The Tell-Tale Hearts: From the vaults

(Ray Brandes shares a long-lost track from his formative San Diego band, created with some production wizardry from Unknowns sonic prodigy Mark Neill.)

The Tell-Tale Hearts group shotTowards the end of 1986, as the Tell-Tale Hearts were heading toward an inevitable break-up, we headed back into Mark Neill’s Swinging Studios in Dulzura, Calif., to cut what would be the band’s final recordings with its first edition. Neill had produced the band’s highly acclaimed six-song EP earlier that year, and we hoped we might be able once again to pick up a little of his studio magic.

The band’s line-up included Mike Stax; Bill Calhoun; David Klowden; Peter Miesner (who had taken over guitar duties from Eric Bacher); and myself. Three songs were recorded: The Scorpions’ “Too Many Lovers”; “Promise” (Brandes); and “Nothing You Can Do” (Brandes). The first two were released as a single on Australia’s Cavern 7 label the following year, but “Nothing You Can Do” stayed in the can. (Bart Mendoza’s Sound Affects magazine included the song on a giveaway cassette with one of its issues.)

I recently discovered a rough mix cassette recording of “Nothing You Can Do” and rescued it with a little help from Audacity. I hadn’ heard the song in more than 20 years. Listening to the recording brought back vivid memories of the sessions, which were held on a rainy Saturday in November, 1986.

I was still a very tentative rhythm guitar player then, so I had my amplifier turned down very low. I suggested to Mike that he play like the Stones’ Bill Wyman on “Bye Bye Johnny,” and he kindly obliged. The song was right in Peter’s bailiwick, as they say, and he nailed the guitar leads effortlessly. Bill and David were in fine form as well.

Mark Neill was the producer, and Dave Doyle his engineer and assistant. It was always both thrilling and intimidating to be in the studio with Mark. His knowledge is vast, and his musical ear is uncanny. Like the best producers, he is brilliant at coaxing, cajoling and demanding the best performances possible from an artist.

Mark Neill wins a Grammy!

Unfortunately, the version you will hear does not reflect the quality of the original recording. It is a digitized version of a cassette copy of a cassette copy of a very rough cassette mix we took home from the studio after the session. I hope you enjoy it, nonetheless.

Join Neill and Doyle when the Unknowns reunite Sept. 3 …
Supported by the Sidewalk Scene, featuring Brandes, Bacher, Piper, Zadarnowski and Peñalosa!

Here’s the song:

— Ray Brandes

Music history from Ray Brandes:


Music and culture by Ray Brandes:

6 thoughts on “The Tell-Tale Hearts: From the vaults

  1. Great to hear this, Ray. In ’86, I was already out-of-town for good, and missed this period of the TTH, except for a gig I think you played at The Farm in SF.

    It seems from this recording, that at that time you picked up the torch from the Voxx-recording-era Crawdaddys -- with a 5x4, stomping sound. Mark nailed that, of course.

    Which leads me to the general question, what’s up with Stax? He’s consistently written liner notes and produced UT -- but maintained an otherwise, very low profile.

    Have you had much word of or from Mike? I hope all is good news from him.

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