CD Collectors’ Draw

Remember That Night DVD (2007)Sadly, we’ve not only reached the end of our Christmas raffle, but we’ve also reached the end of Phil Taylor’s Q&A.

Hope you’ve enjoyed both.

Thanks again to Phil for his time, and to everybody who sent in a question or two.

Our final raffle winners are Nate (1) and Linda (9). Nate wins a rare US radio promo disc, whilst an exclusive PBS CD of tracks from David’s stint at Abbey Road last year will be winging its way to Linda.

Please let us know where they should be sent.

Finally, and as if enough tears haven’t already been shed thanks to the opening line, this is also the very last entry for 2007, so do have a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.

Thank you all very much for your support over the last two years.

There was supposed to be a chat today, but, due to technical problems, now there won’t be. Sorry to disappoint you.


What is the preferred recording platform at Astoria? Is it all straight to tape or a digital/analogue dump? (Paul B)

Different people have different preferences, with choices made for flexibility, rather than purely for audio resolution. Generally, these days, Protools gets used – our system has Euphonix converters and Shunyata cryogenic power distribution with Kimber and Van den Hul cabling. Contrary to popular belief, the digital recording platform is the hardest medium in which to retain the resolution (audio quality), everything makes a difference to the sound and digital is very susceptible to degradation. If you want to know more about this, check out an interview I did with Tape Op magazine about Astoria a couple of years ago.

Do you have an amusing anecdote you could share with us, be it about David, or anyone else? (Rob)

Yes, my mum still wonders when I am going to get a proper job.

125 comments

  1. Rudders - Toronto

    With all these excellent prizes being given away it’s a shame to see such thievery on eBay…

    Our friend, Mr Sloane, the one from South Wales I mentioned a while ago who was selling free programmes from the DVD Premiere is now selling a signed OAI CD… whoever Mr Sloane is must have extremely good access to get everyone in the band and Polly S to sign the CD…

    So value your signed prizes because I think I can start to understand DG’s attitude towards signing autographs when such blatant profiteering is happening…

  2. Howard

    To everyone:

    Have a happy and HEALTHY New Year.

    Looking forward to release of the live CD in ’08.

  3. Lucia

    I think I will drink a lot, as I always do during the meals with relatives. Otherwise, how can you stand all the relatives who try talking with you about a lot of soooo boring stuff, so that you would prefer staying to move stones in Syberia than listen to them?!!! I will practice playing glasses with Chianti!

    Silliness a part, I wish you all wonderful holidays and all the best for the new year. Special wishes to David, Polly, the band and all their families. And to you, Fed. Enjoy!!!

    Christmas love to you all

    L!

    [Merry Christmas, Lucia. Have a good one. - Features Editor]

  4. Howard Bayliss

    I just took a look at the signed CD offered by Mr Sloane on eBay. It is quite amazing and really dishearting to all of us who would covet such an item. I think there needs to be an investigation into this as Rudders is right..the access would only be available to certain people.

    What do you think FEd?

    Cheers, Howard

    [It's a tough one. I respect, and fully agree with, David's feelings on signing autographs when so many of them end up being flogged to the highest bidder. Why should people cash-in on his name, his time and his courtesy? I find that incredibly disrespectful. Yet I also have to say that, if someone wants to sell their property, it's theirs to sell. Nobody has the right to stop that, but people can refuse to place a bid and they can also discourage others from placing bids, if they feel strongly enough about the situation. - Features Editor]

  5. peter

    [I can start to understand DG's attitude towards signing autographs]

    Agreed. It is a pity the few always spoil things.

    May your god be with you (as Dave Allen used to say).

    Enjoy the break everyone.

    Pete – Coventry

  6. Paul_C

    To DB

    I personally use Fender custom ’54′s as they give an excellent vintage tone. Others prefer custom ’69 which are probably fairly close to the black strat’s original pups. It really depends on which era of David’s playing you wish to reproduce. Either way there’s lot’s of other variables in achieving the correct tone (parrot speak!!)

    Lots more christmas wishes FEd and bloggers.

    And most importantly…. If you are driving this holiday season then… don’t forget your car!!!

    Paul

  7. Paul Sexton

    [What kind of Pickup replacement, today on sale, is near/like the pickup of the black strat? - DB]

    You could try Fender Custom Shop 69′s.

    Paul

  8. Renee

    Happy Christmas to all and a Very Happy 2008.

    This has definitely been a wonderful year.

    Congrats to all the winners this year and the last two. I am really glad this community has expanded and we added a lot of new faces this year.

    Off to make Tamales and hopefully Santa will be nice to me this year.

    Have a wonderful rest of 2007
    Cheers to you Fed

    Renee B

  9. EchoesBob

    Merry Christmas to all the wonderful people here. See you next year.

    Have a wonderful vacation, Fed.

  10. Dr Phang

    [So value your signed prizes because I think I can start to understand DG's attitude towards signing autographs when such blatant profiteering is happening... - Posted by: Rudders - Toronto at December 20, 2007 02:18 PM]

    It’s just a squiggle on a piece of paper. . . If anyone’s silly enough to pay large sums for a signature. . . then you could argue that they probably deserve to lose their money. . . It’s just a shame that they couldn’t do something more constructive with it in the first place. . . I’m not entirely sure what owning a copy of someone’s signature even means. . . :^/

  11. ash

    Merry Christmas everyone !

    FEd, have a good holiday :) I hope I caught you before you finish this evening.

    ash X

    [You did. Merry Christmas. - Features Editor]

  12. Howard Bayliss

    Hey FED,

    Well it sounds like you have mellowed quite a bit about eBay. It is rather surprising considering how hard line you once were.

    And Dr Phang, I think having a valued icon’s signature in most people’s minds means having them close to you in a way they could never be in real life. I am sure if you asked any of the folks who have won a signed programme on this site..they would think the same way…especially if they get it through this site.

    Now I know if you ever win a signed programme here, I am sure you will turn it down so another can appreciate it.

    Cheers, Howard

    [I haven't mellowed very much at all. I still think that profiteers are an absolute pain in the neck, and some of their methods sicken me, but so does "Oh, I just had to have it, so I sold my car/re-mortgaged the house/the kids are going to go hungry for a few weeks and forked out the cash. But, you know, I really hate scalpers and, damn it, something should be done to stop them!" I just so happen to believe in the power of the masses more than I believe in those snappy suit-wearers - the ones you might expect to clamp down on the profiteers - because usually they're just as greedy and won't put themselves out unless there's something in it for them (and, in this case, there obviously isn't enough in it to make it worth their while). Sad, but true. It's a rather lazy excuse to say that someone else should make it stop, anyway. You lot can make a difference by highlighting their brazen cheek and by not parting with your cash when they tempt you to do so. I've said that all along, so please don't be too surprised to hear it once more. - Features Editor]

  13. TomiSue

    I would like to wish the merriest Christmas to David, Polly and Family. To you dear Fed and all of the wonderful friends I have met here on the Blog and much happiness for the New Year.

    (-:Tomi Sue:-)

  14. michaele4u

    Mr.GILMOUR,

    One question, hope this come across O.K.

    Your style, talent, notes your way for forming a song, the technical sides, lyrics, etc.
    Who will you pass this on to?
    That is, who will carry on the music created by you and Pink Floyd?
    Sure would be great to pluck some every day, Joe out of the world
    and fill him or her with everything possible that you know.
    Look the way you play has changed many, touch millions,
    It’s like the last knight passing his sword on, or a father passing
    on the business, just a thought or a tribal leader telling the tribal
    to follow these rules and it won’t be so damn bad getting what I am saying
    Without sounding like a nut HAHAHA

    Long time listener from the 70s

    PS it would be nice if this gets to you

  15. Ernest Peske

    [What kind of Pickup replacement, today on sale, is near/like the pickup of the black strat? - DB]

    I use Fender Custom Shop ’54 pickups.

    You could also consider Kinman Reg Woodstock.

    This is what Phil Manzenera has on “his” black strat (actually one of David’s strats).

    Ernest

  16. Ed and Marie

    Happy Holidays to all the fellow DG fans.

    Let’s hope the release of the live CD in 2008 arrives with at least a few live shows!

  17. Jonathan Parsons

    Merry Christmas and a very happy new year to everyone involved with davidgilmour.com, to David and family & friends!

    …and of course to the “irregulars” too ;)

  18. Ulli

    Sorry Fed, that you had to cancel your plans for the trip to Germany, as a consolation, it is so cold here that I am covered with frostbites, so maybe it had been smart you didn´t venture here!

    As a link some beautiful Christmas paintings! Enjoy!

  19. jan

    F’Ed..

    I did not have time to read all above posts,but I did see a couple of humorous ‘F’Ed’ answers. Enough to end my day with a couple of laughs. Thank you for that.

    To all the Gilmour’s, family and band, the bloggers and our favorite (the one and only) F’ed, I wish you a wondrous and exciting New Year and a peaceful and joyous season to celebrate in the tradition of your choice.

    My prayers to Susan. Hope you are doing ok.

    Bless you all.

    So looking forward to 2008! These last two plus years have flown with all the excitement of the concert, the contests, the prizes, the q & a’s, the conversations, captions and F’Ed’s quips. What an interesting place this has been. Way too addicting. Can we do it again? Please?

    Love,
    jan

  20. sylvie

    Well, this is the time to say to everybody on this earth, to enjoy this period of the year and to be close to your family and to cherish them. Fed, a very merry christmas and a 2008 year as successful as 2007 (or better who knows?)

    To David, Polly and your children, enjoy each moment together and a merry christmas to all of you! Lovexxx

    Merci Michèle pour les bons voeux et joyeuses fetes a toi aussi et a ta famille!

    Sylvie de Montréal

  21. James Mickelson

    Happy holidays to everyone…thank you David Gilmour and crew for a very interesting year!

  22. liz-araen

    First I’d like to say congratulation to all the lucky winners!

    Sorry to hear about the chat problems. Looking forward the first blog entry and the chat with all my fellow bloggers in next year!

    Sending to David and his lovely family the best wishes for a wonderful Christmas, and a wonderful new year, loads of love and my warmest thoughts to Rick and his close ones, and Merry Christmas to all blog members and chatters!

    Special greetings to you dear FED, thank you for your work and patience! Have a fantastic and relaxing holiday!

    Liz from Hungary

    [Merry Christmas, Liz. - Features Editor]

  23. Movado in India

    A Very Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to you F.Ed, my fellow bloggers, David & family and all at DG management.

    And as always, many many thanks to all those involved in keeping this site informative, entertaining and thought provoking – always a must stop on my Internet travels.

    Best Wishes,
    Nisha

  24. Features Editor

    Well, that’s all for another year.

    Thank you all for your time, thoughts, views, grumbles, captions, questions, quibbles, competition entries, wise cracks, tip-offs, announcements, shared experiences and greetings of all notions.

    Merry Christmas and best wishes for the New Year.