Watsonville

The Great Home Recording Process continues. This week, song 6: "Watsonville."

This means Plotnik has got to play accordion, and play it right. One five minute accordion track will have him busy for several days.

He has been able to narrow down what in the world he is trying to accomplish -- and producing records isn't it. It's about songs. As each song is recorded, he learns more about his system and discovers that the first ones maybe didn't work so well, usually for the same reason: overproduction. Although this will be song 6, Plot has actually recorded 9. So far, "Our Love Will Last 100 Years," "Who Will Be Our Mandela?" and "Culiacan" need reworking.

"American Joe," "Temptation," "Starry Eyed Traveler" and "Bumby Umby Baby" are done and "So Long, Foghead" appears to be.

It's back to a single piano, or guitar, or accordion, or ukelele. Play it not once correctly, but twice, for thicker sound. Then sing the lead vocal, and when it's pretty close to finished, add the principal background vocals and then the zillion other background vocals. Once these bkg vocals are done, it's easier to hear where the lead vocal needs to adapt. Go back and re-record the lead, if necessary.

Is there an obvious hole? Don't cover it up with crap. Just live with it. Put it away and move down the list. Next song, please.

"London, Paris, Watsonville
Two great cities but one greater still
When the girls say they won't but you know that they will
You're back home in Watsonville."