The Mad Hatter

(a 2nd album of rock juvenilia)

Fast songs from 1986-87, recorded on the Fostex 4-track. The Mad Hatters were also a band I formed in 1986 to play these songs and covers. (I also had a band called the Majic Jonsons that played them prior to the The Hatters.) This page is devoted not to the band, but to the recorded songs, which are effectively the "2nd batch" of juvenile rock songs from my late teenage years.

1. The Mad Hatter

A song born of playing frat parties, with the sketchy influence of Gene Simmons lurking in the background ("check out of school and see" is a direct reference to "Christine Sixteen."). Otherwise, a brisk, multi-sectioned rocker. It was never actually used for the purpose it was created for - as a calling card for the band, The Mad Hatters playing at a frat party (a la "Iron Maiden" by Iron Maiden on the album "Iron Maiden").

2. All I Want is a Million Dollars

Title comes from a phrase off of a National Lampoon radio show, in the voice of Richard Nixon. The song is one of many with dated references (try Johnny Carson), and is full of corny puns ("I just want to play it 'safe'"). This recording features guest musicians Gregg Ward (drums) and Alex Maiolo (guitar).

3. Snooze Button

My father liked the chord progression on the chorus. The recording here is a pretty recent patch-up from Hossmosis.

4. Let's Jam

A guitar riff I had around forever, and finally put lyrics by Greg Travis (see Mr. Charlie) to it. The master recording to this has been lost, and so I only have to offer a copy from a cassette of one particular mix.

5. Riffster

Quick instrumental shot. An experiment with a spiral progression in a ska context.

6. The Drums

Just a rocker with a lot of sections and modulations. Tried the 4-finger pull-off technique in the guitar solo. Words about waiting for summer to come to heat up the love betwen me and my girl.

7. Bedroom Window

Risky story-song about a pubescent peeping tom. Later I changed the words to "Running Away From the Blues". This casette-dub (lost master) 2-track version is still interesting to me because of the happening single-take piano playing and the Sting-esque "ay-oh" vocal bridge.

8. Why Love?

A strong focus on melody. Words are way-pubescent rage about about a break-up. Vocal perfomance is about getting my Daltrey on. (My jones about the break-up - which lasted all of two months - was eventually assuaged by Marillion's "Misplaced Childhood," which I commenced to listen to for two years.)

9. Boys' Home

Even when I wrote it, I was nailing my life right now, 25 years later. Coming home to the house I grew up in, with everything changed, overgrown, and lost. Except that I wrote it a mere one year after I left home for college. Written the "second time" I came home from college. An awesome vocal take by Greg Travis that I am grateful for.

10. The Two of Us

No, I didn't know The Beatles had written a song with this title. The lyrics are back to more puppy love. Recorded so badly - all out of tune and rhythm. The musical effect that I am still someday going to get here is of a band with about four different guitarists, adding more and more instruments as the song goes on. It was inspired by a live show I saw once on the Wright Auditorium quad at E.C.U. (1986) by The Connells, I think.

All words and music ©Evan Hause, BMI

Missing 1986 song migrated to Adventures of Freddy: "A Day Away"