Dave's Smithereens Page caught up with Pat DiNizio in December '97, and he graciously gave us his time to answer a few questions about his solo record called Songs And Sounds.
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But first, a little history... In January 1997, Pat first told DSP about his new recording contract with Velvel Records, and that he would hit the east coast for a coffeehouse tour. The station-wagon journey prepared him to make a new record, and it helped him find his muse. While out on the road driving himself from show to show, he found the inspiration to write nearly all the songs for his new album. As he stated to us at the time, he enjoyed himself "immensely on the all-too-brief tour." Recording sessions began in the spring, at Reflection Sound Studios in Charlotte, North Carolina. The Stranglers' Jean Jacques Burnel was lined up for bass duties, Tony Smith, who played with Lou Reed and the Jan Hammer Group, was on drums, and Blue Note recording artist Sonny Fortune played saxophone and flute. Clearly this was going to be a very different kind of record for the mainstream pop songwriter. Not all would be entirely out of character, however. Pat brought in the tried and trusted Don Dixon to produce the new record. "He's the Smithereens' George Martin," Pat proclaimed proudly. And try as Pat might to make a different set of recordings, the songs were written by Pat DiNizio, who, by his own account, was still a three-minute pop songwriter. The songs and sounds he made are uniquely his. Now, with a couple of months' time to reflect on his work, Pat offers us his views and insights.
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| DSP: | How do you feel about your first solo LP? What are you most proud of? |
| Pat: | Proud of rising to the challenge of putting together four really different musicians in one room and making it work. I just really like the record. I needed to do it. |
| DSP: | How did you finally settle on the album title? |
| Pat: | The original title I came up with was "Myself When I Am Real." The title "Songs And Sounds" was taken from a "Capitol/Stan Kenton Presents" label release from the '50s by the Al Belletto Septet. The label preferred that title. I didn't. |
| DSP: | The album cover is a take on the old Lennie Tristano jazz album, isn't it? |
| Pat: | Yes it is. A bit too much of a steal of the original for my taste. It works best in the 12" LP version.
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| DSP: | I know that Everyday World, and A World Apart date back some time in your songwriting history. Do any of the other songs have a similar history, and conversely, which songs are the newest? |
| Pat: | Everything but those two were written expressly for Songs And Sounds. There are band demos of both, nothing great, really. The band demo versions never equaled the 4-track home demo versions, unfortunately. |
| DSP: | Someone named Springa co-wrote Nobody But Me, and Valerie Vardel can be heard on Running, Jumping, Standing Still. Can you tell me a little about these folks? |
| Pat: | Springa is a friend / songwriting partner from Chicago who was in an early influential hardcore band called SSD Overdrive from Boston. Valerie is an old friend and singer / musician who was singing backup for Millie Jackson when I met her back in 1988 or '89. She sang on the original Record Plant, NYC demo of A Girl Like You. She lives near Dallas. |
| DSP: | Are you going to be on "Rockline," and are there any other scheduled media events we should watch for? "Conan?" "World Café?" "Mountain Stage?" |
| Pat: | "World Café" was done in late November. "Voice Of America" was done in Washington, DC. No "Rockline"... they changed their format. Call or write to complain! |
| DSP: | How are things going with the group deal with Velvel? |
| Pat: | Very well. I'll be writing on the road during my upcoming "solo" tour. Hope to record in May. No "firm" plans. |