About
$184
13
Starting in the basment
I started playing drums when I was 15, guitar at 16 and bass at 20.
Inspired by basement jams in high school with friends, as well as how Joe Satriani played every instrument on his first recording, I decided to do the same. I'd made a 4 song EP my first year of college, and decided to make a full length cassette the summer between my second and third year.
The Songs
Two of the songs were the first and second full songs I ever wrote when I was 16. The rest were written when I was 17 to 20. Most are instrumental guitar in the style of Eric Johnson, Joe Satriani and Steve Morse. There is one song with vocals, but not sung by me.
The titles come from everyday life. "Judas" was named because it sounded like Judas Priest. "The Friendies" were a group of girl in college. "Psycho John" was an homage to my party buddy John. "Nasally Impaired" was written when I had a cold. "Ylime" is a girls name backwards. "Groceries & Antifreeze" was named after a shopping trip. "Rhet Rho" had something to do with Scooby Doo. "Hangover" was like a slap in the face the morning after a wild night to jolt you out of your hangover.
The album title came from a sign up sheet I'd put on my dorm room door asking students to name the next release. Three sheets later, Virgin Freak was chosen. A picture of this sheet is included in the reissue.
I had 100 cassettes printed up, and took them with me when I returned to college in the fall.
The process
I had a 4 track Tascam cassette Portatstudio back then, as that was the current style.
Although it was a 4 track, I was able to record on 6 tracks, which is something I never figured out how it was able to do that. Recording was done in my basement (for the drums) and bedroom for the guitars/bass. I used the guitar I got when I was 17, and the new bass and amp my parents bought me for my 19th birthday.
My dad built me a low mic stand for the guitar amp. He also took the cover photo.
The reissue
The reissue marks 20 years since the cassette was released. The CD will include a bonus track from the first EP, as well as some photo outtakes. It will also be released digitally through CD Baby, as well as sold physically at CD Baby and Love Muffin Records. Love Muffin is the label I started in college. Virgin Freak was the first release on it.
Risks and challenges
A valid snail mail address will be required to mail rewards out. Rewards sent outside the US will require a little extra postage.
I already have the stickers, magnets and promo photos. I plan on taking the artwork and master CD to the duplicators in early February. Once those are done, I can send them to CD Baby to get the download cards done.
I have used these duplicators before, and the quality has always been good. I had a professional master CD made by a recording friend with over 30 years of knowledge in recording. I have also used CD Baby for download cards before. Everything is copyrighted. No permits are needed. I have gotten permission from the one guest singer to do this.
If there is a problem, and the duplicator is unable to duplicate it, I know another one that will. In the event the CD's and download cards end up not being made due to circumstances beyond my control, all money will be refunded.
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Funding period
- (30 days)