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Tuesday Night Recording Sessions

(Playlist and session notes below)

I'm trying to strip away some "Pro Tools" from the recording studio. Meaning, digital recording is amazing...but it has some downsides. Decisions get deferred, because they can be. Songs take forever...because they can. Options are endless, which is overwhelming. But maybe the worst part is knowing you can fix it later. The minute there's no pressure, the fire is gone. That's why the energy of live performance is often missing from recordings.

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At Tuesday Night Recording Sessions, a Cast of Characters arrives not knowing what songs they will play or often even who they will be playing with. We "finish what we start" in a single three hour session. Think of it like 1964 era Beatles recordings. The song might be finished in one live take ("Kansas City"), or it might get vocals and a few other instruments overdubbed onto it after the basic track ("A Hard Day's Night").  If there are any overdubs, they’ll be described in the session notes.

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We’re getting back to the excitement of an earlier studio time, through self-imposed time limits and other limitations. For instance, guitar players don’t bring their own amps, but choose from those available at the studio. Keyboard players have to use the in-house keyboard. Drummers use the in-house drums. There are two reasons for these limitations- one is to save time. Everything is mic'd up and ready to go. You can be recording your first song within 15 minutes of arriving. The second reason is because something interesting happens when we get out of our comfort zones- if a different amplifier or instrument makes you approach your playing differently, that creates something totally unique to the session and the song, and I think it adds immediacy and excitement. 


The rough mixes below are presented in the order they were recorded; most songs are the second or third take.

Tuesday Night Records

We're removing modern inconveniences from the recording studio.

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April 12th, 2022

Jim Armenti (guitar, vocals). 

James Robinson (guitar, vocals) 

Tom Mahnken (bass, vocals) 

JJ O'Connell (drums)

Dave Brinnel (piano)

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You Don't Know My Mind (Doc Watson)

Such a Night (Dr. John)

Dancing with the Stars (James Robinson)

May 3rd, 2022

Joe Fitzpatrick (drums)

Peter Jones (piano)

Paul Kochanski (bass)

Joe Boyle (guitar) 

Tom Mahnken (acoustic guitar, vocals)

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Twisty (Peter Jones)

All Around You (Jim Armenti)

Camel Strut (Peter Jones)

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May 10th, 2022

James Robinson (guitar, vocals)

Roland Lapierre (guitar, vocals)

Charlie Conant (dobro, guitar, vocals)

Lincoln Hubley (drums)

Mark Gionfrido (piano)

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When I Get Drunk (Roland Lapierre)

I Am What I Do (Charlie Conant)

Wayfaring Stranger (traditional)

May 24th, 2022

Klondike Koehler (bass)

James Robinson (guitar, vocals)

Jared Quinn (guitar)

Dave Brinnel (piano, vocals)

Doug Plavin (drums)

Tom Mahnken (sax, vocals)

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Born to Lose (Ted Daffin)

You'll Get Over Me (Tom Mahnken)

The Price of Love (James Robinson)

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May 31st, 2022

Ray Mason (bass, guitar, vocals)

Steve Westfield (guitar, vocals)

James Robinson (guitar, vocals)

Brian Marchese (drums, vocals)

Tom Mahnken (organ)

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Kleptomaniac (Steve Westfield, et al)

April Coldsnap (Brian Marchese)

Highest Tree (Ray Mason)

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Background vocals for Kleptomaniac were overdubbed, as were lead and background vocals for the other two songs. Ray played "Highest Tree" on guitar with the rest of the band, and then added bass....in one perfect take.

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June 7th, 2022

James Robinson (guitar, vocals) 

Tom Mahnken (guitar, vocals) 

JJ O'Connell (drums)

Paul Kochanski (bass, vocals)

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I've Just Destroyed the World (Willie Nelson)

My TV is Broke (James Robinson)

Please Don't Tell Me More (Paul Cebar) not yet mixed

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June 28th, 2022

Band Coached by Jim Armenti:

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Tell Mama

The Weight

Who Do You Love Takes 1&2

July 12th, 2022

Joe Fitzpatrick (drums)

Peter Jones (piano)

Michael Stutz (guitar) 

Tom Mahnken (bass)

Jared Quinn (guitar)

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The Leaving (Michael Stutz)

Tabernacle (Peter Jones)

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July 19th, 2022

James Robinson (guitar)

Jim Armenti (guitar, mandolin, vocals)

Dave Brinnel (piano, vocals)

Tom Mahnken (bass)

J.J. O'Connell (drums)

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Kolomeike (trad)

Honey Baby Blues 

When I'm Drinking

July 26th, 2022

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James Robinson (guitar)

Mike Flood (guitar, vocals)

J.J. O'Connell (drums)

Tom Mahnken (bass)

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Slippin' Away (Keith Richards)

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August 9th, 2022

Dave Brinnel (piano, vocals)

Joe Fitzpatrick (drums)

Ray Chaput (guitar)

Tom Mahnken (bass)

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Poor Mr. Staples (Dave Brinnel)

I Guess I'll Just Get Drunk Again Tonight (Dave Brinnel)

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October 11th, 2022

Trailer Park:

James Robinson (guitar)

Joe Fitzpatrick (drums)

Greg Lauzon (shaker)

Rick Page (piano, vocals)

Tom Mahnken (bass)

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Please Don't Leave Me (Fats Domino)

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November 1st, 2022

Joe Boyle (guitar)

James Robinson (guitar, vocals)

J.J. O'Connell (drums)

Dave Hayes (bass)

Tom Mahnken (vocals)

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Produce Man (Robinson)

That's How Things Burn (Mahnken)

Price of Love (Robinson)

November 8th, 2022

J.J. O'Connell (drums)

Ben Hamel (piano, vocals)

Jared Quinn (guitar) 

Tom Mahnken (bass, vocals)

James Robinson (guitar, vocals)

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Dock of the Bay (Otis Redding)

Cookie Jar (Tom Mahnken)

Regret it (Tom Mahnken)

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November 22nd, 2022

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Trailer Park:

James Robinson (guitar)

Greg Lauzon (sax)

Rick Page (sax)

Joe Fitzpatrick (drums)

Tom Mahnken (bass)

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Come On (Chuck Berry)

Good As I Am (Tom Mahnken)

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December 6th, 2022

Mike Flood (guitar)

Ernie Wilson (bass)

Thane Thompson (guitar)

Jason Smith (drums)

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Wrong Feeling (Thane Thompson)

Vast Tangled Cliche (Mike Flood)

Sideswipers (Mike Flood)

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January 17th, 2023

Sweet Ella:

Mary Witt (bass, vocals)

Anne Percival (guitar, vocals, snare drum, uke)

Annie Patterson (guitar, vocals, snare drum, banjo)

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See See Rider (trad)

Dear Ella (Mary Witt)

The Book of Love (Stephin Merrit)

We're removing modern inconveniences from the recording studio.

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January 24th, 2023

Luc Remillard (guitar. vocals)

Ben LaCroix (drums)

Ben Hamel (keys, vocals)

Tom Mahnken (bass)

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Fall Back In (Ben Hamel)

February 7th, 2023

Dom McAulay (drums)

Paul Kochanski (bass, vocals)

Jared Quinn (guitar) 

Jim Armenti (guitar, vocals)

Andy Soles (harmonica)

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She Untied the Knot (Jim Armenti)

Hank (Mark Sandman)

Deep Elem Blues (trad)

I Know You Rider (trad)

You Don't Miss Your Water (William Bell)

Sunny Blue (Andy Soles)

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2023

Coming soon.

2023

Coming soon.

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2023

Coming soon.

©2021 by Tom Mahnken Recording.

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