The Stephen Desper Thread

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Charles LePage @ ComicList:
Let's restart the discussion with and about Stephen Desper.

Please read the previous discussions before asking him a question:

http://surfermoon.com/essays/desperarchive.html

http://comiclist.com/smileysmile/viewtopic.php?t=8960

the captain:
Mr. Desper -- first, welcome to the new board. I've really enjoyed and appreciated your thread, and thought I'd start off the new one by finally asking you a question.

This isn't an attempt to get you to criticize anyone else's work, but is there a Beach Boys or Brian Wilson song that you didn't work on, but really wish you had? This might be for technical reasons, such as that you thought you could've gotten a different sound that particularly appeals to you, or for a more sentimental one, such as that you just love a particular song or record. Maybe you think some song deserved better or different treatment than it got.

And, if so, how might you have approached it?

Thanks in advance.
LH

Jason:
Opening the topic up a bit, I wish Mr. Desper worked behind the board for Pacific Ocean Blue.

Stephen W. Desper:
Hello Charles LePage:

Thank you again for all you have done with this posting board.  I know it takes a lot of hard and long hours to make it happen. I'm certain I speak for all posters in expressing our gratitude for and apprecition of your efforts that continue the interest in Beach Boy history and bring to us the ability to express ideas about Beach Boy events of this day.

Good Listening to you,

~Stephen W. Desper
Merry Christmas   and HAPPY NEW YEAR's GREETINGS !!!

Stephen W. Desper:
OLD BUSINESS FROM THE PREVIOUS BOARD

Comment to aeijtzsche --

Hey Steve, check this out:



This photo reminds me of the time I had been recording and working with the group and Brian for over a year.  We had been in various studios around town and then built the house studio.  I guess we'd been recording in the house studio about six months.  During all that time I had seen and heard Brian play all manner of keyboard instruments and guitars.  He was very proficient at anything musical -- that goes without saying. Once in a while he'd pick up a tambourine or play the vibs. 

One day we were doing some demos or test tracks of songs (pre-tracking).  That is, recording stuff to see how it sounded in playback.  If they liked the way a particular song came off (in playback - hearing) they would consider tracking that song. Otherwise these tracks were discarded as were the songs.

Brian had recorded the piano part of a song he'd been working on.  But he wanted to hear it with a drum track. It was the weekend and Dennis was out sailing or surfing and not around.  Carl, Brian and myself were the only ones in the studio.  I don't play the drums. Carl said, I'll try to do it for you Brian and went out to do some basic licks but got all tangled up in himself trying to hit all the correct drums and cymbals.  So he came back up into the control room and sat down beside me at the console.  Brian was pacing in the studio when Carl pushed the talkback button and said, "Why don't you add the parts Brian . . ." 

Brian said, "I'll give it a try." 

He sat down on the drum throne and adjusted it lower.  Then he took the sticks in hand and proceed to blow us all away.  It was Hal Blaine at his best.  I looked at Carl and said, "Where the hell did that come from? I never knew he could play like that."

Carl said, "He doesn't like to play the drums because he can't hear them well enough, but he can do it."  I said, "That was Amazing!!"   

And I can't recall ever seeing Brian play the drums again. 

But it was Good Listening,

~Stephen W. Desper

((PS  don't remember the song and the track was wiped.))   




 

 
 

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