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SCV music

After spending a few years jamming with local musicians and a few more years composing soundtracks for software games, I've got a massive archive of music on hand. A wide variety of styles & instrumentation. I've never had access to great equipment or a real studio, but I enjoy being creative with what I've got.

Here are some mp3 files with notes. Enjoy!
"Ringing Phone"
Won't somebody answer that ringing phone?
Recorded 11/26/88
Players: scott virtes (bass), phil malfa (jamming electric guitar), chuck coxon (drums for a change) and greg musselman (improv vocals)
Download the mp3 - size = 2 megs - length 4:10
"September"
No planning whatsoever. We tapped a few notes at first, then this whold thing came bursting out. Stefan and I were always a tight rhythm unit, and it was fun seeing what other folks could do.
Recorded 11/25/88
Players: scott virtes (bass), phil malfa (lead guitar!), stefan jackson (drums), chuck coxon (backing guitar).
Download the mp3 - size = 2.9 megs - length 5:10
"Remember Life"
No planning whatsoever. Where have I heard that before? Same guys as "September", a month later, late one night after the neighbors told us to shut the hell up. To us, "pipe down!" meant "play acoustic guitars instead!"
Recorded 12/26/88
Players: scott virtes (12-string acoustic), phil malfa (lead acoustic), greg musselman (backing guitar).
Download the mp3 - size = 2 megs - length 4:11
"Peace of Three"
Fun with the portable studio. 3 mellow guitars trying to break free.
Recorded 10/28/88
Players: scott virtes (guitars).
Download the mp3 - size = 2 megs - length 1:06
"Arabian Cowboy Song"
One morning I woke up and there was a big hippie sleeping on the couch in the living room. He came down from oregon to visit phil. phil was still at work. so we jammed. life was so simple back then! I never did come up with a good title for this song, though I still play it regularly. Hmm ...
Recorded 1989
Players: scott virtes (12-string acoustic), frank darcy (tablas)
Download the mp3 - size = 1.5 megs - length 3:09
"Needs"
A fun little folk piece recorded live in my little bungalow. I think we did about 4 takes first, then this one.
Recorded: March 1989
Players: jeff berkley (lyrics, lead vocals, rhythm guitar), scott virtes (backing vocals, lead guitar), brian (far background guitar) and frank darcy (percussion)
Download the mp3 - size = 2 megs - length 4:14
"One Second Away"
A moody piece recorded for my "Afterlife" tape, way back when. Sadly, my inspiration for the tape was Mark Tiesen, who died shortly afterwards. This song then played at his funeral. And now it just gives me the creeps. Yes, the backing guitar is a bit harsh ... sorry, but it makes the other guitar float better.
Recorded: 9/18/88
Players: scott virtes (raw guitar and ebow guitar)
Download the mp3 - size = 1 meg - length 2:15
"Branching 2"
I did a lot of recording on a little Tascam 4-track studio. great little devices. while I was never happy with my voice (i always seem to have a sinus problem, ear infection, throat problem, grr!), I figured I should get the songs on tape anyway. here's one where the lyrics were created by taking the first line of each poem I had written that week, and throwing them together in random order. I still like it.
Recorded: 1992
Players: scott virtes (guitars, vocals)
Download the mp3 - size = 1.7 megs - length 3:34
"Diary Page" (solo)
OK. Since my voice bugs the crap out of me, here's just the final solo from another tune. ;-)
Recorded: 1992
Players: scott virtes (guitars, vocals)
Download the mp3 - size = 400K - length 0:52
"Country Crash"
Well, after the garage band people all moved away, I ended up doing solo 12-string stuff and weird computer compositions. Like this one. I laid out an annoying country beat, then pounced on it with a metal guitar and fluff solo. So it's demented.
Recorded: 1995
Players: scott virtes (MOD programming), jared coffin (ideas)
Download the mp3 - size = 740K - length 1:34
"Don't Go Alone"
Hey, I like my voice in this one. One of my favorite tunes, even if it just pointless ramblings inspired by a "Twin Peaks" marathon, and the solo starts off with unused tracks from a previous session. I said I was a goof, remember?
Recorded: 1993
Players: scott virtes (guitars, bass, vocals)
Download the mp3 - size = 1.8 megs - length 3:50
"Nemesis"
While I tried to put together MOD tracks that didn't sound computer generated, they did lend themselves nicely to video games. This is the soundtrack to "Nemesis" by Encore Entertainment. Yes, it uses sound f/x from the game as musical notes. I'm just a goof.
Recorded: 1995
Players: scott virtes (MOD programming)
Download the mp3 - size = 790K - length 1:41
"Ghost Town"
This is my favorite tune from my "MOD" period. I suck at the piano, but I had a good time composing this piece from a piece of classical guitar sheet music.
Recorded: 1994
Players: scott virtes (MOD programming)
Download the mp3 - size = 740K - length 1:41
"4th of July Jam"
Stefan & I and some local guys got together to play an oldies gig at a friend's big 4th of July party. This is where the singer took a break, but Stefan and I just weren't tired yet. It's a fun little riff. And it's the last recording I have playing live with Stefan, who moved to New York City and now has a band called Citi-Zen.
Recorded: 7/4/90
Players: scott virtes (solo guitar), stefan jackson (drums), Barry (bass), Jim & Darlene the vocalists were on break.
Download the mp3 - size = 2.1 megs - length 4:33
"Foul Play"
MOD programming at the time involved typing notes into little columns, then sequencing the parts together. It was mind-numbing work. But sometimes it all fits together. Here's a one that started as just a skippy synth part and crunchy distorted guitar. For some reason I thought it needed some paranoid mumbling and a happy circus-like piano part that mocks the guy's pain. If that's not warped enough, I later (2003) wrote short film script based on the scene I get in my head when I listen to it.
Recorded: 1994
Players: scott virtes (MOD programming, mumbling)
Download the mp3 - size = 1.3 megs - length 2:40
"5th Avenue"
Another fun computer composition. This one was a top download on AOL way back when.
Recorded: 1994
Players: scott virtes (MOD programming)
Download the mp3 - size = 820K - length 1:45