Time Capsule Trivia Page

(Don's insights, trivia and thank yous)

  Everyone involved in the making of "Time Capsule" are family & friends!

     I began this project in the summer of 1996. I was just beginning to learn how to use my VS880 Digital Recorder. I had recorded 3 songs completely, all 8 tracks, and had to erase them out of the hard drive after the system locked up. More than a months work was lost in a matter of seconds. I've never made that same mistake again.

    "A Million To One" was written about Joanne. We met in a band called "City Lights" at a very trying time of my life. That's why she had to be the one to sing it. Thanks baby lamb!

  This entire project was put on hold for about 10 months while I worked for Pacific "Hell." During that time I worked so much overtime, I never had time to devote to the project. Thanks to Kurt for hiring me back to my old job.

  "Outside Lookin' In" was written about 2 good friends (one, a former bandmate) who went through a divorce. Thanks for the inspiration Cindy & Steve.

Summer 1998: During one of the many backup vocal recording sessions, Joanne made us all strawberry daiquiris. It was hot! Everyone was singing and spitting out pieces of wood! (What she didn't tell us is that she used a wooden spoon in the blender and ground up the end of it.)

We insisted she make us new ones without the wood.

  "Take All the Money" was written about 'demo derbies.' I once attended a demo derby and submitted one of my songs. After sitting through hundreds of other songs, the producer listened to a few seconds of my song and actually said, "Okay, next." It was great for the ego. I really liked the way Joe interpreted this song. As a writer himself, I knew he'd understand. Thanks, guy!

  Tom came over one night to lay down some guitar tracks and forgot his strap. (I've known Tom over 10 years, through 2 bands, plus we share the same birthday.) He used an old rope, tied it to his guitar and hung it around his neck. That's the picture of Tom & the rope on the lyric page. Playing guitar with a rope around his neck and still kicking ass!

  I tried and tried to get someone to 'rap' "Only in America" until finally I just decided to do it myself. It was the hardest song to record and the hardest to mix.

  That's my son, Jason, saying "The Pledge of Allegiance" at the end of "Only in America." He actually recorded it nearly two years ago and it's a good thing he did it then - his voice has changed and is so deep now, it would have lost the quality I was looking for.



  I never intended Rozane's vocal track of "Mr. Moonlight" to be on the final mix. Rozane sang it so good during the 'scratch' vocal, I left it. She told me she couldn't sing it the same way again. I can still picture Rozane sitting in a smoke filled room with a tall scotch & water belting this tune. If anyone can sing a torch song, Rozane can. Thanks, Cousin!

  Mike Farina came up with the concept and the title for "The Killing Kind" and Joanne helped with a few lyrics. Mike used to be the sound man for Joanne, Tom and I in HotWired & Gunshy and he's always been my number one fan. Thanks, Buddy!

  Chris was very excited when I asked her to sing for this project. I gave her a tape of some of the songs and told her to pick out two. She had a hard time and eventually I picked them out for her. I only wish I could have used your ad-libs in "Whatcha Do To Me" - 1,2 - buckle my shoe... and what about panties? Thanks, Chris!

  Dejra (I'll never get used to calling you that) and "A Star for the Night" was the final touch for the project. I was glad to know I could write a song about something specific and having you sing it made it extra special - thanks cousin!

  Peggy Dean, my cousin and photographer extraordinaire. I knew you'd come up with something perfect for my cover. You finding a piano on the side of the road truly convinced me that the "Time Capsule" concept was meant to be.

Can you spot the picture of "The Maestro" on the CD cover?

Copyright 2002 by Slap Happy Productions, San Jose California U.S.A.