The Stephen Desper-pedia

Quote from: onkster on July 31, 2007, 12:02:26 PM

Mr. Desper:
Were you involved with the Spring/demo work done by Brian and Marilyn at Westminist'r Sound in Otho, IA?

And if so, were you at all involved with the recording of Westminist'r's song called "Sister Jane"? The guy that runs that studio told me that somebody from the Beach Boys' camp did the arrangement on that record, and though it's anciently out-of-print, it's such a joy to hear. I'd really love to hear more back story on that, if you have any.

Thanks!

I am not directly involved. I recorded several songs with Spring that did not make it to the album. Sister Jane may be one of those, but after 40 years, I can't remember the details or the working names. ~swd

Quote from: Rocker on July 22, 2007, 05:04:59 AM

Hi Mr. Desper,
are you involved in any way with Al Jardine's solo album?

No. ~swd

Quote from: Susan on September 19, 2007, 05:05:00 AM

Rumours are starting to circulate that The Flame] and the second album - thus far unreleased - are to be packaged and released together later this year. Can anybody confirm this? It would be GREAT news!

I can make no comment ... yet. ~swd

Quote from: dunhill on August 22, 2007, 02:01:48 AM

Hello Mr. Desper,

I recently purchased a pair of DPI Loudspeakers (Studio Series). I can't find any information on them. I am wondering if they are a product that was manufactured by Desper Products?

Thanks,

Charles

DPI Speakers are not made by Desper Products, Inc. DPI Speakers may be made by made by Digital Products International [ http://www.dpi-global.com ]. You can find specifications for two DPI models at [ http://www.happ.com/amusement/jukebox/50998400.htm ]. I believe the Studio Series features an eight-inch and horn elements. That's all I know. Hope this helps. ~swd

Quote from: MBE on May 24, 2007, 03:09:53 AM

Hi Mr. Desper, I was wondering if you were with Zappa when Kin Vassy was with the group? I am a fan of Kenny Rogers and the First Edition of which he was a member.

COMMENT TO MBE: I think I just posted about the Zappa band several pages ago. I'm sorry, I don't associate the name Kin Vassy with the band I knew when with Zappa. ~swd

Quote from: bluerincon1 on May 24, 2007, 12:07:59 AM

Dear Mr. Desper:

I hope you are feeling well. I must say your book is an excellent read. I'm truly sorry to ask, but I've checked on the message boards and couldn't find thiese answers:

I know around late 1971/early 1972 you left the Beach Boys' employment. I have read that it was because you were not a follower of TM? Is that true.

Obviously, at the time you left, the group was working on "Carl & The Passions - So Tough." Were you there through the completion of the basic tracking?

Finally, being a Zappa fan, I was wondering how he hired you and how long you worked for him?

Thank you for your time.

COMMENT TO BLUERINCON1: Mike wanted a TM'er on board. I refused to bow to a sand-script god. It was their loss and Zappa's gain.

I left as they went to Holland. For CATP Carl wanted to work in a completely different atmosphere.

Didn't I just post about Zappa's band several pages back? ~swd

Quote from: Ian on May 22, 2007, 04:31:51 PM

Hi Sir, I was wondering if you recall traveling with the group on their short Pacific Northwest tour in January 1969? I have an article about the bands January 16 1969 app at the Memorial Arena in Victoria which mentions you by name. To quote "This time the sound equipment (150,00 worth) managed to conquer the arena acoustics and a great deal of the credit for the show's success must be given to Steve Desper, designer and operator of the sound system's complex, glowing control panel." Was this new sound system designed by you at the group's request for the European tour the previous December? Also Alan Boyd stated that the group recorded about 7 shows in the Summer of 1968 including Phoenix, Fargo, and Chicago- I take it that you accompanied them on this 68 tour? Any memories of those tours?
Thanks
Ian

COMMENT TO IAN: I'm not good with specific dates. AEIJTZSCHE found the AES (Audio Engineering Society) paper I co-wrote on that system for the society. The creation of that system predates the paper by about a year. Maybe AEIJTZSCHE can recall the link to the paper and/or the exact date the system was built. I did design the system, but there were several groundbreaking features of the system that (some contributed by others) made it stand out before others of that time. It was a beautiful sight to behold in any theater. It could be configured to entertain up to 35,000 people -- and did.

Lots of memories. It was the best of times. ~swd

COMMENT I would hardly call Alan Jardine a hermit or an isolationist. He choose to live in Big Sur on a large 100 acre+ ranch after living in the big city of LA for many years. It takes two hours of driving on a winding, mountain road along the Pacific Ocean in some of the most beautiful scenery in the world to get to Alan's house. There is no other way into his property. Big Sur is an isolated little community. Some big-name rock stars do live up there and see Alan once in a while. Alan also has his Red Barn studio there with (mostly) Jazz musicians recording on the weekends. He also has music jam parties now and then. Alan and his wife Maryann take care of his ranch, seven horses, five dogs, chickens, a cow, and his children of two grown men and two growing boys now in high school. Keeping up with constant growth of plantings on his ranch is a full-time job. Alan has ranchmen but likes to do some of the feeding himself. He gets up to Monterrey and Carmel about twice a week. I have gone to concerts with him there so I know he is in the local music mix. Now he's out with Brian. Hardly a recluse. ~swd

RED BARN STUDIOS (photos show inside the studio and around his ranch with view of main house. His property extends to the Pacific Ocean beach shown.) >>> [ http://www.redbarnstudios.com/ ]

BIG SUR (Take your pick) >>> [ http://images.google.com/images?hl=en&q=Big+Sur%2C+CA&btnG=Search+Images&gbv=2 ]

CALLING MARK H.

Do you remember posting a photo of what you believed to be the mixing board at Brian's home studio?
I responded that I thought it was over at Western Studios due to the tape machines in the background.

Could you re-post that photo or tell me where it may be posted on the Web, Please.

I wish to use your original question in my book, but need the photo for the question to make sense.

Thanks much. ~swd

Quote from: Joe- on May 09, 2007, 08:52:00 AM

Mr. Desper,

It just hit me that I read about you working on Keepin the Summer Alive. What was your role on that project? What tracks did you record? Did you work with Dennis on other songs during that time period as well? How was working with the Beach Boys during this album different from the late 60's early 70s?

I hope all is well with you.
-Joe

COMMENT TO JOE: Joe I've commented on all this before and the information is readily available off the album. I was the chief engineer and mixer. I recorded all tracks. Dennis visited the studio once, otherwise stayed on his boat. That was the start of his decline. Difference was the studio, of course, many more tracks -- 48 up from 16 -- with more things in the matrix, an automated board, Bruce as producer -- more ridged style, not living at the studio but driving there every day, not all the guys were there at the same time, lots more stacking, the use of more studio musicians, too many visitors in the control room all the time, made it noisy -- it was a very large room while at house studio only one or two visitors could even get in, more outboard equipment to use. I would say, overall not as creative an environment as the house, also not as fun -- more like work. ~swd