My friends and co-workers know I have a hefty guitar collection. (Yes, I admit, it’s an addiction but I do love the guitars I own. Each has its own personality.) It’s always a treat when I get to share favorites from my collection with other artists. Strumming with Kenny Loggins, backstage, and sharing some guitar-geek opinions about picks and having him try out a couple of my favorites was a highlight as was this moment; lending the great Peter Ascher my customized Epiphone for one of the popular episodes of Gilbert Gottfried’s Amazing Colossal Podcast. (BTW: That cool looking strap was designed by my good friend Kelly Lue) If you missed this episode, you can check it out here:
My favorite episode, to date, drops today on all podcast venues:
Brad Bird and Micahel Giacchino Part 1of 2.
What most listeners will not realize is that each host and each guest were in their own remote location. The fun was making them sound like they were in the same room. I love that kind of audio magic.
Some other fun, for me; As many of the listeners know, I started my journey on the Colossal Podcast writing, producing and performing theme music for the show. For this episode’s big intro, I took my Gretsch Electromatic out of it’s case and played the infamous GGACP theme over Giacchino’s Mission Impossible score. It sounds like it belongs there.
More fun; My daughter performs the MI Voice-Over during the dramatic intro.
On top of all of the personal highs, during this episode, a big part of the interview was sparked by my daughter’s personal pre-show questions directed at Michael, whose soundtracks she listens to on a daily basis.
Don’t miss this one and the second part episode that will drop next week. You’ll understand why it’s my favorite.
Did you miss this episode? It’s a fun one and re-airing this week. I had the pleasure to work with these two “colossal” giants of the film world. As usual, You’ll hear more great stories from the history of entertainment.
Film directors (and fellow monster kids) Joe Dante and Mick Garris help Gilbert and Frank usher in Halloween 2020 with a frighteningly good conversation about giant insects, evil hunchbacks, cheesy haunted house flicks, the glory days of horror anthologies and the 60th anniversary of “Psycho.”
Over time, some session memories stand out from the others and will remain permanent landmarks in my brain. (“Remember when…?”). Recently I had a “bring-your-daughter-to-work” experience that turned out to be just one of those unique memory markers. We had the pleasure of of having Director Brad Bird and Composer Michael Giacchino on the show. (Yet to be released) great guests with terrific personalities and a treasure chest of story gems from their work on Coco, Ratatouille, Mission Impossible, Tomorrow Land, Iron Giant, Up and so many other other blockbuster TV and Film projects.
My daughter Samantha is a big fan of their work but, especially, the music of Giacchino. Not a week goes by that she’s not listening to one of his compositions. Michael had a beautiful display case filled with collectibles from his work in film. One such collectible was a custom made Coco guitar that he showed off and played for my daughter on, of all days; Cinco de Mayo. What a thrill! You can see the smile on my daughter’s face below. Priceless!
Bird and Giacchino shared so many great stories that we’ll render this session into a two-part series. I can’t wait for everyone to hear it. Stay tuned!
Michael Giacchino plays his priceless Coco guitar for Samantha.
My audio producer friends can relate to the statement that “if I’m doing my job right; the audience will have no idea I’m doing my job right.” But, sometimes, it’s kind’a cool when a listener gets the challenge and appreciates the hard work that goes into making “ear candy” in the audio kitchen.
Creating podcasts and multi-talent musical recordings has been a real challenge this past year. COVID has had us all locked up in our own rooms with our personal microphones and multitrack software programs trying to cook up products that resemble collaboration.
I try my very best to make the walls vanish when producing remotely. It’s my goal to have everyone feeling as if we’re actually in the same room. Part of my job is to set everyone at ease and allow for that deep breath before the tape starts rolling.
The other day I was fortunate, once again, to work with a legend in the entertainment world; one of the founding members of the Mamas and the Papas; Michelle Phillips. When a legend makes an appearance on the Colossal Podcast/Show I’m always keen to learn about how it all workedback then. What were the challenges, what were the innovations and what from that time is lacking in today’s world? I knew we were going to hear some great tales from Michelle Phillips.
The answers from most of these wonderful artists are always a bit different but, boiled down, seems the same; It was less complicated in their old world. Although it was about money (it has always been about money) it didn’t feel like it was about money. It was more about writing songs, recording great tunes, outdoing or impressing your friends and interacting with fellow artists.
Musicians and songwriters got together because they were friends and felt compelled to collaborate. They weren’t forced together by a label. They would all attend a party and then they would all end up writing their own songs about that same party the next morning.
It was a different time.
Has the music world become too much about business and metrics? Has creativity been beaten down by the spreadsheet?
Maybe.
Judging from the last Grammy Awards show…. I’m getting the feeling that’s where we are at this moment in music history..
Michelle Phillips was charming, informative and arrived with big stories both musical and personal. I’ve always been a fan. My teenage daughter is a fan. The music of the Mamas and the Papas continues to be appealing to all generations.
I’m sure I’ll look back on this time in my life with a big smile because I’ve been lucky to have met some of the greatest legends in the entertainment business…. in my room…. on Zoom.
Setting up another great show. Gilbert Gottfried, Frank Santopadre John Murray and Michelle Phillips. (Look at all of those gold records! Wow!)
So, Part 1 of the Dana Gould Episode has already aired on SiriusXM and I’m happy to announce that’s it now available for all listeners online as a podcast.
Dana Gould Returns: Part 1 In the first of a 2-part episode, comedian, actor and Emmy-winning writer Dana Gould returns to the show for a funny, frenetic conversation about the “science” of monster movies, the extravagance of Sammy Davis Jr., the generosity of Roddy McDowall (and Charlton Heston!) and the new web series, “Hanging with Dr. Z.” Also, Dwight Frye checks out, Darren McGavin dons a bathrobe, Orson Welles turns down “Beneath the Planet of the Apes” and Andy Griffith “punches up” “The Ghost and Mr. Chicken.”
You’ll realize, by the end of this episode, why it was extended to two. There was so much good content that the session deserved not to be chopped down.
I just finished audio production on two Gilbert Gottfried’s Amazing Colossal episodes featuring Dana Gould.
This one was intended as a one-episode release but Dana offered so much content that we extended the show into two.
Being a life-long fan of old time radio, I’m always excited when I have an opportunity to recreate that type of content within a new project. This time, I had two and the fans are going to love each segment.
One skit involved a recreation of a scene from “Its a Wonderful Life” with Dana playing George using the voice of a Barney Fife and Gilbert playing Mister Potter using the voice of Floyd the Barber.
The second skit, which will be featured in episode two, has both comedians voicing their best Vincent Price. We’re calling this skit a “Price Comparison!”
Episode one will air on SiriusXM this week and then, soon after, on popular podcast venues.
As many of you know, from my previous site, production of the “Brightbuckle” podcast has been going very well.
Today, using surround positioning tech, we were able to bring more life to a really fun scene between the two main characters.
Many years ago, I never thought it would be possible to create the illusion of a 3D/surround environment using only 2 ear sources. Then I heard a Disney audio presentation of the Rocketeer, that opened my eyes and ears. They used a model of a human head and placed the earphones inside the model’s ears. The actors and FX were recorded around the head. The result was a two track recording that, when listened to with earphones, simulated surround.
It’s much too scientific to get into here. But, today, we’re able to recreate this effect with software. (Yes… there is an app for that. You don’t push one button, it takes a bit of programming and lots of creativity, but there is an app.)
I’ve created musical compositions and mixed video soundtracks this way, and now I’m having a great deal of fun producing a podcast using this fairly new tech. Experimenting is the fun part.
I can’t wait for people to hear the first episode. As long as you’re wearing earphones, you’ll hear characters talking behind you, in front of you, and environmental sounds positioned all around. It’s really exciting and not done in a way to distract the listener from the story. If anything, it actually helps the story and brings a extra bit of realism to the production.
I’ve had the opportunity to meet so many wonderful masters of the entertainment world while working on the Colossal Podcast. All amazing! But, meeting Alan Menken was like meeting a super hero. A true legend.
The show has aired on SiriusXM and was just released for podcast. I believe it’s going to be applauded as one of the best episodes to date.
Menken shared songs from his long, award winning career as well as songs that never made it into a musical that reside in his “trunk.”
For me, it was a master class in music composing,
My daughter, a musical theater student and performer, also had the opportunity to speak with Alan and he was kind, generous everything you’d hope your hero would be in person.
