The Wages, An Illustrated Story | 11. Masterstroke | Second Band
I was looking forward to recording with my original backers Duffy and Brian, who were always punctual, and never harrased me the way Harold and some of the other industry men did. I think Duffy liked me a little, but he was so shy, and I thought they were both quite professional. But this was apparently an unimportant criteria, and sharp playing ability came first.
I said to Ben in his office at Genuine Oak, “Duffy and Brian were the only people who would make a band with me when I was getting started. Nobody else cared. They were onboard even before Crystal.”
“That’s a nice story, but do you want to stay stuck at the start forever? I'm sure they're great fellows, and you like to jam with them at the sock-hop or the Moose Lodge, but a dozen guys like Duffy and Brian fall out from trying to crawl up my ass every time I get up from my desk. I know that you're going to go further than they ever will. We've got men who will cut your record in the given time, and won't run up costs. We can put the time for development back into our star, who is you. Plus we're going to bring in a pedal steel player and a fiddle, and we’ll go to a full string section to deepen the emotion of your slow songs.”
I was in turmoil, spinning in limbo between feeling like a Judas and having a dream come true. Thirty pieces of silver and my own string section beckoned.
“Wow,” I said,” Pedal steel on my songs?”
“No fooling, baby. Karl is one of the best. He’s recorded in Toronto, Montreal, Nashville, Memphis, Mussel Shoals, and L. A. He’s also available to tour with you. Do you want to keep dinking around with the kids, or do you want to play the big time? I’ve got grown-up professionals for bass and lead guitar for recording and shows—all at the ready to give you the punch and musicianship that you deserve.”