Below is the text of Klaatu's 8th and FINAL edition of their fan club letter, "The Morning Sun". Please note that there is an advertisement in it for Klaatu merchandise. The address is no longer valid. PLEASE DO NOT SEND ANYTHING TO THIS ADDRESS. It is unknown who holds this P.O. Box at this time. Thanks.

Summer, 1982 - Issue No. VIII - est. 1980

DOCTOR MARVELLO'S DIARY

By H. Haverstock

Just recently I was casually thumbing my way through some old (and all-but-forgotten) agenda calendars, formerly the property of a now-defunct Toronto recording studio, when I chanced upon a few hastily scribbled entries which were sprinkled, somewhat sporadically, throughout the early months of 1974 detailing the production schedule of a certain, well-known Klaatune. Owing to the fact that the group, Klaatu, was and remains primarily a studio band and furthermore since these authentic jottings of musical memoranda directly pertain to that aspect of the group's activities, the thought occurred to me that it might be of particular interest to many of our readers (whose appetites for such "inside" information seem almost insatiable) if The Morning Sun were to reprint some selected excerpts from the original calendar notations. So towards that end, the following should be read as a sort of musical diary.... an authorized biography which traces, firsthand, the recording of a Klaatune from its beginning stages through to last minute finishing touches and final mixdown as seen from behind the control room console. Where deemed appropriate, the author's comments have been inserted in the interests of completeness and clarity. This then is Doctor Marvello in chronological profile:

1974

January 18
The basic rhythm section tracks are recorded on 16-track at Toronto Sound Studios. The three-piece rhythm section consisted of John on grand piano, Dee on electric guitar, and a session musician sat in on drums. (The drums were subsequently re-recorded about a year later with Terry Draper for the album version of the song). Both the piano and the guitar were replaced with other instruments on later sessions.

January 28
Using a Fender Rhodes electric piano which had been left behind from a "TV jingle" session, John re-does the piano part whilst Terry Brown provides some unusual "echo" effects.

February 2
During a short afternoon session John overdubs an electric bass guitar onto the track. The bass is recorded directly into the console without using an electric bass amplifier.

February 6
Some electronic synthesizer lines were added using a monophonic Mood Sonic V which was borrowed from a friend. Much of the first Klaatu album was recorded using borrowed equipment and instruments. In addition, John overdubbed an acoustic 12-string guitar and some handclaps.

February 11
After many enquiries, Terry Brown managed to borrow an electric sitar which John had requested some weeks earlier. Dee dropped in to play the parts which had been arranged by John.

February 15
On a separate piece of 16-track 2 inch recording tape, John and Terry Draper record some experimental effects which later were christened, "The Love Machine", and which were to be used in the middle section of the song. However, it was decided not to use the effects during the final mixdown and as a result they do not appear on the finished master recording.

February 22
On a late night session, John overdubs some flutes and strings using a keyboard instrument called a mellotron. (This instrument produces sounds using a series of tape loops on which are recorded conventional orchestral instruments.)

February 26
Trumpets and muted horns are recorded with the help of a single trumpet player who is double-tracked several times. Horn arrangements were courtesy of John.

March 1
More special effects are recorded for the middle section of the song using a grand piano and some "tape tricks". For one effect, the piano was recorded with the tape moving backwards through the tape machine. A second effect was created by recording the piano at half speed and playing it back at normal speed making it sound much like a harpsichord. Both of these effects were later used in the final mixdown of the tune.

April 4
John re-recorded the electric bass guitar and added some wind chimes and tamboura to the track. Later that same day, John, Terry Brown and Terry Draper recorded the background vocals which appear in the middle section of the song.

April 5
John recorded the final lead vocals and the song was mixed down to two-track stereo by Terry Brown.

June 10
Doctor Marvello was released as Klaatu's second Canadian single by GRT Records. The flip side was a song written by Dee entitled, "For You Girl", which never appeared on any Klaatu album. This "single" version of Doctor Marvello differs in some respects from the album version which was recorded and mixed in 1975.

LYRIC REPRINT

For the third and last in the continuing series of "Klaatune" lyric reprints, we have selected one of the songs requested by many of our subscribers who reside outside of Canada and to whom album lyric sheets for many Klaatu albums are commercially unavailable. Reproduced below are the lyrics for the title track of the latest Klaatu album, Magentalane. We hope it will prove to be enlightening.

MAGENTALANE

My, my what a lovely day
Could it be that we've arrived in fair Magentalane
There were times, many times
When I thought we wouldn't make it
I was quite prepared to take it like a man
But here I am

Aye, aye, bring our best champagne
We'll drink a toast, you and I, to fair Magentalane
Now let me see
Well shouldn't I make a speech
Or say something in Greek
Perhaps recite a Browning poem, but why?
When the only thing that's on my mind is
It feels so good
It feels so good
It feels so good to be back at home
In Magentalane
Where the Sea of Pink Champagne flows
Magentalane
Under rose'-coloured bainrows... I mean rainbows

Yes there were times, several times
I was sure we'd been defeated
As our Hopes became depleted through the years
But now we're here

So if you please
It's time we took our leave
The road to liberty awaits us on the aerodrome incline
Gonna leave that bad ole world behind
Cos' it feels so good, it feels so good
It feels so good to be back at home

Word Jumble Solution

A L E X A N D E R       Lucy's amphibious friend

D X R N A A E E L

H O D A D A stogie-smoking Californian
D A O D H

R E N N I E Film star of "The Day the Earth Stood Still"
I N E N E R

C H E R I E The answer to my question
E C R I H E

H E R O One who precedes Dr. Marvello

Reproduced above is the correct solution to the "Word Jumble" puzzle which appeared in the Winter 1982 issue of The Morning Sun. Judging by the solutions sent to us by our readership, it is apparent that this year's Word Jumble presented a much more difficult challenge than did the puzzle run in the previous year. To everyone who participated by sending in their puzzle solutions we convey our appreciation and to those "winners" who successfully solved the Word Jumble we add our congratulations. Furthermore, as a token of recognition, the names of the Word Jumble "winners" have been printed below:

Todd Jay Buse'
Lenior City, Tennessee

Ralph H. Sidway
Simpsonville, Kentucky

Greg Hickel
Ellinwood, KS.

Ross Dowling
Freelton, Ontario

Brad Laforme
Hamilton, Ontario

Denise Rubens
Yardville, New Jersey

Steven T. Radley
Forestfield, Australia

Sheila McCormack
Thousand Oaks, California

Terry Blanchard
Crestone, Ontario

Ian Clarke
Wolverhampton, England

Daniel Suchanecki
Toronto, Ontario

Pierre Falardeau
Hull, Quebec

Bill McAllister
Westford, Massachusetts

James Schall
Chicago, Illinois

Marcos A. Guerrero
Tucson, Arizona

Matt Leskovec
Canfield, Ohio

LIMITED EDITION OFFER

KLAATU STICKERS - .25
SUN STICKERS - .25
SIR ARMY SUIT POSTCARD - .50
BACK ISSUES OF "THE MORNING SUN" - 2.00
SUN BUTTON - 2.00
OFFICIAL KLAATU STATIONERY NOTE PADS (50 SHEETS) - 2.50
KLAATU "OBELISK" B&W GLOSSY PHOTOS 8 X 10 - 1.50

ON SPECIAL FOR LIMITED TIME ONLY
ENDANGERED SPECIES FULL COLOUR POSTER (REG. PRICE 6.00) SPECIAL "SALE" PRICE - 4.00

All orders are to be accompanied by full payment in cheque or money order payable to "The Morning Sun". PLEASE DO NOT SEND CASH.

MAIL TO:
THE MORNING SUN
BOX 1030
OAK RIDGES, ONTARIO
CANADA L0G 1P0

NOTICE TO SUBSCRIBERS

This eighth issue marks the FINAL edition of The Morning Sun which, after two years of publication, is to be indefinitely discontinued effective at the time of this printing. Therefore, please note that NO new subscriptions or resubscriptions will be accepted, however, all of the back issues of The Morning Sun and most of the merchandise items will continue to be available on a limited quantity basis at the prices advertised in this issue until December 31st, 1982.

We'd like to take this opportunity to express our sincere thanks to all subscribers. Your continued interest and support have made these eight issues of The Morning Sun no only possible, but worthwhile as well. We hope that The Morning Sun has provided you with an interesting, unique, and entertaining source of information and that the majority of any questions you may have had concerning KLAATU and its music have been answered to your satisfaction in one form or another. The members of the band, John, Dee, and Terry, have asked me to pass along their personal thanks to all Klaatusians everywhere for their appreciation of Klaatu's music - I can tell you that they have found such appreciation very gratifying.

Although the active publication of The Morning Sun has come to an end, it has been decided that the Box 1030 address will be retained in order that we may receive any incoming future mail so..... please feel free to write us. We'd like to continue hearing from you. "We are your friends." Bye for now.