Here is the view from the control room. Bill's Flickinger board used to belong to Sly Stone. Notice the emergency phone on the right, useful in case we needed a direct line to the Soviet premier. You can see Ben in the large room beyond practicing a bass part.
Ben Miranda and Bobby Conn in the "big room." The piano Bobby's playing has tape across its strings, giving it a plunky, muted sound. Notice the drum shell on the left.
Speaking of which, here is Andrew determining a tempo in his drum shell. On the left is Bill's "tack piano," with thumbtacks pressed into the hammers, giving it a extra bright, percussive tone.
Karl Doerfer, Detholz! guitarist, in his characteristic position in front of a computer, troubleshooting gear. He is in the iso booth we used for 2 keyboard setups.
(L-R) Rick Franklin, Jon Steinmeier, Karl Doerfer
Rick practices while Karl continues to troubleshoot Jonny's setup in the keyboard room.
Andrew working on his part for "Subrubanite," which proved to be a very difficult song to get right.
Rick and Jon provide comic relief in the keyboard room...
...while Karl provides comic relief in the Log Room. The Log Room is by far my favorite room at Key Club. One feels as if one's tracking a record on the set of "Northern Exposure" or "Twin Peaks."
Bobby gives direction on a take in the control room.
Bobby works with Andrew on "Lost Weekend."
Jon and Rick do an alternate take of "Suburbanite."
Notice the changes in the Big Room. The drums and bass are gone and in their place, a veritable Keyboard Armada, including my favorite instrument at Key Club, the chamberlain (first on the left), an early tape-driven instrument that inspired the mellotron. Here Jonny's doing a take on the clavinet.
The view of the Keyboard Armada from the control room.
Karl poses with attitude while strapped to Bill's unstoppable Ibanez. Bill's dad got him this guitar for Christmas one year, which accepted with a roll of his eyes. That is, until he played it. Karl and I ended up using this guitar on many songs-- its tone was just as unbelieveable as its shape.
The whole group, a little worse for wear at the end of the session.
Back row (L-R) Jon Steinmeier (keys, percussion), Bill Skibbe (engineer), Andrew Sole (drums), Bobby Conn (producer and impresario), Ben Miranda (bass)
Front row: (L-R): Jim Cooper (guitar, vox), Karl Doerfer (guitar, vox), Rick "Rich" Franklin (keys)