Dr. Fletch

version ten

"just ask"

Hi Doc, Really love the MK and GF songs. In fact, listening to nothing else!! Better sell all of my other CD's!!! What do you think? Also love the sound of a saxophone, so here is my question Doc: Is there any chance of hearing the sound of a sax in the next album? Or is it to early for that?

Dear Doc, I've got a few questions for you. Can you please answer?
1. I was not able to get to the Newcastle Tribute of MK (was shortly before giving birth to our first baby), but I've listened to the kind speeches there. What would you mention in a speech about MK? How would you describe him as a human being as we fans 'know' him only from shows or a quick chat?
2. The sound on the 'Real Live Road Running' DVD is fab, but the camera work is sometimes a bit strange IMHO: a lot of shots from behind the stage, MKs solos are not well captured and Guys keyboard work is not really visible as we fans can usually only see Guys beautiful shirts on stage and not his playing. Would have been a possibility to show a bit more of it, don't you think? Anyway when running the selection menu of the DVD I can hear talking/voices. What is it? Crew? M&G?
3. You've told us that MK and Guy are working on MKs next album. And that you want to ensure that the songs are ready for the next stage, the band. In what kind of stage are the songs when MK and Guy meet? Are they ready to play (vocals + guitar) and you only think about how to include other instruments (arrangements) or is there only a melody ready or an idea? Can you describe this a bit? Thanks a lot and a happy and save 2007!

Hi Doc It's good to know MK and you are working on new stuff:))) Hope it's gonna rescue a bit of those beautiful Strat tones Mark used to deliver. I love what Mark does with his Les Paul, but I reckon all his fans, as well as I do, miss that clean and characteristic sonority. Does any of the new songs you've been introduced to sound like What It Is or stuff like that?

5/1/07
lay it down

Greetings, Herr Doktor! I hope this finds you well. I admit I'm asking this late, but I noted that Chad Cromwell had to drop out of the 2005 tour. Is he OK? Loved his work on "Night in London", and loved Danny Cummins' on the 2005/6 tours as well. Best

Hello mr. ! I'd like to know if there's something you miss from DS tours, compared to things now? How was it to play in huge stadiums etc... am I right, thinking, Mark doesn't like that so much?? Also, why haven't you played On Every Street songs at all in the last tours... I consider On Every Street one of the best songs from MK, Planet of New Orleans also deserves a mention.

That's the sound the snare drum makes when you play that 'rolling' pattern. Cool eh?

Yes, Mark has been asked but there will be no DS reunion I'm afraid.

On the face of it it does seem odd that track listings and releases are often different in the various territories. Upon consultation of the management, I've discovered that the reasoning varies and it's not always a straightforward answer. Sometimes the licensees decide (labels) and sometimes these are management decisions often based on promotional issues, market reactions and competition.

I had to read this a few times before I relized you mean a PICK! or PLECTRUM.

The size of those strings on that 54 Strat...I guess you've gotta use a pick.

a) What you hear in the arena at a show is mixed by the FOH (front of house) engineer, in our case, Robert Collins. It bears no relation to thestudio/CD's. The mix we hear on stage is balanced by Kerry, our monitor engineer.

b)Author?? It's simply Matt's interpretation of what Jim played on the record.

c)scores?? nothing of this kind exists. All new band members learn the respective songs and parts. By ear.

1. We stay in touch via e-mail but don't really get together unless we're working.

2. The piano we use onstage is a Yamaha Motif8, encased in a piano shell. The reason for this is simply that keeping a real piano in tune on tour is virtually impossible due to the temperature changes and constant travel etc.

3. I play the steel parts, on a synth, not samples, simply because I have a hand free and Richard doesn't. I think it's nice that they're there.

Hi, First I want to thank you and everyone involved for a great show in LA and live DVD with Real live roadrunning. Something to treasure there! I would like to know why Mark has never played Tunnel Of Love at his solo gigs? Is it because it reminds him of a previous relationship and upsets him? Or is it because it is a physically demanding song vocally and on Marks breathing due to it's tempo? Or maybe it requires too much extra equipment and seems a lot for one song? That extended mega solo at the end which he played during the 85-86 tour was absolutely out of this world and it would be a crime for that to not be captured on a live DVD or album. I know there is a similar version on Alchemy but it doesn't compare to the '85 version. Also, I want to also complain that you didn't play Tunnel Of Love during the On Every Street tour. I was so disappointed that I didn't get to hear that when I saw you in Manchester in '92. Why was Telegraph and Sultans omitted from the On The Night album, you could have made it a double album!!!

Hello Doc, The DVD was only issued today in France but it was worth waiting . We spent a really great moment tonight with son, remembering the last June (very hot) show in le Zenith in Paris.The sound is really fantastic, the images are subtly mixed but we were just a bit disappointed by the fact that the band seems to have less fun and less complicity than usual: were you just more concentrated because of video cameras ?

I think we've touched on this before. There are a lot of records out there which do sound, for want of a better word, crap... but contrary to Bob Dylan's recent comments, there is good stuff out there too.

But I get the impression it goes unnoticed most of the time because the music buying public seem to be listening on poorer and poorer equipment. It drives me mad when I hear my son Max, bless him, listening to QOTSA on his Mac laptop speakers. Mp3's have a lot to answer for, even though I admit to using them for 90% of my music playback. I'm thankful that vinyl isn't dead and that turntable sales are on the up. There's simply nothing like listening to a well produced/mastered album on vinyl or CD through a decent sound system and I recommend it to anyone.

Dear Dr. Fletch, How does MK feel about his former Genesis band mates reuniting for a tour? Is he miffed that he wasn’t invited to take part? Like most British pop stars, Mark was married to Patsy Kensit at one time. How are things between them these days? I heard that they had a huge legal battle over custody of a dog; I only hope the damn thing died and they can be friends now. As an Afro-American, has MK ever experienced any racism within the music community? Lastly, it has come to my attention that Welshmen seem to take great amusement from putting ferrets down their trousers, yet Englishmen do not (to such an extent). Do you thing this is because Welsh men have more room in their trousers, in general, than Englishers?

Yeah, when Phil left the Straits we were all gutted. Patsy did the rounds and moved on. It was the hamster that caused the cerfuffle and is now living in luxury in Florida, the rat.

1. are all effects, excepting maybe the guitar amp distortions added after initial recording, or is some added in the course of recording. Mainly wanting to know if a certain amount of eq, or compression is used in the initial takes. mostly relating to the mk albums from ragpickers till road running, and your own recordings such as myspace clips. If so is compression or limiting used, and apprx ratios. I am guessing it is then also compressed more during mixdown?

2. I am getting ready to perhaps record some more songs basically at home, small apt. probably use a good mic and pre, audio interface with computer, and software. I realize that most of what i will use will not be of the cost of upper level high end studios, but probably more on the line i would guess of prosumer/pro. the recordings will most probably be just vocal and guitar, maybe some minor dubs just to enhance a mood or effect etc, but not necessarily big solo overdubs. I would greatly appreciate your input if you can reply at your convenience, as to what steps i may take to get the strongest / or closest sound to a professional recording.
Basically outside of not overriding the input on recording, some good basics on the initial recording, and when mixing down. As in above compress, eq, before recording, or save all for mixdown? One mic or two on guitar ( acc)? type of room to record guitar in? separation of vocal and guitar technique if recording all at once? Anything you may be of help or simply maybe rule of thumb in pro recordings. thanks for your time as always, sincerely, p.s. great job on dvd etc.

1. For the live dvd, 90% of the eq/compression was applied during the mixing stage. As for general studio recording, I tend to record flat but that is only a testament to an instrument sounding great. Vocals will always need a bit of compression, as will bass, some guitars. Trust your ears is the rule.

2. The rule of thumb here is simple, use the BEST istruments/mics/compressors/CABLES/mixer you can lay your hands on and use as direct a path to the recorder as physically possible. It WILL make a difference. Also, use the highest sampling rate you can. 96k is great.

If it sounds good - it is good.

15/11/06
pics

15/11/06
real live

As was revealed in the q&a at the screening, the whole thing was very much shot on-the-fly with little or no camera rehearsal. What you see is what you get. There was no audience lighting so the show was just as any other except that the band played their respective arses off. A CD is shorter than a DVD so there are omissions. Michelangelo is 'missing' at Emmylou's request. I thought I exercised admirable restraint re. the keyboard levels.

For whatever reason, Emmylou simply requested that we leave that song off the dvd. It did sound beautiful.