A Conversation with  Allison Moorer  (continued)

PM: So tell us a little about the process of recording the new record.

AM: Well, it was R. S. and Adam and John, me and Butch and two engineers basically for 12 days.

PM: Wow.

AM: That was it.

PM: Only 12 days, huh.

AM: Yeah. And then we brought in Steve Conn to play some organ and piano, but that was pretty much it.

PM: And Steve played some great stuff--well, as usual.

AM: Yeah. Adam did pretty much all the lead stuff. And John played bass. He played guitar, he played piano.

PM: Played steel.

AM: They both sang all over it. And how we'd do it when there weren't enough of us to do everything all at once, sometimes we'd track with two guitars and drums, sometimes we'd track with bass. Whatever we didn't do when it was going down, we'd go back and do. But we didn't do very many overdubs at all.

PM: So did R. S. play as it was going down?

AM: Uh-huh. And I was just blown away with his drumming. I think he's very unique.

PM: Oh, yeah, totally his own approach. And his fills are unique and his sound--he's terrific.

AM: Yeah. And it was just really fun and really intense--creating is fun, it's hard, it's all those things. But this was absolutely my favorite experience I've ever had making a record. And it really took me to a new place with it. I have done the records where the studio musicians show up at 10:00 o'clock, you play them the song, they interpret it how they want to interpret it, there's very little discussion, they do it, they sign the card and they leave.

PM: Yuck.

AM: I've done that.

PM: Sure.

AM: And I just didn't want to do that again. I don't want to make a record like that anymore, because it isn't fun for me. And it's just part of that system that I don't really want to have anything to do with.

PM: Right. As often as I've listened to music he's been associated with or even written about it, I've never really run into Bobby Field. What's he like as a guy?

AM: Oh, goodness, probably he'd blow your mind.

PM: No kidding.

AM: Yeah, he would because he's--well, first of all, he's extremely bright. He's also full of knowledge. He's the guy who, at a party, will say to the girl, "What's your favorite siege?"

PM: Siege?

AM: Siege.

PM: [laughs]

AM: He's kind of that guy.

PM: Oh, that's funny. Kenny Vaughan once said something to me that Bobby Field said to him, something to the effect of, "I'm not selling out. I just have some intellectual property I'm trying to rezone commercial."

[laughter]

AM: Yeah, that sounds like him. He's great. I just love him to pieces. He's very smart, he's very well read. He's got a big old brain.

PM: Wow. So, well, what did you think of the finale of Deadwood?

AM: I loved that show. I think it's amazing. And it gets better and better. The writing is so unique. Last night we were having some pints at the Sherlock Holmes, and we were saying Deadwood is like Shakespeare.

PM: Oh, yeah, yeah. It's very Shakespearean the way they set up the good and evil.

AM: Uh-huh. And then something totally random will happen, for comic relief. It's great.

PM: Oh, and I thought when Bullock gets together with the fancy lady--

AM: Well, thank God.

PM: Whew!

[laughter]  continue

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