Extended Info about the making of (probably more than you care to know!)

Audio CD, Back Pocket Of Heart Wretching Soul:

Some notable things to mention about the making of the audio CD -

• I recorded Back Pocket Of Heart Wretching Soul on the hottest day of Portland.  My room is not very well ventilated to begin with, and even so I was well dressed and prior to recording I did pushups and pullups and listened to Elton John's Goodbye Yellow Brick Road album to fully get myself in the physically/emotionally withered state.  I cleared the chair, paced around and visualized all my dearest friends out there watching me on stage and recorded the entire CD (*) start to finish in 2 takes to capture the raw, spontaneous feeling of a live performance - with sweat dripping down my face and just a room tempurature glass of water to sip on.  The first take by the way totally sounded like garbage, due to the recording software I was using - so the whole second take was used.  You might hear some occasional coughs, "um"s, and heavy exhales - but I ended up deciding to keep all that in there to capture the pure integrity of the moment.  The only edits were gaps of empty space (where I was taking a sip of water or shuffling around) and out of place sound hiccups caused by the microphone.
  
  So the CD you have listened to is basically the closest thing to me sitting next to you and performing JUST for you.
  
  * "If She Likes My Artwork" was recorded later separately only because I'd written it after I'd already finished up the recording of the rest of the CD.  Kinda short, but sweet, I felt it was the quintessential statement in regards to what drives a person like me.  I felt I just HAD to include it.
   
• Recording software used was Audacity which is open source.  I found it to be the best to use for the free or open source softwares I could find.  Very useful and simple to do edits, multitracking, or whatever you like. 
   
• Start to finish - the idea for the project originally came to me on June 13, 2009.  The audio CD, Back Pocket Of Heart Wretching Soul was completed for release on August 7, 2009.  Companion printed book, (I want to be your) Sentimental Favorite is not yet ready for release.
   
• The custom packaging I am VERY pleased with how it turned out.  Some people have asked, and it is why I like to emphasize that all aspects of the packaging were entirely original, designed, produced, and made by hand at home by myself.  I'm not the type that wishes to sacrifice professional quality just because I'm doing something at home.  While saving money is important - its not the main reason I do myself, but I like to hand make to give the finished product that folksy organic spirit.  I dunno, I just believe that something the creator themself makes with hand to have a more precious quality than if they were to be outsourced and made by a third party for convienience. 
   
• A LOT of details were put into the making of the CD packaging.  The sticker, the brass brads, the denim front, the printed back, flaming heart drawn on the CD, the inside blue promo flyer (and loose yellow promo flyer if I gave you one).  The pocket is glued together using HeatnBond UltraHold iron-on adhesive.  The flaming heart artwork on each CD was drawn individually with permanent markers.  I did use a cardboard template for the flame portion, but... I did make and cut out the template myself from a flame I drew free hand.  The pocket shape also was hand cut with scissors.
   
• Picture on the back cover (microphone in my hand) was taken by my friend Grant Warrens (I hope you are well in Japan or wherever you are now...) for a show I had at Berbati's Pan on March 13, 2000.  (Thanks to Tres for letting me do that show.)

I think that's about all to mention.  If there's anything I forgot you are curious about, please ask!