The Goosebump Factor

Album Credits to All The While by Taylor Mesple

2009-07-26T13:25:00.004-04:00

All The While

There are ghosts in these walls. Not literally, but symbolically. The late genius Kevin Gilbert mixed some of his best work using the pair of speakers I mixed this record with- the very speakers, not just the same brand and model. Patrick Leonard (yes, THE Patrick Leonard) used to own the piano I recorded most of the piano parts I played on the record. The late Bill Chinnock was intending to produce this record with me, we were close friends and I played in his band for the last 2 years of his life. He told me I reminded me of Elton John and was talking about my CD as if it had every chance of being just that successful and beloved by the world. He was like that. My tribute to Kevin Gilbert "Song for a Dead Friend Part II" that was recorded more than 7 years ago during the making of Victory Land has re-emerged from the song grave to appear for the first time on this CD, since the tribute record it was going to be released on never materialized. Kevin's bandmates and collaborators Tim Pierce and Abe Laboriel Jr. both played on my tribute to Kevin, and most of my Victory Land CD (2002) for that matter. There are other ghosts. Ghosts of these and other legends and heroes and mentors and inspirations and poets and tortured artists and transcendent beauty revealed through music and words, thought and emotion. They cannot be tamed, they cannot be reasoned with, but they are here. I attempt to dance with them and sometimes a poignant new idea emerges, but sometimes only sadness, or joy, or silence. Or a sudden rush of nostalgia or regret or pain or fear that comes like a charging wildcat, full of fury and power, and signifying everything. Most often I just do my job of pretending to be babysitting these ghosts in my recording studio, giving a calm nod of approval as they do their thing and dazzle our senses. The ghosts are alive. I am humbled to be standing in their presence, melancholy they are only ghosts, and delighted I can still hear their music. I am tapping my foot to their tune, and often have goosebumps on my arms. I have never wanted to do anything else. "And the dreams that both made me and broke me are being brought back to life"... -TM 2009

All The While (Taylor Mesple)

Christian Teele: Drums
Mel Brown: Bass
Taylor Mesple: Electric and Acoustic Guitars, Vocals, Keyboards
Amy Petty: Background Vocals
Dan Merrill: Background Vocals
Joe Gamble: Ebow Guitar in intro

Taylor used a 60's vintage Harmony Rocket with DeArmond pickups through a silver faced Fender
Champ with a non original speaker for the main rhythm guitar parts, a 1963 vintage Gibson ES-335 through
the same amp for the lead lines in the vamp, and the additional rhythm parts. The tuning for the Harmony guitar
was borrowed from Michael Hedges, C-G-D-Eflat-Bflat-Eflat and capoed on the 2nd fret. The lead vocal was
recorded through a 60's Midland Electronics tube amplifier that weighs about 1 pound, and mic-ed with an SM57.

Produced and Mixed by Taylor Mesple for InnerCircle Productions
Drums and Bass recorded at Colorado Sound by Lorne Bregitzer, Westminster, CO, USA
Overdubs recorded at InnerCircle Productions by Taylor Mesple, Lewiston, ME, USA
Wurlitzer 200A recorded at Acadia Recording Company by Marc Bartholomew, Portland, ME, USA
Background Vocals recorded at Studio 19 by Dan Merrill, Portland, ME, USA

Slow Motion (music by Taylor Mesple, lyrics by Taylor Mesple and Rebecca Mesple)

Christian Teele: Drums and Percussion
Lars-Erik Dahle: Bass
Taylor Mesple: Keyboards, Simulated Guitar Sounds, Vocals
Paul Brannon: Electric Guitars
Dave Beegle: Electric Guitars
Amy Petty: Background Vocals

Produced and Mixed by Taylor Mesple for InnerCircle Productions
Drums recorded by Christian Teele, Lafayette, CO, USA
Overdubs recorded at InnerCircle Productions by Taylor Mesple, Lewiston, ME, USA
Guitars recorded by Paul Brannon and Dave Beegle, respectively, TN and CO, USA
Wurlitzer 200A recorded at Acadia Recording Company by Marc Bartholomew, Portland, ME, USA
Background Vocals recorded at Studio 19 by Dan Merrill, Portland, ME, USA
Amy Petty Appears Courtesy of Red Pill Entertainment

A Friend Of Mine (Taylor Mesple)

Christian Teele: Drums and Percussion
Scott Bugher: Bass
Taylor Mesple: Additional Synth Bass, Keyboards, Vocals
Steve Mesple: Nylon String Guitar
Joe Gamble: Electric Guitars
Dan Merrill: Background Vocals

Produced and Mixed by Taylor Mesple for InnerCircle Productions
Drums and Percussion recorded by Christian Teele, Lafayette, CO, USA
Bass recorded by Scott Bugher, Wheatridge, CO, USA
Overdubs recorded at InnerCircle Productions by Taylor Mesple, Lewiston, ME, USA
Nylon String Guitar recorded at Coupe Studios by John McVey, Boulder, CO, USA
Electric Guitars recorded by Joe Gamble, Arvada, CO, USA
Wurlitzer 200A recorded at Acadia Recording Company by Marc Bartholomew, Portland, ME, USA
Background Vocals recorded at Studio 19 by Dan Merrill, Portland, ME, USA

For Real (Taylor Mesple)

Christian Teele: Drums and Percussion
Mel Brown: Bass
Taylor Mesple: Acoustic Piano, Keyboards, Vocals
Duke Levine: Electric Guitars in Choruses
Andy Argondizza: Electric Guitar in Verses
Amy Petty: Background Vocals
Dan Merrill: Background Vocals

Produced and Mixed by Taylor Mesple for InnerCircle Productions
Drums and Percussion recorded by Christian Teele, Lafayette, CO, USA
Bass recorded by Mel Brown, AZ, USA
Overdubs recorded at InnerCircle Productions by Taylor Mesple, Lewiston, ME, USA
Yamaha C7 Acoustic Piano recorded at Coupe Studios by John McVey, Boulder, CO, USA
Duke's Electric Guitars recorded at InnerCircle Productions by John McVey, Lewiston, ME, USA
Andy's Electric Guitars recorded at InnerCircle Productions by Taylor Mesple, Lewiston, ME, USA
Background Vocals recorded at Studio 19 by Dan Merrill, Portland, ME, USA
Amy Petty Appears Courtesy of Red Pill Entertainment

Sting's On The Radio (music by Taylor Mesple, lyrics by Taylor Mesple and Gil Helmick)

Christian Teele: Drums and Percussion, Drum Loop
John Kumnick: Bass
Taylor Mesple: Keyboards, Additional Electric Guitar fills, Vocals, Background Vocals, Drum Programming
Duke Levine: Electric Guitars (video of this session HERE)
Steve Mesple: Nylon String Guitar
Dan Merrill: Background Vocals

Produced and Mixed by Taylor Mesple for InnerCircle Productions
Drums and Percussion recorded by Christian Teele, Lafayette, CO, USA
Overdubs recorded at InnerCircle Productions by Taylor Mesple, Lewiston, ME, USA
Duke's Electric Guitars recorded at InnerCircle Productions by John McVey, Lewiston, ME, USA
Nylon String Guitar recorded at Coupe Studios by John McVey, Boulder, CO, USA
Background Vocals recorded at Studio 19 by Dan Merrill, Portland, ME, USA

For Heaven's Sake (music by Taylor Mesple, lyrics by Taylor Mesple and Gil Helmick)

Christian Teele: Drums and Percussion
John Kumnick: Fretless Bass
Taylor Mesple: Acoustic Guitar, Acoustic Piano, Electric Guitar, Vocals
Rebecca Mesple: Harmony Vocals
Gil Helmick: Spoken Word

On this song Taylor used his father's 1971 Martin D-28 Guitar in the tuning C-G-D-G-C-D for the acoustic parts,
a 60's vintage Harmony Rocket through a 50's vintage Gibson 5w amp for the electric parts (in the same tuning),
a Yamaha C7 Piano once owned by Patrick Leonard, and a $100 MXL 2002 microphone. The tuning was probably borrowed
from Jonatha Brooke.

Produced and Mixed by Taylor Mesple for InnerCircle Productions
Drums and Percussion recorded by Christian Teele, Lafayette, CO, USA
Overdubs recorded at InnerCircle Productions by Taylor Mesple, Lewiston, ME, USA
Acoustic Piano recorded at Coupe Studios by John McVey, Boulder, CO, USA
Gil Helmick Appears Courtesy of snowmonks and Old Port Records

Headache (Taylor Mesple)

Joe Gamble: Drum Programming, Bass, Electric Guitars, Sound Design
Taylor Mesple: Keyboards, Additional Sound Design, Vocals

Produced by Joe Gamble, co-produced by Taylor Mesple
Mixed by Taylor Mesple for InnerCircle Productions
Drums, Bass, Guitars recorded by Joe Gamble, Arvada, CO, USA
Overdubs recorded at InnerCircle Productions by Taylor Mesple, Lewiston, ME, USA

Nobody's Fool (Taylor Mesple)

Christian Teele: Drums
Mel Brown: Bass
Taylor Mesple: Acoustic Piano, Hammond B3 Organ, Vocals
Darren Rahn: Tenor Saxophone
Clarence Church: Background Vocals

Produced and Mixed by Taylor Mesple for InnerCircle Productions
Mixed at Red Pill Studios by Jacob Detering, St. Louis, MO, USA
Drums, Bass, Piano and Organ recorded at Colorado Sound by Lorne Bregitzer, Westminster, CO, USA
Saxophone recorded by Darren Rahn, Highlands Ranch, CO, USA
Background Vocals recorded by Clarence Church, Columbus, OH, USA

Song For a Dead Friend Part 2 (Taylor Mesple)

Abe Laboriel, Jr.: Drums
Mel Brown: Bass
Taylor Mesple: Keyboards, Vocals, Background Vocals
Tim Pierce: Electric Guitars
Steve Mesple: Additional Rhythm Electric Guitar

Recorded and mixed in 2002 during the making of "Victory Land" and originally intended for a compilation Kevin Gilbert tribute CD. Abe Laboriel, Jr.
put his wallet on top of his snare drum during the recording for some reason having to do with the sound. No compressors were harmed during the
recording of Tim Pierce's guitar solo. Taylor wrote this song immediately after hearing of Kevin's unfortunate death.

Produced and Mixed by Taylor Mesple for InnerCircle Productions
Drums, Bass, Steve's Guitar's recorded at Colorado Sound by Kevin Clock, Assisted by Justin Peacock, Westminster, CO, USA
Electric Guitars recorded by Tim Pierce, Assisted by Taylor Mesple, Sherman Oaks, CA, USA
Overdubs recorded at InnerCircle Productions by Taylor Mesple, Lewiston, ME, USA
Additional Mastering on this song at Sounds True by Stevin McNamara, Louisville, CO, USA

Last Days (Taylor Mesple)

Christian Teele: Drums
Taylor Mesple: Acoustic Guitar, Acoustic Piano, Keyboards, Vocals
Rebecca Mesple: Background Vocals

Produced and Mixed by Taylor Mesple for InnerCircle Productions
Drums and Percussion recorded by Christian Teele, Lafayette, CO, USA
Acoustic Guitar recorded at The Studio by Steve Drown, Portland, ME, USA
Acoustic Piano recorded at Olin Arts Center by Justin Baker, Lewiston, ME, USA
Lead Vocal recorded by Mark Downie at Western Mastering, Holyoke, MA, USA
Overdubs recorded at InnerCircle Productions by Taylor Mesple, Lewiston, ME, USA

Mix notes: Taylor mixed this album using a Soundcraft Delta 28 channel mixing console modded by ProAudio Majik in Detroit, MI, USA, Pro Tools HD with Lynx Aurora converters, and outboard gear including Anthony Demaria Labs ADL-1000, Neve Portico 5043, Bellari half rack tube comp, and mixes were run through a 5000 series SSL buss compressor modded by Obeid Khan, the standalone SL520 module. Plugins included Massey comp and EQ, TL Space TDM and Waves Renaissance comps and EQ's. Referenced on single amped DynAudio BM-15 passives once owned and used by Kevin Gilbert, powered by a Hafler Transnova amp. Cabling by Evidence Audio, the Lyric HG, and Zaolla.

Mastered by Mark Downie at Western Mastering, Holyoke, MA, USA

Free Sample of new Taylor Mesple CD on Noisetrade!

2009-07-26T13:09:00.001-04:00

All The While CD released!

2009-07-25T19:53:00.002-04:00

Taylor's New CD has been sent to the mastering guy

2009-07-09T17:00:00.003-04:00

Hi friends-

I've officially finished my new CD "All The While" and sent it to mastering and graphic design. It's my first "vocal cd" since Victory Land all the way back in 2002. Can't believe it's been that long. It took that long for some of these songs to incubate properly. I'm really excited about the new CD- I'm proud of it in a way that surpasses my other CD's to date.

If you want to be the first to download the record when it's released, please send a quick email to oldportrecords@gmail.com and put "TM CD" in the subject line.

Taylor Mesple

Still percolating

2009-05-17T11:51:00.002-04:00

Just wanted to drop a quick line and tell you that I'm working hard on a new CD of my own music. It'll be the first "vocal music" CD of my music since Victory Land in 2002. Players include Christian Teele, Duke Levine, Steve Mesple, Mel Brown, and an unreleased track from the Victory Land era featuring Abe Jr. and Tim Pierce. Stay tuned!

-Taylor Mesple

Richard Page video

2008-12-11T11:46:00.002-05:00

I've LONG been a fan of Richard Page. From his days fronting "Mr. Mister" to his collaborations with Pat Leonard in "3rd Matinee" to the songs he's written for Hall and Oates, Madonna, and so many more... he truly has a golden voice. My song "Imagination" was actually written after a daydream I had when I was in my early twenties, in which Richard sang that melody to me in an imaginary songwriting session. This is a great Christmas gift, to hear his new music. Enjoy!

Reflections on Disc 1 - Track 1+2 "Music Box"

2008-11-22T20:37:00.002-05:00

"Music Box" - Peter Mayer (lead guitarist for Jimmy Buffett, singer/songwriter, guitar hero)

In this opening pair of tracks, first an introduction and then a 7 minute expanded song, the incomparable Peter Mayer sets a tone and a high bar for the rest of the double CD.

My first exposure to Peter Mayer was some incredibly tasty "hired gun" work on the first Dave Weckl CD, drummer for Chick Corea. My brother is an incredible drummer, and he was turned onto the Weckl CD while studying with latin percussionist Gary Sosias. My brother and I spent 6-8 hours a day practicing our instruments growing up- me on keyboards and him on drums. We spent a lot of time listening to CD's together as well. The Weckl CD was of course jam packed with syncopated and dazzling drum information, but also featured some really great writing and some really great playing by guys like Peter. The strat tones were beautiful and soulful, and the articulation and melodic sense was downright lyrical. And he was trading fours with Michael Brecker, so he was as "legit" as could be!

In the years to come, I would pop on the Weckl CD many times while trying to communicate my hopes for one of my songs to whatever guitar player I was working with at the time.

Many years later, a good friend of mine in Sweden, Mikael Engstrom, was suggesting music I might like, because he knows my taste and shares it. He asked if I'd heard "the singer/songwriters Peter Mayer". I wrinkled my brow and typed back "you mean the session player?" via email. It turned out it WAS the same Peter Mayer. I instantly ordered 2 or 3 CD's from CDBABY of his music.

Over the next few years, I can honestly say I listened to very little music other than Peter's vast wealth of original songs. When I first moved to Maine 5 years ago I grabbed a quick paper route job, delivering to 300+ houses 6 days a week, and the soundtrack to all those 3am adventures was Peter's CD's "Romeo's Garage" and "Music Box". I had discovered a true musical genius.

Peter's sense of harmony and musicality was right up my alley- sophisticated and clever from a musician's point of view but never at the expense of the accessibility of the song to the non musician. The best of both worlds. His lyrics and singing were inspiring and thought provoking, and the musicianship was tops throughout the CD's. My first true love musically was Sting's 'Brint on the Night' double-CD, which did the same thing, unleashing world class musicianship upon singable, accessible songs.

The day finally came that I was ready to approach Peter about playing on one of my songs. I was working on "Songs for Autumn" and once again I was asking guitar players to play like Peter... :-) so I looked up his contact information and sent off a request. Fortunately for me, we were able to work out the timing and details to make it happen. He is featured on my song "Underneath the Stars" with an incredible guitar solo similar in tone to the Dave Weckl tune that first turned me onto his playing.

I first heard the song "Music Box" when Peter played the Palace Theater in New Hampshire. It was a breathtaking moment... meaning that it literally took my breath away. What a universal concept- finding a trinket in the attic that brings all the ghosts back to haunt you and change your course forever.

It was very important for me to get Peter to be the debut artist at my venue when it opened, and we were able to get him for this special event on September 6th, 2007. The Maple Room was launched with the help of this master artist.