Matovina talks about Golders Green

Dan Matovina mastering Golders Green

Dan Matovina,producer of already released and highly acclaimed Pete Ham demo collection "7 Park Avenue", and writer of the book "Without You, The Tragic Story Of Badfinger", has finished up the production of second set Pete demos, "Golders Green" due out July 13th this year on Rykodisc. On this occasion he gave this exclusive interview to BadfingerNews. Questions are italic and answers are bold You can click on the exclusive photos to see them in full size Link Here for more information about Golders Green

The Interview:

At some point there were doubts that the new Pete demo release would ever become a reality,why?

Not really, Ryko showed an interest in it from the beginning.

How was material for the CD selected?

Compositional quality, seeking to have a variety of styles, the demos that jelled best with overdubs (some were dropped because the overdubs weren't happening). Some were planned to have overdubs and ended up as they were originally.

Some songs on Golders Green have a very different feel, and production style from songs on 7 Park Avenue. Here I’m thinking of “I’m So Lonely ” and others. Is that a sign of more courrage from the producer or just a question of the songs you’re working with.

Really, everything in mind was approached much the same. Pete remains the focus. I used an ADAT machine versus an analog 8 track for overdubbing.

How was the circumstances surrounding the production.

This project was a bit more rushed. The option deal unnecessarily took ages and ages to get finalized and the budget was freed very late in the game. There are some songs that I feel needed more work, like they could've used another shot at a drum track or bass line. Some mixes are just okay. A couple songs could've benefited from a bass line and/or acoustic guitar overdub. But generally I think it's a good CD. I think the Japanese version feels more complete as a CD. I am my own worst critic on everything I do. Not having enough time to do everything I wanted to do does frustrate me. But deadlines are deadlines.

The ballads on Golders Green have little/none overdubs.Why?

I had people try bass lines on "Keyhole Street", "A Lonely Day", and "I've Waited So Long To Be Free.", but they didn't work well or enhance the song. With more time I could've found someone who pulled it off eventually, or worked on some myself. I really wish I'd had Ron Griffiths around. But the demos still are nice to hear with just Pete and a guitar.

There’s a lot of great keyboard/piano playing on the CD. How much does Pete play and who plays the rest.

The organ work is Mike Romanowski, Chris von Sneidern, and myself. The piano solo on "Where Will You Be" is Bob Jackson. Pete plays the all the piano, electric piano and Wurlitzer-sounding parts.

Has it never been considered to release a single from Golders Green. Perhaps Helping Hand or Makes Me Feel Good.

That's up to Rykodisc. Contact them and push it.

The great “fan features” that are included- like Pete talking and playing on drums while singing, why did you put them on Golders Green and not 7 Park Avenue.

No real reason. I have more stuff similar to that for Pete Ham volume three.

Are all guitars played by Pete?

There is some doubling of his rhythm on "Makes Me Feel Good", both versions.

How did you approach the overdubbing?

I approached overdubbing with the same idea that Pete's original demo was the focal point and that nothing I add should overwhelm or detract from his performances. If I thought the overdubs weakened that premise, I dumped them. I used an analog 8-track for 7 Park Avenue. For this I used a digital ADAT 8 track. This time, on Golders Green, I ended up being more rushed and there are some tracks I really wish I could have done more work on, or tried another mix, but time and budget ran out. I saved some for a volume three, and discarded a few I know could turn out much better.

Do you hope/expect to get more time for the volume three?

Absolutely, and this time I will start it early on, and not let it go until I'm supremely happy with it. I probably won't have time to start it until next year though, so it will probably be two to three years before it is released.

Why was Ron not more involved in the production?

Because Ron Griffiths lives in the U.K. I live in the U.S. But maybe I can have him do some bass lines at a studio there, using the same format, so I can just send tapes over. We'll see. He is a great bass player.

What is the story behind Makes Me Feel Good.? Was it one of those songs the composer never really felt was finished and eventually dropped working on ?

It was one of many early-Pete songs. Since he started re-writing it later, he must've felt it was a strong composition. Sadly, The Iveys nor Badfinger ever did it. It's obviously very commercial. One of a half dozen or so Pete songs that could've been worked into strong single-oriented material. We had a pop genius on our hands and the world lost so much when he died.

We know that Pete never could hope of getting all his songs recorded by Badfinger. What is the general reason that these songs didn’t make it, and were any of the “NEW” songs rehearsed/recorded by Badfinger?

Badfinger was a democratic group with four very good writers. To be fair,everyone had to have the same opportunities. The producers certainly had a lot of say in the material chosen. Eventually Pete probably would've gone solo and maybe he would have pulled forward some older songs, as he did when he recorded "I Miss You", which was originally demoed in 1968. "I'll Kiss You Goodnight' was demoed by The Iveys.

You’re Such A Good Woman, was originally planned to be featured on the CD, why was it left out?

It just wasn't quite there, and it is too good to waste. Look for it to be a centerpiece of the volume three set.

Richard has some very different lyrics, and is one of the only real rock’n roll type of songs, what can you tell about it?

The liner notes explain what's behind that. That is one song I do wish I could've worked on more. A good rocker. It would've made a great Badfinger song with the others voices and some good guitar solos thrown in. A bit of fun from Pete. His harmonica work on the demo is excellent.

How do Ron Griffiths and Bob Jackson feel about these Pete demo productions and playing on them?

They love it, and would play on them again at the drop of a hat.

What future Pete related projects would you like to work on

Volume three, and a set of Pete early demos (1966,1967)

---