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Dirty-South Blues Harp forum: wail on! >
Thoughts on doing a concept album...
Thoughts on doing a concept album...
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HarpNinja
880 posts
Dec 17, 2010
8:51 AM
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I am toying with the idea of doing an album of all rearranged covers. For the most part, it would take fairly known songs and turn them into harp-driven tunes. For example, I would do a song like Santana's Black Magic Woman with harmonica as the lead instrument. Other tunes would include Whippin Post and probably Magic Carpet Ride. I have some contemporary tunes I am working out too from the last 10-20yrs. I would hire an extremely awesome backing band.
It would be almost exclusively rock and wouldn't necessarily be a really jam-based thing. There would be liberal use of effects and harp overdubs. There would be no blues covers or jazz stuff, but rather classic to contemporary rock. I will try and include at least a couple of tunes that feature a different lead vocalist...I *might* feature another harp player or two.
In order to do this project, I am thinking of submitting a plan to a very, very reputable website that let's fans pledge money towards recording the album for gifts in return. I've spend a lot of time checking it out and know two bands who have used it successfully.
Pledges receive gifts based on the amount they agree to donate, and a lot of planning goes into submitting and it would have to be accepted.
Also, my plan would be to include a charity in on the action...so a portion of the pledges would go to funding the project and the other half to the charity.
So, what I am asking from you it this:
1. Do you think I'd have any luck selling the music?
2. What harmonica related charities are out there? (I have a non-harp charity in mind, but thought it'd be cool to find one)
3.) Any rock songs you'd be dying to hear with harmonica?
If I can line up with the right charity, I think I could get a lot of support behind the project...my whole objective is to use this album to call attention to harmonica both within and outside our current community.
If you are more comfortable sharing your thoughts off the site with me, you can email me at mikefugazzi AT gmail DOT com.
Thanks!
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Mike
VHT Special 6 Amp for Harp Blog
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shanester
306 posts
Dec 17, 2010
9:41 AM
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Hey Mike, here is an idea from Austin, there may be something like it in your neck of the woods...
http://www.myhaam.org/
Shane
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Shane
1shanester
"Keep it coming now, keep it coming now,
Don't stop it no don't stop it no no don't stop it no don't stop it no no..."
- KC and the Sunshine Band
Last Edited by on Dec 17, 2010 9:44 AM
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HarpNinja
882 posts
Dec 17, 2010
9:56 AM
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There is a local organization I've donated time and harps to here, but they are 100% blues. I think it would be cool to support an organization that worked with kids and teaching them harmonica.
I suppose even SPAH would work, although not technically a kid based organization.
I have no real interest in making money off of this, but I think it would be a really fun project that could help out the harp community and it would be my "gift" of sorts, to the harmonica world - the money more than the cd if that makes sense.
I've wanted to do this for a year, but was too chicken. With Chris's passing, I want this labor of love to be sort of in his honor.
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Mike
VHT Special 6 Amp for Harp Blog
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shanester
307 posts
Dec 17, 2010
10:32 AM
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That's cool, I'm a kindred spirit with that one. In 2005 I got to go to Kenya with a group supporting children orphaned by AIDS and a school that took them in to educate them.
It was amazing how joyous these children sang!
I would like to contribute/be part of an organization to get harps and other musical instruments (and lessons, support) to disadvantaged children worldwide.
The accessibility and emotional power of the humble diatonic harmonica have been a driving force in my choosing it as my path of musical mastery.
Keep us posted!
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Shane
1shanester
"Keep it coming now, keep it coming now,
Don't stop it no don't stop it no no don't stop it no don't stop it no no..."
- KC and the Sunshine Band
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HarpNinja
886 posts
Dec 17, 2010
7:26 PM
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Will do...I have a pretty enormous undertaking in mind, but the timing feels right. I posted some more specifics on harp-l in reply to a post, but will try and submit a formal plan to a few contacts this winter yet.
The two biggest barriers will be creating pledge incentives (hoping to utilize some businesses for this) and having to deal with paying extra for the rights to cover songs.
If I can get enough local support, I *think* I can keep my overhead low enough to fund the project and make a substantial donation without needing so much funding that I can't get it off the ground.
I have a number in mind and a back up number of out of money pocket money, but this will live and die by what I can get for the cost of studio time and incentives.
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Mike
VHT Special 6 Amp for Harp Blog
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