Big Shot Chronicles 1

Date: Sat, 22 Mar 2003 21:01:50 -0800 (PST)
From: Gil Ray Subject: [loud-fans] Mr. Big Shot...who do you think you are?

Howdy gang, time for a look back at The Big Shot Chronicles. My goodness, it was recorded in 1985, so we're looking back 18 years here. Lordy.
This is my favorite Game Theory record. It's bright, zippy, poppy and I think Scott's writing was progressing in leaps and bounds. Come to think of it, I think that happens with each of his records. Real Nighttime really set the mold for his sound, and BSC saw it all become much more solid.
There was some very stormy stuff was going on in my personal life during the recording of this record, and I think I'm going to let you all in on some of it, for reasons I'm not too sure about. It probably falls into the category of TMI (too much information), but heck, political views notwithstanding, I think we're all friends here. ;)
GT was on tour in '85 and in the middle of the tour, we stopped in N.C. to record this record with Mitch. It was the first national tour for Shelley, Suzi and I, and it just happened to be Shelley and Suzi's first real band! Right before we got to N.C., my marriage came undone. My fault. I was bad. And it all sucked like nothing had sucked before. As a matter of fact, the very morning it blew apart, the band was staying in the 'burbs of Chicago AT MY WIFE'S GRANDMOTHER'S HOUSE! That was a breakfast for the ages.
Anyway, the show must go on and we trekked on down to Mitch's. We rather quickly recorded the basic tracks, and I had a few days window to fly back to California (remember People's Airline?) and officially make more bad decisions, thus ending the marriage. I flew back to N.C. in time for vocals and overdubs and stuff, and then we went back on the road to finish the tour. I think my hair officially began to retreat as a result of all this....
As it all turns out, my ex and I are pretty good friend now. We have both remarried to wonderfully great people, and it's all good. Real good, actually!
I guess the point of me mentioning all of this is the irony of the albums sound, and the emotional storm I was going through. I love irony as a concept, but I hate it when it applies to me.
Anyway, as I said, it's all good now!

Here It Is Tomorrow - What's that!? Another great opening song?! I think so! Oh my god, you can really hear the backing vocals here. (It's amazing to me how much Shelley's voice is similar to Nancy Becker's) Shelley, Suzi and I are chirping in there like birds. Very solid rhythm track, effective drum processing sound, and a damn crisp performance. I love the line "kicking off my shoes at the moon". Scott does a great guitar solo in the middle.

Where You Going Northern - This is a very beautiful song. Wistful and melancholy. It makes me think of fall. Some funny time signature stuff going on in the verses. Great slide guitar by Blind Lemon Scott Miller. Shelley's laying down a great keyboard background to this. Scott hits some very, very high notes. Cool, subtle backslap delay on the drums.

I've Tried Subtlety - Ripping guitar start off! The drums are processed a bit too much for my taste, but I got revenge on Make Any Vows. This song is just strong as hell. All the way down the line. Great keyboards, and Suzi is just solid as a rock. We made a pretty goofy video of this one with Fred Juhos, that quickly turned into something we would only show to good friends. Shelley had a great gift of distorting her face into something...not of this earth.

Erica's Word - We made a real video of this one that turned out really great. It was odd though, that Gui and Donnette were in the band at that time and had to pretend they were playing other people's parts. That was ok though, cause we all felt like rock stars. Another signature Scott progression. Great chorus with mighty guitars and keyboards getting real sonic. More drum sound processing that I wasn't too thrilled with, but as I said, Make Any Vows is coming up! Could this be the only Scott song with hand claps up to this point? Great words, too.

Make Any Vows - Now this is what a drum kit should sound like! My very favorite drum sound ever! When Scott left to mix the record, the only suggestion I felt strongly about was to make the drums CRACK! He did. One of my fave performances, too. This kicks big ass. The chorus is awesome and powerful. Great guitar effect when he sings "you'll hear it buckle". Damn! that snare drum is ROCKING!

Regenisraen - No drums, but I do get to play guitar on this! I'm the guitar-picker in the left channel. I dragged my guitar all through the tour for this one part. It was a blast sitting next to Scott doing this. We were on stools and I felt like Simon and Garfunkel (or something.) Maybe the most beautiful song on the planet. Wonderful chorus. I remember not hitting some of the vocal parts too well, so Scott helped out by doubling some of them and sweetening them quite a bit in the mixing process.

See you on side 2, soon!
Gil