Lee Wadlinger's Guide To Dating: Online Liner Notes
|
It was the Summer of 2002. I couldn't find a job
and was living with some friends at a house on the
campus of the University of Dayton. The Knights
of Infinite Resignation had formed and played in
the Spring, but I had the bug to do some recording
and playing on my own. The problem was that I
had dreams of becoming an English professor
(aka avoiding the real world forever), and I was in
the throes of a rigorous, self-imposed studying
regiment for the GRE literature subject test.
Basically, I was trying to read the key works from
every major period of literature. It actually was
kind of fun.
Anyway, with the constant reading at all, I wasn't
exactly motivated to record or book a show.
Then, Bright Idea #1 struck me: I had finished
What's Wrong With Me two years previously,
and still wasn't into doing a full-fledged solo
album, so why not record an entire album solo
acoustic, all in one take? I turned the idea over in
my head and decided to give it a go. The only
problem was, once I finished the recording it
sounded completely flat. There was something
missing, and I couldn't put my finger on it.
That's when I got Bright Idea #2: Why not do my version of the Beach Boys Party album? I talked with one of my
housemates, and we decided it was a good idea. We invited some friends over and my buddy Lud got us a keg. I can't
remember if we had told everyone that I was going to try and record a set, but I remember at one point just saying, "Ok, it's
time," and going upstairs to get my guitar, four track, and mic. I set everything up in a few minutes, ran a quick
soundcheck, and started the set.
What you get on the CD is what happened that night -- no edits and with all warts included. A few times I mess up the
intro to a song, and a few times I hit a stray chord or note. It was a pretty relaxed evening. At one point, you can hear my
friend Blair kindly letting me know that there's no tape in the four track, only to have me confirm that there actually was a
tape running. It's interesting to hear how things progress as more and more beer is consumed. I get heckled when I need
to be heckled, and get applauded when I need to get applauded. I think my personal favorite moment of the set is the
dead silence when I finish "Simplify Your Life With Kids."
This was originally supposed to be released soon after it was recorded on Irving Avenue Records, which was the label
that put out What's Wrong With Me. A variety of circumstances intervened, however, and so only a few copies ever saw
the light of day. When Next Best Records started taking shape and I realized that we'd have the resources to do a
pressing of the Guide To Dating, I went ahead and remixed the tapes.
The recording, just like the performance, is a bit raw at times. I must have had a bad tape, because if you listen closely,
you'll notice a few glitches and volume drops in "Prodigy Tuner" and the "secret song," "God Bless Brady." I made an
attempt to smooth these glitches out during the mixing stage, but they're still there. Speaking of "God Bless Brady," it was
an impromptu performance (at Lud's request -- we'll call it my payment for my share of the beer) and, so, I unfortunately ran
out of tape in the middle of the second verse. You get the point, though.
So that's it: the Guide To Dating. In a sense, it's not really a formal release, more like an extended-size postcard to
friends. Whatever it is, I hope someone gets a kick or two out of it.
(By the way, I'm still a bit bummed that I didn't similarly record my live set about ten months later at Antioch College in
Yellow Springs. After I played "Pop Song '02" that night, a lady in the audience informed me that I would, in fact, look
great in a thong.)