SHERMAN
John – Wurlitzer, organ
A while back, Rob picked up a Wurlitzer, more or less simply because I had expressed a love of them and wanted to have one on my CD somewhere. Last night we finally used it. It has some rattle and buzz to it, so Rob taped the hinges on the back, and we stacked some phone books on top of it to minimize it as much as possible. The sustain pedal doesn’t work on 4 or 5 keys.
I love it. I want one. I thought I did already. The only keyboard that has the same effect on me is the Mellotron (or it’s American counterpart, the Chamberlin) but it’s sound is more specific and not something I would want to use on every song. But the Wurlitzer… what it does to any song is just amazing. Last night when we were done I sat down at it and played with it. I love the sound it makes, and it’s so easy to make it sound good with only very basic piano skills (which are what I have, at best).
I wanted to take it home right then. If there’s anyone rich who loves me please surprise me. That’s a Wurlitzer 200 electric piano.
Anyway, John did two different tracks, one with vibrato and one without, we opted for vibrato. He also added some organ bits on the chorus. We also did two little flourishes using a piano as an autoharp, basically, taking off the cover of the piano, I held the keys down for the chord and John would strum the strings of the piano with a pic.
Unfortunately, there was bad news for the night. Josh Joplin’s label is flying Rob up for the next two weeks to have him produce 2 or 3 tracks for Josh’s new record, and if they like them he’ll be doing the entire record, which will mean he’ll be in New York through March. I am genuinely glad, because I like Rob and Josh, and I think it’s great that the label is having him up to do it. But it also shoots me in the foot, which is no one’s fault. It means no recording for at least a month, and also throws the March 23 show into turmoil. Pete can’t play it so I was already talking with Michael Lorant about playing drums, which meant getting him up to speed. Now I also have to decide whether to do the show without a lead guitarist or find a replacement.