"A Solar Day", late 1987/early 1988

That is one 80s looking tape.

One night I was at home in Rocky Point when I got a call from Hubie.  He needed music for (what I remember as) an art exhibit or installation or something (it's been a long time, sorry!)  Anyways, the  the title of the exhibit, or the piece, was "A Solar Day", and he wanted this music playing during the exhibit/presentation/?/installation.  Hubie had described to me some intriguing designs he had done where the wind and rain and the elements would "play" the building, fusing architecture and music, I wish it was fresher in my mind, my apologies.  That may or may not have been part of "A Solar Day".....anyways.....Hubie calls me on the phone and asked me if I could provide a half hour of music or so......he had heard some of my recordings when I first got the 4-track, including a New Age version of "I Cried" (!) (included as a "bonus" track)....and he referenced them in the conversation, "I always liked those recordings you do", well, how 'bout that! Did you hear that, Ma? Well, I'm not one to turn down a commission, especially after being buttered up like that! So I hung up the phone, brought my two synths down and put them on the kitchen table, also an electric guitar.....and from about  9:00 at night until 6:00 in the morning, I did "A Solar Day, recorded and mixed, all in one sitting.  Gave it to him the next day, or whenever I saw him next.

This is the day I got the 4-track, spring of 1987.  "A Solar Day" was recorded at this table, but with me sitting on the other side...picture the table filled with two big synths. 

The synths I used were the Roland that I eventually gave to Lawrence to use in LOOB (what ever happened to that synth by the way? Best one I ever had!), and an old 70s Univox moog-like synth that my uncle had loaned me.  My brother, unbelievably, lost that synth in California, where he was living right before he joined LOOB.  Not only would it be worth a small fortune today, it would have been a great instrument for LOOB.  I miss that synth almost as much as I miss my white drums (the LOOB drums!  Also lost!) (so was Lawrence's 88-key Rhodes!)


The concept was "A Solar Day", so I made it like a sun's-eye view of the world, looking down at what's doing. I would probably approach it differently today, if asked, but I think the concept works. The beginning of the piece is sunrise and the end is sun going down and I must boast: I am very proud of the sun "effect" I achieved! It is a secret I have never divulged, nor have I had success in replicating it!  The rest of the piece has it's moments, but for me, it's all about the beginning and the ending.  Wow, I'm listening to it right now, that ending really can put you into a zone, if you need help sleeping, you might want to try this.  The beginning is so dramatic!  It's a big, yellow, metal, ugly, colossal sun!


How it was used, how effective it was, I know not!   Maybe he never used it at all? He seemed pleased when I gave it to him! I know Ted got Rob Franza (of WUSB) to use the "war " section as a bed for a Public Service Announcement or something at WUSB....or maybe Ted used it himself.   But I like it, I was definitely getting my Walter/Wendy Carlos on, with a side of the Minimalists!

Around the same time, I was asked to do music for a dance piece, "Cinder Blu",  by a great choreographer, Lauren Winslow,  45 minutes of music was needed.  Though I didn't pillage from it, "A Solar Day" was very helpful getting that whole thing together, if not only just as an example and as a precedent that I could "do it".  So included as a bonus are two of those pieces: "Red And Echo Black", and "Hansel & Gretel in the Wooded Forest".  Like "A Solar Day", they was recorded in early 1988.  Incidentally, the beginning of "Hansel & Gretel" came out of my demo version of Hubie's "Don't Despair", same chords, so....perhaps Hubie should get a composer's credit!


"A Solar Day", Mike's house, Rocky Point, late 1987/early January 1988
A Solar Day


PLUS

Mike's house, Rocky Point, summer 1987
The "I Cried" Suite

Pieces from "Cinder Blu", various locations, early 1988
Red And Echo Black
Hansel And Gretel In The Wooded Forest

Greg Braun: violins, tambourine
Michael Goodman: everything else

download here:
http://www.mediafire.com/download/3ck3bdjjrgba78p/A+Solar+Day+%281988%29.zip

or if you prefer, use the temporary Dropbox link (this link will expire in a couple of weeks)
https://www.dropbox.com/s/3nlt4ix75jef8h7/A%20Solar%20Day%20%281988%29.zip?dl=0