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I wrote Ode to Soup on the hammer dulcimer in 2004. I tracked and arranged the major sections in Pro Tools, and then, once I was happy with the arrangement, rerecorded a demo.

My friend and bass wizard Andrew contributed a groovalicious bass line that’s like its own little low-register song. It’s a great sonic accompaniment to the dulcimer part, a couple octaves lower and more legato than percussive in style.

I shipped the result to the other ex-third of JAR, guitar hero and newly minted Doctor Steve, who wrote a three-voice guitar part that was so right I could sing along after one listen.

We recorded the guitar tracks — three parts times 2-4 takes apiece, in stereo — at my home studio over Thanksgiving weekend, 2004. I’d recorded a final drum track here the previous month.

Then I futzed with the song for two months, comping guitar tracks and playing with stereo guitar sounds and failing to find good drum sounds, recording a new dulcimer melody for the second verse, and then creating about a dozen rough mixes, all of which were small and thin sounding, except in my office. Fortunately, Evan turned in a great mix, despite my meddling.

This song will open my solo CD.

Ode To Soup (160 kbps MP3)

Credits:
  Music: McGlynn, Thomas, Sparks
  Drums, Dulcimer: McGlynn
  Bass: Thomas
  Guitars: Sparks
  Recorded: 2004, Borrowed Time Studios
  Mixed: 2006, Evan Rodaniche / Master Blaster Studioz