Side A:
Cool Air (3:38)
Side B:
The Rearrangement (3:28)
This was Russ Otis' first 45 record. It was made in 1976 on the now defunct Cool Duck Records. Both songs are written and produced by Russ. His sound always reminded me of Emitt Rhodes. Sadly, my friend Russ passed away on July 5, 2007.
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| Russ Otis |
Digitized at 24 bit, 96 kHz
Encoded at 320K mp3 from original vinyl 45. Includes artwork. ZIP format.
Download: Cool Air
"Cool Air" was written by Russ on the same day it was recorded. Recording took place on Friday evening, October 4th, 1975, at Custom Audio, Studio A. (Now Sound / Video Impressions) 110 S. River Rd. Des Plaines IL. 8 track one inch master tape, on 3M 206 stock @ 30 IPS. The final mix was done in the summer of 76'.
ReplyDeleteCool. How do you know all this? Were you a friend of Russ'?
ReplyDeleteI was a friend of Russ' and was the engineer/co-producer of "Cool Air" along with another 15 or so recordings done during 1976. He and I met in 1970 through a mutual friend and did a number of home recordings of songs in the years prior. Eventually I wound up working in the recording biz. So out of the blue one day I called Russ and asked him if he wanted to record something again, this time professionally... "Cool Air" was the first of many songs that followed. The whole "album" was basically a solo work, Russ played all of the instruments. He was a very talented musician.
ReplyDeleteCool. I was friends of Russ in high school and later. I actually recorded him, my brother Ed and Brian Adler. In the "White House" basement. Using my Teac 3340 :-)
ReplyDeleteI picked Russ up at the white house on Rand Rd to head over to the studio on several occasions. At the time you recorded Russ, was his band 'Willow' or the later incarnation 'Wheels'? I ran sound on a couple of Wheels' gigs in 77' or so. I have a few 2" 16 track tapes of 'Willow'- "Train Song" "Edge of Darkness" recorded at Paragon in 72' by another, I am relatively certain mutual friend, (sad to say, now gone) Steve Kusiciel.
ReplyDeleteCan't remember if it was Willow of Wheels. My brother Ed was in both bands I believe (playing bass). I loved Train Song and Edge of Darkness. Do you know Tom DeMichael? I still have the 4 track reel to reel of my recordings. Both those songs were one there. In fact, after Russ died, we had a tribute party for him and played all his songs. I sang Train Song. It was called Russapalooza. I also remember Paragon.
ReplyDeleteI know Tom... In fact I learned of Russ' passing two years after the fact from Tom at a WMTH reunion. Tom hung out in the studio with us quite often when Russ and I were recording. If you are a member, look me on Facebook. I am 'friends' with Tom D. (My name is on the Cool Duck record label.) In fact Tom played the record on WYEN when he worked there. It was pretty cool to hear!
ReplyDeleteBasically the recording Russ and I did was for the fun of it. I got to hone my skills and experiment on a nonpaying 'client', while Russ did the same. Really the only cost to me was T&M for the studio and tape. The Cool Duck thing came about by accident after I played some recordings to Dave Dahl, Cool Duck's, in today's parlance,'COO'. He liked what he heard. It went on from there. I think Russ actually collected some residuals on the release of that record. Probably only enough to buy a cup of coffee?
ReplyDeleteNot sure if anyone’s still watching this thread, but I’m a working musician from MN who got into Russ’ music just before the pandemic. I bought this 45 and love it, and also enjoyed the White House Sessions demo. I came across all of this after tracking down our relation (by marriage) through Ancestry. I love his dad’s violin work too! If you have any other recordings or can point me to where I can buy them, I’d love to hear them. :)
ReplyDeleteI don't have anything more from Russ. I'm glad you liked what I do have. I didn't know his dad played violin. You say you are related to him?
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