My Real Memoir
Clarence B. Cash. The name suited him perfectly. He wasn’t a music producer in the sense that Quincy Jones or “the fifth Beatle” George Martin was, an artist in his own right. He was about, well, Cash. And so it’s not surprising that our new producer’s business model was the one used on numerous 1960s hits, like “(Go) Little Honda”:
- Hire studio musicians to do a recording to which you the producer own all rights
- Release it as a single “by” a fictional band (The Hondells)
- If it’s a hit, put out an album consisting of recordings solely owned by you
- Pay a group of musicians to “be” the group (The Hondells album featured a completely bogus bio about how they made their hit record)
- Hire them to tour—with all proceeds going to you.
We didn’t know this when we signed with Clarence–he really did like our tunes and harmonies. But he also liked that we were overgrown kids, aged sixteen to eighteen, who could be easily manipulated. We also didn’t know when our new manager Fiona set up a meeting with him, that Clarence was her son-in-law. Fiona’s claim to fame as a manager came from being the mother of a girl group that performed on Phil Spector’s first hit.
Nevertheless, we were in band heaven when Clarence booked a series of all-night recording sessions at his own state-of-the-art 16-track studio (daytime was for cash-paying customers). To be sure, Clarence knew his way around the control room, and under it—we loved crawling through the long cement tunnel beneath the studio that, by moving a speaker nearer to or farther away from a microphone, allowed us to increase or decrease our reverb and echo!
Our final product was a great demo. But it wasn’t a finished album. We were young and inexperienced. Yes, there were hints of The Beatles and The Byrds in our hooks. And, yes, we had great harmonies. But what we didn’t have was a producer who knew how to rub away our unfinished edges and mold us into the recording artists we could be.
Clarence B. Cash had spent enough time being Clarence; it was time for Cash up-front for the album, bought and released as is. Which was why, over the coming half year, he turned down seven offers, including one from good old Capital Records! Why? Because everyone liked what the album could be, but they wanted to re-record it. Even engineer/producer David Hassinger, who’d convinced the Rolling Stones that Keith’s temporary “fuzz-tone” guitar riff on “Satisfaction” was it’s musical heart, wanted to re-record our album!
But Clarence wanted Cash.
So he shelved the album. Our contract gave him sole ownership not only of the album, but of anything else we recorded as a group–or as solo artists–for the next twenty-five years! When Fiona allowed us a one-time listen to a test-pressing on her record player, I made a low-fidelity bootleg with my portable tape recorder. That barely-listenable tape is the only surviving copy. So two months from now, the way-beyond-teenage version of The Daily Planet will gather in Montana to re-record…
The greatest album no one’s ever heard.
My Real Memoir is a series. To read the next one, click here.
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As I like music a lot I hope we can hear it when it is re-recorded.
Thanks for asking. Depends on how it comes out. It may be “for our ears only.” ;>)
Don’t care how it comes out, it must be heard!
As I write and record music myself, I’m always curious what other people are doing. 🙂
The Daily Planet is getting back together?!
One time only. It started as a reunion, and then we thought, “Why not record some of our old songs while we’re together?”
I hope you’ll share the results.
Maybe? Depends on how it turns out.
Don’t sell yourself short! Who knows? This might be the beginning of the next great Geezer Rock Band sensation. PLEASE be sure to include Denver on your concert tour itinerary.
I thought about renaming the band Our Aging Planet–which sounds like a National Geographic program.
Oof that hurts!
Glad to hear that you’ve got a chance to reclaim your original creations, if you do end up releasing the new recording I’d love to buy a copy!
Aw, thanks, Abe. I honestly don’t know if we’ll let anyone else hear it.
Oh, I’ll buy a copy.
Bless you, Rob. See my notes to Abe and rabirius (above).
Oh, Clarence! You would’ve been BIGGER than The Beatles and that’s not for the byrds, Mitch! I mean it! I love the cover and will anxiously await after you all meet in Montana 🎶 your memoir fascinates me! I love it! 🎶
Cover? Do you mean the orangey-yellow page, Karla? That’s just a flyer I made up early on when we were looking for bookings. Bless you, dear friend.
Yes! The flyer! That’s so cool 😎! Blessings to you!
On behalf of seventeen-year-old me, as well as slightly-older-me, thank you! ;>)
Such one-sided contracts should be illegal! I wonder if Clarence ever regretted some of his life-choices? Meanwhile, I love the fact you’re getting the band back together. Grand times ahead!
Thanks, Nancy!
Musicians were at the mercy of labels and producers.
Quite true, I’m afraid, Kara, especially naive teenage musicians.
Sorry that happened to you but glad you are all getting together to re-record your songs. Where in Montana?
Missoula. One of our members has a home studio there.
My husband has family in Missoula. We live in Laurel, just out of Billings
Missoula and Billings are the only two cities in Montana I can name. Now Laurel makes it three. ;>)
When your band has its reunion, retake the pic on the yellow Daily Planet flyer.
Thought about it, Nancy. Although we don’t have the jackets or hats (or as much of the hair that went under those hats) anymore.
Mitch…man that is depressing. Some people just can’t see the big picture.
I still record for the fun of it with Cubase. I do plan to post a few for the fun of it.
I’m hoping to do the same this year, Max.
What a jerk! Glad you are going to re-record it, even if it winds up being only for yourselves. If you do release it, I would be glad to listen!!
Thank you, Jenny.
How fun that your band is getting back together! But sorry about the album…
Thanks, Ann.
A reunion album should be a good one!!!!
I don’t know, Mary. Boomers re-doing songs they wrote in the late 60s? We’ll see.
Oh Mitch, whatever the outcome I hope you have the BEST time doing it!! Hoping to hear it!!! The Daily Planet LIVES!!! 🎸🎵🥁🎶🎤🎵
Aw, thanks, Dori!
You are most welcome… Please tell the guys HI from me. The only one I’ve seen since high school is Jeff. It was at a reunion several years ago, and it was the highlight of my evening!
I will!
Thanks for sharing
My pleasure.
Best of luck on the recording, Mitch. Who knows, it might be better this time around. I experienced much the same shenanigans in the 60s music biz, it was a time of unregulated rip-offs. After our band fell apart, it took a year of lawyers and such to get us teenagers out of a contract with United Artist for a 45 and future album. Lesson learned the hard way. Look forward to hearing some cuts.
Ah, you’ve been there indeed, Phil. Thanks!
Enjoy the reunion even if nothing comes of it! Very cool!
Thanks, Peggy!
A reunion sounds like great fun! I hope it will be fun to get back together. I don’t get out much these days due to bad health, but if you decide to re-record it, I would like to order one. Just post it and where to send my order and payment.
My address is 1730 N. Hale Avenue, Fullerton, CA 92831! Good luck! Janet Oldfield
Aw, bless you, Janet. I really don’t know if there’ll be anything to sell (or give) anyone, but I’ll definitely post something about it after we meet in March. Stay tuned!
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