:06 PM
SMFWebmaster - 2006-08-13 3:05 PM
a hilarious re-written version of 'The 12 Days Of Christmas'
Now this I CAN'T wait to hear
4 Quarts of Jack, 3 studded belts, 2 pair of Spandex pants....
5..."Skull earrrrriiiinnngggsssss"........LMAO... |
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| I think you mean, all together now:
.....5 skull earrings...
.......5 skull earrings...
.....5 skull earrings...
...5 skull earrings...
......5 skull earrings...
I swear if it wasn't for metronome-guy up front I wouldn't have gotten that right.
(And yes, it was a tattoo)
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It's Christmas - in AUGUST!!!
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