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Finkelstein who is the owner of Shining Stone Records. I asked Jesse if he would ask Walter to play
on a tune. I sent a rough MP3 with me singing to Walter, he liked the song and said “sure”. I’m
honoured that he’s on the recording. One thing I would like to mention, the cover art is by a
Georgian artist named Alexander Varvairdze. His town is currently occupied by Russian troops.
He’s an exceptional artist. Check him out!
LL: The album is very “live” sounding. Did you record the tracks with the whole band live or
was it done mostly with overdubbing?
AG: I like to record “live” as
much as possible. We recorded
on 2-inch analog tape.
Remember that! Jack Gauthier
our engineer at Lakewest Studio
in Rhode Island has been doing
this a long time. He really knows
how to capture a live
performance. The horns were
overdubbed. Walter recorded his
part at his home in Los Angeles,
and other than a few solos, it
was all live.
LL: Did you arrange and write
out all the musical parts for
the songs on ‘Daydreams In
Blue’, or did you rely on
spontaneous improvisation
from the players?
AG: I’m very methodical in the
studio. Time is money! About a Anthony and Monster Mike Welch
month before the session I
started sending the core band my tunes. I wrote 10 out of the 12 songs on Daydreams. We had a few
rehearsals and then we went into the studio. I had a list of songs, the order I wanted them played,
and everyone had the list the week before the session. I like starting early! 11 am - be at the studio,
loosen up, tune up… and let’s play! I always make sure my friends are well fed and have anything
they need to drink. That’s important! I arranged all the songs. The horn part on “Tomorrow May
Never Come” was a very specific “soli” part, so I sent Scott Arruda, who did the horn arrangements,
what I wanted on the piano, and he did the harmonies, etc.
LL: You only sing on one track on the album, which you handle marvellously! Are you
uncomfortable in the singer role?
AG: When you spend 40 years listening to Sugar Ray sing every night, that can be a bit
intimidating! I’ve been singing in the “shower” my whole life. I actually have been working on my
vocals for the last few years and finally felt confident enough to put it on a record! I think the tune I