Evolution Of A Song or "How 'Gone' Lost Its Drums!

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"Gone" is the ninth song on Songs From the Hydrogen Jukebox, depending on what bit torrent site you downloaded it from, it might be different. None the less, it is the only full song on the album that does't have drums. And no, the guys were not trying to be clever and do a "For No One" or "Eleanor Rigby." It just came out that way.

Tom Shaw recorded this demo in his bedroom in the late summer of 1987. He said, ""Well, the song started as a demo I wrote in 1987 that was trying to emulate the Squeeze song, 'Pulling Mussels From A Shell.' That's why the song opens with me singing right away. It was also just as fast as the Squeeze song as I remember."

He presented two demos to the band in the fall of 1987- "Gone" and "I'm In Step With You." "Gone" passed while the other one didn't. Here's the demo for "Gone."

https://soundcloud.com/tommyrock80/gone-toms-demo-1988

In March of 1988, Two Pound Planet entered the Drive-In Studio for the first time to work with Mitch Easter. "Gone" was one of three songs the band recorded in that session. The other two were "Ricochet Radio" and "Tuesday's Garden."

Unlike the version released on Songs From The Hydrogen Jukebox, this one has drums on it! Tom Shaw explains: "My demo didn't have drums, so Jerry Finley had a hard time coming up with a suitable drum track for this one. While he gets to bash away in the middle eight, he created quite the strange percussive part for the rest when he held his snare on end, perpendicular to his knees. He held the drum in place with his chin and strummed the actual snare. It was quite a sight to see!

While recording this one, I wanted more of a watery sound to my guitar. I've always loved the sound of Clapton's guitar at the beginning of the middle eight in 'Badge.' I asked Mitch if he knew what that sound was. He said it was a guitar being driven through a Leslie speaker. It's actually a rotating speaker. I didn't know anything then. I was 22. Of course Mitch had one and I laid down that guitar during the chorus parts on a particularly sunny day on the last day of recording. That I can remember."

Jonathan Bennett provided an unbelievable, flowing cello part. It was Jason Buss' idea to add the cello. He also wrote the music chart for Jonathan.

https://soundcloud.com/tommyrock80/gone-w-drums

When Two Pound Planet went back to the Dive-In, in early 1990, to record the full length, Songs From The Hydrogen Jukebox, it was decided that the three tracks recorded in 1988 would be included. The basic tracks for all three were kept in place, but each had new vocals recorded and the new mixes were more in synch with the times.

After much consideration, the guys decided that "Gone" needed to lose its drums. Shaw says, "It wasn't Finley's fault. He'd be the first to tell you that a full drum track just doesn't belong in the song. He had a hell of a time coming up for a good track on it, but we all agreed that the song sounded more unique without a drum track. I like the way it came out. It's very Winston-Salem."

Here's gone as it was released in late 1990.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ntq20-jLuKY