Float On By
Little Known Historical Quotes - Ben Franklin • The Rapper And The Rancher - Part 4
One Minute Wit
Little Known Historical Quotes • Ben Franklin
“Whenever I fly a kite in the rain, I put a cheese sandwich in my pocket.
Then if lightning strikes, I get the results of my experiment and a shockingly good grilled cheese sandwich.”
— Ben Franklin.
From The Starlin Book Of Little Known Historical Quotes*
*That I Might Have Made Up.
Life
Float On By
If you ever wake up on a beautiful, clear, sunny day and think,
Today I am going to hop in my hot-air balloon and go on a long leisurely trip through the sky with some of my friends.
And stop at a grassy meadow for a nice picnic lunch.
I’m available.
Story
The Rapper And The Rancher • Part 4
Last time, Issac (the rapper) and Brandon (the rancher) wrote a song and debuted it at The Hat Rack. Julie told them a famous producer was coming to the club. It could be a big opportunity for them.
Brandon and Isaac were sitting at their usual table when Sam Westbound walked in. The whole place looked at him and started whispering amongst themselves. Julie chatted with him for a few minutes, and they shared a laugh. Then she brought him over to meet Brandon and Isaac.
“Julie tells me you two are quite the songwriting team,” Westbound said.
“That we are,” Brandon replied.
Westbound chuckled and said, “Well, I trust Julie’s judgment. Most of the time. Let’s see what you got.”
“Yes, sir.”
Brandon went up to the microphone and started singing She Knows My Face, Not My Heart.
When he finished, Westbound shouted, “Sing another one. A fast one.”
Brandon sang Can’t Get Home Soon Enough. When the song ended, the room applauded loudly. Westbound held his poker face. It made Brandon nervous as he walked back to the table.
Westbound handed him a card and said, “This is my number. Call Rose and set up a meeting. I am interested in She Knows My Face.”
Brandon nearly jumped for joy but caught himself before he lifted off the ground.
“Yes, sir. Right away, sir. Thank you kindly, sir. It was an honor to meet you, sir.”
“Easy on the sirs, kid. You might sell me a song. You ain’t marrying my daughter.”
Brandon laughed nervously. Isaac and Julie thanked Westbound, and he got up and left the club. Brandon plunked down in the chair, and the whole room applauded again. People came over to congratulate Brandon and Isaac.
When the commotion settled down, Isaac asked Julie, “How did you get Westbound to come here and listen to B?”
Julie moved in close and whispered, “You can’t tell anyone. Promise?”
“I promise,” they both said.
“He’s my Pa.”
Brandon slapped the table, and Isaac pushed his chair back.
“Your joking, right?” Isaac asked.
“Nope. But you can’t tell anyone. I mean it.”
“Alright. Your secret is safe with us. But if you’re his daughter, why are you working here?” Isaac replied.
“He doesn’t want me in the music business. I took the job here to show him I could find real talent.”
“Us?” Brandon asked.
“Yup. Your songs are good. A couple are great.”
“Thanks. I appreciate that. And the help,” Isaac said.
Brandon stared at Julie for a moment and then said, “Well, he was wrong about one thing.”
Julie furled her eyebrows and asked, “What?”
“I am going to marry his daughter one day.”
Julie laughed and said, “Dream on, cowboy.”
Three days later, Brandon, Isaac, and David Bond were sitting in Sam Westbound’s office. David Bond, a music lawyer that Julie insisted they hire, was reviewing the offer to purchase rights to the song She Knows My Face, Not My Heart.
“It looks like an excellent songwriting deal for two unknown writers. You will get 50% publishing if She Knows My Face, Not My Heart makes any money. And they want to option four more songs at the same rate.” Bond said.
“So Brandon and I will split half of any money the song makes?”Isaac asked.
“Half the publishing. After expenses.”
“What about recording it?” Brandon asked.
“This is just a songwriting contract. Not a recording contract.”
“So I ain’t gonna get to record our song?”
David Line, Westbound’s lawyer, spoke up. “We do want you to sing on the demo, Brandon. You’ll get paid $200 for that. And we want you to write and demo four additional songs. We will shop them for you with all the big names. It is an excellent opportunity for both of you.”
“But I was planning on becoming a famous singer,” Brandon said.
Bond smiled and said, “Listen, Brandon. You have to prove yourself here. They already like the way you sing, or they would have someone else sing on the demo. Sing your heart out on the demo. If this song takes off, and you can write a couple more that chart, then you can make your case as a singer/songwriter. You’ll have no problem getting a record deal then.”
Brandon turned to Isaac and said, “What do you think, Isaac?”
“This is why I came here. I think it’s a good first step for both of us. We both know you can sing. Your time will come. And I know we can write more good songs together. I’m ready to sign.”
“That’s that, then. Let’s sign,” Brandon said.
They both signed the contract, and everyone shook hands.
Brandon and Isaac shared the good news with Julie and The Hat Rack regulars, who were all excited to see one of their own “make it.” The celebration lasted deep into the night, and Brandon sang several songs. But the next day, it was down to business. They needed to write four great songs, and they threw themselves into their work.
Three days later, Brandon went down to Spin Shop Studios and recorded the demo for She Knows My Face, Not My Heart. A room full of studio musicians sat in the studio while Brandon played guitar and sang the song for them. Two of them took notes on their music charts. Then they started recording. The musicians ran through the song while Brandon sang a scratch vocal. By the third time through, the musicians were done, and the music sounded like something you would hear on the radio.
Then the producer said, “All right, Brandon, now I want you to sing to the tracks we just recorded.”
Brandon was nervous and not used to singing without playing guitar at the same time. But he closed his eyes and sang. After three takes, it was over.
“I think I can do it better,” Brandon said.
“It’s fine. We will comp the best parts of each take together, and the final vocal will sound great. Plus, it’s a demo. There’s no budget for any more takes.”
“All right then. Thank you.”
Brandon left the studio feeling drained but a little closer to becoming a famous singer.
Three weeks later, Isaac’s phone rang. It was David Line.
“Congratulations, Isaac. Billie Tucker is working on an album and wants to record your song.”
“Seriously?”
“Seriously,” Line replied.
“What now?”
“Now you hope it’s a big hit. It will be a few months before the album is released. But I should be able to let you hear the final mix when it’s done.”
“That’s awesome. Thanks so much.”
“You’re welcome. Are you ready to show us a couple more songs?”
“Yes, sir. We wrote about twenty.”
Line laughed. “Well, just bring your best four or five. Rose will call to set up a time.”
“Thanks again. Bye.”
Isaac hung up his phone and told Brandon the news. They both jumped around the apartment like a couple of 10-year-old kids.
The excitement of having their song recorded by a famous singer faded as the weeks passed, and no one had heard it yet. Issac and Brandon kept on writing songs. Westbound optioned two of them.
One afternoon, Brandon’s phone rang.
“Turn on the radio,” Julie shouted.
“What?”
“She Knows My Face is playing right now.”
Brandon turned on the radio and heard the last minute of the song.
“Yeehaw!” He shouted.
“Tell Issac.”
“He’s out somewhere.”
“All right. I’m sure it will be on again. It sounds so good!”
“My heart’s about to bust wide open. This is cooler ’n all git out.”
“Call Issac and come on over to the Hat Rack. We’re going to celebrate.”
“Yes, we are.”
To be continued next Monday.
Happy Monday. Thanks for reading and responding. You make it fun.
Mark
Deb took a hot-air balloon ride with her mom over two decades ago (right about the time she met me, but before we started dating) and loved it. Me, I'm scared of heights but love looking out a plane window, and I don't know how a balloon would feel to me. (FWIW, Dad stayed with the chase crew. He said it was to take pictures, but I suspect he felt the same way I did. 😁)
TR&TR P4 was interesting to me from the technical side. I didn't know what was involved in a song recording session beyond the occasional movie or behind-the-scenes video. I'm guessing you have been involved in music enough to have seen that side?
Yeooow! These guys are having the best luck! Now why do I feel that some sort of trouble is on the way....? More, please.