Tony Levin’s Liquid Tension Experiment diary entries

Sept. 13, 1997 – LONDON

In a few weeks I’ll be going into the studio with two players from the group “Dream Theater,” Mike Portnoy and John Petrucci. We’ll be joined by an excellent keyboard player, Jordan Rudes – and I’m hoping the result will be something worthwhile.

Update – September 29

Well, we finished the rhythm tracks of the project currently titled “Millenium Project” – Mike Portnoy and John Petrucci of Dream Theater, Jordan Rudes of Dixie Dregs -- and me, trying to keep up! (Boy, these guys play FAST! ) Hopefully that cd will be ready for release by the end of the year (it’ll be on Magna Carta Records, and I’ll put up a note and link when it’s ready.) We had some amusing moments, some of the riffs being so fast I must admit I had to punch in my bass parts bar by bar. (no shame!)

http://papabear.com/site_archive/tlevarc2.htm

Oct. 11, 1998 – Milbrook NY., Out of the frying pan...

But now I’m at a studio nestled in a remote corner of New York State – the autumn leaves are bright gold here, and when it’s not raining, the air is wonderfully fresh. But that’s for the horses to enjoy, cause we (Liquid Tension Experiment) are again locked in a studio without windows, writing and recording round the clock. Ten days to write and record an album – why do we do this to ourselves?? I’m again impressed by how many notes per second the other guys can play! (Jordan Rudess, Mike Portnoy, John Petrucci.) And, as in the last recording, I’m the one struggling to play these blazing parts, and grateful that the others are patient with me. I did, since I knew this was coming, practice my speed Stick playing a bit, so am not hopelessly left behind this time. It’s pretty cozy here – four guys, three bedrooms – no wonder we’d just as soon rehearse till after midnight! Quite a change from the Crimson rehearsals, which ususally break by 6pm for dinner and time alone to do the many things which Crims do! I DO have my faithful Saeco Profi machine set up here, so coffee breaks are as they should be; with good fresh espresso.

Oct. 13,1998 – Millbrook NY, Liquid Tension breaks water...

A surprising change of schedule: John Petrucci’s wife went into labor today(!) so after getting the phone call, he went home to Long Island, leaving us at a loss how to procede with our 10 days for recording the quartet. After congratulating him and seeing him off, we spent the night jamming with just the three remaining, and will make decisions tomorrow. A little awkward for me, since I’m off to tour with P4 next week. We’ll see. One thing for sure, the one composition that we were just finishing will be called “When the Water Breaks.”

Update: Oct. 14 – Milbrook NY – Kiara

John’s baby girl was born this morning – her name is Kiara and she is doing fine. But the band, trying to continue recording without our guitarist, is running a bit short of ideas! It’s a bit like recording Music Minus One. Hopefully he’ll make it back to the studio next week. Late last night we found ourselves discussing what we each like best about this studio (this is our second album here) and found that the private favorite thing of each of us was the same: the toilet paper! It’s really soft!! The owner, Paul, won’t tell us the brand, so I guess we’ll keep coming back here to do our albums in.... comfort.

Update Oct 16 – Millbrook, NY – Taking a break.

We decided last night to take a break from recording the Liquid Tension cd until John can make it back. It’s been quite a rollercoaster ride without guitar here, but we have managed to get a lot of good material done, both before he left and after. We’ll re-convene in November and should easily finish the project in a few days. Mid our packing up, Paul Orofino, the studio owner, had a computer delivered: his first ever. I watched him sign up (on AOL) as I left – I would have liked to see his reaction to getting on the web and discovering that this site mentions his studio... and that it notes that our favorite equipment there is the toilet paper!

Nov. 22, 1998 – Millbrook NY. – Liquid Tension repairs its leak.

We’re back in the studio, finishing the album we started last month. JohnPetrucci’s baby is doing fine, and the hiatus the baby urged on this project seems to have been worthwhile – my fingers are certainly nimbler now, after some Crimson touring. As I write this, at midnight, the other guys are still in the studio – having taken barely a break all day from writing and learning the newest LTE epic. Their endurance amazes me. Sometime this week I’ve got to get some practice time in for the upcoming BLUE tour – those pieces are different than these, but still demanding for the Stick player!

There’s a new feature here at Millbrook Sound; Paul, the owner, has assembled many of his vintage guitar amp tops in the control room, so guitar players can audition each of them while overdubbing to a track. Very neat... might even replace the toilet paper here as the best feature of the studio! oh oh ... got to get back in there.

Nov 27, 1998 – Millbrook, NY

Back in Millbrook Sound with Liquid Tension, having broken for a day to eat (burp) with our families. Album is finally getting finished up – one track to go, and we’ll be ready to do fixes and overdubs. Considering some January live dates, for sure one at the NAMM show in L.A.