A (Literal) Dream Album Kickstarter! (OUT NOW!)

[Maiku Wotaharu]

"Oh, we careless people, living from day to day and dream to dream..."
~Dion McGregor~

Hey guys!

You might not know this about me, but I have a certain fondness for...unique artistic endeavors (The 1 Second Film, the world's longest pop song). With that being said, I am very excited about this project on Kickstarter: an album from Dion McGregor!

Dion McGregor was a struggling songwriter during the 1960s. He and his songwriting partner, Michael Barr, had a bit of success when Barbra Streisand recorded one of their songs, "Where is the Wonder". That's good and all, but that's not the reason I'm excited about this project...

This is going to be Dion's fourth dream album. When I say "dream album", I mean it in quite a literal sense. Dion had a frequent habit of talking in his sleep! Michael Barr recorded many of his dreams (with Dion's consent, of course), and three volumes have been released so far! (Here's the first.) From fighting with mustard to taking a multi-ethnic group of kids on a hot-air balloon trip destined for the moon, Dion's dreams were often hilarious (and sometimes raunchy!).

When I heard about Dion about five or six years ago, I found him to be fascinating. I hope that you'll be fascinated by his story as well. If you can and are willing to, please read more about Dion and contribute to this project.

Thank you for your time. :)


This project will only be funded if at least $3,200 (CAD) is pledged by Thu, Mar 27 2014 2:39 PM CDT.

Total pledged so far: $3,200

[Maiku Wotaharu]

Okay, guys.

There's almost a week left to contribute to the Kickstarter project, and so far less than half of the $3200 (CAD) goal has been raised. In an effort to generate more interest, the NPR program "All Things Considered" featured a segment today about Dion. Drs. Deidre Barrett and Robert Stickgold discuss his recordings here.

[raocow]

man... that actually sounds pretty neat

[LBuncleJoe]

This is super interesting! I'm going to throw a little money their way, since it'd be a real shame to not see this happen.

[Maiku Wotaharu]

Well, there's just over 48 hours left and $1,784 has been pledged. If you know anybody who has $1,416 (CAD) to spare, I certainly would appreciate it if you'd send him/her this way!

While we wait, here is one of Dion's dreams from the last release...

EDIT: Holy cow! Someone pledged $20 after I posted this, so the total is now $1,804!

EDIT #2: With just over 40 hours to go, the total stands at $2,363. Anyone have $837 to spare?

EDIT #3: 14 hours left, the total is now at $2,415. Someone's got to have greasy handfuls of gold to spare!

[Maiku Wotaharu]

Okay guys.

You got to know somebody who has a taste in surrealist art. Share this link on twitter. Please tell any of your weird friends about this project. Right now, it's $545 short of reaching it's goal. This is one of a very limited number of things that I am passionate about. Please help out, because I really don't want to see this project die.

[cheez8]

I'm probably a little strapped for cash, but this is cool, and now it's too close for me not to help out.

There are just under three hours to go, and just over $200 left to reach the goal! If any of you have a bit of money to spare, please do consider chipping in!

[LBuncleJoe]

Looks like it just made it! And with only an hour to spare, too.

[Maiku Wotaharu]

YES! YES! YES!

[Dizzybelle]

Congratulation!

:D

[Maiku Wotaharu]

Copying and pasting the latest update on the Kickstarter page:

Dear Dion Fans,

We're almost on schedule with the release of the album, but it looks like I'll need some of that grace time I mentioned. Tony Smith is currently completing the mastering at João Carvalho studio here in Toronto (I like to leave the final mastering for the masters). With Phil Milstein's assistance, I've completed the liner notes and other texts for the CD (also to be offered with the download version). Layout and final design touches are almost done. My aim is to have everything at the manufacturer's by the 20th, with the hope that early in the second week of June, I'll be able to send everything out to those of you who are getting a disc or shirt (shirts are being printed this week).

Thanks for your patience and, as always, for your kind support,
Steve

PS: Feel free to get in touch, of course, if you have any questions!

[Maiku Wotaharu]

Here's a new update from Steve!

Dear Dion fans and Dreaming Like Mad Supporters,

It's been an intensive phase of work on the album, but I'm hoping to have everything ready for manufacturing within two days.

The writing of the liner notes didn't take all that long—but preparing the final draft has become one of the most involved editing adventures I've ever fallen prey to. Or should that be to which I've ever fallen prey? And isn't that a mixed metaphor? Maybe I should just scrap the whole sentence and start again . . . .

Tony Smith at Joao Carvalho Studio in Toronto did a nice job mastering the tracks just the way I wanted.

Kerry Zentner is completing two spot illustrations I found room for in the final layout of the booklet. Should be ready by tonight!

The t-shirts and tank tops haven't arrived yet—waiting to hear the ETA on those.

If all stays on the current schedule, the pre-release downloads (including the EP tracks), CDs and shirts will go out the second week of June.

Meanwhile, here's a private stream of Dion's "Our Town" from The Dream World of Dion McGregor (Decca, 1964). Some of you might be familiar with it already. This is the raw audio from the original, fifty year old tape:
https://soundcloud.com/torporvigil/our- ... of/s-gwk5O

Thanks for hanging in!
Steve

PS: I'll soon be sending out a "survey" to collect addresses from those who will be receiving discs and/or shirts.

[Maiku Wotaharu]

Just got this email...

Dear Friends of Torpor Vigil and Fans of Dion McGregor,

The CD is now at the manufacturing stage. I hope you haven't minded the delay too much—in the long run, it made the album better (as I explain in the latest update on the Kickstarter page: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/18 ... egor/posts).

It will still be a couple weeks before the discs are shipped. Meanwhile, I will be uploading the strictly digital version of the album, cover, and booklet. Downloads will not be made available to the public until after the CD ships, but I thought that those of you who are particularly eager to explore it might want the option of accessing the files. When everything's been uploaded—within 48 hours—I'll be in touch again to offer access.

Thanks again for your patience! I'm extremely pleased with the album and am eager to get it out to you after all this time!

Steve

[Maiku Wotaharu]

If any of you guys ordered a digital copy of the album, it's available!

[Maiku Wotaharu]

IT'SHEREIT'SHEREIT'SHEREIT'SHEREIT'SHEREIT'SHEREIT'SHEREIT'SHEREIT'SHEREIT'SHEREIT'SHERE!!!!

[InsaneIntentions1]

I love seeing Maiku happy

[Maiku Wotaharu]

I love seeing Maiku happy

Oh, yes! This is something I've been waiting to see happen for about a year and a half now. I am absolutely thrilled that the project got just enough funding to see the light of day...

To finally have a physical copy in my hands after so long is emotionally overwhelming. I know I sound like a wimp with that last sentence, but I have to say that this project was very important to me. So a big thank you to everyone who got the word out and/or supported this project financially. I don't think I can ever eloquently say how much I appreciate it!

[Maiku Wotaharu]

Holy crap. Freaking Gotye tweeted about this! I am over the moon!

[Sorel]

Wow, Dions dreams are way better than mine.

It's amazing how he could narrate his own dreams while sleeping. How did he do that?

[Maiku Wotaharu]

A SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT

cover.jpg (744.34 KiB) Viewed 3400 times

It gives me great pleasure to announce that, after half a century, Dion's very first album has been officially re-released, remastered, and is available for FREE! Listen to all these vivid dreams without all the pops from the vinyl bootleg! Of course, if you feel you want to pay for them you can.