There is an Irving Berlin song... that sums it up:

"I haven't ambitions for lofty positions
That wind up with the wealth of the land
I'll give you the throne that a king sat on
For just a small baton
Providing you included a band

If I could be the wealthy owner of a large industry
I would say, "Not for me"
I'd rather lead a band

If I could be a politician with a chance to dictate
I would say, "Let it wait"
I'd rather lead a band

My ev'ry care ceases
I'm rich as old Croesus
When I've got ten pieces
In hand"

So here's who I got to lead:



and here's the story:

We finally get to scoring the magical Bob (see below) movie. And so we put together the greatest rhythm section.

Ever.

Period.

Don't even try to argue.

I got like one of those "you can't argue with me" dreamteams.... like what would it be like if Magic were passing to Bird passing to Jordan (ok- I have that on tape- it was the 1992 dream team- particularly the first qualifying of the Americas tourney when they played together vs. Cuba... but I digress)... well here's the rhythm dream team:

James Gadson on drums

King Errisson on bongos and congas

Rahzel beatboxing and breaking legs

Shoot, I could have used just James, King and Rahzel and it would have been the all-time hip-hop sample library... but we are not done yet.

Ray Parker, Jr on guitar... and before you say it... who you gone call?

Reggie McBride on bass http://alsrecordsandtapes.com/reggie.jpg Oh, and go watch Reggie playing with Stevie Wonder in 1973 here: http://alsrecordsandtapes.com/beatclub.mpg

Scott Kinsey on keyboards

Billy Hulting on percussion

Gary Gardner on percussion

We had only two days...

But for two days, I was the luckiest man... on the face of the earth (Gehrig, Magic... whatever).



note the amount of pages on my right (cues not done yet) and those on the right (done)

But, with all that music to do.... I could look down in front of me and see RAY PARKER, JR.!

Please, we never had ANY problems.



So here's some photos of the fun for one and for all.

In terms of hip-hop history... here is a good one. Perry Botkin, Jr. and King Errisson see each other for the first time in 25 years. Perry wrote and produced all the Incredible Bongo Band records ("Apache" anyone?) and of course, the bongo player in the Incredible Bongo Band IS King Errisson.



When we started placing Bongo Band records into the temp score, I called my pal Perry and asked "How many bongo players did you use and where are they?"

Perry then referred me to the King and we found two days where he was off the Neil Diamond show he is on tour with these days.

King Errisson is the man. You think you gotta a better bongo man.

You are wrong.

Here's me and Rah- Rah- Rahzel

Again... Who you gone call? Mr. Telephone Man.

Bob and Rahzel

My thanks to everybody- our music super G. Marq Roswell, music editor David Carbonara, the studio at Glenwood Place (nice place!, nice folks too) and my attorney general, head groundskeeper and man who makes the train run on time, Hank Cicalo- who is also the best engineer anywhere.

This was the most fun recording date I have ever attended- let alone been a part of. The band worked that sucker to death- wait til you hear it.



from left: Billy Hulting, Ray Parker, Jr. (last time: Who you gone call?), Hank Cicalo, Reggie McBride, Bob Odenkirk (below), Scott Kinsey (above Bob), King Errisson, James Gadson, Rahzel, G. Marq Roswell, me (!), David Carbonara.

Rock star weekend/ Part 1: Queens of the Stone Age= Bob's genius plan.

The genius of Bob Odenkirk.

He gets giant rock stars to become session cats for a day.

How?

Simple. He has a system. He sticks to it. And so far it has worked every time.

What is involved?

Again, simple.

Let me explain.

He gets the rock star(s) a gift- a tasteful, relevant gift- and the rock stars love these gifts because Bob has magic shoes.

It begins innocently- as it did last Thursday for case #1, the Queens of the Stone Age.

Here's the story: First, Bob and I use Bob's celebrity status to sneak backstage at the Jimmy Kimmel Show.

Once there, we set about begging the Queens of the Stone Age to pretty please play a couple cues for the soundtrack to the movie... and magically, they fall for it!

Josh Homme is a most generous dude (and he is a DUDE-especially for anybody who remembers Kyuss) and if there is a more fun bunch of people to hang out with- and play music with- than the Queens... well, bring those bitches on too. Because Bob has magic shoes and we have gifts.

Lots of them.

Below, Bob and Alan Johannes discuss the opening title sequence. But wait... on closer inspection... we see the gifts- three copies of Naomi Odenkirk's "Mr. Show Book" sit on the table along with Bob's pager/magic wand and notepad (magic shoes obstructed by gifts- see below for display of magic).

Next, we moved in to Alain Johannes and Natasha Shneider's studio on Friday and the Queens played a couple cues and the opening title sequence. Click on the picture to hear the chaos scene written specifically for our friends the Queens!

Happy with their day, Bob, Natasha and Alain pose for the camera to prove that this in fact all happened.

One down... a weekend with nothing to do in front of us.

Hey, wait- let's go get more rock star/session players.

Part 2: Meg White... Take him to Detroit! Bob's genius plan.

Bob's plan had worked so well on the Queens, we thought we would try it on Meg White.

So we flew to Detroit, where the White Stripes played the last shows of their American tour (and where they live). Once we were there, Bob and I went to Border's books in downtown Detroit and got Meg a present- but not before stopping by the Motown Museum where Bob posed with our friend Elton in front of the building where some of the greatest music in history was recorded.

Next, it was off to the Tempermill Studios in Ferndale, MI and once we got there... well...

It worked!

Again!

Below is Bob pretending to be casual as Meg, like a moth to the flame... a deer in the headlights... a rabbit in the hat... falls for the plan! (Notice Bob's magical shoes as an obvioulsy entranced Meg opens her gift. Also, White Stripes fans, note the color of the wrapping paper. It is always in the details.)

Properly bewitched, Meg played the drum parts that accompanies Dax Shepherd character.

Meg's drumming is something we thought would be perfect for the character that Dax plays and she was great. Meg was very generous- it was her first day home in too many months- but she came down and played her heart out for us and the movie will be much richer for her contribution.

Welcome to the world of session playing, Meg. You were sensational and it was a thrill and a fantastic experience for us and we hope you enjoy the gift.

Below, Meg and Bob pose for the camera to again prove that it actually happened.

"You Are Going To Prison" directed by Bob Odenkirk is funny.

I am doing the score for "You Are Going to Prison." Bob Odenkirk is directing and it is funny. And not that "just-because-I-am-working-on-it-funny." Really, it is. Bob is a hero in my household. My wife displays her "Mr. Show Convention, 1996" refrigerator magnet proudly.

-Picture of Rebecca's Mr. Show magnet.

I am glad the movie is funny.

Meg White is going to play some drums on the score for "You Are Going To Prison." That is cool. So we will have James Gadson and Meg White as our drummers.

Here's some footage of Scott Kinsey. He plays on the score too.(Click on this picture of Scott for video.)

Cooked- the Dane Cook television show...

I am doing the theme song for Dane Cook's upcoming telelvision pilot for Sony. Jay Kogen, father of Charles Sinatra Kogen is the executive producer of the show. Did you know that Dane Cook's new CD is the highest-charting comedy album in 26 years. His bow at No. 4 on the Billboard Chart for his cd "Retaliation" is the best showing for a comedy set since Steve Martin? Man, I am getting old. I saw Steve Martin at the Universal Amphitheater. The Blues Brothers opened for him. Oh, and the Universal Amphitheater was OUTDOORS. Here is someone younger than us- Charles (and his dad- who is old too).

"Smith and Jones' Big Day Out"- an original musical I am writing starring Ivo Le France and Jon Gries is coming soon. I finished some more music for it this week. Here is the first "one sheet" for our stars:

Quincy Jones called this morning (no shit- how's that for name dropping)... and I think I am going to work with him on the score for the new Jim Sheridan/50 Cent movie. I start when we are done with "Prison."

Have you ever heard the music from "The Hot Rock?"

They have to start putting that stuff out on CD sometime- because it is amazing. We also used some Lalo Schifrin- another bad man. We temped a lot of Lalo and Quincy in for the Bob Odenkirk movie... it is really cool.

Anyways, I am working with Quincy Jones.

Yeah, I am.

Cody Chesnutt signs with Al's Records and Tapes.

Al's Records and Tapes empire continues to grow.

Al's signed Cody Chesnutt and I am very happy to be able to help spread the gospel on my friendc. I think Cody is one of the most talented and inspiring people I have ever known. You may remember the four star review in Rolling Stone, the cover of the Fader magazine... all the hoopla about Cody- all of it deserved, because he is a baaaaaad man- I am really proud to say Al's is the label that got him. Sony? nah. Warners? nope. Interscope? I think not.


-Cody poolside.

Cody was on the Roots records- I think it was the first single, called "The Seed." You may remember... "If Mary had a baby girl tonight, I would name her Rock and Roll." They played it everywhere- in the movie "Collateral" and on MTV all day.

If you have not heard him, make it a point to go listen. He is a unique man with a singular viewpoint and musicality that matches his humanity- all of which is apparent when he sings and plays. There are writer/singers like Cody who pop up every so often- guys/gals who will wring every ounce of truth out of a song without ever overreaching- Sam Cooke, Marvin Gaye, Otis Redding, Aretha... D'Angelo- and Cody.

Anyways, "The Headphone Masterpiece" is amazing- check it for yourself. And look forward- we are going to get Cody to make a new record- I promise.

Some Summer music from Al's Records and Tapes.

Al's Records and Tapes has some new releases for summer- a couple of ambien and/or ambient music and some great (free) podcasts for the dog days.
I am really proud of these.

"Boboto" by Séverine Baron

Al's Records and Tapes is pleased to announce the release of "Boboto" a beautiful stirring of Laptopica from Séverine Baron.Give in to "Boboto"- time will pass in an altered pace as Séverine's musicality swallows you in. "Boboto" is Sév's second release- also check "Dogonet."

Landing Music by Jean-Luc Cohen is reminiscent of a 21st century Brian Eno (in fact, it's Jean-Luc's tribute to Eno). Al's is pleased to share "Landing Music" a beautiful collection of soothing ambient Laptopica from Jean-Luc Cohen. Jean-Luc is known for his work with Trent Reznor and The Jews and now "Landing Music".Slow down your day. Breath in. Breath out- and download "Landing Music."

Soon to come is the new Ruger Seeds record. You can check out the old one through Itunes here.

Do you know Perry Botkin? I do. Perry did arrangements for all kinds of my favorite music in the sixties and seventies (including "Love or Let Me Be Lonely" by the Friends of Distinction- it may be the best pop arrangement ever written... how about that!)- and, well, after writing "Nadia's Theme (theme from "The Young and the Restless) ", my bud Perry had had enough of dealing with bosses and so he makes music how HE wants to hear it and he doesn't give a shit if anybody loves- or hates it. As a matter of fact, I don't think he even wants an opinion. So Perry has allowed me to put out some of his music. Enjoy it. I do.

Podcasts! Beldencasts!

Please draw a mutsache on me-

Bob Belden, the genius jazz composer, saxophonist and all around funny man, has come up with a show which you shouldn't miss. Bob- who is also one of the preeminent jazz scholars- has started a podcast which we are turning into a weekly radio show. Bob- in addition to his own work- has overseen many of the reissues of a lot of historic catalogues- amongts them the Miles Davis, Herbie Hancock, Chick Corea, and Joe Zawinul catalogues (all of which he has written incredibly incisve liner notes also) and his essays about these artists are thorough and inventive both from a fan's standpoint and a musician's/

Bob has brought his unique perspective and unbelievable access to cyberland. The first two Belden shows (brought to you by Bob's "Rope-a-Dope Podcasting Network") feature great insight and rare music of Herbie Hancock and Miles Davis.

Van Stone is unleashed.



Dave Sheridan (the guy with no shirt in "Ghostworld") and his bro Travis Draft (from "Buzzkill!") came up with the band Van Stone- which we recorded and is now being turned into a tv pilot directed by Troy Miller. The original tunes were written with Dave Gruber Allen, guitar hero Richie Kotzen.

Here's a look at the future of Al's Records and Tapes. We are trying to sign these youngsters... they have a hit, we think, inin "1,2,3 (Dead Day).".

.

Mushy, we miss ye. Especially Mr. Jones.