Guys blog weekly from Overseas

[Prinia]

Guys blog in both media and online (http://forums.guysebastian.com.au/index.php?showtopic=18230)

gotta love it;

just look at the names; the BEP arent a surprise but the others are so fabulous

[Prinia]

sorry im not around atm,change of address and only dial up until we finally get everything tgether. And THAT was only today. Just no time either. Ive explained a little on myspace,
but

anyhw

'\Sunday, August 5
On Who is this Guy?

He's Guy Sebastian, the first person to win Australian Idol when it debuted in 2003. He'll be in Memphis for six weeks to write and record his fourth album. He plans to keep an online diary.

The Memphis Flyer picked up the story from the Herald Sun, an Australian daily newspaper, but there was a mix-up that made Guy fans believe that the Flyer was also publishing the artist's journal.

Flyer Editor Bruce VanWyngarden explains:That'll teach me to not to post late on a Saturday night. In the first graph there is supposed to be a LINK for the phrase 'this online diary.' It takes you to an Aussie newspaper site, which IS running Guy's diary.The Flyer is NOT running a Guy Sebastian diary. I've fixed the link, hopefully. And hopefully six jillion Australians won't be ticked off at the Flyer for teasing them.

The problem has been fixed, but it's unclear if Guy's fans notice.

this isfrom theMEMPHIS FLYER - there is more but I'm stuck atm

Guy Sebastian Is Getting Closer To Memphis

He's getting closer, Memphis. We're speaking, of course, about Guy Sebastian, the Australian Idol winner who's coming to Memphis to record a "soul" album.

From Week 2 of Guy's "Memphis Diary": "I'm going to be recording a tribute album to the great soul music of the Memphis music scene. This year is the 50th anniversary of the Stax record label and Memphis soul music, so the timing couldn't be better.

"Soul music sits deep in my heart and is the reason I got into music. This is a record I've always wanted to make.

"I've been researching the guys I'm recording with down there and more and more I'm discovering the 'royalty' nature of these musicians within the industry.

"For example, today I conversed with Steve Cropper, who is playing on and producing the record. He was the guitar player in Booker T & the MGs and in the band in the original movie.

"Cropper �€“ or CropDog, as he's known �€“ supervised the recordings of Otis Redding and co-wrote hits by Wilson Pickett Eddie Floyd and Otis Redding , all of which I'm planning to record on the album.

"Steve has assembled most of the original members of the Stax band for the sessions, so it will be an amazing once-in-a-lifetime
opportunity."website.Read it all at the Herald-Sun

there, thats a bit

oh andhe's got a 'little tat'

AND they went to a karaoke bar, the Veronicas, Dean Geyer, girlfriendJules and Guy

wish I'd been there, to see and hear, and see the faces too

[Prinia]

THIRD BLOG
thanks to MySweetestBerry (which song should be heard, the version contained as a B side to "Oh Oh" - where his totally crystalline falsetto comes in, live version, State Theatre)

[quote name='mysweetestberry' date='Aug 19 2007, 02:21 AM' post='507059']
http://www.news.com.au/sundaytelegraph/sto...5009160,00.html (http://www.news.com.au/sundaytelegraph/story/0,,22268941-5009160,00.html)

Guy Sebastian-Memphis Blog
By Guy Sebastian, 12:00am, August 19

THIS trip is going so fast! Blog #3 means I've been here for nearly 3 weeks already...wow!

Ive left the tinsel and dazzle of LA LA Land behind me now after a couple of amazing weeks of songwriting and have landed in Memphis to start recording the album. a

I love Memphis but right now I’m trying to decide if I have picked the absolute worst or absolute best time to be here.

As I write this the people next door to my hotel room are having the worlds biggest Elvis party. I mean I really like Elvis but if I hear Jailhouse Rock one more time I'm gonna pull out all of my once afro'd hair.

I’ve seen more sideburns and rhinestones in the last two days than you could possibly imagine and let me tell you…in Memphis the white jumpsuit is definitely alive and kickin!!.

It does make me think though what a huge legacy Elvis left and that 30 years on people are still flocking here to see him – he truly is a legend.

I tried to get a peek at Graceland today but the crowds were too big so I opted to do a drive by Sun Studios instead – the next best thing!

Tonight I also met with Steve Cropper. Steve is producing and playing on the Memphis record that I am over here doing.

We had dinner at this amazing Brazilian Steak House restaurant it was all you can eat and we both took that literally! Possibly the best meal I’ve ever had. Everyone in the street was stopping him and getting photos and autographs – the man is like royalty.

He’s generally regarded as the most well known and influential soul guitarist ever – in 1996 he was named the worlds greatest living guitar player (second all-time behind Jimi Hendrix).

He said he wants to write if we get a chance. What an honour writing with the same guy who wrote Knock On Wood, In the Midnight Hour, and (Sittin On') The Dock of the Bay and so many other great songs.

Anyway, after that he took me out on the famous Beale Street to BB King's Blues Bar, it was incredible. I bought a t-shirt! I now have the challenge of sleeping.

I literally haven't been able to sleep before 3am since I've been here. Dang jet lag.

Tomorrow morning I’m being picked up by Steve at the hotel at 11am and we head down to the studio to start recording.

‘Duck’ Dunn and other legendary musicians will be joining us for the recording. Amazing!

Til then!


http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v324/mysweetestberry/0561668400.jpg





:o so he would've been on the street cam???? and WE MISSED IT?! :( :lol:

[Prinia]

PLUS from the Ardent Studios themselves

http://i33.photobucket.com/albums/d51/Debz75/GuyWeb1.jpg



http://i33.photobucket.com/albums/d51/Debz75/GuyWeb2.jpg

John Fry, Terry Manning, Steve Cropper, and Guy Sebastian

Australian Idol winner and pop sensation Guy Sebastian is in the studio this month recording a new record with producer Steve Cropper, engineer Curry Weber, and assistant Alan Burcham. The record, which will feature soul classics with Guy's own special treatment, will also feature Cropper, Duck Dunn, and Steve Potts (all of Booker T and the MGs) as the backing band! Stay tuned for more details..

[Prinia]

some more from the ardent page

thanks to our forum

[quote name='caramel_whipped_cream2004' date='Aug 21 2007, 08:50 AM' post='507796']
Thanks so much Hair bear for the link
I have been all over the Arden Site trying to find it. Music forum is the place to be
Found this on Curry Websters My Space. Don't know if AF has already got it
Compliments to Guy and all those involved in the making of this album. Special thanks too Curry :D
(Add) www.myspace.com/curryweber

Monday, August 20, 2007

guy sebastian
Current mood: accomplished
Category: Life

i've been on a record since thursday that has opened my eyes on record making. 16 track analog, steve cropper on guitar, lester snell on piano and wurly, duck dunn and dave smith on bass, rick steff on b3, steve potts on drums...and guy sebastian on vocals. it is an unbelievable combination of talent and skill. guy is a killer vocalist and he is right at home with these guys and these tunes. he's doing all old stax and hi songs with some motown and muscle shoals mixed in....it is great and i am damn lucky to be pushing buttons and turnin knobs on this thing. WOOOO!!!!!!!.....go buy some good music NOW!!!
10:06 AM - 0 Comments - 4 Kudos - Add Comment



YES!

On my travells around the Arden site also found another pic of Guy & Steve Cropper, where is that tat Guy?

http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b105/caramel2004/guy1qz5.jpg

[Prinia]

I WILL update siggie and avatar shortly im on a lap top atm

but here from a steve cropper dedicated myspace

Cropper's legend was not limited to the United States. The Beatles were in awe of Cropper's playing and his production on Otis Redding records. In fact, when pressed as to who John Lennon and Paul McCartney may want to collaborate with, Steve Cropper's was the only name they mentioned.

[Prinia]

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v672/summershadow/GuyOWMBa.gif

courtesy of Frogo - who contacted BB Kings in Memphis and received this reply from someone who saw him at the Sheryl Crowe gig, when he and Cropper got on stage unexpectedly

"GUY WAS FABULOUS. HE BROUGHT THE HOUSE DOWN."

[Prinia]

thanx to leebella

Guy Sebastian blogs from Memphis

By Guy Sebastian
August 26, 2007 12:00am


WOW what a week! I started recording 4 days ago with the band members from Booker T and the MG¿s.

In those 4 days we have cut 15 tracks!!

It’s been such a great experience for me to watch these guys work. I mean they are mostly in their late 60’s and have such a wealth of experience. These guys have played together for nearly 50 years!

We would begin a session with everyone relaxing having a cup of coffee and telling stories about touring, and stuff about artists they have worked with like Elvis, Otis Redding, The Beatles etc etc..

You know just your average session musos!! This would sometimes take an hour and then I would show them which song I wanted to record and after listening to any changes I had we would all go into the live room.

Everyone would hop on their instrument I’d hop in the vocal booth and we would just hit record without a rehearsal and everyone would nail it nearly every time. Then it’s back to coffee and stories for another hour!

Literally 13 of the 15 tracks were all first takes and so we’ve got such a great raw display of musicianship and on the spot vocals! We’ve worked at a rate of 4 tracks a day including vocals everything.

On one the nights after recording I went to BB King’s Blues Bar with Steve Cropper and Duck Dunn (Booker T and the MG’s) for dinner.

While I was in the middle of eating a medium rare sirloin steak the size of Adelaide, Elvis’ bass player Jerry and none other than Sheryl Crow joined us! Sheryl Crow then treated us to a private gig with her 90+ year-old father on guitar. He rocked out!!

After they got off stage they invited myself and the MG’s to jam. It was awesome I sang “In The Midnight Hour” and “(Sitting On) The Dock Of The Bay”.

I’m going in to record horns tomorrow, Can’t wait to hear these Memphis horn players, they just make me wanna dance!

http://www.news.com.au/sundaytelegraph/sto...5009160,00.html (http://www.news.com.au/sundaytelegraph/story/0,22049,22307704-5009160,00.html)


note where the Memphis flyer have got hold of the worst and extremely old (2003) photo of Guy - I'm wondering if they have a problem there? Saying at the end that they tried to get an interview and Guy wouldn't.

Now, that AIN'T Guy at all, no way. So --- I'm finding the combination of that photo and this comment a little strange. Love to know the reasoning behind all that, because for sure there's a background. Guy is the most accommodating of ppl as we all know, and in the circumstances would be falling over for an interview by locals. I guess we'll never know just what happened - just setting the record straight however. MY SIGGIE is Guy, or the photos taken while he's been in Memphis. These blogs are a little old, so I'm guessing he may already be on his way to New York.

[Prinia]

re the interview that didn't take place. Its been explained. No, they didn't talk to Guy, but everyone was so busy they actually forgot to get to ask him. You'll read why, in this blog 5, just up.

http://forums.guysebastian.com.au/index.php?showtopic=18590


Read Guy Sebastian's exclusive Online Diary of his time in the US below.
http://www.news.com.au/common/imagedata/0,,5636146,00.jpg
Guy is tearing up Memphis as he records with some of soul music's great legends.




"It's Wednesday morning and I'm a little tired. I finished tracking the album last night and afterwards my manager Titus and I did the car listening test... We drove all over Memphis singing along to all these great Memphis songs in disbelief that this all came together.

The idea didn't come along that long ago and it's all happened so quickly. I expressed what my dream way of recording this album would be and just kind of left it up in the air as just that ��" a dream with the realisation that, of course, I couldn't pull it off by getting the highly sort after soul musicians that played on the actual track.

Let alone to be in Memphis where the music was born, or record in studios that these songs were recorded at, and in the same style, ie, cut live with the whole band directly to analogue tape.

We just drove around for hours past the famous Beale Street listening to the tracks (which we thought wouldn't be done for another month or so, but finished it in a week and a half) thinking how did we pull this off.

All week people had heard the buzz that the original Booker T and the MGs were in the studio recording again and we had all sorts of interesting industry people pop in to have a listen. People were saying: "How did you get these guys together, they rarely do this."

I have a great team with me in my management, agents, record company and beautiful fans, but I think this task had a bit of help from the big man upstairs too! These soul legends sure don't need the cash.

Like I said, we recorded it in just over a week, I thought I might come home and fix all the vocals, edit drums etc, get it all perfect.

However, what was captured live had such a great vibe I didn't want to compromise it so we hardly edited at all. This calibre of musicianship doesn't need need the finicky aid of technology, its all soul.

I made a few slight changes to some arrangements and the band were totally into it. After we finished recording with the band they were still popping in during the week to see how it was going. It was awesome to see musos so passionate about music after playing it for over 50 years.

So I didn't get much sleep last night, I was buzzing after listening to the tracks. It's just such a top bunch of songs. It's brought out the best singing I have EVER done because I feel so at home singing this stuff. You can't not dance to songs like Soul Man, Midnight Hour, Knock On Wood, (Sittin On) The Dock of the Bay, Let's Stay Together, Respect Yourself, Hold On I'm Comin and countless other huge hits.

Anyway, Titus and I are going to Graceland tomorrow now that it's quietened down after the hoard of Elvis fans have left from Elvis Week. After that, I head to New York, then to London to continue song writing for the next original record.

I get back mid-September just in time to rehearse for some acoustic shows that I'm doing in October. That's gonna be fun too, we're gonna strip it right back as opposed to the big band I usually take out.

I have learned so much on this experience. I have heard so many stories that hardly anyone knows, stuff that is undocumented. First-hand stories about Elvis, Otis Redding, Johnny Cash and other legendary musicians. Its been very educating to say the least.

Thanks for all the encouragement thus far, I miss home like crazy. Also thanks for giving me this opportunity, I am loving my life and I owe it all to you guys

[Prinia]

http://forums.guysebastian.com.au/index.php?showtopic=18679
for the thread, which contains some interesting stuff re the venues

the blog itself...

Guy's New York, New York blog

By Guy Sebastian
September 09, 2007 12:00am

AS I checked my luggage full of new clothes and shoes from LA, memorabilia from memphis, and also my guitar (not cheap) I had a strange feeling inside.

I was at the airport early with 2 hours to spare. The American Airlines jetplane had a 2 hour delayed departure. Fair enough it sux but it happens.

So I finally arrived in New york from Memphis and went straight to baggage claim. I waited and watched as people collected their luggage.

I waited... And waited... But no bags. So I panicked and went to lost baggage, who told me this sort of thing happens all the time with American Airlines and my bag may come in on the next flight.

Three days later my bags came in. I had nothing with me so I had to buy new toiletries, jocks/socks, clothes, and I had to hire a guitar (which cost $140).

American Airlines told me they would cover $25! Yeah maybe for used toothbrushes and jocks!

Anyway once I got my guitar and luggage back I was so relieved. I had a few days of writing in NY.

After one of the writing sessions I went to open mic night at "The Underground".

This place BLEW MY MIND!!! The singers that got up were amazing and the house band were out of this world. Some singers were not so great! So I got up at the end and sang an old school gospel song.

I caught hold of some NY soul and sang my heart out! So it almost turned into a southern church service people started running to the stage yelling stuff like "you go boy" and throwing money at the stage! It was hilarious!

They asked me to sing another song so I sang some Al Green. There was so much love in the house. Moreover there were some singers there that sing for Alicia Keys and for one of my heroes 'Kirk Franklin'. They all gave me their number etc and were just such top people.

I left there sooo encouraged. It's hard to explain a rush like that it lasts for so long. I remember coming down here in the village in NY last time and it left such an impression on me.

I love NY. If you guys ever go to NY go down to Cafe Wha! It is by far the best houseband you will ever hear and they play every style and genre.

So it was time to catch a plane for London. I fearfully checked my luggage and finally got on the American Airlines flight (which was also over an hour delayed).

I put my laptop bag up in the storage unit above my seat, put my ipod on and fell asleep. Halfway through the flight I got up to get my laptop only to find it drenched cause something leaked from the storage unit all over my bag!! Not my week for travel!!

After I complained to the flight attendant that my bag and its contents had been ruined by a leak in their storage unit, I was sat down by a 'supervisor' and rudely told that American Airlines would not cover me cause I can't prove it wasn't wet before I boarded!

I landed in London and my bags and guitar showed up!! There was a tube (underground train) strike so it took me ages to get to my mates house in Putney.

I'm staying with some of my best mates from Adelaide who now live here and I'm writing here everyday!

I love hangin with friends and not being couped up in a hotel. It's been so much fun. Am going to a Prince concert tomorrow after writing and then seeing Ricky Jervais live (from the UK series "The Office") on Tuesday and that may be the highlight of my life apart from birth!

Although my mother would enjoy Ricky much more.

So that's what I'm up to. I'm majorly homesick for Oz now though. Honestly how good is our country!!??



http://www.news.com.au/dailytelegraph/stor...5013168,00.html

Lucky things - he is the artist for the Big Ball this following weekend and a whole pack of course are going. Its majorly expensive though, and we've just upgraded our living *coff* etc, and etc - plus being booked into 3 concerts in one weekend (his birthday weekend :love:) so - I miss out. Hope we have a "as it happens thread though"

[Prinia]

we're getting more blogs, from a few newspapers, again. Can't wait for THIS fun. Have a download to download when Ash gets off my pc - he was interviewed on Music Jungle - absolute weird hat! Like a leather jockeys. (Might have to apologise? He most likely bought it in the US)

[Prinia]

wow don't know what happened there but we're getting more blogs in more newspapers, seems to happen now when he goes overseas - which he is atm - new york