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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.
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