Grey's Recording Journal

Grey Havens Studio

Sat, 17 Nov 2007 02:49:57 GMT

The latest on the production of the Grey Havens Studios is that we are 4-5 months from completion however Grey is continuing on the new Grey CD entitled "Ice World" . There will be pictures of the new facility soon.

Grey sampler available on amiestreet.

Sun, 26 Aug 2007 22:15:50 GMT

An acoustic history unfolds - Acoustic Grey is complete.

Wed, 18 Jul 2007 18:42:33 GMT

An acoustic history unfolds - Acoustic Grey is complete.

(San Rafael, CA - July 19, 2007) Post-production is now complete on the Screaming Butterfly Productions music video project Acoustic Grey, an acoustic history of an indie artist.

On November 8th, 2006 Grey, Jason Harbour, and Mikey Harbour assembled in a dimly lit room at Db Studios in Enid, OK to record an acoustic history of Grey, an indie rock artist whose 2002 music video collection won Best Music Video at the 2003 Bare Bones Film Festival. In the next four hours, they would record 15 songs. "The songs range from me playing and singing on my own to just Jason and I playing together, to Jason, Mikey, and I playing together, "says Grey.

The songs featured in Acoustic Grey span from the early years of Faded Colours to Words & Music, Grey's 2006 release, described as a mix of "gospel backings, lush arrangements with an all American sound," by P.D. Stanley of the UK indie magazine, The Plastic Ashtray.

D. Lang (Editor, Liquid Wind, The Hebrew Project) took the 1,500 mile journey from San Francisco to Enid to document the occasion in a 72 minute film for Screaming Butterfly Productions."The idea was to create a video that would show my songs in their infant stages," says Grey.

Grey teamed up with Dave Skinner, of the group 3 Legged Monkey, to record, mix, and master the music at Db Studios. Lang, who has previously featured the musician in her projects, spent the next several months perfecting the videos, and releasing individual videos to youtube.com, the most popular of which is "Story Book Love," from Grey's 2000 release, Colours. The video project also features audio commentary by Grey, explaining the history behind the featured songs. The audio commentary was recorded at Grey Havens Studios.

"In the end we were left with 15 songs that went well and represented a 20 year period of songwriting," said Grey.

All videos are currently available on youtube.com. The project is expected to hit the festival circuit in 2008.

Listen to Grey explaining how the project itself came about:
http://www.archive.org/details/GreyIntroductiontoAcousticGrey/

View the videos on youtube:
http://www.youtube.com/view_play_list?p=F47CDA3606E81DCA

Find out more about Grey:
http://greycolours.hypermart.net

View other projects by D. Lang:
http://www.youtube.com/dinahlang

(Text may be reprinted without permission.)

New Grey CD entitled "Ice World"

Mon, 16 Jul 2007 04:02:52 GMT

Hello again to all following Grey and his works. I have moved homes and am readying to build my own commercial studio. Grey Havens was my own private place but I am now wanting to venture into doing it for others as well as myself. Lately the videos have been completed by Wappy from the Nov 2006 sessions held at Dave Skinner's studio. Dave is one of the Three Legged Monkey group which is more than worth a listen but a CD purchase. You can't go wrong with TLM. The Grey session on video will soon be available to all as a DVD purchase on the main site. Currently I am laying down the rest of the bass tracks for the new CD. I will then begin the guitar tracks. Stay tuned for more info concerning the new studio, new CD and new DVD. Grey says, "No more war". Grey out.

The acoustic video project so far.

Tue, 03 Apr 2007 20:40:35 GMT

New Grey CD(yet untitled) and drum parts

Tue, 19 Dec 2006 03:16:31 GMT

Drum parts for the my new CD are beginning. Patrick Costello joined myself and Dave Skinner on 11 Dec 06 to record 4 of 6 songs for which he is doing the drums for and Mikey Harbour on 12 Dec 06 recorded 4 songs. There is one more song that Dave will be laying in percussion for at a later time. Also Patrick will return in Jan 07 to record 2 more songs for. As of now there are 11 songs slated for the new CD but there may be a few more added. I am really excited about the parts we've laid down so far.

Grey, 18 Dec 06

Acoustic Grey Mixed and Mastered

Sat, 02 Dec 2006 05:04:37 GMT

The audio of the recently recorded and filmed project "Acoustic Grey" has been mixed and mastered. Dave Skinner and myself got together to discuss and go over the mixing of the project and I finished the mastering in a two-day span. The audio will now be sent to Wappy in San Francisco to be added to the video coverage she made on 8 Nov 06. I have also recorded in my studio a commentary track to go with each song. It is basically an oral history of each song featured on the CD/DVD. It is still uncertain whether a CD or DVD will result from this but it is certain that videos of all or most of the 15 songs will make it to the website for visual consumption. Stay tuned for more. Keep watching and listening. Thanks, Grey.

Acoustic Grey

Sun, 12 Nov 2006 04:09:12 GMT

Acoustic Grey

On the evening of the 8th of November 2006 Grey(myself), Mikey Harbour, Jason Harbour, Wappy, and Dave Skinner all assembled at Dave’s studio to film and record 19 songs. We only managed 15 but that was just as well given the 4 hour time frame we had. The songs range from me playing and singing on my own to, me and Jason playing together, to me and Jason and Mikey playing together. The idea was to create a video that would show my songs in their infant stages. The idea was to make something that could then be turned into a CD and a DVD and something that could be shown online. There were many problems that one will never hear or see. We forgot to bring lighting. Not good for a video. We found lighting after about 30 minutes. We dealt with the heat of the lighting and the strain it puts on one as you play your heart out. We dealt with the “Ventura” 12 string guitar Jason played. It played okay but struggled to keep up with the Taylor that Dave had loaned me. And to top it all off I couldn’t seem to get “Empty Souls” together lyrically and guitar-wise. We finally got a version that is alright but still not the best. Oh woe is me and such is trying to do a live performance sometimes. ! In the end we were left with 15 songs that went well and represented a 20 year period of songwriting. This compilation will reach the stores and the internet hopefully before Christmas. Many thanks to all involved.

Grey

Words and Music CD finished !

Fri, 28 Jul 2006 18:49:09 GMT

W&M CD finished 27 July 06 exactly two years to the month after it was started. It has been a long two years but I have gotten everything to the way I wanted it. I hope to have the CD for sale within the next two weeks. Fans can of course email and reserve a copy. I will be releasing a limited number of CD's this time around. I hope you will all enjoy it. Grey.

Mixing

Wed, 12 Jul 2006 04:09:41 GMT

Mixing has finished except for one song. Dave Skinner and I are working on what we want to hear for the beginning of the song. It is a hard leaf/rain/priest sound at the beginning we are working on. I hope to be finished by the end of July and make this whole project a truly 2 year event. Thanks for listening. More later, Grey.

Vocals Finished & Mixing

Tue, 20 Jun 2006 23:29:58 GMT

Vocals are finished on the Words and Music project. Kelsey Stark has worked on three songs. She brings an excellently trained voice into the project with the background vocal parts she has added. The mixing will also begin today and hopefully by July we will see a finished project. One must remember that this album started two years ago in July so it is about time.

Grey

W&M Vocals Finished

Mon, 12 Jun 2006 04:25:41 GMT

Vocals for the Words and Music project are finished and next week Dave Skinner and I will begin the task of mixing and then mastering of this project. Hopefully by the end of June or beginning of July 2006 this project will be finally finished. Grey

3 Vocal Tracks Finished

Wed, 31 May 2006 01:30:49 GMT

Today 3 vocal tracks for "Words and Music" were completed at Skinner Audio with Dave Skinner. He is engineering so I don't have to do it here at my studio on my own. I want to concentrate on the vocal and not the two tasks at once.More to be done tomorrow there also.

Vocals and on to mixing !

Fri, 19 May 2006 02:40:25 GMT

"Words and Music" will soon be finished, well by the end of June 2006. I will be laying down the vocals soon and then on to the mixing and mastering. I will be going to Dave Skinner's studio here in Enid to do that. Dave is also helping me to then mix and master this CD. While I like the idea of being able to do it all by myself I cannot without losing focus at some point I believe. One gets to the point of not being able to be objective about the songs one has written and recorded. So in comes Dave to help. In other news the cover art is now in the hands of Wappy. I passed on to her what I'd like to see and she takes it from there. She always surprises me and comes up with more than I imagined so I am very excited about that being finished soon, certainly before the CD is finished. Grey

K-Pak Radio The Rock 97.5

Tue, 11 Apr 2006 23:53:53 GMT

I had a great time performing with Jason Harbour and doing the interview with Clint and Will at "The Rock" 97.5 Alva/Kiowa classic rock radio station. We played several songs from Anamnesis and Rock and Pop. I will hopefully get the performances and interview up on the website soon, so stay tuned. I will return when the "Words and Music" CD is released to have some more fun ! Thanks K-PAK, Grey.

K-PAK 97.5 Welcomes Grey

Sat, 25 Mar 2006 03:31:15 GMT

Hey Grey fans, 97.5 Classic Rock in Alva,Oklahoma is going to welcome Grey and Jason & Mikey Harbour to its'studios on 7 April 2006. "The DJ Clint Claypool is the man", says Grey. As usual Grey welcomes the opportunity and thanks the radio station that welcomes him and his music. Jason Harbour and Mikey Harbour will be along and new songs and old songs will be played and heard on this evening. Again 97.5 RULES !!!

Grey in 2006

Sat, 07 Jan 2006 05:12:22 GMT

The New Year begins with Grey recording a project for Kevin Bunch. Grey also has a few other groups and individuals interested in coming in to record at the Grey Havens studio. Grey is hoping to move into the commercial realm with his studio in this year. He wants to buy a few more pieces yet before he makes that move. The Words and Music project will start up again this month. Grey will begin recording the final tracks and he plans on taking several months then to tweak and mix the tracks. More time than has previously been spent on Grey projects. Wappy, the web genius and video extrordinaress, has moved to the San Francisco area but will still be involved with all things Grey. Stay tuned for more about Grey and his music.

Grey's Christmas Memories

Wed, 23 Nov 2005 05:03:39 GMT

A two month break in the "Words and Music" recording has occured so that Grey could record an eight-song all-instrumental, but for one song, Christmas CD. He had again Steve Harwood on the piano and Mikey Harbour on the drums,synths and vocals and Grey played the bass, did synths and vocals.

Grey states:
"It has been alot of fun to work on the Christmas songs and I also wanted to take a break from the W&M CD. I wanted to "not" hear the songs for a bit of time; 2 months as it turns out. I wanted to be able to re-group my thoughts and get a new perspective on the songs. I feel I can now come back to them fresh with ideas and am ready to finish what has been a longer process than any of my other projects."

He hopes to finish W&M by the end of May 2006. Stay tuned.

W&M Continues to evolve.

Wed, 21 Sep 2005 21:17:05 GMT

Jason Harbour will be laying down a guitar solo track on one of the songs. Grey will lay down some electric 12 string parts this month and synth parts continue to be added. A projection of the release may now be early 2006. Grey wants to take more time in his laying out of these songs. "Time is not so critical as it used to be so why not take the time to really hear it all and maybe try a few more parts. If I keep them great and if not, no loss, at least I tried them." he states.

W&M Bass Guitar Recording Completed

Mon, 25 Jul 2005 22:52:10 GMT

The recordings continue and as of today all of the bass parts are finished and a number of the rhythm tracks(about a fourth) are completed also. These include piano, electric piano, organ and 6 and 12 string acoustic guitar. Grey has recently added a new item to the studio. He is now using a Massenberg EQ plug-in for the Roland 2480 studio. The results have been a better EQ than the 2480 with more possibilities than the on-board EQ's also.

Jerry Patterson 1949 - 2005

Thu, 14 Jul 2005 18:47:43 GMT

Pictured: Jason Harbour, Grey, Mikey Harbour, and Jerry Patterson at Champagne Studios.

In the winter of 2001/2002 Grey, Jason Harbour, Mikey Harbour, Steve Harwood, and Jerry Patterson came together at his Champagne Studios for over 60 hours to create Rock & Pop. Jerry was a vital part of the first recording of the Rock & Pop album. He contributed his guidance, engineering and producing skills, and background vocals to the Rock & Pop project. Jerry also allowed Wappy to film over 50 hours of the recording process, and worked closely with her to ensure good audio for a documentary series called Grey: The Rock & Pop Sessions, several episodes of which later went on to win awards.

Jerry died on Tuesday of cancer. He will be greatly missed by all of us.

Obituary from the Enid News & Eagle:
JERRY M. PATTERSON

The funeral for Jerry M. Patterson, 55, of Enid will be 2 p.m. Friday at Emmanuel Baptist Church. The Rev. Wade Burleson will officiate. Burial will be in Enid Cemetery. Arrangements are by Henninger-Allen Funeral Home.

He was born Nov. 21, 1949, in Willmar, Minn., to Elmer D. and Lillian “Jeanette” Welch Patterson and died Tuesday, July 12, 2005, at St. Mary’s Regional Medical Center.

He attended local schools in Willmar and upon graduation enlisted in the Army, serving in Vietnam. After returning home he began a music career. He was a singer and drummer and played all across the country with his band, Austin County Line. The band played with such notables as Travis Tritt, Johnny Rodriguez, B.B. King and Ernest Tubb.. In 1990 he founded Champagne Recording Studio in Enid. That same year he also began Patterson’s Pest Control. On Oct. 2, 1982, he married Karri Lane James in Enid. He was a past president of Enid Home Builders’ Association. He was a member of Emmanuel Baptist Church.

Surviving are his son, Ronald G. Patterson of Bastrop, Texas; four daughters, Christina, Brooke, Kandra and Luda, all of Enid; his parents, Elmer and Jeanette Patterson of Willmar; one brother Richard Patterson of Minnesota; and five grandchildren.
http://www.enidnews.com/story.asp?story_id=87456

Faded Colours I and II for sale today.

Tue, 28 Jun 2005 15:29:28 GMT

F.C. I & II is now at Hastings in Enid and will soon be available on-line. Be the first on your block to have this 2CD collection of Grey songs !!

Words and Music Begins !

Tue, 28 Jun 2005 04:24:01 GMT

The newest Grey CD, entitled Words and Music, began this last week of June 2005. The drums were actually recorded last July and August (2004)at Dave Skinners' Db Studios here in Enid. Patrick Costello laid down the drums for this CD. Grey is using again Steve Harwood for the piano and organ parts. Grey will also begin laying down bass guitar tracks himself this week. No time-table for this project but the hope is that by Christmas we will have yet another Grey CD. Look for the next message to be about the release into the stores of Faded Colours I and II. It is currently being manufactured.

Faded Colours I and II Mixed and Mastered

Wed, 15 Jun 2005 14:10:12 GMT

It took 10 months(Aug-2004/Jun-2005)but the two projects are finally finished and currently being readied for sale. They should be available by the end of June. They are the first two projects to be completely done from beginning to end at Grey's Grey Havens Studio. Grey thanks Mikey Harbour for his performance parts on the two projects and Jason Harbour for his help in recording Grey do some guitar tracks and performing a guitar solo on one song. Dave Skinner is also thanked for helping Grey in the mixing and mastering guidance he gave. It is a big area that Grey is and will probably always be learning about as they are two areas that are so subjective. Stay tuned as Grey begins work on the next project, "Words and Music" !

Ready for Mix Down

Mon, 02 May 2005 23:39:19 GMT

Faded Colours I and II are now ready for mixdown. All tracks have now been completed and edited. Grey will now go through and set up the effects to be added and ready them for the mixdown. The end of May is still the deadline but as with every project Grey isn't going to sacrifice quality for a deadline. Stay tuned for more info and please tell your friends to listen to Grey and other independent artists.