TIDBITS

Commentary and Secrets about Original Liner Notes. From Siegel-Schwall's Flash Forward 2005 release on Alligator Records.

Recorded at Gator Tracks, Chicago, IL. "Gator Tracks" is the Alligator Warehouse. Included in the greater Gator Tracks studios is a studio which was bedroom in my apartment a long long time ago.

Special ambience at the end of "Stormy Weather Love" recorded by Holly Siegel: When we were mixing "Stormy Weather Love," in the tiny studio in our apartment, a thunder storm appeared. Holly asked that we stop the mixing and she held the available microphone out our window to capture the ambience. You can hear different levels of rain. You can hear the wishhhh of the rain in the distance, the droplets splashing on various objects, and the bright clicking from the rain hitting the ivy surrounding the window.

Mastered by Mitch Zelezny at Mitch's Mix n' Master, Glendale, CA: This guy is amazing. Just like our co-producer and mixer, Ken Goerres, he cares so much about the "sound" that he is willing to dismiss everything he is told and everything he reads and simply goes by what he "hears." What a concept!

Photos by Paul Natkin/Photo Reserve: Paul was the Rolling Stones personal photographer. You can see his work on many covers of many renowned magazines like "TIME." He lives in Chicago and has been a good friend for many years. He realizes that artists and musicians walk a treacherous territory and so his hobby and passion is helping out Chicago Musicians.

Packaging design by Kevin Niemiec: Kevin is one of the fearless young designers on the great team of blues-lovers at Alligator Records.

Recorded with Shure Microphones: My first microphone for both voice and harmonica was the Shure Unidine III ­ 545. I still use this microphone to this day for my harp. Shure has supplied me with all my microphones for performing and recording. I don't know what I would have done without their support of Chamber Blues and Siegel-Schwall.

Corky Siegel uses Hohner Harmonicas and Shure Microphones exclusively. More technical information.

Microphone cables, AC cables and studio monitors by Exakte: Exakte is Ken Goerres' company. He sat in the Alligator Warehouse (Gator Tracks) and made ALL our microphone cables by hand. They are special cables ­ very thick. Now even many skeptics are raving about them.

Recorded and mixed on the Roland 2480: The 2480 HD is a portable 16 input and 24 output hard disc recorder. This amazing machine and machines like it, in conjunction with the Internet, has made it very easy for artists to make their music available to the fans.

Technical Support by Howard Gale, the Zen Tech: I can't say enough about Howard.

Personal Management: Holly Siegel: Holly does everything. Bookings, PR, Travel, Management, Road Management. Everyone wants her to work for them. But she is my wife and we have been together for over 25 years and working together most of that time. Ha. Ha. Ha.

Web site management/development: Michael Kopp: Michael understands the Internet like no one I have ever met. He understands what a web site is for. Most web designers don't understand this. People like the "flash" but after a while I bet people just want to get to the information quickly. Sometimes ­ as you might notice - I ask Michael to do some things on this website that go against his better judgment ­ but he does them for me anyway.