We’ve updated our Terms of Use to reflect our new entity name and address. You can review the changes here.
We’ve updated our Terms of Use. You can review the changes here.

Eatingawaythesecondsinsidethethumbpinata

from Sans Lyrics Vol. 2 by John Tabacco

/

about

Music © 1986 by John Tabacco
Published by It Iz What It Iz Music (SESAC)


EATINGAWAYTHESECONDSINTHETHUMBPINATA:

By far, this is the most intense piece I've ever done. It was created in May of 1986
and is an accurate interpretation of the frustrations that had culminated in my life style. Re-capping that time period:

1. Had to work a boring 9 to 5 job and my sincere efforts to be a good little worker were unappreciated.
2. Didn't have a girlfriend and my relationships with various female workers all turned into total disasters.
3. I was constantly reminded by my folks that I should leave home
and start a real career. This would always end up in some stupid, hot headed Italian screaming match.
4. Composer Paul Michael Barkan stayed in my room for hours on end working on one piece called "Seconds Away". My father had to ask him to leave at one point.
5. Had no connection to the music industry, except a dead great uncle who used to play violin.
6. Had a cold that lasted forever
7. Still couldn't play lead guitar like I heard it in my head.
8. My dog's illness became more apparent
9. It rained all season
10. My left hand hurt because I had just put my thumb through a headlight and I couldn't receive workman's compensation. Lots of blood shooting out of your skin makes you realize some deep things.

Musically this piece was the culmination of my efforts to construct something noisy and yet musical, with a very clear form. Many of the rhythms and pseudo guitar articulations are very Zappa influenced. The actual solos were written on an Atari computer and then sped up. They were set off by just pushing the space bar whenever it felt right. Eventually a good one was recorded to tape. The basic theme is a variation on a melody that Paul Michael Barkan wrote as a backup part for a song my friend Nick DiMauro and I worked on called "LET IT GO". We never used Paul’s idea, but sang it all the time. Other Paul Barkan bits from his master work "Seconds Away" can be heard through out:
1. The opera singing female (Susan Galer)
2. Stan Delman's sax solo
3. A fluid flute solo
4. Paul through the talk back saying : "NO.... QUARTER NOTES!"

There are also samples of esoteric orchestral stuff, Firesign Theatre, some chord samples from the tribute to Thelonius Monk album and drum loops that were used to keep time in certain spots. This is a technique as you know, that would eventually be exploited in rap music of the late 80s and early 90s. I may have been slightly
a head of the times for a change.

This piece was recorded in my bedroom on 8 tracks with limited outboard gear (just one reverb and a12 input mixing board).
Sure did beat the crap out of that equipment.

credits

from Sans Lyrics Vol. 2, released October 6, 2014
JT : Programming
Paul Michael Barkan : "No, Quarter Notes!"
Recorded at Suburban Hermit Studios I, St. James, NY
Recording medium : Tascam 38™ - 8-Track Recorder

license

all rights reserved

tags

about

John Tabacco image

John Tabacco Stony Brook, New York

John Tabacco is a composer, singer-songwriter, producer, recording engineer, and visual artist.

Like an unfolding musical diary / puzzle, Tabacco’s music and art are constantly being re-worked, juxtaposed and intertwined.

For more info : www.johntabacco.net ... more

contact / help

Contact John Tabacco

Streaming and
Download help

Report this track or account

If you like John Tabacco, you may also like:

Bandcamp Daily  your guide to the world of Bandcamp

On Bandcamp Radio

Beans joins the show to discuss his album release, "ZWAARD".

listen now