KIX BLOG
This page is for you guys to see what the boys are up to in between gigs....We will keep you updated on whats going on with the new CD production for '5ive and Counting' plus other news as and when it happens
Enjoy..............
Thursday 11 September 2008: The Sidekix have been busy since releasing their 5th CD by learning a few new songs. After a couple of weeks learning Kid Rocks 'All Summer Long' the boys have put down the track and are busy rehearsing it as well as 'Feels Like Heaven' from the 80's and a revamped version of the Beatles 'I saw her standing there' which the guys used to perform but realised it was in too low a key and too slow so they've changed it from 'C' to 'D' with a slightly higher tempo....
Thursday 7th Aug 2008: Well this is it...the final day of recording...we left the self penned one till last in order to give Robbie time to listen to the demo I had given him to him.In the end I was very happy with the arrangement...adding harmony parts and distorted guitar for the closing chorus'.......Robbie did a superb job with the vocal, and I think the song sits nicely on the album and is as strong as any of the covers that we have recorded for the CD. We hope you get yourselves a copy from a gig in the near future...then you can make your own mind up!!
Fri 1st August 2008: Robbies time for another singing session...this time the very loud Basket case....short but sweet indeed...Robbie also put his guitar down...this time using his ol' faithfull Jackson!! Also later on in the same session..Robbie put down his backing vocal for Somebody help me...which Gary recorded the vocal for earlier on in the day.
Wed 30 July 2008: Gary O was in writing mode today...putting the music together for a Robbie composition that will be appearing on the album....the song is a medium balad in the style of James Blunt....After 6 hours I finally have the melody down...I now need to decide on the orchestration ...I think it works with just a guitar...however I will be recording 2 or 3 versions and Robbie will have the final say on which version goes on the album....after all...he wrote it (lol)
Mon 28 July 2008: Gary O had some work to do whilst Robbie was resting his vocals...this time laying down the harmony vocal on Maybe Baby and the Backing vocals for Brown Eyed Girl....then it was onto the mixing session and a couple of hours later, both tracks were mastered ready for the album!!
Fri 25 July 2008: Yet another vocal session from the main man Robbie...this time producing fine performances on Brown Eyed Girl and Maybe Baby....two foot-tapping tunes that will slot in nicely on the album.
Wed 23/Thurs 24 July 2008: Gary O spent two long sessions at the mixing desk. After adding background harmonies to bad Moon Rising and Summer of 69, it was time to mix the tracks onto the final take ready to be mastered in Soundforge...this involves running the track through a noise reducer,trimming any edges,adding EQ and finally compressing the track to give it a tighter sound...I was a bit concerned that Summer 69 was a little weak,but now it has been put through the mastering,I am quite happy with the final track.......so there we have it...a quick lesson into what happens to a Sidekix track before you guys get to hear it....
Wed 16 July 2008: Another vocal session from Robbie...this time producing a fine version of the Beatles "Help" and then laying down a recent tune thats been around..scouting for girls "Heartbeat"....as you can see from earlier entries to the blog....this cd will be a mix of very old with very new...Robbie and I will also be working on an original song that Robbie wrote that will also find its way on the cd...more on that as it happens.
Fri 11 July 2008: An interesting session this one was...with Robbie nailing the vocals on the Bryan Adams classic "Summer of 69"...Robbie then added his own guitar track to give the track more clout.....Robbie was a busy boy this evening..he then performed a nice vocal on "Bad moon rising" the old CCR track and again added his own guitar track to complement what Gary had already done......with the vocals and guitars in the bag...it was time for the boys to take a few picis of each other....no...not for the swingers club....for the cd covers that robbie will be working on...looks like a funny cover for this album...perhaps we can give you a taster when we have a demo finished....watch this space!!
Fri 4 July 2008: Well having listened to the rough mix, I decided that Bad case wasnt upfront enough, so I decided to remake the drum track to give it more punch....added some guitar and mixed and mastered Robbies vocals...and that's another one done...and it rocks!!
Thur 3 July 2008: Robbie was in the studio (Mrs Lee came too) and put down the vocals for "Bad case of loving you".. the Robert Palmer classic.
Tues 2 July 2008: Gary O recorded Lennons "Hide your love away" with just a guitar, bass and snare...a short song but one of Gaz's faves.
Sat 29 June 2008: Gary O gave a different twist to a fave of Robbies...."Amazed" got another revamp with Gary playing his Crafter for the first part...we hope you'll like this version.
Fri 27 June 2008: The boys record 'Stop and Stare' for the album, the song took around half an hour to record, just a couple of takes sorted it and another song is done, yippee! Wed 25 June 2008: The Kix record track number 2 for the new album, 'My Way' was recorded in just a couple of takes. With one or two harmonies added by Robbie and some super-fine mixing by Mr Producer 'Gary O' the track has turned out to be a beautiful rendition of the old classic!
Sat 15 March 2008: The boys re-record 'Amazed' for Robbies wedding day, Robbie wanted to keep the track for the new CD with a few surprises on the edit. Well the first track is complete for the album, only another 12 or so to go.........