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(c) 1998 by Lewis D'Aubin, Keith Casebonne, Chris Flattmann, and George Schleh PREV TRACK |
Flamingo Party! At least, that's what the song was originally about when it first took form as a big sprawling late night jam session in the old Lab in Kenner. And indeed, everybody WAS there - both current and (unsuspecting) future members of C.O.G. There were probably four guitarists playing at the same time. I was on the drums. The mead and creativity were flowing freely, everybody was tipsy, and I was coming up with some bizarre lyrics. The whole idea was so groovy that we immediately decided to preserve it. By the following practice session, I had re-written the lyrics as our first self-referential account of a rocking geek party in a lab somewhere. I imagined all the mad scientist types from our favorite movies and TV shows throwing a party. After sitting down at the keyboard and laying down the drum parts, I fired up the Farfisa organ patch and laid down some 'B-52's style keyboard stabs. When it came time to actually record it, I knew we had to have some female vocals for the chorus, and Caroline, the original Lab Girl, stepped up to the plate. For the guitar solo, I called up Johnny Brashear - who would later join the band for a week as 'Dr. Mysterion' - to contribute a surf solo. He brought over a small Fender and a large semi-hollow body Gibson and ripped out a great solo in one take. The finishing touch was the environmental sound effect of an actual science party in the background. One night while Chris Flattman's band had just finished rehearsing, I was hanging out at the lab, along with about 15 other people (Chris always made his rehearsals a big party anyway.) I piped the song over the rehearsal room speakers and instructed everybody to whoop and holler in the geekiest manner possible. People were shouting out things like 'Star Trek is real!' If you listen carefully, you can pick out some great lines in the background. Lately we've been performing this song in a slightly reconfigured 'Andrew W.K.' style, but the original version has been the most enduring. Credits Drums...........drumbot Rhythm guitar...Jeff King, Keith Casebonne Guitar solo.....Johnny Brashear Bass............Chris Flattmann Synthesizer.....Lewis D'Aubin Lead vocal......Lewis D'Aubin Backing vocals..Caroline Beals Recorded and mixed 1998 at C.O.G. Secret Lab, Kenner LA |