I knew Jeff from working at Columbia Records and from my neighborhood. To say we were friends would be an insult to his friends, so I would say we were friendly. When we would see each other out, we would always have a real fun chat about absolutely nothing, but he always was really nice and such a talent.
But, listening to Grace, brought back more feeling for me than just those for Jeff. Hearing the song "Last Goodbye" brought me back to the time of when I worked at Columbia. The memory is so amazing, because I could feel and remember everything from the time I was there. My friend Steve Berkowitz, who signed Jeff to Columbia, had his office 2 doors down from mine, so when he would be listening to tracks, they would come through my walls. So, I could walk over to his office and ask him questions about it or just give my opinion. You see, this time I'm talking about was a time when all of us in the A&R department worked together. Not together in the same office, but together as friends and supporters.
This period of time (for me at least) wasn't in this place the whole time I was there. This was after David Kahne came in as head of the department and under the direction of our boss Don Ienner, the label was going to be lead by A&R. Our signings were to be done for both creative growth and commercial success. Some were instant and some we growers over time. The idea was great and maybe really stuck for a few years, but in the end, you need to sell records (it is a business, right) and the patience for growth got a lot shorter. Not to say it didn't exist, it was just a lot harder to wait for something to become (financially) big for the investment. I get it. It's a bummer, but I get it.
Anyway...so this period of time, the people I had the honor of working with were A&R people. I'm talking about people who LOVE music and wanted to create careers (and of course have hits and sell records...yes you can do all of the above at once). This is before the photo-op A&R people or political a&r people came to the company (these types were usually the same guys). This is why I say it was a short period.
We would go to bat for each other. Give advice. Constructive criticism. Sure, there was definite competition, but it wasn't an angry type, it was only because you didn't want to lose out priority to someone else. But again, it wasn't bitter, it was healthy competition.
During this time, there were young guns like me, who had the passion, but lacked the experience. There were the mid level executives that had the passion and the experience. These guys were there for me and other friends to help us learn and guide us through both the creative and corporate waters. Then there were the veterans who (in my eyes) were my elders (like "Uncle" Don Devito or "Papi" Mike Corbett), whom I respected, admired and went to for everything. The guys that would take time out of their day to tell me old stories of working with legends, to ask me how they can help by speaking to the bosses. It was a true team of what real trickle down guidance would look like. In the end, you would gain experience through success. Real on the job training. But, trust me, without these people looking out for you and helping, you would never have gotten there.
The department didn't work in a state of fear. I wasn't there to take anyone's job and they weren't there to steal my artist is they did well to take credit oh don't forget the photo OP.
This was a magical time for me. I'm sure other people had a similar type of experience, but those who worked with me during this period will totally understand and recall how it was (or maybe think I was high and it was never like this). That snapshot of how it should always be in a creative environment. I had a good run while at Columbia and other than being my bootcamp, it's my fondest memory of my career.
I have been so fortunate in my career where I was employed at several other companies. I have met and worked with so many amazing people and have had the honor of helping so many talented people. To see where they are now, from where they were when I met them is so rewarding. I have also seen where a lot of the most talented people I know fell into the dark from all the changes that happened over the years through mergers, redundancies and the general collapse of the music business and this makes me sad.
I watched the business change as I would move from company to company and realize that I will never have that same experience I had for that period of time I had at Columbia. The competition, the fear that others had, the backstabbing I witnessed was just a canary in the coal mine of what was going to happen. Here we are not 15 years later and we are really just down to a handful of labels, no records stores and a lot of unemployed people.
What makes me bummed in the current environment is the talent that is hired in the entry level of the companies who have no people there to guide them. Like I said earlier, if it wasn't for these guys in my early years, I would never have gotten anywhere. There are so many people with the experience that exist today that could be that role at the labels, but they seem to be passed over. So what I have seen has been a bunch of young, enthusiastic kids getting hired, who in the end have really short careers due to the fact that A&R is more than going to the clubs and knowing what bands are cool. The veterans that are at the labels are scared to death to lose their jobs, so don't really mentor these guys to the degree they need it, so you end up with a bunch of stillborn artists and stiff releases (and a loss of jobs for these under experienced guys). For the ones that squeak through, it's almost like a miracle (but it does happen).
The a&r process is a lot like the idea of building from the middle class out. With a strong group of well experienced (and helpful) people in the middle helping those learn and excel, you would grow a strong foundation and have better odds at success. It's the middle (the core) that strengthens it all. But, I guess it's not cost effective when you have over paid executives and really underpaid entry level people, not to mention the increase of quick turnover, conveyer belt artists that have a really, really short time to succeed before it's onto the next.
I find so much joy in finding a young musician, or a young talent booker, young a&r people with a job at a label or a student who just loves music and giving them help or guidance to meet their true potential. There is such a reward when you see others succeed for me. Sure, I'm currently unemployed and maybe writing this post is therapy for myself to just get it out or maybe it's hope for someone to rediscover me...who knows.
I just know that without the support system we had at Columbia Records, I don't think myself and many of my former colleges could have ever had long term careers.
I made some of my best friends over these years. Some I speak to daily, some monthly and some hardly ever, but I know we all shared the same experience and we will forever be connected because of that.
I can't listen to the 90's station, Lithium or Back Spin on Sirius without hearing a song during an hour where I can say Nick, Josh, Jim, Mitchell, Mary, Randy, Matt, Faith, Benjie or Steve signed that. It's pretty amazing.
The day I heard the news of Jeff Buckley's passing, I thought of Steve. I was sad like everyone else who was touched by his music. Jeff was Steve's signing, but at the Columbia A&R department, he was all of our artist. That support system was what made us so strong.
Jeff tragically died walking into a river by himself and got caught up in a strong and violent current that swept him away into the dark.
As I wax poetic (not Wax Ecstatic) about this period of time at Columbia Records, I feel as though this time also got pulled by a strong current of change where the art and family support system on the creative side of the music business has also disappeared into the dark.
I hope it can come back to the light and not be our Last Goodbye...
