There were a couple of nice moments for me during the recent Unison Bends recording sessions at the Levellers' Metway Studios in Brighton – oh ok, ego-stroking moments.
One came in the control room when engineer Jake Rousham was playing back one of our tracks from the first day. "Do I hear Ginger Baker?" he asked, nodding towards my drumming.
"Yes, I'm channelling him from his deathbed," I said, extremely pleased at what I took to be a compliment, but knowing that I will always be many miles behind Mr Baker. *
Then, on the final day, I had to overdub a few bars of harmonica on an epic Russ Payne song with a touch of the Westerns about it. I only did one take and wasn't at all happy with it.
"Can I do it again?" I asked.
"No, it's good," said Russ.
"I don't think so..." I began to argue.
"It's very Bob," said Jake.
And that was the end of that discussion. I was more than happy.
*
For the record, Mr Baker isn't on his deathbed. According to his website, he's had heart surgery and is recovering and may even play drums again.
