A box of cassette tapes and the secrets within . . .
While looking for some songs I had written a while back to share with my current band, the Lofi Sofias, I found a box of cassette tapes. Naturally, the tapes have cryptic labels on them, or none at all, which means I have to listen to all the tapes.
I found an old Halfbreeds live studio recording! And I am like, “holy crap! I’d go see that band.”
So, I’m sharing the recording with you. Paul digitized the cassette by hooking his Tascam digital recorder to the stereo. The transfer came out pretty good – Paul says I should see if Mudshark (Lofi Sofia’s recording studio and record company) can do better – but I am pleased.
Here is the tape in its entirety – patience, it starts at about 7 seconds:
I have a bunch more weird random projects I am looking forward to sharing, too. In the meantime, I am still looking for those songs I wrote . . .
Photo by Jennifer Haskins – left to right: Francis DiDonato – guitar/vox, Holly Troy – vox, Jennifer Haskins – bass, Sanford Santacroce – guitar/vox, Jamey Evans – drums/vox.
Other people who were in the Halfbreeds: Josh (Johnny T) Yerington – drummer, Charles Alton – bass, Kate St. Claire – bass
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Thank you!
holly troy ~ sacred folly 
…and while you’re digitizing stuff… 😉
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You can count me in to purchase any release of this!
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Hi Dan! Thanks!
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That is a wonderful collection of lost tapes, now found. Holy crap is right. I’d go listen to that band, also. The tapes digitized nicely. Kudos to Paul on a job well done. You had a really cut rebel look with your bangs and dark eye-liner. I’d love to hear more of your projects. I hope you find the songs you wrote.
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Hi! Thanks! It’s a joy and a relief to look back and say – wow!
I hope I find the songs, too – otherwise, I suppose I can start over. 🙂
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I have to say, Holly, that now I’m kinda glad this went into hiding in a box and weathered all those times where life chewed you up until you had enough and then you spit THAT out and moved on. Now? Now it’s here! And now, rather than things getting in its way, you SUPPORT it.
Is this giving you a Part of yourself back? I mean, this is GREAT WORK! And, it took some killer creativity and verve to do these wonders back then… and, if I apply The Goo Goo Dolls title to then, that “Here Is Gone,” and this Here Is Now. I love them all in the 14min, and then revisiting each separately. The sound quality is pretty excellent. Surprising even that an old cassette… no pops or drags. It feels like these were hermetically sealed in a treasure chest and you just went, “What’s that X mean on this map?” TREASURE. I’m not going to compare The Halfbreeds to other bands then. I could, though this sound, the vocals, the driving lyrics, and these sounds and music are hallmarks of that era. These are really speaking like positive trauma. When trauma appears when triggered it has a hallmark. It’s always fresh. This isn’t trauma. This EP of a 14m 07s set is FRESH and LIVING!!! Thank you for sharing this. Super excited!
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Here is Now! Yup!
Yes, I do feel like I got a part of myself back. Thanks! I feel pretty good about that era. We had a pretty good time – and we worked hard, too. 🙂
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🙂 What a great gold mine to celebrate a robust period of your past. Over here it feels like a Hot Spring there for you always. Bright eyes and smiles from here to something GHREAT coming from the past rather than just The wisdom of the experience. Feels like some Uncle Walt Cosmic Yawps are in order. I’ll do some for you from here. 🙂
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Yes! Thanks for some Cosmic Yawps. It’s nice to look back and smile – and dance – and yawp.
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YESSSSSSSS!!!!!!! This needs to be released FOR SALE!!!!!!!! Now I am remembering more viscerally why back then I went, “Dood. Seriously. Where’d the Halfbreeds go? Great band name! Great music! They should have been on par with the B-52s and Blondie. WHere’s their new album?” Now I know a box swallowed it up. And, now it is risen from its gestating, nascent dream to ROCK!
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Thanks! I think the original recordings are on a one inch and/or two inch tape somewhere. Francis, the lead guitar and main songwriter has/had all of them. In the meantime – Woohoo!
So gad I found these.
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Me, too! Woohoo!
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