One of the loneliest and most creative times that I can recall, were that of my early college days. I wrote at length, sometimes three or four songs a night, inside dismal Burnside Hall. The song that comes before me oftenest, out of the shadows of that vanished time, is that of “Milkshake Mistake”. Indeed, I even recorded it, circa 2000, as part of a grant for being a part of URI Musicians Guild -an integral part if I may say so. Of course, you’ll notice in all the contemporary online stores that “The Real Liam James” -the four-song single to which “Milkshake Mistake” was ascribed- was published in 2013. That’s simply because by that time enough people convinced me that the song was not only legitimate, but arguably a fan favorite, particularly among friends and family, and therefore needed existence amidst the inter-webs. The original recording is dreadful, plain and simple; indeed, so haphazardly recorded, I refuse to share it -though, like the other few on “The Real Liam James”, without economic hindrance, thanks again to URI Musicians Guild. But you’ll notice the harmony during the chorus is irrationally, ridiculously cranked up equal to or perhaps even above the main vocal -I love harmony and this is what happens when you give me control of the board. The lead guitar, played by yours truly along with everything else, sounds like some annoying college kid who has just been taught the pentatonic minor scale (wait a minute…). And what the hell was I thinking with that lame intro? You get the point. But even despite my uninformed decisions at the engineer’s chair, one can still hear this song is sick, albeit in a sort of hokey, cartoonish way. Here’s the point -here you must picture me tapping the table sharply like DiCaprio’s Howard Hughes in climactic scene mastery with solid and slender pointer finger- regardless of the overly sentimental sounds of the composition, it needs to be given its proper representation. And now, it is finally getting its due as it’s been properly rerecorded and is now represented here on “Artless” by a boyhood friend of mine, Master Noel Smyth, for, I sold him the song for four pounds fifty. https://open.spotify.com/track/5hdXpm...
Indeed, in recording “Milkshake Mistake -Version 2” Master Noel has taken the original, reshaped and remodified it for sheer excellence. He even got Pansy Parkinson to do some nasty blues licks and slide on it. It has become oh so tasty; I’m salivating with all that sentiment. You’re gonna love this new version, I promise. Of course, I am a bit green over it, but I'll live. That four pounds fifty can buy quite a few tootsie rolls, my dear.