It was 1994 and I have been working at the famed Oceanway Recording Studios on Sunset Blvd in Hollywood as a Runner for a few months. Hanging on the walls are gold and platinum records everywhere from artists we all know and love. In the most prominent place in the building, right in front, was Michael Jackson’s Thriller platinum record hanging there. I looked at it often as I worked the phones at the desk right below it.
One day my manager asked me to start going to Record One, another studio owned by the same owner over in Sherman Oaks every Monday night to relieve another Runner so he could have a day off. So I got there and found out that MJJ Productions has both studios A and B booked indefinitely. They had already been there god knows how long before I came and I was told this is an “unlimited budget” type record. Part of my duties were to go around and ask everyone what they want to eat, order it, then go pick it up from various local restaurants. I would end up spending several hundred dollars each time on expensive lobster, sushi, and steaks. I would clean up after everyone left, vacuum, do dishes, etc…
There were producers and engineers, but I didn’t ever see talent when I was there. Finally one Monday night I was told MJJ is coming. The staff and folks from his group always referred to him as “MJJ” instead of Michael. Sure enough a bit later he showed up. When he walked in it appeared he already knew the other staff but I saw him eyeballing me realizing I was new here. Someone introduced me to him, “This is Michael..”, as he walked up and shook my hand and quietly said “My name is Michael too..” with a very nice smile and firm handshake. The biggest thing I remember about it was he smelled like baby powder. Big time. That was really the only strange thing I saw from him.
In the following weeks he would come in to work vocal overdubs on tracks that would eventually be released as the album History. I worked up a routine where I would setup for him Ricolla Cherry Cough Drops, Evian water, and our best Neimann U-67 Tube Microphone with a Panty hose ring. I was never allowed in the control room when he was actually recording but was present during various loud playbacks and mixing chores.
My impressions of him were that he was a quiet, pleasant, very humble, normal man. Sure, I have read the stories that circulated in the years before that everyone else has as well. He didn’t come across to me as being that person that everyone read about in the tabloids. One time a very beautiful lady arrived, Lisa Marie Presley. She was only there once while I was there but it was clear they were very into each other and in love. Even displays of affection like a kiss or holding hands I noticed.
He was a normal guy who had an extreme talent of making magic in the control room. My impressions of the music were perfection, cleanly mixed, and recorded in the best possible scenario. I was very impressed with seeing 3 Sony 48 Track Digital Half Inch machines synced up and playing on the automatic faders of the largest SSL console in the world at that time. Well over a hundred different tracks were being mixed together to two channel was an amazing thing to see and hear. It really showed me how you can take it to next level in the studio. I worked with lots of top bands and groups over at Oceanway, but no one did it like he did.
Michael and his group were very gracious and excellent guests to have at the facility. Everything was very low key; everyone just working on the task at hand. I would say the Mantra of those recordings was we will do whatever it takes, technically and creatively, to take it to where he wanted it. Time and money were not considerations in this recording. The final result: A perfect recording with no flaws. None. Perfection.
MJJ, Godspeed and Rest in Peace. I know, that you are the man.
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PS: Check out all of my favorite Michael Jackson songs in my Downloads Page.
Well I am enjoying a nice Father’s Day weekend even though my kids aren’t here. They will be here shortly though. I intend to make Tyler watch the Cup race with me today, and I am not sure how he will like that.
I will be watching the Indy Car race from Iowa (if it stops raining), then F1 from England, and then finally the Cup race from Sonoma. Things to watch for today are:
Can the IRL stop the parade that has become ever so frequent lately. I knew there was a serious problem when they weren’t two wide, 10 deep all night at Texas. This particular aero package is just not working right with this engine. Maybe the shorter length of Iowa might lend itself to good racing with this package. Of course it has been a Penske and Ganassi juggernaut lately so the race to watch is the “Best of the Rest”. Danica would be my pick, but I would love to see Rahal or Andretti shake off their endless bad luck.
Tags: BreeAnna, Formula 1, Indy Car, IRL, NASCAR, Racing, Twitter, Tyler
<UPDATE> I was able to fix it by going into godaddy.com, applications, wordpress, upgrade to 2.7.1. It actually downgraded it from 2.8 and I am now good to go.
Well stupid as I am, I clicked the button. Big mistake as I have read in lot’s of posts I have seen on the web.
My website comes up but it put’s these two error lines at the top of the page and bumps everything down.
Warning: preg_match() [function.preg-match]: Unknown modifier ‘\’ in /home/content/m/e/l/mellis2718/html/wordpress/wp-includes/classes.php on line 210
Warning: preg_match() [function.preg-match]: Unknown modifier ‘\’ in /home/content/m/e/l/mellis2718/html/wordpress/wp-includes/classes.php on line 211
I tried to do it a couple of more times by going to tools, update, etc… I have tried no plugins activated as well, I have tried reverting back to the basic theme as well. These errors remain regardless.
I am at a loss as to which direction to go from here. I have a zip of the db backup I believe that the site emails me everyday. Not sure I have anything beyond that.
Help!
Well today is the first time I have been around for Kathy’s birthday. It feels like I have waited for it for a long time. Decide what you want to go do tonight and I will take you out. Also there is a 150 pound box for you in the garage.
Anyway, here’s to you babe! Love you.
