In the Studio: Wilco, Band of Horses, Liz Phair

Wilco have already recorded demos for a new album and are heading into their Chicago studio, the Loft, this month to start rerecording and fleshing them out. "Sonically it's going to be a much wilder, much more unexpected record," says guitarist Nels Cline. "There's going to be too much to choose from. Right now it's an embarrassment of riches, for sure."

Later this month, Band of Horses will begin work on their third album at Alabama's famed Muscle Shoals Sound Studio. "I've read about that place and heard the records out of there for my whole life," says singer Ben Bridwell, who notes that he's already written 27 songs. "We can't wait to get in there and tap some of its mojo."

Liz Phair is working on a new record — due in 2009 — with several producers including Jeff Trott (Sheryl Crow) and John Alagia (Dave Matthews).

[From Issue 1064 — October 30, 2008]

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Song Stories

“1999”

Prince | 1982

“I don’t consider myself a great poet,” Prince told Rolling Stone. “I just know I’m here to say what’s on my mind.” In the case of the apocalyptic party anthem “1999,” he was worried about then-president Ronald Reagan’s foreign policies. The song’s melody is based on a riff borrowed from the Mamas and Papas’ “Monday, Monday,” and Prince originally envisioned the first verse with three-part harmony but later split the vocals between himself and members of the Revolution. Because Warner Bros., with whom Prince was locked in a contractual battle, owned the original’s masters, Prince rerecorded the song and appropriately released that version in 1999.

More Song Stories entries »

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