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Rosie-The Making of... "Rosie" was recorded here in our hometown of
Vancouver BC. Strangely enough, it's the ONLY album we've ever recorded here. We've always
either been in Seattle, or Madrid, or Indiana or somewhere. Nonetheless, it was nice to be
home for it, and recording at a place like Mushroom Studios. Below is a story that ran in
our local paper that tells the story of that weekend pretty well. Thanks for Bob Mackin
and the North Shore News for their support! Friday, August 27, 1999 - North Shore News THE SMUGGLERS STAY HAPPY TOGETHER: Band recording with Kurt Bloch Bob Mackin, News Reporter The Smugglers checked in to a Vancouver institution at the end of July. The West Vancouver garage rock quintet chose Mushroom Studios on 4th Avenue as the venue to record their sixth studio album with producer Kurt Bloch, a fixture on Seattle's music scene who mixed their 10th anniversary live album "Growing Up Smuggler". Mushroom, opened in 1966, is a small facility with a big reputation. Sarah McLachlan, Heart, Robert Plant, and Loverboy are among the bigger names that have recorded there. Some say it's even haunted. "It's exciting to get into Mushroom because a lot people don't realize huge, huge hits have been recorded here", said Smugglers singer Grant Lawrence. "I would think the biggest hit recorded here was Loverboy's "Everybody's Working For The Weekend".
"There's all sorts of really, really fast punk rock 'n' roll, there's light pop, there's country-tinged stuff", said Lawrence of the selections. "It'll be a mixed-bag album, but I think it will be the most intense and focussed Smugglers' album yet". Among the songs are: "Coffee, Tea, Or Me?" (about fantasies in the mile-high friendly skies); "Let's Get Scrambled" (sex at breakfast); "Teen Mob!" (kids who don't go to the Smugglers shows but hang out at the 7-Eleven in Lynn Valley instead); "Rock Thy Neighbour" (annoying neighbours telling you to turn down your music and you responding by cranking it); "Danko Jones' Pants" (how the Smugglers inadvertently stole a pair of hot pants from Toronto band Danko Jones). The Smugglers choice of Bloch to record the new album was logical. Bloch is co-founder of the Fastbacks and plays in the Young Fresh Fellows with Scott McCaughey, a part-time member of REM. Bloch gave the Smugglers a boost early in their career and even helped keep the group together. Lawrence and the band were near break-up seven years ago when he sat down with the older, wiser Bloch who talked him into continuing. "It's stupid when bands you really like break up when
it seems like there's no reason to", Bloch said. "Everyone's still friends and
everyone still likes the music, why break up?" He suggested taking time off, but
reminded Lawrence that touring and making records should be fun. "I really took that to heart", Lawrence said. "The Smugglers may be together today because of that inspirational speech that Kurt gave me many years ago. Our parents can blame him!" Bloch's Fastbacks will celebrate 20 years together next February. The band has boasted a revolving door of drummers. After Bloch moved out from behind the drums, he was replaced by Duff McKagan, who went on the play bass for Guns n Roses. There have been at least ten drummers since. Bloch, who was assisted at Mushroom by house engineer Pete Wonsiak, has an impressive production and engineering resume. He has worked with Mudhoney, Sunny Day Real Estate, Gas Huffer and Nashville Pussy on the Grammy-nominated disc "Let Them East Pussy". Songs The Smugglers recorded at Mushroom Studios: Booze Can Rock Thy Neighbour Rosie Miss Pilgrim Death At Disneyland Coffee, Tea Or Me? Teriyaki Tumble I'll Remember Useless Rocker She's Another Thing Teen Mob! Active Pass Kings Of The Party Someone / Tough Luck Danko Jones' Pants Let's Get Scrambled courtesy of The North Shore News, North Vancouver BC Canada.
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The band worked all BC Day Weekend, and then some, on the unnamed
album (now titled "Rosie" -ed.). Of the sixteen songs the band put on tape, at
least a dozen will make it onto the album. It's scheduled for release on February 1, 2000
by Lookout! Records of Berkeley, Calif. and Vancouver's Mint Records.
