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 worked back 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.
Gilbert Gottfried, Frank Santopadre John Murray and Michelle Phillips.
(Look at all of those gold records! Wow!)