Anyone want to collaborate with Jeff Buckley?
July 16, 2010 4:34 AM
Previously on MeFi Music, Jeff Buckley's alien-inspired song, "Ozark Melody", was released. Now, because MeFiers asked for it, the unmixed tracks have finally been released.
Spinner.com published this week the release of a rare Jeff Buckley song, while Indaba Music published the song's unmixed music tracks. The unmixed tracks are from a 1996 recording session for the country novelty song "Ozark Melody" written and performed by Buckley and Frederick Reed, with lyrics by Joe Tripician.
Jeff Buckley's Alien Song:
Back in '96 I had the rare opportunity to write and record a song with the legendary Jeff Buckley, one year before he died. My musical partner Frederick Reed co-wrote the song and recorded the session. This single song was released for free on the internet in '97, and shows Jeff's humor and playfulness, a lighter side not typically associated with the artist. [More about the story behind it.]
Indaba Music is hosting the unmixed tracks for the song will for free download and remixing. These eight tracks (two vocals, four of guitar & mandolin, two of miscellaneous effects) contain some real jewels in -- vocal riffs, asides, and instrumental virtuosity -- stuff that has never been heard before.
We have also recorded a series of podcasts featuring remembrances that will reveal, exclusively and for the first time, private conversations and startling incidents of this world famous musical artist. Some insights include: the type of music Jeff secretly loved but never revealed to the press, and Jeff's physical and emotional condition in the year before his death.
If that's not enough free for ya, I have also released the book that inspired Jeff Buckley's alien song as a for free download on my site and on Scribd.
Oh yeah, there's also a music-video.
Enjoy!
posted by joetrip (5 comments total)
Spinner.com published this week the release of a rare Jeff Buckley song, while Indaba Music published the song's unmixed music tracks. The unmixed tracks are from a 1996 recording session for the country novelty song "Ozark Melody" written and performed by Buckley and Frederick Reed, with lyrics by Joe Tripician.
Jeff Buckley's Alien Song:
Back in '96 I had the rare opportunity to write and record a song with the legendary Jeff Buckley, one year before he died. My musical partner Frederick Reed co-wrote the song and recorded the session. This single song was released for free on the internet in '97, and shows Jeff's humor and playfulness, a lighter side not typically associated with the artist. [More about the story behind it.]
Indaba Music is hosting the unmixed tracks for the song will for free download and remixing. These eight tracks (two vocals, four of guitar & mandolin, two of miscellaneous effects) contain some real jewels in -- vocal riffs, asides, and instrumental virtuosity -- stuff that has never been heard before.
We have also recorded a series of podcasts featuring remembrances that will reveal, exclusively and for the first time, private conversations and startling incidents of this world famous musical artist. Some insights include: the type of music Jeff secretly loved but never revealed to the press, and Jeff's physical and emotional condition in the year before his death.
If that's not enough free for ya, I have also released the book that inspired Jeff Buckley's alien song as a for free download on my site and on Scribd.
Oh yeah, there's also a music-video.
Enjoy!
No offense taken, MajorDundee, and thanks for your comment. Fred and I discussed this issue extensively and made our decision based on:
1) our relationship with Jeff
2) on the entire tone and spirit of the recording session
3) on the collaborative nature of the session
We realized we'd open ourselves to criticism and are willing to take it; and while we may not be able to convince you of the "correctness" our position, we hope at least you will be convinced of our sincerity.
The conclusion we came to, after 13 years of sitting on this material, is our conviction and belief that Jeff considered this song a collaborative effort. Indeed, during the recording Fred tried to get Jeff to sing solo, but Jeff refused, even insisting that I join in the vocals. Fred agreed, with the proviso that I remain way in the background ;)
Check out the very end of the mandolin track #2, and you can hear Jeff say "Okay. That's cool. Some weird notes in there, but who cares?" He laughed throughout the session, and that pretty much sums up its spirit.
Throughout the final year before his death, Fred would repeatedly kid Jeff about the recording, saying that one day it would come back to haunt him. And because Jeff had a wicked sense of humor, he would laugh and kid Fred right back.
File this under "you had to have known him", but that was the nature of our relationship with him, and because he was so generous with his time and talent with us, we just want to pass it forward.
Best,
Joe & Fred
posted by joetrip at 5:25 PM on July 16, 2010
1) our relationship with Jeff
2) on the entire tone and spirit of the recording session
3) on the collaborative nature of the session
We realized we'd open ourselves to criticism and are willing to take it; and while we may not be able to convince you of the "correctness" our position, we hope at least you will be convinced of our sincerity.
The conclusion we came to, after 13 years of sitting on this material, is our conviction and belief that Jeff considered this song a collaborative effort. Indeed, during the recording Fred tried to get Jeff to sing solo, but Jeff refused, even insisting that I join in the vocals. Fred agreed, with the proviso that I remain way in the background ;)
Check out the very end of the mandolin track #2, and you can hear Jeff say "Okay. That's cool. Some weird notes in there, but who cares?" He laughed throughout the session, and that pretty much sums up its spirit.
Throughout the final year before his death, Fred would repeatedly kid Jeff about the recording, saying that one day it would come back to haunt him. And because Jeff had a wicked sense of humor, he would laugh and kid Fred right back.
File this under "you had to have known him", but that was the nature of our relationship with him, and because he was so generous with his time and talent with us, we just want to pass it forward.
Best,
Joe & Fred
posted by joetrip at 5:25 PM on July 16, 2010
Thanks both - I was a quite concerned after I posted the comment that you would take my remarks personally, so I'm very relieved. It was one of those "why didn't you just keep your bloody mouth shut" moments! I guess it comes down to how well you both knew Jeff Buckley....I mean really knew him. But then I guess, who really knows anyone?
I suppose there's also the inevitable question of genuine fans imperceptably and unconsciously stepping over the boundary into a form of obsession and wanting to somehow have a piece of or, in the extreme, merge with the object of affection - people who change their names to "Freddie Mercury" etc. On the other hand, perhaps rather more sympathetically, fans may be motivated to simply keep the flame of the talent alive - a kind of resurrection. Which is really quite touching. Having read your response this is where, it seems to me, you guys are coming from rather than the "barking at the moon" or, (far worse) commercial exploitation, camp.
All the very best of luck with this, guys. I'm intrigued enough now to have a listen! I'll probably totally contradict myself and have a go at a remix a la Space Oddity :-)) Feel very free to accuse me of rank hypocrisy if I do.......
posted by MajorDundee at 2:46 AM on July 17, 2010
I suppose there's also the inevitable question of genuine fans imperceptably and unconsciously stepping over the boundary into a form of obsession and wanting to somehow have a piece of or, in the extreme, merge with the object of affection - people who change their names to "Freddie Mercury" etc. On the other hand, perhaps rather more sympathetically, fans may be motivated to simply keep the flame of the talent alive - a kind of resurrection. Which is really quite touching. Having read your response this is where, it seems to me, you guys are coming from rather than the "barking at the moon" or, (far worse) commercial exploitation, camp.
All the very best of luck with this, guys. I'm intrigued enough now to have a listen! I'll probably totally contradict myself and have a go at a remix a la Space Oddity :-)) Feel very free to accuse me of rank hypocrisy if I do.......
posted by MajorDundee at 2:46 AM on July 17, 2010
Question: the little bit that sounds like a theremin just before the tempo double-time at the very end... is that Jeff (or someone else) mimicking a theremin with his voice?
It's cool that y'all are doing this, and though I don't have much free time to work on it, if I can scare some up, I'll certainly have a go at a remix. Thanks for bringing it to Metafilter Music!
posted by flapjax at midnite at 5:03 AM on July 17, 2010
It's cool that y'all are doing this, and though I don't have much free time to work on it, if I can scare some up, I'll certainly have a go at a remix. Thanks for bringing it to Metafilter Music!
posted by flapjax at midnite at 5:03 AM on July 17, 2010
Flapjax, yes that is Jeff vocalizing and doing one of many things he did best: mimicry. He was the most naturally gifted musician I ever had the privilege to meet.
I look forward to hearing what you come up with!
posted by joetrip at 6:26 AM on July 17, 2010
I look forward to hearing what you come up with!
posted by joetrip at 6:26 AM on July 17, 2010
You are not logged in, either login or create an account to post comments
.....almost certainly - but only, personally, at his invitation. Absolutely no offence joetrip and I'm certain you're doing this out of love for the artist and for the best of reasons, but there does seem to me to be a bit of a moral issue here. I mean it's one thing a living artist uploading stems for people to play around with (cf David Bowie's Space Oddity - which I took a shot at here), but someone who's sadly no longer with us and is unable therefore to sanction this personally.......hmmmmm, not overly comfortable with that (of course, I am assuming Jeff Buckley didn't give this his express go-ahead). If I dropped off the twig and other people started messing around with my recordings (an unlikely proposition, but it serves the point), I wouldn't be too pleased. Simply a personal observation though - others may quite legitimately have a different perspective.
posted by MajorDundee at 2:10 PM on July 16, 2010