McClusky, Dave - A Long Time Coming!

Tracks

Side 1

		Track Name	Length
	1	Lady of the Night	03:36
	2	What You're Doin' to Me	03:10
	3	I'd Like to Say I Love You	03:46
	4	So in Love With You	03:22

Side 2

		Track Name	Length
	1	A Long Time Coming	05:55
	2	Let Me be Alone	03:10
	3	One More Try	03:15
	4	All of the Time	03:47
	5	I'll be Back	03:37

Photos

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Information/Write-up

Hello Everyone,
Let me start by introducing myself.

I am “Dave McCluskey” born in Barking England on Aug 16 1955 and moved to Canada in 1960 when I was 5.

My musical influences growing up were “The Beatles”. I first started my musical journey at the age of six when my parents bought my older brother and myself guitars for Christmas one year, quite honestly I was rather disappointed considering I always wanted to be a drummer (a dream that was fulfilled after constant rounding up my parents at the age of 7).

It was later explaining to me that my family could no longer put up with the constant noise I made banging on my drums every night. So the drums had to go.

I really didn’t start learning to play guitar until the age of 13, when my brother taught me to play some basic chords. If my memory serves me correct it was at the age of 13 that I wrote my first song.

I can say thatI spent my teen years playing in a few different bands and learning my craft. It’s actually quite been a process. I would spend countless hours in the basement of our house writing songs and basically singing to myself. My ever listening audience at that time was made up of my best friend and my older brother Paul. I remember my first experience on a stage was when I was 11 or 12 at best there use to be a “talent hour” on Saturday afternoons and one day my brother Paul pushed me to get up and sing a song when they heard the band. I have to say at that moment I first heard the crowd cheer and whistle I was hooked for life.

It was at the age of 23 that I met my first real musical influence, a Canadian Musician named Glen Johansen. Glen owned a local recording studio in Toronto and he immediately “took me under” so to speak and inspired me in everything I wanted. I must admit the most popular songs on the was to record 2 songs that I had written previously for my own curiosity to see how they really sounded, so here they are “Lady of the night” and “what you’re doing to me”. I’d also like to say that I’d written the song “I’m in love with you” for my sister Sue, as a gift when she got married.

After spending countless week-end in the studio, it was Glen that recommended I should send the songs out to Record Companies in Toronto and see if I could get their approval. I did so and the feedback I received was overwhemingly positive and I was invited by 4 or 5 Record Companies to submit more to them.

In actual fact, I was told by R.H. C. Records. I was told that I would receive a huge fan mail at their Record Companies themselves had a huge demand for demo records and there was a huge fan mail for his Albums.

I remember getting a call one night at home from the President of R.G.R. asking me to drop by his house to talk over things. It was at that time the President of RGR asked me if I would consider recording an Album. So, with Glen producing, and his son Matthew and Fred’s experieneed employees dad, where really took this raw unknown musician and helped him to create the album you are listening to today.

We first started recording in early September of 1977 beginning with “What you’re doing to me” and “I’m so in love with you” Both songs were recorded in Toronto, using some of the best studio players Canada had to offer at that time, Many of whom had found their own fame by being full time players for the likes of Ann Murray and Bruce Cockburn. You can imagine my excitement also knowing most of them had also played on the Dan Hill “Longer Fuse” Album.

Probably my most memorable moment in recording the entire Album was the day Matthew and Fred finished mixing “What you’re doing to me”. They had invited all the Executives from the Record Company to come down to the Studio and listen to it for the first time.

They had arranged for the lights to be turned off in the Control Room where we were all seated…and began playing the track on the “Main Monitors”…to this day I remember what became a vocal silence understandably when we’d finished playing there was tears of emotion running down my cheeks. I was completely overwhelmed by what had started as only a song written on one night long after my 4am shift was finished had become, even today as I sit here writing this will my memories.

As the years went by Matthew and Fred had moved to L.A. and I had the pleasure of meeting and working with the “musical legends from Toto. To say that Steve Lukather and Jeff Pocaro and the rest of the guys in Toto were just studio players would not do them the justice they so rightly deserve, Both Steve and Jeff were and to this day are in my eyes, 2 of the best musicians in the history of commercial music.

The great drum feel Jeff layed down for “A long time coming” were before none and to this day the tone of Jeff’s tuning blow me away. The vocals we had hoped for and the final great mix to make the songs tune out as good as they did had combined with the powerful back-ground vocals of “Bobby Kimball” on “Lady of the night “ made these songs some of my favorites of the Album.

I’m sure some of you are “curious” as to why the name “McCluskey” instead of “Dave McCluskey”. Well it’s actually something that I Record Company “came up with” I feel that gave the project more of a “Band name as opposed to a “Solo Artist” the idea I actually grew to like as the project went on.

As I sit and listen to this entire album I would have to say my favorite songs on the album are “Lady of the night” and “What you’re doing to me”. I’d also like to add that I’m truly happy to the entire Crew that made this project possible.

Well I hope this gives you a little insight to myself and this album that I was fortunate to record.

“A Long Time Coming”
Sincerely Yours,
Dave McCluskey

Musicians
David McCluskey: lead vocals
Steve Lukather: electric guitar
Bob Mann: electric guitar
Dan Dugmore: electric guitar
Fred Mollin: acoustic guitar, guitar, percussion, background vocals
John Capek: piano, keyboards, organ, Fender Rhodes
Doug Riley: piano
John Jarvis: piano, Fender Rhodes
Tom Szczesniak: bass
Leland Sklar: bass
Mike Porcaro: bass
Bob Mann: guitar
Bob Disalle: drums
John Andersen: drums, piano
Jeff Porcaro: drums
Andy Newmark: drums
Jim Horn: saxophone
Bobby Kimball: background vocals, counter vocal
Bobby Hillary: background vocals
Fred Pedersen: background vocals
Jimmy Faragher: lead vocal (on “A Long Time Coming”)
Matthew McCauley: synthesizer, background vocals
Mark Lineitz: horns
Bob Schaper: horns
Bob Edwards: horns

Songwriting
All songs written by Dave McCluskey except:
‘I’ll Be Back’ written by Lennon–McCartney

Production
Produced by Matthew McCauley and Fred Mollin
Recorded and mixed at Manta Sound, Toronto; Sunset Sound, Sunset Sound Factory West, Cherokee Studios, Record Plant, and Wally Heider Studios, Los Angeles
Engineering by Gary Gray, John Naslen, Sy Potma, Bob Schaper, Bob Edwards, Mark Lineitz, and Mic Guzowski
Assistant engineering by David Biasi
Strings arranged and conducted by Matthew McCauley
Horns arranged by Bob Schaper, Mark Lineitz, and Bob Edwards

Artwork
Jacket concept and design by John Hannan
Illustration by John Martin, Fifty Fingers

Matt and Fred wish to thank:
Gord, for all his guidance, especially Jeff and Leland.
Everyone at Janus Records, especially Eddie, Bobby, Len, Sue…
Danny at Sunset Sound, especially Gene and Mark.
Everyone at Manta Sound, especially Gary, Sy, Jim, Dave Hill, Irene and everyone on the staff of this album.

Jeff Porcaro and Steve Lukather appear through the courtesy of Toto Productions.
Leland Sklar and David Hungate appear through the courtesy of Qwest Records.
Davey Johnstone of the group C.A.D. appear through the courtesy of Capitol Records.
John Andersen appears through the courtesy of CBS Records.

TRACK-BY-TRACK CREDITS:

‘Lady of the Night’
Musicians

David McCluskey: lead vocals
John Jarvis: piano, Fender Rhodes
Steve Lukather: electric guitar
Fred Mollin: acoustic guitar
Leland Sklar: bass
Andy Newmark: drums
Jim Horn: saxophone
Bobby Kimball: background vocals, counter vocal
Matthew McCauley: background vocals

Production

Produced by Matthew McCauley and Fred Mollin
Horns by Bobby “Bunny” Schaper; overdubs by Mark Linett
Recorded and mixed at Sunset Sound, Los Angeles

‘What You’re Doin’ to Me’
Musicians

David McCluskey: lead vocals
Fred Mollin: acoustic guitar, background vocals
Doug Riley: piano
Tom Szczesniak: bass
John Andersen: drums
Bob Mann: electric guitar
Matthew McCauley: background vocals
Matthew McCauley: strings arranged and conducted

Production

Engineered by Gary Gray
Assistant engineering by John Naslen and Sy Potma
Recorded and mixed at Manta Sound, Toronto

‘I’d Like to Say I Love You’
Musicians

David McCluskey: lead vocals
Fred Mollin: acoustic guitar, percussion, background vocals
Tom Szczesniak: bass
John Capek: keyboards
Matthew McCauley: background vocals

Production

Engineered by John Naslen (basic tracks)
Overdubs and mix by Gary Gray
Assistant engineering by Sy Potma
Recorded and mixed at Manta Sound, Toronto

‘So in Love With You’
Musicians

David McCluskey: lead vocals
Doug Riley: piano
Fred Mollin: acoustic guitar
Tom Szczesniak: bass
Bob Mann: electric guitar
John Andersen: drums
Matthew McCauley: synthesizer
Matthew McCauley: strings arranged and conducted
Bobby Hillary: background vocals

Production

Produced by Matthew McCauley and Fred Mollin
Engineered by Gary Gray
Assistant engineering by John Naslen and Sy Potma
Recorded and mixed at Manta Sound, Toronto

‘A Long Time Coming’
Musicians

David McCluskey: lead vocals
Fred Mollin: acoustic guitar, background vocals
Dan Dugmore: electric guitar
John Capek: piano, organ
Leland Sklar: bass
Jeff Porcaro: drums
Jimmy Faragher: lead vocal
Matthew McCauley: background vocals

Production

Produced by Matthew McCauley and Fred Mollin
Engineered by Bob Schaper (tracks & mix); overdubs by Bob Edwards and Mark Lineitz
Assistant engineering by David Biasi
Recorded at Sunset Sound, Sunset Sound Factory West, Record Plant, and Wally Heider Studios, Los Angeles

‘Let Me Be Alone’
Musicians

David McCluskey: lead vocals
Fred Mollin: acoustic guitar
Mike Porcaro: bass
Dan Dugmore: electric guitar
Steve Lukather: electric guitar
John Capek: Fender Rhodes
Jeff Porcaro: drums
Fred Pedersen: background vocals
Matthew McCauley: background vocals
Matthew McCauley: strings arranged and conducted

Production

Engineered by Bob Schaper (tracks & mix)
Overdubs by Bob Edwards and Mark Lineitz
Assistant engineering by David Biasi
Recorded at Sunset Sound, Sunset Sound Factory West, Record Plant, and Wally Heider Studios, Los Angeles

‘One More Try’
Musicians

David McCluskey: lead vocals
John Capek: piano
Mike Porcaro: bass
Jeff Porcaro: drums
Dan Dugmore: electric guitar
Matthew McCauley: background vocals
Matthew McCauley: synthesizer

Production

Engineered by Bob Schaper (basic tracks)
Mixed by Mic Guzowski
Overdubs by Gary Gray and Mark Lineitz
Assistant engineering by David Biasi
Recorded at Sunset Sound; additional recording at Sound Factory West, Record Plant, and Wally Heider Studios, Los Angeles
Mixed at Sunset Sound

‘All of the Time’
Musicians

David McCluskey: lead vocals
John Andersen: drums, piano
Bob DiSalle: drums
Tom Szczesniak: bass
Jim Goldsworthy: guitar
Gene Martynec: strings arranged

Production

Engineered by Ken Friesen
Recorded and mixed at Eastern Sound, Toronto

‘I’ll Be Back’
Musicians

David McCluskey: lead vocals
John Capek: piano
Matthew McCauley: orchestra arranged and conducted

Production
Engineered by Bob Edwards (basic tracks & overdubs)
String mix by Bob Schaper
Assistant engineering by David Biasi
Recorded at Record Plant, Wally Heider, and Cherokee Studios, Los Angeles
Mixed at Sunset Sound

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