Scott Henderson Discussion

[Kevin Thomas]

Hi Scott,

You said recently that you listened to all TT's albums in a row, and that there was a lot of crap (according to you) but also a few things you're still proud of.

I'm curious to know about it. Would you tell us what was the worse and the best of it? I don't want to make you say bad things about ideas that were coming from the others (I assume there are things you didn't like from the very beginning, but the band went for it though), it's more about things that you thought were cool then, and you don't now.

You said many times that the sound and the recording were pretty bad on some TT's album.
But I'd like to know how you see the compositions and the playing from today's perspective. For instance, Face First. You always say the mix is horrible, but what about the songs?

If my request bothers you, if you think it's gonna take you a long time and you don't want to spend time on it, then feel free to let me know with a polite "Fuck off!". And if you take some time to answer, then thanks a lot.

Kev

[Scott Henderson]

I don't mind listing my favorite tunes, but it would take way too long to list all the things I don't like anymore. I didn't like a lot of the compositions then, so you can imagine how I feel about them now. Actually I think the records sound pretty good, except for Face First which is a disaster - even so, there are a few tunes I still like on that album. So here's a list of my favorite TT songs.

from Spears: Big Fun
from Dr. Hee: Twilight In Northridge, Ominous, Solemn
from Nomad: Self Defense, Rituals - the song, definitely not the performance. Better version on Well To The Bone.
from Tribal Tech: Big Girl Blues, Elvis At The Hop, Peru, Sub Aqua, Wasteland - what a great tune!
from Illicit: Big Wave, Stoopid, Slidin' Into Charlisa - song, not performance. Better version on Live!
from Face First: Face First, Revenge Stew
from Reality Check: Susies Dingsbums, Nite Club, Jakarta - song, not performance. Better version on Live!
from Thick: Thick, Clinic Troll, What Has He Had?
from Rocket Science: Sojlevska, Song Holy Hall
from X: Got Faith 'N Phat, Palm Moon Plaza, Corn Butter

Wow, hard to believe I still like all these songs. Of course, that's about 25% of the catalogue.

[Kevin Thomas]

Thanks for the list.

As I told you, I don't want you to badmouth the 3 others, but there's something in your answer that picks my curiosity : you say there are many tunes you already didn't like at the time you released them. It's hard for me to imagine you write, play and record something, then say you don't like it, and then release it. So how did this happen. Were you the only one in the band unhappy with those tunes? Who said "No, it's fine, let's put it on a CD and sell it?". I would not say it was you.

I know it has nothing to do with what I was talking about, but... I just realised today that when I listen to "I hate you", I always have the same thing coming to my mind : Al and Peg Bundy. So I wonder if it's what was on your mind when you wrote it.

Kev

[Scott Henderson]

It's different when you're on a label - everything is more on a schedule, and there's a rush to get things done. I wrote under pressure more than I do now. I can't speak for Willis, but I felt I had to turn in material which I would've liked to work on for a few more weeks. (or months)

Also, we were recording in expensive studios, so there was a big rush to get our tones before we played. We had no producer, and at that point in my career, I sure could've used a good one.

I Hate You isn't about Al & Peg specifically, but they fit the picture... great show! Ed O' Neill is one of my favorite actors and I'm glad he's doing well on Modern Family. I love that whole cast and it's the only sitcom I'll watch.