Poi Dog Pondering: “Song Seeds of 7"

In a sort of expansion on our “Sweeping up the cutting room floor” album idea,
We are starting a new series of
Demos, Sketches, 1st Drafts, Alternate versions, Outtakes, & Rarities.
Showing the Compositions in Motion towards their trajectory to final album version.

On the eve of the 10th year anniversary of the release of “7”, we are releasing the Original Demos that were the ‘song seeds’ for the album versions; (as well as a couple outtakes that didn’t make it on the album, for some reason or another).

Track List:

 1 - Perfect Music  (demo version)
 2 - Sticky  (demo version)
 3 - Lemon Drop Man  (demo version)
 4 - Butterflies  (demo version)
 5 - From This Moment On  (demo version)
 6 - Palm Leaf Effigy  (home demo version)
 7 - Palm Leaf Effigy  (studio demo version)
 8 - Rusted Weather  (demo version)
 9 - Baby Together  (demo version)
10 - Heaven Only Knows   (demo version)
11 - In Comes the Night  (demo version)
12 - Outta Yer Head   (demo version)
13 - Slow Candy  (re-mix demo version)
14 - Fast Candy (demo version)
15 - When the Drums Just Banged (outtake)
16 - Super Tarana (demo version)
17 - Space Dust (demo version)
18 - Star Light  (outtake / demo version)

Notes:

DEMOS: (working version version of a song idea)
Like Gesture Sketch drawing helps a painter to develop composition, and balance the proportions,
or; the way a Rough Draft of a story helps a writer understand how to unfold the story, and shape it’s arc. Or, the way a Floor Plan drawing, or a Model of a building helps an architect or carpenter, layout & visualize the building…

A spontaneous demo version of a song helps the musician articulate the shape and thrust of the song idea; gives the song form and direction. And, helps the other musicians who will play on it’s final version, to get a physical idea of the intention of the composition. It’s like a 3 dimensional sonic model.

A composer once said to me; “I like to quickly frame the house first, careful not to get caught up in the details, and thus get bogged down…but, rather move quickly & intuitively, and realize the idea in a basic form. Afterwards, if I see that the song idea has substance, and a good foundation; I can go back in and build it from the inside out. It’s then I allow myself to be particular about the details”.  This struck me as true for myself as well, when I’m making demos.

EARLY VERSIONS AND ALTERNATE TAKES:
Often times, it takes a few attempts to record a song to comprehend and conceive it. It can be played slow or fast / Have different arrangement phases along the way / Different approaches in style. Occationally, abandoned song ideas get cannibalized and show up in other songs. Sometimes there are good ideas in alternate versions that never wind up on the final version because the songs evolve, or there is just no space in the mix… or, they get over looked.

OUT-TAKES:
Some song ideas make it all the way to the studio, and finally get left off the final cut list, just because the album is taking shape all its own, and some particular songs, tho loved, don’t quite seem to fit the vibe of the album concept, as a whole. Sometimes they show up on later albums, once we understand them better, or find the right album home for them.
We might go into the studio with twenty solid songs demos, or song start ideas. Then, once we get up to speed in the studio, new songs often start to write them selves along the way (as we have sort of woken the ghost) and we wind up with too many songs to choose from.

SONG DEVELOPMENT:
Many song ideas are experimented with in rehearsal, or directly in the studio while recording. Lot’s of ideas are tried. We like to try every idea that comes up. Once all ideas are considered and tested, It’s usually obvious to the majority which idea works the best.  
Different band members and sections bring ideas for layers of sound towards the making of the final version: Horn and String arrangements. Rhythm section augmentation, Vocal harmonies. Sonic textures and production elements; They all bring atmosphere & intricacy to the recording.

Credits: Song Seeds of "7"

1 - Perfect Music: Clava Studio Demo
Guitar, bass, drums & percussion - Frank Orrall
Guitar - Ted Cho
Piano - Seth Drake
(recorded by Ted Cho)

2 - Sticky: Platetectonic Studio Demo
Guitar, bass, drums, percussion & Vocals - Frank
(recorded by Frank)

3 - Lemon Drop Man: Clava Studio Demo,
Frank - Guitar, bass, drums, percussion & Vocals
Ted Cho- Guitar
(Recorded by Ted Cho & Frank)

4 - Butterflies: Livingroom Demo
Guitar, Bass, Vibraphone, Drums - Frank
(recorded by Frank)

5 - From this moment on: Platetectonic Studio Demo
Guitar, bass, drums & Vocals - Frank
(recorded by Frank)

6 - Palm Leaf effigy: Livingroom Demo
Guitar, drums, & Vocals- Frank
(Recorded by Frank)

7 - Palm Leaf effigy: Midnight Wall 2 Wall, 7 session Studio Demo
6 & 12 string Guitar, drums, Up-right bass, Koto & Vocals- Frank
(Recorded by Frank)

8 - Rusted Weather: Clava Studio Demo
Guitar, bass, drums, Percussion & vox - Frank
Piano - Seth Drake
(Recorded by Ted Cho)

9 - Baby Together: Livingroom Demo
Guitar, Drums & Bass. Vox - Frank
(Recorded by Frank)

10 - Heaven only knows: Platetectonic Studio Demo
All instruments - Frank
(Recorded by Frank)

11 - In comes the Night: Clava Studio Demo
Acoustic Guitar, Bass, Vox - Frank
Electric Guitar - Ted Cho
Dan Leali - Drums
(Recorded by Ted Cho)

12 - Outta yer Head: Wall 2 Wall Demo
All instruments - Frank
(Recorded by Frank & Martin Stebbing)

13 - Candy (slow version): Wall 2 Wall Demo
All instruments - Frank
(Recorded by Frank)

14 - Candy (Fast version): Wall 2 Wall Demo
All instruments - Frank
(Recorded by Frank Orrall, Ted Cho & Martin Stebbing)

15 - When the Drums Just Banged: Clava Demo
All instruments - Frank
(Recorded by Frank & Ted)

16 - Super Tarana: Platetectonic Studio Demo
All instruments - Frank
(recorded by Frank)

17 - Space dust: Wall 2 Wall Demo
All instruments - Frank
(recorded by Frank)

18 - Starlight: Wall 2 Wall Demo
Frank - guitar, bass organ, Drums & vox
Susan Voelz - Casio organ
(recorded by Frank)

All Songs written by Frank Orrall (except from this moment on: Music by Frank / Lyrics by Susan Voelz) All songs c & p Guava Juice Music 2017)

Cover Photo by Rob Myers

Design: the Dandy