June 15, 2010-- Lisa, Matt and Gavin joined us as we returned to  Helsel Music Studio to continue mixing. Lisa redid her vocal on PTND (listen here to mix) and also redid parts on Whisper.  We have plans to return on July 6.

June 1, 2010-- The snow finally melted and we were able to sojourn back to Butler to Helsel Music Studio to continue mixing. Maria accompanied Dan and myself as we redid backup vocals on Whisper (listen here to mix) and remixed Two Day Blues (listen here to mix).  We have plans to return on June 15 with Lisa to complete PTND.  The end is in sight.

December  17, 2009-- Took a nice December drive to  Helsel Music Studio. We brought up Mike's guitar on Walk Down This Road (listen here to new mix).   We made great progress on Two Day Blues (listen here to new mix) and did a lot of work on Whisper (listen here to new rough mix).  We're looking at some time in January for our next visit.

November 17, 2009-- Back at  Helsel Music Studio as we think we finished Walk Down This Road (listen here to new mix).   We also began working on Whisper (listen here to very rough mix).  We may head up on the 22nd, otherwise it will be some time in December.

November 3, 2009-- A productive night at Helsel Music Studio as we fixed most of Walk Down This Road (listen here to new mix).  We will listen to it and probably make a few adjustments and it should be done.  Also loaded Two Day Blues and started working on it.  Hope to head back November 17 and work on Whisper.

October 21, 2009—After the real world interrupted us for 2 months, Dan and Pat trucked back up I-79 for another session at Helsel Music Studio.  Pat re-recut the last refrain on JLNF (listen here to new mix) using the same microphone as on the original (finished), we fixed a few   things on ASAM (Listen here to new mix) that finished that one and we started mixing WDTR (Listen here to very rough mix).  Hoping to head back on Tuesday, November 3.

 August 18, 2009-- Cool mixing on a hot summer night at  Helsel Music Studio.  Pat recut the last refrain on JLNF (listen here to new mix) and we fixed a bunch of things on ASAM (Listen here to new mix)

 July 29, 2009--A very productive night at Helsel Music Studio. We fixed some things on PTND  (listen here to new mix) and spent most of the evening on ASAM (Listen here to very rough mix)

 July 16, 2009--Another mixing session at Helsel Music Studio.  We adjusted a few things on JLNF (listen here to new mix) and spent most of the evening on PTND (Listen here to very rough mix) and made good progress.

 July 7, 2009--It was back to Butler for another session at Helsel Music Studio.  Boosted the volume on JYMK (listen here to new mix); hopefully finished the mix on JLNF (listen here to new mix) and started on PTND (Listen here to very rough mix).

 June 18, 2009--Bravely (stupidly?) driving through some of the most intense storms of the season, Patrick and Dan went north to Butler continue mixing at Helsel Music. We did a good bit of polishing on JYMK (click here to listen to new mix) and began working on JLNF (click here to listen to new mix).

June 3, 2009--Patrick and Dan  work with Bryan Helsel to produce a mix of JYMK. Click here to hear it.

May 27, 2009--Patrick and Dan sojourn to Butler to tour Helsel Music Studio and meet with Bryan Helsel to discuss mixing/mastering.

November 14, 2008---Here's a very rough mix of WDTR with Mike's vocal (mp3) (wma)

November 10, 2008 --  Mike nailed his verse on WDTR in 2 takes.  Look for a new mix soon!

November 8, 2008--  Plans were made to record the final parts of the Walk Down This Road CD.  The release date is announced as January 17, 2009

February 25, 2008 --  The recorder was given to Dan to begin reviewing for the final mixdown.

May 19, 2007--It was long, hard, well-fed and productive session at the "studio" in the Youth House. The gang assembled around 9 ish and worked through 4:30 with stops for donuts, fruit, pizza, bread sticks, cookies, coffee, pop, etc. The roll call was Brian, Yvette, Jessie, Maria, Lisa E and Patrick.  We worked on background vocals for Whisper (click here to listen to a rough mix--I think we have the parts, we just need to cut and paste a little), lead and background vocals for Walk Down This Road (click here to listen--Brian also tracked a rough sketch of a guitar part.  We just need Mike's like and Brian's guitar), lead and background vocals on Seize the Day (Click here to listen--I think we just need to cut and paste a couple of the Seize the Day's and the vocals are finished); and, at 4:15, Brian and Yvette did one take on YLIAG and nailed the lead, so this song is finished. Click here to listen to a rough mix.

May 3, 2007--A new month and a newer better bass part for Whisper.  It was nice to just have the equipment all set up and ready go.

April 30, 2007--Here's Walk Down with a bass part added; Whisper with vocal, bass, and new keyboard;Seize The day with more traditional scratch vocal.

April 29, 2007--Back in the studio again, Patrick put down the lead vocal to Whisper and a bass part for Walk Down.

April 28, 2007--Another day, another recording site. Setting up shop in the Youth House of St. Val's, Patrick, Dan, Brian, Lisa E and Mike spent the day laying down tracks.  It was a productive day, as we got the keyboard and guitar part to Whisper, Mike's Memphis-tinged guitar jangle to Walk Down this Road and, the highlight of the day, Dan and Lisa's collaboration on the train whistle-esque keyboard part to Walk Down. Here's Walk Down This Road by Benny Cash  and the Tennesee Two and Seize the Day By Focus.

April 21, 2007--The final leg of this journey started bright and early Saturday morning as Dan and Patrick journeyed once again the the Mueller's house in Finleyville. Later in the afternoon Lisa came by and added the keyboard to YLIAG and did the scratch to Whisper.  You can listen to Whisper with scratch piano and final drums here.  Seize the Day with scratch guitar and final drums here  (click here to just listen to the drums). And the final drums and scratch track to Walk Down This Road here.

March 24, 2007--Brian and Yvette did the lead vocal on YLIAG. You can here the results here. 

March 18, 2007--It was a marathon session in the ville of Finley's as Brian recut the lead guitar to JYMK  (listen here) and worked out the lead runs to 2DB (listen here).

March 17, 2007--Here is a  fresh lead vocal on JLNF. Click here to listen.

March 16, 2007--Brian had redone the lead to ASAM. Here's a mix iwth the new vocal. This one is done, we just need to mix it right. Click here to listen.

March 12, 2007--To celebrate Bridget's 9th birthday, we worked on vocals. Brian and Yvette did a quick take on YLIAG and then we spent the rest of the night on JYMK--and I think we may have finished it.  Here's a quick mix of Brian's redone lead vocal, background vocals by the group (including Michele, in from college) and a really nifty improv part by Diane and Brian.  Click here to listen.

March 9, 2007-  Here is a reverb and delay heavy mix of 2db with Maria and Yvette's vocals.  Click here to listen.

March 5, 2007--Worked on backing vocals. Listen to them on YLIAG here.

March 3, 2007--In a marathon session at the Muellers, Mike did guitar tracks for 2DB, YLIAG, Patrick added his bass parts for 2DB and YLIAG, Brian did smoking lead parts for JYMK and nice guitar work on YLIAG, then did the lead vocal on JYMK and redid his lead vocal on ASAM.  You can hear rough mixes here:  JYMK, YLIAG and 2DB.

March 2, 2007--In a basement session, Patrick laid down the lead vocal for 2 Day Blues and worked on his bass parts.

February 11, 2007-- It was an epic day of recording on Finleyville-El Rama Road.  Here is early mix of the epic love song/duet  Your Love Is A Gift that features a scratch track of Brian and Yvette singing while Brian played guitar and Dan clicked his sticks.  Dan's final drums are also mixed in as well as some reverb for a Mazzy Star feel.  Click here to listen.  We had done a scratch track earlier in the day with a lot of instruments, but when it came time to lay the drums down, it was just a mess, so we redid the scratch a lot simpler and it seemed to work.

Here is a mix of the rocker, Jesus Your My King, featuring Dan's amazing drums, a scratch Bass track and Brian's electric guitar. Click here to listen. (mix updated 2/12/07)

And here's the blues, Hear-Beat! style.  This is Two Day Blues with scratch track, scratch vocal and bass, and Dan's drums.  Click here to listen.

February 1, 2007--Lisa, Dan and Patrick got together in the Fraw to work on the lead vocals to PTND. Listen to the result here.

January 24, 2007--Dan and Patrick took the gear to Lisa's house and recorded the keyboard parts to JLNF. Listen to the result here.

January 20, 2007--   Working in the replica NH, blocks and blocks away from St. Valentine,  Dan, Mike and Patrick listened to Brian nail the solo to JLNF.  Click here to listen to a new mix of the song with background vox, guitar solo and a rough keyboard part.  Here is a version of PTND with Lisa's nice piano part. Click to Listen. Finally, here is a different mix of ASAML. Click here to listen.

January 18, 2007 --  Dan and Patrick took the recorder over to Lisa's and recorded the keyboard part to PTND. Sounds great!

January 15, 2007 -- The backup vocal tracks for JLNF were recorded in the music room in the Fraw.  Mike got into the act, adding a lower voice to the mix.   With just a few pieces missing, we started looking toward the next 3 songs (Two Day Blues, Jesus Youre My King and Your Love is a Gift).  We set a tentative date of February 11 to record the scratch tracks and drum parts at Brian and Yvette's house. Lisa then worked on the keys for PTND.  Check back for samples and pix.

January 14, 2007 -- For all of you testimonial fans out there, here is a different spin on JLNF.  Click here to listen.

January 13, 2007--  Banned from Newman House for violating the strict cleaning policy (there was trash left IN the garbage can), H-B built an exact replica of Newman House in the Ennis's basement.  You'll notice from these pictures how precise the replica is. If you didn't know that these pictures were taken at the exact replica built in the Ennis's basement by Matt, Gavin and Dylan Ennis, you would swear that they were taken at NH, but they weren't because we weren't there. The first H-B'er arrived at the exact replica of Newman House at the Ennis's, blocks and blocks away from St. Valentine's, at 9:00 and the last ones left at 6:40 pm.  The roster was: Patrick, Maria, Dan, Mike & Diane, Brian, Yvette and Jessie, Lisa and a cameo by Michele and our two dancers and  the NH cleaning lady who was confused by the exact replica of NH built in the Ennis's basement and was stunned to learn that she was blocks and blocks away from St. Valentine.  It was a long but productive day. Click back here to see the results of this marathon session:

       JLNF--features a new acoustic part by Brian, and a quick doodle at a lead part. Click here to listen. Still needed, finished lead gtr, keyboard and backing vocals.

       PTND--Background vocals are done, a new distorted guitar part was added and Lisa put down half of the lead vocal.  This is the kitchen sink mix, which took basically every thing  we had, set a level, and let it roll.  Click here to listen.  I'll put up another version tomorrow.  Here is a more traditional mix with Lisa's "keeper" vocals. Click here to listen.  Still missing from this song are Patrick's lead vocals and a revamped piano part.

       ASAML--Barring an unheard mistake, this track is done except for the mixing.  Here is a rough mix--click here to listen.

January 11, 2007-- Here is an updated demo of JLNF featuring Mike's guitar, the bass and a new guide vocal.  Click here to listen. Here, also, is a new demo of ASAML with the background vocals and new guide vocal. Click here to listen.

January 10, 2007--Mike and Pat waited out a reconciliation meeting to record Mike's guitar track for JLNF in the Fraw. 

January 8, 2007-- We started in earnest to work on the vocals to ASAML.  We worked out some technical issues, settled on some parts, and laid down a few takes before calling it a night. I'll post a mix of it here soon.  We will reconvene on Saturday to finish the vocals on ASAML and hopefully PTND.

January 6, 2007-- HERE COMES THE WAH! A 8 hour session produced this new version of ASAML.  That's Mike Benson on the Wah and Brian Muller on the screaming white Gibson.  Here too is an update on PTND with another killer solo by Brian and some nifty violin work by Michele.

January 3, 2007--H-B! spent the second half of practice working on background vocals for ASAML and PTND.  We came up with some nice harmony parts--click on the initials to hear the samples.  There will be more work on instruments on Saturday and we will lay some of the vocal tracks down next Monday.

January 2, 2007 -- Here is a rough mix of Always Singing with Brian's solo and the scratch vocals.  Click here to listen.  Here is the solo.

January 1, 2007--Work continued on the NHB cd, as Brian, Yvette, Maria and Patrick re-assembled in Finleyville. Brian came up with a blistering lead part on Always Singing that will knock your socks off. I will try to post part of it later this week. There are a couple more instrument parts to be added and then the vocals, and that song will be finished. Praise the New Day is also taking shape as Brian cut another great lead part for that and added some guitar to it. A rough bass track was added, but is too dirty sounding and will have to be redone. 

December 31, 2006--Working alone is his basement, Patrick came up with an interesting sounding bass part for JLNF.

December 30, 2006--Heart-Beat! assembles at Brian and Yvette's house in Finleyville to begin recording.  Scratch tracks are created for Always Singing, Jesus Lord Now and Forever and Praise the New Day.  Dan then records his "keeper" drum parts for the three songs.  Work is begun on the guitar, bass and keyboard parts of Always Singing.  Click here to hear a rough, bass heavy mix of the song.

December 18, 2006--Heart-Beat! assembles in Frawley Hall to pick which songs to record for the CD.   Two Day Blues is the most popular choice.  After planning out the next steps in the process, the group records a rough version of  12 & 72  to test out the recorder (click on our Tunes section to hear the results).

December 1, 2006---After several unsuccessful attempts to find an affordable digital recorder, Patrick saw an ad for a 18 track Roland digital recorder (VS-1880) in the Pittsburgh section of Craiglist.com.  After several emails are exchanged, he orders the recorder. It arrives 7 days later in a really big box.