Friday, December 1, 2023

Get Well Soon

I got very sick when I was 10 years old, and was out of school for 6 weeks. My 3rd grade teacher had the class write Get Well Soon letters to me.

Dear Britt

We have been doing pretty good in school.

The weather is pretty good.

Did you know how hot it was on Saturday?

Today we are making folders in school.

On Debbie’s birthday we spanked her. Then everybody started to laugh.

Get well soon.

-Michael

Dear Britt,

Today Debbie got a spanking because it was her birthday.

She was the president and that’s why she got a spanking. Now Debbie is 10 years old and she is beginning to be an old lady.

It is to bad that you’ve got a cold. You’ve missed to write a letter to one of the kids in room 2.

I hope you get well soon.

Love,

Kelly

Dear Britt,

Debbie got a spanking from Miss Batog because it is her birthday today.

Miss Batog has some Hobo Kelly glasses.

Please get your hair cut I can’t stand it any longer.

Open house is coming up soon.

Get well soon.

Cyndee W

Dear Britt,

Today something real funny happened. Debbie got spankings.

She got 12 of them because she is 10 and 2 excess to be good.

Today Miss Batog wore some real funny round glasses.

Since February March we had icky Skill Charts.

Get well soon.

Love,

David

Dear Britt,

Today is Debbie’s birthday but she did not want Miss Batog to know it.

But when we were watching TV Miss Batog said that Debbie’s birthday was today.

After the TV show was over we had a vote on who wanted to give Debbie a spanking.

Everybody wanted to give Debbie a spanking but one.

Then Miss Batog wanted us to write you a letter.

Get well soon.

Your friend,

Jeffrey W

Dear Britt,

Today Debbie got a spanking. She is ten years old.

We has voted on her spanking.

What are you doing at your house?

We have been doing lots of fun things.

This week we are making candle stick holders.

What is you favorite TV show?

Your friend,

Lee

Dear Britt,

Debbie got a big surprise from Miss Batog. It was a spanking!

Poor poor Debbie.

Do you wish you would get better?

I do.

Get well soon.

Susan

Dear Britt,

What do you do at home?

We had a surprise in school.

Debbie got a spanking from the teacher.

Did you watch Lost in Space and The Man from Uncle?

We have been doing math in school.

Get well,

Frank

Dear Britt,

A funny thing happened this morning.

Debbie had a birthday and the teacher spanked her.

I wish that you will get well and start some school work.

Your friend,

Daun

Dear Britt,

Today Debbie got a funny surprise from Miss Batog. It was a spanking!

Miss Batog got a pair of glasses and everyone saw they are funny.

Get well soon,

Penny

Dear Britt,

Today Debbie had a birthday the teacher gave Debbie a spanking. Debbie is ten years old.

I went to Lee’s croquet club. We played Tarzan. We wear (unintelligible).

Your friend,

Michael D

Dear Britt,

I hope you get well. I am fine.

Today we are making trees.

Today Debbie had to have a paddle.

Your from

Anne

Dear Britt,

Debbie got a spanking for her birthday today.

For art we are making candle stick holders for Mother’s day.

Today for TV we are watching about Civic Center.

Miss Batog has some new funny glasses.

Get well soon,

Your friend,

Nancy

Dear Britt,

Today Debbie got a spanking because it is her birthday today.

Today Miss Batog brought some funny glasses to school.

Well I have to do my Arithmetic now good bye.

Your friend,

Maxine

Dear Britt,

Miss Batog gave me a big surprise. A spanking for my birthday.

Miss Batog was Hobo-Kelly today. I wasn’t very surprised today.

Did you see Chiller? There was a monster he had this beam light it electrocuted everybody in the town.

It was boss.

Your friend,

Debbie

 

Home with the flu.

It was Friday when it started.

The dangerous enemy was on the trail.

Number 1006 was on the move. The enemy was the flu!!! It was right in L.A.

Everybody was catching it.

In a few days I caught it. I stayed home for six weeks.

Then I went to the hospital for two days. When came back I stayed for one more week then I was all well

When I came back to school I was welcomed with a hello!!!

Thursday, July 25, 2019

Song #34 No Christy No (1991)

1991 was a pivotal year.
I shuttered my studio, Skyline Recording, and disbanded my band, Eckey Thump.

The equipment improvements we made to Skyline (Neve v60 console, an extra 24 track  Studer A800 et al.) brought our hourly rate up, but also increased our monthly nut. Additionally, as we were now attracting higher-end clients, the focus of my job became less about engineering and producing, and more about servicing our "guests".  I was being relegated to the role of a concierge:
FAMOUS PRODUCER: This isn't Scottish smoked salmon!
Me: Okay, I'll go back and get some.

Meanwhile, Teddy and I attempted to setup our own music production company for commercials, films, etc., and had succeeded only in fatally damaging our musical partnership, and friendship (not forever).

After all the dust had settled, with no studio, no band, and no job (and a young family to support), I began to piece together a new life.

Kurzweil K2000 synthesizer with built-in sequencing and sampling capabilities took the place of the recording studio and the band, and a post-production position at ABC television became my job.

Richy Stano and I maintained our friendship throughout this turmoil, and we began writing songs.
Here is our first collaboration:


No Christy No

You made me
You saved me
I was walking the line
Between love and hate
You came through
In a matter of time
When my old man weeped
And mamma cried

No Christy no
Take some but leave the rest
No Christy no
My time to get some rest

Mistaken
Forsaken 
I've been counting the time
From away the sheets
Who knows that
Who even cares
When your dream are real
The dragons come alive

No Christy no
Take some but leave the rest
No Christy no
My time to get some rest goes

And the only one who could sleep
Was not the only one who was there
The cat the silent witness
Sitting in her pretty chair
Yes I'm boring and helpless and rude
And I might end up playing your fool
But if you can't keep your distance
Then I'm not scared

© 1991 Britt Bacon and Richy Stano 

Britt: Kurzweil K2000, vocals
Richy: guitars

I believe we finished this demo at Ira Ingber's home studio... (thanks babe)








Thursday, June 20, 2019

Song #33 Leapfrog (1983)

Recently mixing some international TV, and Internet spots for the movie, "Crawl" (in theaters July 12th), I was reminded of some angry alligators.

In 1983, frustrated by multiple attempts to secure a record deal, Ira Ingber and I decided to put out our own extended play record (EP), on our own label, "Beautiful Concept Records". Attempting to push the boundaries of popular music, we were convinced that people would accept odd rhythmic timings, e.g., 7/4 or 7 beats to a measure, if the underlying beats held to a steady quarter note pulse.

We were able to record during "off hours" at my studio, Skyline Recording, and finished "Leapfrog" b/w "Funny Ha Ha, Funny Strange", after multiple late night sessions. The songs were loosely based on fables; Leapfrog nspired by "The Scorpion and the Frog", and Funny Ha Ha, Funny Strange by "The Emperor's New Clothes".


Paul Delph, created the swamp atmosphere in the opening of Leapfrog, using only his analog Prophet 10 synthesizer, as well as the pizzicato strings and talkbox fx, while Pat Mastelotto pounded out the rhythm (not easy in a 7/4 time song) with his new Simmons drums.

Ira cameo'd on bass, and of course played all the guitars.
I engineered and sang.

After raising money (no Kickstarter back then) from friends and family ($3,000), we began the journey of transferring our masterpieces onto vinyl; no mp3's in those days (too bad for us).

We brought the final mixes to legendary mastering engineer Bernie Grundman to finesse the sonic finishing touches for the lacquer master (he had to insert a "de-esser" to suppress to the “spilt second decision” s's during the bridge), created the cover art with the guidance of my godfather, Marc Davis, and the talents of Ira's then wife, Bonnie, figured out the color-separation process with the help of graphic artist and future star, Phil Hartman, and had pictures taken by the sublime Ben Swets.

I hand delivered the finished EP's to record stores, and we eventually sold about half of the the pressings (250).

Hate to sound like an old fart, but geez you kids have got it easy.
Record and mix in your bedroom, and then upload.

Get off my lily-pad!