Engineer With Pink Floyd and The Beatles Born Today: Alan Parsons

Alan Parsons, studio audio engineer, musician, and record producer was involved with the production of The Beatles’ Abbey Road and Let It Be, and Pink Floyd’s The Dark Side of the Moon.  He was born today, December 20th 1948. As a music listener and professional DJ in the industry, the idea of working on two of Rock’s greatest achievements is quite a resume to attach to your name.  It is interesting that his participation in these monumental projects still has not brought him the public recognition that one wold assume would come with such great accomplishments.

 

Alan Parsons was only nineteen when he was hired to work at Abbey Road Studios. Soon after that, The Beatles were in the studio recording the album Abbey Road.

 

“But working with The Beatles was an amazing experience. And working with producer George Martin and engineer Geoff Emerick gave me a great deal to learn from, and that experience too was amazing. The album Abbey Road was actually recorded very quickly, it was done in about eight weeks which for The Beatles was pretty fast. But I enjoyed every second of it. And I was getting paid to work with the greatest pop band of all time!” Alan Parsons Interview with Joe Matera from Ultimate-Guitar.

 

Alan was a main ingredient in the most successful Rock album in the history of Billboard’s Top 200 album charts.  He engineered its highly technical production with only sixteen tracks in analog.  They did not have digital technology yet.

 

He has been nominated for ten Grammys, which seven were for his critically acclaimed Alan Parsons Project work. Additionally one more for his solo work as Alan Parsons.

Alan Parsons Pink Floyd Dark Side of The Moon

 

DJ Mystical Michael Rhode Island DJ & NY DJ

Hey DJ, Where’s Your DJ Turntables?

Even with technology being what it is today, I still get asked as a professional DJ , “Where’s your DJ turntables?” from time to time.

 

I hold back my laughter and smile “I don’t use DJ turntables anymore. I just use this MacBook. It does everything I need and more.”

 

“Just the computer? No CD player either?” And they look around my DJ Station searching for the ‘hidden’ CD player or turntable that I must be keeping from him.

 

“It’s just me and this MacBook. Come look at the software I use, it is called djay, made specifically for Mac and iTunes. Works just like a DJ turntable but don’t have to lug around eight racks of records and kill my back, anymore. More importantly, I have about 35,000 songs to honor any requests that I could never do with my vinyl or CDs.”

 

They walk around skeptically and look at the screen, “WOW! Thad is so cool! You’re right; it is just like a DJ turntable. So you can play your whole library right from this thing?”

“Yup. Here me let me show you how I queue up the next song.” He watches like he is seeing the first spaceship land on the moon and invariably, “Unbelievable that you can do that so easily. What did you say the name of this software is?”

djay. You can download it online and be ready to go in minutes. I recommend it to everyone, professional DJs or folks who just want to play around at home. I think it’s great and I feel like I used to with DJ turntables without all the other problems. But I do miss them sometimes. I miss touching the vinyl itself, otherwise, I’ll statick with my MacBook and djay.”

DJ Turntables vs DJ Software

 

We continue to talk about music and dancing and technology for a little bit. Then they notice my BOSE L1 System and the next conversations starts…

 

DJ Mystical Michael Rhode Island DJ & NY DJ

Max Yasgur, Farm Owner Of Woodstock Festival Born Today

Today, December 15, 1919, Max Yasgur was born, the owner of the dairy farm in Bethel, New York, where the Woodstock Festival was held in 1969. Max yasgur was a man who fought through significant local resistance to ‘all the long-haired hippies and anti-war young people playing loud music’ coming to the area to make sure the event took place. There were protest signs around town. This was one of the protest signs, “Stop Max’s Hippie Music Festival. No 150,000 hippies here. Buy no milk.”

 

Max Yasgur was initially offered $50,000 to lease the land for the festival. It was a rainy year and he needed the money. He also believed in the right to self-expression even. This was true even if he did not agree with the actions and attitudes of the festival attendees.

 

There is a legend that the locals were selling water to folks at the festival. Max Yasgur apparently was angered by this and slammed his hand on his kitchen table. He yelled “Water is free”. His son, Steve Yasgur, remembers exactly what his father said.  “He told us to take every empty milk bottle from the plant, fill them with water and give them to the kids, and give away all the milk and milk products we had at the dairy.”

 

Woodstock is one of The USA’s largest and most historical musical events. It set the tone for social, racial, religious and artistic shifts that we are still experiencing ripples today.

 

For those who do not know, here is a list of performers at the legendary festival concluding with Jimi Hendrix famed version of “The Star Spangled Banner” on electric guitar:

Richie Havens

Country Joe McDonald

John B. Sebastian

Incredible String Band

Sweetwater

Bert Sommer

Tim Hardin

Ravi Shankar

Melanie

Arlo Guthrie

Joan Baez

Quill

Keef Hartly

Santana

Canned Heat

Mountain

Janis Joplin

Sly & The Family Stone

Grateful Dead

Creedence Clearwater Revival

The Who

Jefferson Airplane

Joe Cocker

Country Joe & The Fish

Ten Years After

The Band

Blood Sweet And Tears

Johnny Winter

Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young

Paul Butterfield Blues Band

Sha-Na-Na

Jimi Hendrix

 

3 Days of Peace & Music

Max Yasgur Woodstock Festival with Jimi Hendrix

 

DJ Mystical Michael Rhode Island DJ & NY DJ

50 Years Ago Today The Beatles Signed With Brian Epstein

On December 13, 1961 The Beatles signed with Manager Brian Epstein who later Paul McCartney said, “If anyone was the Fifth Beatle, it was Brian.” Brian Epstein paid for them to record a demo in Decca Studios since nobody thought The Beatles were talented enough to record.  George Martin was impressed with Epstein’s enthusiasm and gave them a listen. He offered them a contract with EMI’s small label Parlophone. That is where The Beatles journey began.

The Beatles – Brian Epstein Tribute – You’ve Got To Hide Your Love Away

I wonder if The Beatles would have ever made it at all if not for the coaxing and complete faith that Epstein had that someday they would be an international hit. Hard to imagine growing-up without The Beatles and having them be ‘with me’ throughout my life. Imagine no “Let It Be”.

The Beatles Let It Be

Thanks Brian for your belief in these guys fifty years ago today!

The Beatles Icon

 

DJ Mystical Michael Rhode Island DJ & NY DJ

Rhode Island DJ Wedding Garter Removal & Toss Songs

Often overlooked in the American Wedding Traditions are the Wedding Garter Removal and Tossing.  Strangely enough, Brides and Grooms typically like to have the same song for all three components of the Garter Tradition.

 

A quick history lesson on The Garter tradition. Just like The Bouquet Toss, The Garter Toss is supposed to represent the next single male to get married. It is believed in some traditions that the man that catches the garter will marry the woman that catches the Bouquet. In most cultures, it is simply who will get married next.  While the Bouquet Toss is fun and funny. The Wedding Garter Removal, Toss and Placing it on the woman that caught the bouquet, brings out a more adventurous and racy aspect to the wedding reception. Not all Bride and Groom want to include the Wedding Garter Tradition these days.

 

Here are some popular Wedding Garter songs that are used for all the parts of the Garter traditions from a professional New Jersey & New York Wedding DJ. This is not all the songs we use, but a failry substantial list to begin with. If you have any questions about your Wedding Garter or Bouquet songs, I invite you to contact me for more information.

Rhode Island DJ Wedding Garter Removal & Toss Songs

The Mission Impossible Theme –  Lalo Schifrin

Can’t Get Enough of Your Love – Barry White

Hot Stuff – Donna Summer

You Sexy Thing – Hot Chocolate

Bad Boys – Inner Circle

Foxy Lady – Jimi Hendrix

You Can Leave Your Hat On – Joe Cocker

American Woman – Lenny Kravitz

Fever – Peggy Lee

Another Bites The Dust – Queen

Cherry Pie – Warrant

What A Man – Salt N Pepa

Wild Thing – Toni Loc

Wild Thing – The Troggs

Groom Holds Wedding Garter From Bride

Is there any I left off the list? What are your favorite Wedding Garter, Removal, Toss and Placement Songs?

 

DJ Mystical Michael Rhode Island DJ & Boston DJ

Ask me about my Rhode Island Wedding DJ & Rhode Island Party DJ Guarantee!

A Rhode Island Professional DJ Needs To Stay Current

One of the challenges for a good Rhode Island professional DJ is to stay current with many genres of music. It is not enough to just keep up on the most popular songs on The Billboard Hot 100, we must go beyond Top 40 and be prepared for a last minute gig that requires music from other genre like Country, Rock, Latin, Hip Hop, House, Dance, Smooth Jazz and some less popular styles in The USA like Buddha Bar, Lounge and what has become named ‘World Music’, a name that does not make sense to me since all music is from somewhere in the world.

 

I have enjoyed and been a collector of music from around the world for years as a Rhode Island Professional DJ. I like to learn about music from places that I have not visited yet like from various countries in Africa, South America, India, Europe and The Middle East. I lived in Asia for a couple of years and am pretty familiar with many of their popular and traditional styles.

 

I know many Rhode Island Professional DJs today think that playing just one genre like House or Hip Hop or Dance are what people want most. My experience is that people want you to be ready for whatever they request live.

 A Rhode Island Professional DJ Needs To Stay Current

I was speaking to a man who has hired me for a party later this month. He stated that at their annual Holiday Party every year many of the guests leave complaining that the Rhode Island professional DJ did not have most of the songs they requested since they have a very diverse crowd from ages twenty-one to late sixties. I felt bad they have experienced this several times.  I offered him a guarantee that if they experience the same disappointment with my performance at their event this year, they do not have to pay me the balance owed. He laughed and said I do not have to do that.

 

I replied, “Yes I do! At some point professional DJs need to be held accountable for the quality we offer; if we do a bad job, you shouldn’t have to pay us.”

 

He laughed again and said, “You must be either real crazy or real good at what you do to make a statement like that.”

 

It was my turn to laugh, “Maybe a little bit of both.”

 

Nothing like giving yourself a challenge to raise your game as a Rhode Island Professional DJ!

Rhode Island Professional DJ Dance Party - Rhode Island Wedding DJ

 

DJ Mystical Michael Rhode Island DJ & Boston DJ

Ask about my Rhode Island Wedding DJ & Rhode Island Party DJ Guarantee!

A Celebration of Weddings DJ Mystical Michael Style: The Reception

After the traditions are completed, we get to turn-up the music and have some fun. Everybody has eaten and is ready to loosen their ties and let their hair down. This is where the Wedding DJ gets to shine and creates the last memories of an incredible journey. The Wedding Reception.

Fun Wedding Reception

See The Groom back right?

 

Fun Vietnamese Wedding Reception

The Brides third dress! Doesn’t she look amazing in green?

 

Fun Wedding Reception

This Bride knows how to have fun at her Wedding!

 

Fun Wedding Party

Like a magazine cover don’t you think?

 

Fun Asian Wedding Reception

They were concerned I would not be able to get anyone to dance:)

 

Fun Multicultural Wedding Party

Trust me, it was hard to not join them!

 

Fun Wedding Party

An August Wedding on a scorching day.

 

Fun Dance Party

We turned the lights down and the volume up!

 

Fun Family Dance at Wedding

Straight from Paris!

 

Receptions. Every one is different but the fun and smiles are the same.

 

DJ Mystical Michael Rhode Island DJ & NY DJ

A Celebration of Weddings DJ Mystical Michael Style: The First Dance

For some, The Wedding First Dance can be a time of stress, worried about how well they can dance with everyone watching. For others it is their moment to shine and soak in the spotlight. For all couples, it is an opportunity to create something you will remember for the rest for your lives.  Here are some of my couples First Dances in the past year as a professional NJ & NY DJ.

Wedding First Dance

Mike & Molly

 

Wedding First Dance

Canh & Nogc

 

Amazing First Dance

Colin & Renae

 

Happy Wedding First Dance

Mark & Yomi

 

Beautiful Outdoor Wedding First Dance

Mike & Sara

 

Wedding First Dance of Korean Bride and Groom

James & Sung Hee

 

Happy Wedding First Dance

Josh & Bene

 

First Dance at Multicultural Wedding

Joseph & Crystal

 

Joyful Bride and Groom First Dance at Wedding

Joey & Melissa

 

I think they all did great and looked like they practiced for years!

 

DJ Mystical Michael Rhode Island DJ & NY DJ

A Celebration of Weddings DJ Mystical Michael Style: The Groom

It appears that most folks want to pay tribute to and glorify The Bride and forget about The Groom, believe it or not, he plays a part in all this too! Wedding Grooms at New Jersey & New York Weddings as a professional  Wedding DJ.

 

Happy Wedding Groom and Bride First Dance

Mike

 

Happy Wedding Groom and Bride First Dance

Colin

 

Happy Wedding Groom

Mark

 

Happy Wedding Groom and Bride First Dance

Daniel

 

Happy Wedding Groom and Bride First Dance

Mike

 

Wedding Groom and Bride First Dance

Joey

 

Wedding Groom and Bride First Dance at Korean wedding

James

 

See! The guys can light-up the page just like the ladies.

 

DJ Mystical Michael Rhode Island DJ & NY DJ

Rhode Island Holiday Party DJ

Every year I look forward to opportunities to be Holiday Party DJ. I know they can sometimes be corny but I still have fun at them. I get to play songs that only make sense for a few weeks each year. Some of my favorites are Elvis Presley “Blue Christmas”, Joan Jett ”Little Drummer Boy”, Nat King Cole “The Christmas Song”, The Kinks “Father Christmas”, Johnny Mathis “Silver Bells” and Emerson, Lake and Palmer “I Believe In Father Christmas”.  I do tend to get sick of most of the songs by the time we make it through the Holidays but I enjoy them for a bit and certainly when playing them at parties where everyone is having a great time and dancing.

 

There really is something special about office parties and family gatherings full of smiles, food and folks getting together for no other reason then to have fun for a professional Holiday Party DJ. Whether the party be for Christmas, Chanukah or Kwanzaa; or all of the above, people mostly come in good spirits and wanting to share in the celebration of the annual events that mark a significant transition in our lives.

 

See you on the dance floor and enjoy your Holiday Party DJ!

Fun Holiday Party DJ - Rhode Island Holiday Party DJ - Rhode Island Wedding DJ

DJ Mystical Michael Rhode Island DJ & Boston DJ

Ask about my Rhode Island Wedding DJ & Rhode Island Party DJ Guarantee!