CD Recording, April 2005

ECO celebrated St. George's Day by travelling to America Hall in Pinhoe to start recording their second CD. Many of the people arriving at America Hall were completely unaware of the history of the building, and we were interested to discover that the money used to build the Hall had been raised by the families of grateful US troops, who had been impressed by the friendship of the people of Exeter when they were stationed in the area during World War 2. Photos on the wall of the lobby told the story of the Hall's construction during the 1950's, and there were subsequent pictures of a visit to Pinhoe by the American Ambassador to Great Britain in 1980.

The Hall itself proved to be an ideal location for the purposes of the CD as the accoustic was very good. Altogether 8 tracks were successfully 'laid down' the first morning, and there were only a few hiccups, including the occasional plane descending on a flightpath directly overhead to Exeter Airport. A large notice outside the Hall proclaimed: 'SILENCE - RECORDING IN PROGRESS!', but even this was not enough to deter an elderly couple, who barged in demanding to view the Hall, so that they could check out the size and quality of the floor space for their 'Strictly Come Tea Dancing' session the following Thursday!

By 1pm the first recording session was over, and everyone quickly tidied the instruments away, ready to return the following afternoon for part two. Sunday afternoon went quite smoothly and a further 7 pieces were recorded for posterity. The soundman was so impressed with ECO's performance that he issued an on-the-spot invitation for us to perform at the Phoenix later in the year. By 6pm all the instruments had been whisked back to Bishop Blackall and stored safely under the stage ready for the following Saturday's rehearsal.