Clara Bellino: News

Part of my song "Potential Criminal" is included in a charming film by director Nayantara Pais-Caputi, co-written with Gino Caputi: "DCBA - Desi Confused By America", about a young Indian
woman adjusting to her life in New York. Check out this touching and hopeful short film.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pM5k-Y7q_08

USA, Australia, France, Japan, United Kingdom, Canada, Germany, Switzerland, Hong Kong, Italy, Mexico, New Zealand, Spain, Netherlands, Singapore, Taiwan, Austria, Bahrain, Finland, Gibraltar, Israel, Kuwait, Northern Mariana Islands, Sweden, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, American Samoa, Belgium, Bermuda, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Greece, Guam, Monaco, Martinique, Malaysia, Nigeria, Norway, Philippines, Puerto Rico, Portugal, Thailand, Turkey and the Virgin Islands!

You can buy songs from "Embarcadero Love' on the following download services:AT&T Mmode store, Snocap, eMusic, ITunes, msn, connect, download punk, MusicNet, Ruckus Network, Liquid Digital, FutureTrax, BigPond, MusicMatch, DestraMusic, HearMusic (Starbucks), T-Online, TouchTunes, Napster, EMEPE3. com, wippit, MusicNow, iplay.pl, Rhapsody, KarmaDownload.com, RadioLunchbox, Bleep, Soundbuzz, eCast, Telstra, loudeye, Hudson Mobile, Zingy.

I returned from Paris January 10. Met a character named Fox there at radio Nova, he had welcomed Chet to Paris in the late 60s! In San Francisco January 12 the Gimme Shelter benefit put on by Steve Sodokoff had a great turnout. I sang one song with percussionist Steve La Porta, next time we'll stretch it out!, just perscussions and guitar, until everyone pays attention!, like the Doors used to do...we had a great time, thanks Steve Sodokoff for making sure the Gimme Shelter event happens yearly.

The first time I saw Chet I was performing at The Paradise Lounge in San Francisco, wondering "who is this man with a white beard taking pictures of me?" Chet came to a few other shows, we would meet and talk at parties, and became friends. He came by my wedding and parties on Russian Hill. Then in the last year, Chet and I spent a fair amount of time working creatively together as he shot five different photo sessions for my Cd and website. I also spent a lot of time with Chet when I was going through personal trifles and he was an incredible support and source of kindness to me. I in turn was lucky enough to be asked by him to help take care of him when he started a second round of treatment for his ailment. So before I left to France May 29th, 05 I was privileged for a few months to have this man in my almost daily life. Whether I drove, shopped, cooked, learned how he liked his oat bran exactly prepared, spent hours talking with him about everything, or just kept him company, I soaked in every moment with the awareness that I would treasure these moments forever. The last time I saw Chet he walked me to my car, he'd been off his harsh medication for just over a week, he had kept his spirits up but this day he seemed better, with a sparkle in his eye, and he said "See you babe" bathed in sunlight. I went to France, to visit with my family - it was my dad's 70th birthday! - dad, I hope you don't mind my revealing your age - and distributed and sold Cds. When I returned from France June 23rd, I'd stayed in touch and knew Chet had been in the hospital. Like all of us who knew him, I wanted him to be around forever. And maybe it's partly his spirit while I helped take care of him that lulled me into fully expecting him to be around for a very long time. I'm grateful I got back in time to say goodbye, and that he's no longer suffering. Chet died the night of June 24th to 25th, at 12:34 am. That's the time the doctors pronounced. Some of us noticed that Chet had to also go out in time at 1-2-3-4 am! Of course he would.
Though it hasn't even been 2 months yet it seems like an eternity. There's been a whirlwind of activities, get togethers, visits, new friends, and it's taken me till
now to find the resolve to gradually refocus on my life, and move on accompanied and blessed with new friends Chet had introduced me to. They make missing him a little softer.

As of August 18, I have set up a fund in Chet's name at Glide Memorial Church in San Francisco, so that for every copy of my CD "Embarcadero Love" bought on CDBaby.com, $1 is given to Glide in his name. It is called "The Chet Helms life celebration fund". If you want to donate to the fund without purchasing my CD!, you can do that too by contacting Glide directly. Call 415-674-6000 X: 6071 and speak with Mary Dunbar.

Recording and Production credits:
"Embarcadero Love" was recorded in California: at "Fantasy Studios" in Berkeley, at "Jimi Mac's Hot Spot" and "CMI Studios" in Oakland, and at "Expressions, Center for New Media" in Emeryville.
1. Tout Est Fini
drums and keyboards: Jimi McKinney / bass: Rustee Allen / background choir: LZ Love and Katharine Chase / vox: Clara Bellino / written by Clara Bellino, (C) and (P) 2005, "Blinky Beano Music", BMI / produced by Jimi McKinney and Clara Bellino
2. Swordfishtrombone
drums and keyboards: Jimi McKinney / bass: Rustee Allen / vox: Clara Bellino / sound-effects: Johannes Luley / written by Tom Waits / produced by Jimi McKinney and Clara Bellino
3. Goodnight Baby
drums: Taz / bass: Rustee Allen / keyboards: Jimi McKinney / guitar: Piers Lawrence / tambourine: Johannes Luley / background vocals: Leah Thysse / vox: Clara Bellino / written by Clara Bellino, (C) and (P) 2005, "Blinky Beano Music", BMI / produced by Clara Bellino
4. What's Too Much
drums: Taz / bass: Rustee Allen / keyboards: Jimi McKinney / guitar: Piers Lawrence and Johannes Luley / background vocals: Leah Tyse / vox: Clara Bellino / written by Smokey Robinson, Kirtz, Stone and Talbert / produced by Clara Bellino
5. Peaceful Solution
drums and keyboards: Jimi McKinney / live drums: Matt Swindells / hi-hat: Johannes Luley / bass: Rustee Allen and Johannes Luley / guitars: Johannes Luley and Chris Capriotti / background gospel choir: LZ Love / vox: Clara Bellino / written by Clara Bellino, (C) and (P) 2005, "Blinky Beano Music", BMI / produced by Jimi McKinney and Clara Bellino
6. "Something Cool"
drums and keyboards : Jimi McKinney / bass: Rustee Allen / trombone: Mike Rinta / vox: Clara Bellino / written by William Barnes / produced by Jimi McKinney and Clara Bellino
7. "Game Up - Bigger Pickle"
drums and keyboards: Jimi McKinney / drum loops and tambourine: Johannes Luley / piano intro and break: Clara Bellino / bass: Rustee Allen / background vocals: Katharine Chase / vox: Clara Bellino / written by Clara Bellino, (C) and (P) 2005, "Blinky Beano Music", BMI / produced by Jimi McKinney and Clara Bellino
8. "Come And Stay With Me"
drums and keyboards: Jimi McKinney / bass: Rustee Allen / 12 string guitar and background vocals: Johnny Downer / vox: Clara Bellino / written by Jackie DeShannon / produced by Clara Bellino, Jimi McKinney and Rustee Allen
9. "Potential Criminal"
drums and keyboards: Jimi McKinney / bass: Rustee Allen / keyboards and guitars: Johannes Luley / background vocals and vox: Clara Bellino / written by Clara Bellino, (C) and (P) 2005, "Blinky Beano Music", BMI / produced by Jimi Mckinney and Clara Bellino
10. "Big Picture"
drums: Taz / bass: Rustee Allen / keyboards: Jimi McKinney / guitars: Johannes Luley / background vocals: Leah Tyse / vox: Clara Bellino / written by Clara Bellino, (C) and (P) 2005, "Blinky Beano Music", BMI / produced by Clara Bellino
Bonus Tracks:
11. "Game Up - Bigger Pickle" (Radio Edit)
see credits for song #7
12. "El Crepusculo"
drums: Mike Sims / bass: Rustee Allen / guitars: Vudi and Piers Lawrence / percussions: S. Kwakku Daddy / backgound vocals and vox: Clara Bellino / written by Clara Bellino, (C) and (P) 2000, "Blinky Beano Music", BMI / produced by Clara Bellino, recorded by Ed Jones

Vocals produced with Clara Bellino by Jeffrey Wood at Fantasy Studios, and Johannes Luley at CMI Studios. "Embarcadero Love" mix & mix-production: Johannes Luley @ CMI Studios / mastering: John Cuniberti @ The Mastering Plant in Sausalito.





Thank Yous for "Embarcadero Love":
Randall Miller / my family for all the music in my head and in my heart / Michael Adams @ Halt Music Co. / Miguel Angelo / Larry Blackshere / Nicole Dwork / Fantasy Studios in Berkeley: Nina Bombardier, Stephen Hart, Jesse Nichols, Jill Rosenthal, Frank Rinella and Jeffrey Wood / Marco Fogg / Edwin Hackett / Stephanie Hadobas / Chet Helms / David Hicks / Harold Johnson / Ed Jones / Rachel and Grant Kismuke / Angela Limmer / Jack Lodico / Bob Loeffler / Johannes Luley / Adam Munoz / Narcissus S.F.: David, Mark and Benny / Deona Parfet / Felix Sabal-Lecco / Cocco Savelli / Sharon Shane / Barry Simons / David Singer / Susan Skaggs and Howard @ Different Fur Studios, S.F. / Elizabeth Sloan / Stars, the Agency, S.F. / Styx / Matt Swindells / Jafar Thorne @ "Expressions Center for New Media" / Christine Torrington / Matthias Vogt @ "Vogt Artists' Management" in S.F. / Massimo Zeri

In May 2001 my favorite musicians and I were booked for a "Honey and Wine Festival" in California. As we rehearsed the show, we went in the studio to record more songs. We recorded 3 live tracks at "Expressions Center for New Media" in Berkeley, CA.: "What's Too Much", "Goodnight Baby", and "Big Picture". We being: Rustee Allen on bass, Jimi Mc Kinney on keyboards, Taz on drums and Piers Lawrence on guitar.
In 2002 Halt Music Co. from Austin, TX., asked me to sing a Jackie DeShannon song performed by Marianne Faithfull in the 60s, and offered us the track on their artists' yearly compilation.
In Paris for a few months, I came back and mid 2003 started recording 6 more songs to assemble a full length CD. I had the pleasure of recording a bunch of the first vocals, produced with the wonderful Jeffrey Woods, at Fantasy Studios in Berkeley. Actually the very first time I recorded there, was one week after September 11th. Everyone had cancelled, it was just Jeffrey and me, so we had the BIG studio. I would live at Fantasy Studios if they let me.
But back to 2003 and laying down new tracks for the remaining 6 songs. I called on my incredibly talented friend, Jimi Mc Kinney. Jimi's multiple credits include playing with The Commodores and now with Lenny Williams of "Tower of Power". Jimi was introduced to me by Rustee Allen, my bassist for the last 5 years, and of "Sly and the Family Stone" touring fame, who now also plays with Bobby Womack. Jimi played keyboards at shows and on the live tracks we recorded. But this time we went on to coproducing 6 tracks: "Tout Est Fini", my used to be cow-punk French tune that we turned into what I like to think of as an Ibiza-Disco-House-Hit.
"Swordfishtrombone", Tom Waits's song in which the usual 'Waitsish" ambient restaurant noises are replaced with wild turkeys, elephants, a giggling girl, a train, some "Apocalypse Now" crazy monkeys. My song, "Peaceful Solution", letter to a president who probably wouldn't get it. "Game-Up - Bigger Pickle" over grooves from my roots, a rumba catalana. "Potential Criminal" a modernized version of the hit on my first album. And "Something Cool", dedicated to my dear departed friend Larry Blackshere. Larry and I rehearsed regularly for a year. He was a sweetheart with a vast knowledge of music and songs. He played piano, I sang, songs of mine and songs he knew and thought fit me. "Something Cool" was one of them. It was important for me to do it justice. I kept telling Jimi I wanted it to sweat!
We spent hours at his Oakland studio together, with Jimi programming all the rythmns for my songs, the layers of keyborads, percussions and horns. Rustee recorded the bass.
In early 2004 we didn't fare so well. We'd already had one meltdown on a heatwave day in 2003, prompting us to re-record all of "Something Cool". But in January 2004 Jimi's studio burned down. I was there when it happened, we had just taken a break from recording. Jimi lost a lot of equipment. And for 2 months we didn't know the fate of the harddrive for "Embarcadero Love".
I lost some sleep but by some intervention or rather the harddrive was the only thing salvageable.
I went back to Fantasy Studios, then to a "fishing" specialist, at Fantasy we re-recorded the bass and guitar tracks we had lost and I was back on my feet in May 2004. Jimi McKinney Jr. had completed his task for now and I was on to the final recording stage: remaining vocals, background vocals, live instrument overdubs, and mixing. My friend and legal representative/mentor Barry Simons recommended, and I discovered why, the inimitable Johannes Luley at CMI Studios in Alameda. Johannes is a great musician, has a great ear, is a pleasure to work with and hardworking! plus he knows his stuff, Pro-Tools recording and music, all wrapped in one.
I sang. We brought in some people who I will never forget spending time with: LZ Love on background for "Peaceful Solution", with her alone in the studio it's like having your own gospel choir. Matt Swindells for live drums. Mike Rinta on trombone on "Something Cool". Johannes played some wild guitars, hi-hats, tambourines, oh and a little bass. I'm sure I'm forgetting something. But you can check the record credits for specifics. I played a piano on the intro of "Game-up", a truncated melody which is supposed to be reminiscent of the intro to Ravel's "Sonatine". And some 200 hours later, September 11th, to be exact, the album was masterfully mixed, by Johannes Luley. And in November mastered, by John Cuniberti of The Plant Recording Studio.
That's kind of how it came together. We're looking forward to hearing your feedback once you've had a chance to listen.
Peace,
C.B.