Hold Me by Mike Gent & Tanya Donelly

This recording has a very long history. I started it on a Tascam DA-88 (ADAT) in 2013. At this early stage it was only a drum machine, acoustic, and guide vocals. I then put it aside... Fast forward a couple of years later with me asking Tanya Donelly if we could sing it together at an annual charity event, which then reminded me that I have a skeleton of a recording. By 2016, I had moved studios & "upgraded" to a Tascam DP-32SD and transferred the tracks from the DA-88, adding real drums (attempting my best Mick), some electric guitars, (attempting my best Lindsey), and bringing in Ted Collins to add the important piano part (doing his best Christine). I struggled with adding a bass part that was in tune with the rest of the track so I once again set the track aside. Fast forward to early this year after the pandemic hit and now I'm finally in Pro Tools land, recording new music, and also going through half finished songs and recordings from the last year. As i'm making transfers, I stumble across this one, send the session to Tanya, and within a few days, I have her excellent vocals on it. Her vocals also do a fantastic job of hiding all of my terrible singing because I never recut the guide vocals from 2013. They had a "vibe" that went away when I tried to do a new vocal in 2014.
I need to thank my friend Seth for sending me a few passes at bass before I selfishly decided to try it again on my own (not my best John M.) for the 100th time. I almost gave up and one summer morning, finally played something that seemed to work. I think?

One of my favorite memories of these sessions was asking Ted to learn the piano part and by the next day, recording it with him while having a few beers. He was always into the music I was recording or playing live, never questioning the ideas I had or places I wanted us to go with it. He only wanted to contribute and make it better.

Thanks for listening, Mike

Founding member of The Figgs (started in 1987), The Gentlemen (started in 1999), and The Rapid Shave (started in 2009). Has played with many other artists and bands as well, including Graham Parker, Mike Viola/Candy Butchers, Tommy Stinson, etc... Mike's 4th solo record is now available at thefiggs.com

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