I'm recording Pink Floyd's classic 1973 album on cello, and will release it on vinyl via Kickstarter. Read more
I'm recording Pink Floyd's classic 1973 album on cello, and will release it on vinyl via Kickstarter.
About this project
NEW GOAL: $7,000 (Achieved!!) = 300 180-gram audiophile quality LPs! Thank you all for your support in surpassing the original goal and the new stretch goal as well. All vinyl rewards have been upgraded to 180-gram vinyl!
Hi! Gordon Withers here, the cellist/guitarist for J. Robbins's Office Of Future Plans. Since 2007 I've recorded three solo cello albums, and I've just finished my fourth - a complete, nearly note-for-note cello version of Pink Floyd's Dark Side Of The Moon. Now I turn to you, Kickstarter backers, to help give it the vinyl release it deserves!
Here's (most of) the first track, "Speak To Me/Breathe":
(If you don't see the embedded track, listen to it on Soundcloud instead)
The idea came to me after a family member requested a cover of Pink Floyd's "Mother." It was a blast to do, and I quickly became fascinated with the possibility of a whole Floyd album on cello. Dark Side seemed like the obvious choice, since it's a classic, and arguably their best work. It's also the riskiest, since so many other tribute versions and acts already exist. There are already classical versions of Pink Floyd, and this is not one of them. My goal is to present all the original rock intensity and arrangement complexity, but from an unusual perspective - one that hopefully sounds familiar and unfamiliar at the same time.
The vinyl will be pressed by Gotta Groove Records of Cleveland, Ohio.
The artwork will be done by Zach Barocas of Jawbox and BELLS≥. This will be revealed toward the end of the project, or shortly thereafter.
The album is being mastered by Dan Coutant of Sun Room Audio, who also did the Office of Future Plans album and my recent Joy Formidable cello tribute.
I am honored to feature the talent of avant-electronic musician Bishonen Knife (aka Stephen Swift) on the second track, "On The Run", which contains elements impossible to replicate on cello. Stephen did an amazing job weaving in and sequencing the cello samples I sent with other effects and crowd noises.
This is both the most difficult and rewarding recording project I've ever taken on, so I'm excited to share it and include everyone in the process. Kickstarter is the best crowd-funding tool around, and I can't think of any way I'd rather bring this album to the public. Thanks for listening and I hope you enjoy the album!
(photo: Kelley Jackson for Lucy Pearl Photography, video by Stephen Withers)
Risks and challenges
Vinyl is a tricky and difficult way of releasing music. The process is prone to inaccuracy, unforeseeable delays, and multiple revision rounds. That being said, I have experience with the excellent Gotta Groove Records shop in Cleveland, and have absolute confidence in their expertise and ability to deliver.
For the special rewards, I've limited them to just a few each. I'm only one cello dude with a life and a day job, so I don't have a lot of free time. I feel confident I can deliver the celloized songs, concerts, and other items in the time specified. If anyone orders the one full custom cello album available, we'll need to have a detailed discussion as the level of difficulty can vary widely depending on what you want!
Cost breakdown:
Recording, mixing - done!
Mastering - in progress
Licensing via Harry Fox Agency (legal requirement for cover songs) - $500+ depending on amount of vinyl and mp3s distributed
Vinyl production & sleeves - $1,600
CDs - paid for
Postage and mailers for LPs and CDs - $1,500+ (but this could go WAY up if Media Mail is eliminated by USPS)
Collaboration, artwork, layout, other misc fees - $600ish
Publicity and promotion - not currently budgeted
Amazon/Kickstarter fees - $500
That's about $4.5K (not counting $ already spent).
If there's enough extra leftover, I'll divide it between promotion, fancier vinyl sleeves and inserts, increased song licensing fees, more vinyl (if necessary - here's hoping), and any other extras and goodies I can think of.
Thanks so much, and feel free to leave questions for the FAQ.
Learn about accountability on KickstarterFAQ
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I'm using Bandcamp for digital fulfillment, so you'll have a choice of your preferred format, with several options including lossless and mp3.
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This is a great question. I'm fine with you do anything you want with it other than selling it. Sharing it, remixing it, anything along those lines is all fair game.
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Sorry, it won't. The running time is very close to the original Pink Floyd album but not exact.
Rewards
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Pledge $10 or more
90 backers
Digital download of the album.
Estimated delivery: -
Pledge $15 or more
80 backers
Hand-assembled & stamped CD + Digital Download.
Estimated delivery:Ships anywhere in the world -
Pledge $20 or more
116 backers
LP - Limited edition of 333, available exclusively via this Kickstarter (assuming they sell out here). Pressed by Gotta Groove Records in Cleveland.
+ Digital download of the album.
Estimated delivery:Ships anywhere in the world -
Pledge $30 or more
51 backers
Both the LP and the CD.
+ Digital download.
Estimated delivery:Ships anywhere in the world -
Pledge $45 or more
12 backers All gone!
Old-school mixtape! Let me know what kind of music you like, and I'll make you a custom 90-minute mixtape on an authentic overdubbed Maxell XL-II (or equivalent) from the 90s.
+ LP or CD
+ Digital download
+ Digital downloads of my 3 other albumsEstimated delivery:Ships anywhere in the world -
Pledge $65 or more
4 backers All gone!
45-minute Skype music lesson! Doesn't have to be a cello lesson - the fundamentals of Rocking Out apply to any instrument.
+ LP or CD
+ Digital download
+ Digital downloads of my 3 other albumsEstimated delivery:Ships anywhere in the world -
Pledge $100 or more
7 backers All gone!
The return of the cello-ized song! I'll record a cello version of your favorite song. Must be within reason - ie., not completely ridiculous (no Dream Theater, sorry) and not already too string-heavy.
+ LP and/or CD
+ Digital download
+ Digital downloads of my 3 other albumsEstimated delivery:Ships anywhere in the world -
Pledge $250 or more
1 backer Limited (1 left of 2)
Original song! Give me some parameters and I'll compose & record an original cello piece for you.
+ LP and/or CD
+ Digital download
+ Digital downloads of my 3 other albumsEstimated delivery:Ships anywhere in the world -
Pledge $300 or more
0 backers Limited (2 left of 2)
Local house concert
+ LP and/or CD
+ Digital download
+ Digital downloads of my 3 other albums
+ cookies, maybeEstimated delivery:Ships anywhere in the world -
Pledge $500 or more
0 backers Limited (2 left of 2)
I'll join you for two full studio days at the studio of your choice. I'll play cello, help jam or compose songs, play guitar, produce, engineer, get coffee - whatever you want. You cover my travel expenses if the studio isn't near DC. (You also cover the studio expenses, of course, unless it's your own studio)
+ LP and/or CD
+ Digital download
+ Digital downloads of my 3 other albumsEstimated delivery:Ships anywhere in the world -
Pledge $500 or more
1 backer Limited (1 left of 2)
Non-local house concert. You cover travel, food, and lodging.
+ LP and/or CD
+ Digital download
+ Digital downloads of my 3 other albumsEstimated delivery:Ships anywhere in the world -
Pledge $1,200 or more
0 backers Limited (1 left of 1)
A cello version of any album you want. I reserve the right to release it for public sale upon completion. ***NOTE: This reward is subject to discussion - not all albums are doable***
+ LP and/or CD
+ Digital download
+ Digital downloads of my 3 other albumsEstimated delivery:Ships anywhere in the world
Featured
Funding period
- (22 days)
