Chapter IV, Part 2: Let's Make A Record.
After mastering our two new songs while at the same time performing rock & roll shows every weekend at local area clubs and schools, the day finally came to lay down some tracks and make a demo record, or acetate, as some might call it. I never did call it that until I found this fine forum and The Raven's thread asking for info on the mystery acetate. I must admit, it sounds more professional than 'demo record.' Okay, fine...acetate it is.
February 22, 1967. Finally, the big day arrived! We jumped in our cars and headed to DC to record our two original songs - Hang it Up and Love Without Words, both written by Jeff Phillips, Lead Guitar. It's possible his older brother, Garry, had something to do with these songs, which would make it Phillips & Phillips and sounds pretty cool, but I'm sticking with just Jeff, since he's the only name on the copyright.
I have to be honest, I remember almost nothing about the recording session for some reason. A total blank. Most of what I know about it comes from a journal I kept on the band, but it is very limited. Here's what I wrote:
"Well, we finally cut our record. It took [about] 4 hours. It sounded pretty good, too. We only had to do each song about 4 times each. Records were $3:35 apiece. I'm pretty tired. That's why it's so sloppy."
That's it. Not much there. As you can see, I didn't keep very good journal notes. Better than nothing, I guess.
I do remember one incident at the studio that was a bit embarrassing. Butch, the base player's father, had some connection with Edgewood Studios, being a Country Western musician, and was the one who arranged for the recording, so I suspect he felt responsible for us. At some point during the session, he went out to get some refreshments for "the boys" and came back with a tray full of snacks and drinks. But, just as he was about to enter the control room, he tripped and spilled the drinks all over the floor. (YIKES!) I remember watching him scurry about looking for some towels and quickly mopping up the mess. I felt bad for him. One minute, he's our "Brian Epstein" facilitating the recording and the next minute he's just someone's goofy dad making a mess in a recording studio. Such a weird thing to remember, I know, but that's it.
I also remember the feeling we experienced after the recording session.
It was fantastic! The sun was bright and warm on our faces and the air was brisk and clean as we headed to a local White Castle (burgers served by ex-cons) to celebrate our first recording, the first of many, hopefully. I wondered to myself if this was how the Beatles felt after they recorded their first record. Just fifteen and headed for...
The Top of the Pops. (Quote from the Beatles.)
I can't remember if we got copies of the demo record....errr, sorry,
acetate, that day or received them later, all I know is that it was great having a real 45 rpm record of your band that you could play on a record player. How cool is that? One more comment about the rec.....acetate, and I'll move on to the next chapter.
My mother taught pre-school each morning to a bunch of local kids. The father of one of the kids was Dick Denim, DJ at WINX AM radio in Rockville, Md. My mom asked him if he would give our demo a listen. He agreed to provide feedback. Dick Denim thought the song was ok, but it sounded a bit muddled, like we were competing with each other for attention.
Hey man! Fuck You! That's Rock & Roll. From that day on, we all knew him as
Whatadick Denim. And what's up with that stupid name Dick Denim? You think that's cool? It ain't cool and it ain't rock & roll? Chicks are laughing at you, wanker. As you can see, we didn't much appreciate his comments.
A quick side story. Years later in the early 1980s, long after The Knight Raiders had disbanded, I found myself living with Sandy W., a popular DJ for Q107, one of the top FM rock stations in the DC area. She did the 10:00pm to 2:00am nightly show. Well, one night while she was on her way home from the station, the phone rang. It was around 2:30am. I jumped out of bed to answer the phone only to find it was Whatadick Denim calling for Sandy. A booty call, no doubt.
WTF! As you can imagine, I was not very thrilled to be woken up in the middle of the night, especially by this douchebag. I shared my thoughts with him He never called again.
Okay, next chapter. The Knight Raiders reorganize, hire another manger and one member plays at a strip club. Coming soon!
PS - I've included a link below to a YT video I made of the Knight Raiders song "Hang It Up (I don't want to hear it), featuring my alter ego Puro Padre. Cheers!
