Amongst the reels of tape that were digitally restored, we recovered three pieces of electronic rock. I wrote and recorded all three in the Electronic Music Lab at the University of Calgary. Each instrumental part was recorded one track at a time, built layer upon layer until I ran out of tracks.
"What?" is a solo instrumental piece of electronic rock. The studio Moog was monophonic, meaning it could only play one note at a time. It took forever, but I had fun!
"You and I" features Pat Tufts doing vocals with me. "Look Around" is my call for positive action in the world.
If you enjoyed electronic rock in the late seventies, you might enjoy a blast from the past with these!
This link might take you there:
https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/geoffrey-bell-archive-electronic/id908855481?uo=4
Otherwise, search iTunes for Geoffrey Bell, then click "Geoffrey Bell Archive: Electronic Songs - 1978".
Happy listening!
Wednesday, August 13, 2014
Sunday, July 13, 2014
Recordings Found
In March I wrote about recordings that are most likely lost for good. I know they existed at one time, but it's unlikely I'll ever hear them again.
Happily, I have been able to recover some other old recordings of mine that were on reel-to-reel tape. Thanks to the kindness and hard work of Keith Smith and Rob Bartlett, I have recovered a number of recordings that go back as far as 1975. Through their combined magic, the music can be heard again.
I will be gradually releasing tracks as I work through them. The first collection is ready today!
I was 18 years old when I recorded four songs for piano and flute at Sound West Recording Studio in Calgary. I recorded each piano track first, then improvised flute tracks over three of them. These pieces are being released on an EP this week on iTunes, Amazon & Google Play. Just search for Geoffrey Bell. The EP is called Geoffrey Bell Archive: Piano & Flute.
I have also put together a slideshow on YouTube using one of the tracks. Happy listening!
http://youtu.be/rVdjm6mUWa4
Happily, I have been able to recover some other old recordings of mine that were on reel-to-reel tape. Thanks to the kindness and hard work of Keith Smith and Rob Bartlett, I have recovered a number of recordings that go back as far as 1975. Through their combined magic, the music can be heard again.
I will be gradually releasing tracks as I work through them. The first collection is ready today!
I was 18 years old when I recorded four songs for piano and flute at Sound West Recording Studio in Calgary. I recorded each piano track first, then improvised flute tracks over three of them. These pieces are being released on an EP this week on iTunes, Amazon & Google Play. Just search for Geoffrey Bell. The EP is called Geoffrey Bell Archive: Piano & Flute.
I have also put together a slideshow on YouTube using one of the tracks. Happy listening!
http://youtu.be/rVdjm6mUWa4
Tuesday, March 25, 2014
Lost Recordings
As I rummage through my collection of songs I have written and recorded over the years, I have started to think about recordings once made, now lost. I know that most of these recordings are long-gone, never to be heard again. Some part of me wishes I could travel back in time to get one copy of each, just so I could listen to them again.
"Bed" performing on Sun Tree Stage - Calgary Stampede - July 10, 1974
In 1974 I was playing keyboards in a rock group called "Bed". We covered songs by Led Zepplin, Jethro Tull and the Allman Brothers, and created new interpretations of blues standards, such as "Stormy Monday".
Eugene Chadbourne, the music critic for the Calgary Herald, wrote about the performance:
"Bed plays rock and roll, and it tries to play the music as hard and as energetically as possible."
"The members of this group were all much younger than the average band featured so far at Sun Tree."
"...the group's Sun Tree performance revealed seeds of the kind of potential Calgary's music scene needs badly. These guys should keep playing."
From the stage, I could see the technicians in the sound booth, and a reel-to-reel tape recorder recording our show. We were never offered a copy. It sure would be fun to hear that recording now!
"Lassiter's Third Herd" - studio recording of five blues standards - Ida Banks' studio in Edmonton, 1976
In the summer of 1976 I played keyboards for Art Lassiter's blues band. We recorded five blues standards. The band was tight, and we played well. Money was tight, and I didn't pay for a copy of the recording. I wish I could hear it again.
"A Certain Kind" - 30 min. TV special - April 9, 1976
In 1976 I also played keyboards in a Calgary Jazz/Rock trio. We were invited to record a 1/2 hour TV special in the SAIT television studio, and the production won the 1976 SAIT Television Production Award. It was broadcast on Friday, April 9th. Sadly, this was before people owned VCRs. We have other studio recordings, but chances are that a recording of the TV special no longer exists.
Where does that leave me? Looking at a box of reel-to-reel recordings, wondering if I can find anyone with a good-quality reel-to-reel tape recorder in good condition. Amongst these, there is my first professional studio recording of flute and piano music I recorded when I was 17. I'd like to hear it again, and share it with sympathetic ears.
There is more music to be heard in my archives. And there is so much more new music waiting to be recorded!
"Bed" performing on Sun Tree Stage - Calgary Stampede - July 10, 1974
In 1974 I was playing keyboards in a rock group called "Bed". We covered songs by Led Zepplin, Jethro Tull and the Allman Brothers, and created new interpretations of blues standards, such as "Stormy Monday".
Eugene Chadbourne, the music critic for the Calgary Herald, wrote about the performance:
"Bed plays rock and roll, and it tries to play the music as hard and as energetically as possible."
"The members of this group were all much younger than the average band featured so far at Sun Tree."
"...the group's Sun Tree performance revealed seeds of the kind of potential Calgary's music scene needs badly. These guys should keep playing."
From the stage, I could see the technicians in the sound booth, and a reel-to-reel tape recorder recording our show. We were never offered a copy. It sure would be fun to hear that recording now!
"Lassiter's Third Herd" - studio recording of five blues standards - Ida Banks' studio in Edmonton, 1976
In the summer of 1976 I played keyboards for Art Lassiter's blues band. We recorded five blues standards. The band was tight, and we played well. Money was tight, and I didn't pay for a copy of the recording. I wish I could hear it again.
"A Certain Kind" - 30 min. TV special - April 9, 1976
In 1976 I also played keyboards in a Calgary Jazz/Rock trio. We were invited to record a 1/2 hour TV special in the SAIT television studio, and the production won the 1976 SAIT Television Production Award. It was broadcast on Friday, April 9th. Sadly, this was before people owned VCRs. We have other studio recordings, but chances are that a recording of the TV special no longer exists.
Where does that leave me? Looking at a box of reel-to-reel recordings, wondering if I can find anyone with a good-quality reel-to-reel tape recorder in good condition. Amongst these, there is my first professional studio recording of flute and piano music I recorded when I was 17. I'd like to hear it again, and share it with sympathetic ears.
There is more music to be heard in my archives. And there is so much more new music waiting to be recorded!
Performing at Calgary Stampede, age 17
Saturday, March 1, 2014
Now available on iTunes, Amazon, Deezer, Spotify, GooglePlay, etc.
It's finally happened! A selection of my songs are now available on iTunes, Amazon, Deezer, Spotify, GooglePlay, etc.
Unfortunately, there's already an established Geoff Bell out there writing electronic synth/rock.
So, do a search for Geoffrey Bell and you'll find me. More music is on the way!
Unfortunately, there's already an established Geoff Bell out there writing electronic synth/rock.
So, do a search for Geoffrey Bell and you'll find me. More music is on the way!
Saturday, January 11, 2014
Promoting vs. Writing
Every hour I spend posting online, adding links, connecting sites is an hour I am not creating music. On the flip side, if a songwriter writes songs in isolation and no-one ever hears them, do they exist beyond the room in which they are being played?
My life is a juggling act. If posts are sporadic, I hope it means I am writing.
I'll let you know when new songs are ready to be heard.
In the meantime, please visit my Bandcamp page and SoundCloud page to hear what I've posted online.
Happy listening,
Geoff
My life is a juggling act. If posts are sporadic, I hope it means I am writing.
I'll let you know when new songs are ready to be heard.
In the meantime, please visit my Bandcamp page and SoundCloud page to hear what I've posted online.
Happy listening,
Geoff
Saturday, December 8, 2012
Creating a New Music Genre
I've been searching for some time to find a descriptive label for the music I write. Many songwriter-promoting websites ask me to pigeon-hole my style of music, or identify which well-known music it sounds like. This doesn't sit well with me. I enjoy exploring a wide variety of genres and coming up with my own, unique sound. My music sounds like me. (Scattered, all over the place, sometimes shallow, sometimes deep.)
I've been toying with a variety of labels. Today I thought of Contemporary Romantic Adult Pop, but had to abandon that when I realized the acronym was CRAP!
;-)
Therefore, I am back at the beginning of my quest to answer those eternal questions:
"Who or what am I?" and "What am I doing here?"
If anyone out there knows, please feel free to share that information. And if you have a genre label that you think fits, I'd be happy to give it a try. I'm pretty sure it will include the word, 'alternative', but I'm not sure of much else.
THIS WEEK'S NEWS:
1. I've been invited to attend a concert that will include one of my songs, which will be recorded live.
2. I've been contacted by one of my music publishers, asking me to provide recordings of three of my published songs for their website. (Does anyone out there have recordings of "Come With Me on Horses", "Requiem For the Innocent", or "Inventions and Machines"?)
3. I'm waiting to hear back from a publisher, a literary agent and a story-writing contest about my two newest books. Sounds like the premise for a joke!
Have a safe and happy holiday.
Geoff
I've been toying with a variety of labels. Today I thought of Contemporary Romantic Adult Pop, but had to abandon that when I realized the acronym was CRAP!
;-)
Therefore, I am back at the beginning of my quest to answer those eternal questions:
"Who or what am I?" and "What am I doing here?"
If anyone out there knows, please feel free to share that information. And if you have a genre label that you think fits, I'd be happy to give it a try. I'm pretty sure it will include the word, 'alternative', but I'm not sure of much else.
THIS WEEK'S NEWS:
1. I've been invited to attend a concert that will include one of my songs, which will be recorded live.
2. I've been contacted by one of my music publishers, asking me to provide recordings of three of my published songs for their website. (Does anyone out there have recordings of "Come With Me on Horses", "Requiem For the Innocent", or "Inventions and Machines"?)
3. I'm waiting to hear back from a publisher, a literary agent and a story-writing contest about my two newest books. Sounds like the premise for a joke!
Have a safe and happy holiday.
Geoff
Friday, August 17, 2012
Finished New Teen Fiction Novel!
My faithful readers may have been wondering where I've been hiding. I've been visiting with a lot of family this summer, and sneaking in writing time whenever I can. This week I finished my teen fiction novel. It is now in the hands of four trusted family members, who will get the first shot at reading it and offering critiques. After that, I'm open to sending copies to anyone willing to read it.
Volunteers?
Volunteers?
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