THE GOLDEN SUN (2012)
Music and Lyrics: Michael Foster
Copyright by: CRYSTAL MAGIC MUSIC PUBLISHING (ASCAP) 1979, 2005, 2011.
THE GOLDEN SUN (2012) Concept by: David Pendragon
Produced by: David Pendragon
Music Arranged by: Michael Foster
Executive Producer: Michael Foster
Engineered by: Brian Sargent
Recorded June 20,21,22, 2011 at THE POWER STATION N.E. @ SONALYSTS, Waterford, Conn.
Recording Mixed at THE POWER STATION N.E. and at ABERRANT SOUND STUDIO, Boston, Mass. by: David Pendragon, Brian Sargent, and Michael Foster.
Mark Easton: Acoustic and Electric Guitars (Pan Right), Harmony Vocals.
Barry Easton: Drums
Michael Corsini: Bass
Stephanie Krowka: Lead Vocal
Michael Foster: Acoustic and Electric Guitars (Pan Left), Unison Lead Vocal and Harmony Vocal, Guitar Solo.
This song is a remake and a brand new arrangement of an AVALANCHE track originally written by me in 1972, and recorded by the band in 1979. It has always been one of my favorite songs, but over the past few years...we believe that the lyrical relevance of the song and its message has come full circle. During the process of filming our soon-to-be released HD Documentary DVD "THE ROAD LESS TRAVELED"...we found ourselves sitting in the golden woods of The Natchaug Forest in Eastern Conn. one sunny autumn afternoon, playing an impromptu and spontaneous acoustic version of this song. It was the first time we had ever sung the song with harmonies throughout all the vocals, and as we viewed the footage, we all realized that we had stumbled on to something very special. David Pendragon and I believe the song has the potential to reach huge numbers of people...especially as the 2012 phenomenon approaches...and people will be forced to choose how they will respond to a world in upheaval...especially since all indicators are that we are witnessing and experiencing powerful forces that are already in play...and implies that something HUGE is ALREADY afoot on a planetary scale as 2012 approaches.
The real challenge was to take a song that was nearly 14 minutes long (in its original form), and rearrange it in order to make it viable for airplay. David gave me a target time of roughly 5:00 for the entire song...and although I had my doubts that I would be able to re-arrange the song to that length and still include all the lyrics, I agreed to try. As the re-arranging progressed at my home in Conn...we were not only able to meet the time requirement...but we actually found a spot for me to sneak in a short guitar solo, too. Although the song follows the original arrangement very closely, there are a few changes that have actually improved the dynamics on the song...and the addition of Stephanie Krowka to the band as a full-time member has brought a new element of a beautiful female voice singing my original lead vocal part (which really hasn't changed at all) except for the parts where Stephanie and I sing in unison, and of course, the new added vocal harmonies which we had stumbled on in the woods that sunny day. In the end, the song comes in at 5:25 in length...not bad at all, after cutting away over eight minutes of content from the extended original recording.
I'd like to thank David Pendragon for handling the Producer's job so well....he allowed us to be ouselves, but still brought something very special to the song...and it was his very strong belief that the song could be shortened, and updated, and improved, that is largely why this new version of this song is now available to be heard. David has extraordinary talents as a producer and also as a recording engineer, and hopefully, that will be something that is evident when folks listen to the finished recording. It was also great for us to not have to concern ourselves with mic selections, turning the recorders on and off, or wasting time listening back to every take to determine if what we had just played was a "keeper." With David and Brian sitting behind the control room glass, we all knew that we could trust the ears and experience of those guys, if they said we needed to do something again. David would still call us into the control room to listen to very strong "takes" we may have played...so we were still able to have a lot of input...and if we thought we could do it better we would tell him. In the end, we all ended up being a great team, and it made our jobs in the band easier than they have been in a very long time...and so recording this year was actually more fun than work. It was a priviledge to enter into this creative partnership with him.
This version isn't actually in finished form....there is a Final mix that is a bit better version of this song that is "in the can" and is awaiting David's return to Australia so that it can be properly mastered by him when he gets back to his Mastering Studio. In the meantime...this gives our friends here at SC a chance for a sneak preview. Although I have always felt this song is one of the very best songs I have ever written and arranged...I hope you all enjoy this brand new David Pendragon production of it.
Mike (NAV)
EXCELLENT Mike and Avalanche! I've heard a couple of different versions of this song and all were very good but you've somehow managed to make a good song even better! Most fine guys and gal!
Farrell
You listen to this and one begains to understand why the band name AVALANCHE!
Mike and company....SMOKING HOT GREAT!
PEACE,
Mikie, Stephanie & Co: this is a NEW classic of one of my favorite Avalanche tunes! First off: having Stephanie as a permanent part of the band is a tremendous advantage for any and all projects you guys will do. She did an awesome job with her lead vocal.
The harmonizing in this version is STELLAR! The instrumentation is just perfect as one could expect from a seasoned band like you guys (and now, you girl, too). I understand, David is working on a more detailed master, but this will hit ANYONE in love with Classic Rock - this is what it's all about, bro!!!
To make people understand how good this song is, I'll play the older (remixed, 14 minute) version and right after it this new and abbreviated version. SNR will be on at 9:30pm this coming Saturday right after Maurice.
BRAVO on this one, Avalanche!!! MORE!!!!!!!!!!
Cheers and in AWE,
Mike
I like this tune bunches. Takes me back.
This is what classic rock music is all about....making a classic listenable song with strong lyrics, music, and vocals. Listening to this song gave me a vision of the 70's era of recording...this song is not just a song it's.....ART.
OMG!!!
What a huge wall of sound!!!!
A great vocal,production,musicianship and all is truly a radio ready,and im gonna play it this thursday on THE METAL MASTER SHOW!.
KEEP ROCKIN'!
What a rockin tune... just loved it! love the vocals....Love it! Bud
Rockin tune! Love the vocals ... Love the Tune ... Love it! Bud
great revisiting of my all time favorite Avalanche track and its epic 13 minutes long, you did a great job to editing the original to the essential, it can be a painful exercise but you did a great job, superbe production, peace.
I just want to take a second here to thank each and every one of you for the kind words and the nice comps.
Mike...I know that you are prbably more familiar with this song than anyone here...so thanks for you great post. I really appreciate it.
Digger, Mr. Perez, Joseph, Farrell, Big Pete, Bud, David Carol....thanks to all of you!
What a rockin tune... just loved it! love the vocals....Love it! Bud