Help Larry: Cosimo Matassa at TapeOpCon

[TapeOpLarry]

Okay, my final favor is for questions to ask Cosimo Matassa. You saw his interview in the last Tape Op, what else would you like to know. We also will play 3 songs he's recorded and ask about the sessions/gear and such. See how much he remembers on that one...

Thanks!

[EasyGo]

Ask him about working with the Meters, as backing band and as a performing ensemble in their own right.

How did they record Zigaboo Modeliste's drums? George Porter's fat-ass bass? Leo's guitar? And of course Art Neville's B3?

Why are the Meters tracks panned in such crazy stereo? (Many have drums and bass on 1 side, guitar and organ on the other).

Ask him about the vocal sound on the Little Richard records. How did he get that fabulous distorted vocal?

Good examples to play would include the Meters' 'Cissy Strut,' 'A Certain Girl' by Ernie K Doe and 'Fortune Teller' by Benny Spellman.

[Spy Boy]

In the early days of his studio, Cosimo had to operate under the old Jim Crow segregation laws. Ask him about his experiences working under these conditions.

Cosimo loves to tell jokes. Ask him to tell his favorite studio or musician joke.

[Girl Toes]

How do the recording and grocery buisnesses differ, for good and bad?

[coniferouspine]

Ask him about the sessions he did recording some of the music for backing up Bourbon Street strippers. Apparently at one session, the band couldn't play the material right unless they had the stripper in the room with them, they kept missing their cues...Put the stripper in there with them, they played it perfectly... hmmmm...

[ludwigpatricia]

How does he feel about the sampling of classic songs that he's worked on, by modern artists? Has he heard any of the samples? The begining of Fats Domino's "Let the Four Winds Blow" at the begining of The Eels "Novocaine for the Soul" is cool. Jon Brion works with The Eels, maybe you could stir up some kind of trouble between them... only kidding.

[goldenarmes]

Ask him about recording with Eddie Bo and who was the bass player on "What do you see in her?" by Inell Young.