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The CD "The Curl Rider" by THE CRUNCHER dropped in today.
I wasn't involved in this project which contains 18 tracks (playing time 47 minutes and 59 seconds). A couple of years ago Herbert Kooke (aka The Cruncher) had told me that he wants to record and release a new CD every year as long as he can hold a guitar and play it.
So here is his 10the CD (two vinyl albums are also in his production list of his band!)
Herbert Hooke's new cd "Who'll Be Next In Line" was released last Saturday.
Due to lucky circumstances it was a couple of weeks earlier than expected. First Herbert found in his archive a better version of "Lone Survivor" than that one he had sent to me on a cdr with 30 tracks on January 25th (which he wanted to withdraw), GEMA answered and sent their "go ahead" within a week instead on three or four weeks, Herbert's new recording didn't fit on this cd as we both agreed in a telecon. That's why he stopped working on that track.
So here we go with 20 tracks, 49 minutes and 5 seconds playing. You will hear again the distinctive CRUNCHER sound.
I do like to listen to new cds in darkness with headphones. Listening to this cd I was surprised to discover again what a really excellent track "SURF PARTY" is.
AAD – The Cruncher's new CD was recorded analog
When Herbert Hooke (71) retired from his day job a couple of years ago he decided to record, arrange and produce music in the dark cold months from October to March and release a cd every year. Long Walk Home (NPR 10014), Schlicktown Surf (NPR 10016), Stormy (NPR 10019) and Da Capo (NPR 10020) were the results.
In April 2019 I received two CDRs with 33 tracks that Herbert had recorded for a new cd. He asked me to name 20 tracks for inclusion on his new cd.
My choice was:
1. Guitar King
2. Desert Ride (Herbert's own composition)
3. Watch Your Steps
4. Pagean Rock or Caroline
5. Hot Doggin'
6. Paradise
7. Asphalt Wipeout
8. Jungle Stomp
9. Movin' or Failsafe
10. Wild Weekend
11. '55 Ford
12. Hells Bells
13. Gear
14. Aztec
15. The Moon Of Manakoona
16. Angry Generation
17. Crying, Waiting, Hoping
18. Albatross
19. Loving Her Was Easier
20. Das Boot
Then Herbert happened to find a 24 tracks mixing desk from the mid 1980s (his 8 track mixing desk he had from that time up to 2003 was a "children's toy" compared to the "new old vintage one" he told me). However a lot of work had to be put in setting up the desk for his demands and he had to learn to use it. That's why he had to check his already recorded songs how they sound the analog system. He recorded some new tracks and added some others. So here is Herbert's final choice of songs marked red in the list above plus the additional tracks that were not in my choice list or added later last summer to winter.
No Place Like Home
Long Walk Home
The Last Walk
Big Hair
Sidewalk Surfin' Scene
Deep Surf
Tenderfoot
When I asked Herbert why he didn't include his own song "Desert Drive" he told me that is sounds great digitally but "THIN and slack" in analog - so he still has to do some work on it in the future to make it as good as he wants it to be.
In late December I received a CDR with 14 analog recorded tracks and I feel they sound great. Herbert wanted to learn if they sound really good on cheap equipment and he believes that if so then the songs would also sound good on high end quality players.
Rüdiger Nehls
January 2020
Herbert phoned me a few days ago and told me that he has 26 tunes in the can.
At least 18 will find its way onto the new CD called "STORMY".
In the new year he will start to have them pressed.
So let´s hope for some stunning tracks (this time I have not received a pre-sales cdr
so I don´t know what he will offer!???)
RuediGer
I am biased that's why I don´t write a review is the common way. I will bring a few cds (limited edition of 100 copies only) to the SJSF in June in Italy for swap.
18 tracks in recorded in modern style and with new techniques but still with the feeling of the 60s.
I cannot upload the covers so here is the track list written by hand.
If you live outside from Germany please send an email directly to The Cruncher asking for postage prices. The cd costs 10 € if you buy it directly from him.
Ruediger
