Mojave Phone Booth

Album: Projector (2011)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • Barton was inspired to write this song after reading about a phone booth in the middle of the Mojave Desert that was removed several years ago. People would call the booth for fun and then wait for someone to pick it up. Steve Barton explained his thinking on the unique subject to us in 2012, saying: "I just thought that was really evocative in the middle of the desert to have a phone booth."
  • Most of the Projector album was written and recorded on the fly. Barton explained that this song was done in one take, saying, "I think we did a second take and it wasn't nearly as good. So that was just one take and it was kind of magic."
  • For the recording of this song, Barton played two bass drums at the same time, one of them with a rattling type of snare sound on it. Steve told us that he would have to sit there with his guitar and wait for his cue to hit the drums. The two were connected by a special pedal that allowed him to use his foot to hit both at once.
  • This song is one of the oldest on Barton's Projector album. It was written while his dad was in that hospital, unlike most songs on the disc which were actually written after his father passed away.

Comments

Be the first to comment...

Editor's Picks

Lajon Witherspoon of Sevendust

Lajon Witherspoon of SevendustSongwriter Interviews

The Sevendust frontman talks about the group's songwriting process, and how trips to the Murder Bar helped forge their latest album.

Steven Tyler of Aerosmith

Steven Tyler of AerosmithSongwriter Interviews

Tyler talks about his true love: songwriting. How he identifies the beauty in a melody and turns sorrow into art.

00s Music Quiz 1

00s Music Quiz 1Music Quiz

Do you know the girl singer on Eminem's "Stan"? If so, this quiz is for you.

Justin Timberlake

Justin TimberlakeFact or Fiction

Was Justin the first to be Punk'd by Ashton Kutcher? Did Britney really blame him for her meltdown? Did his bandmates think he was gay?

80s Music Quiz 1

80s Music Quiz 1Music Quiz

MTV, a popular TV theme song and Madonna all show up in this '80s music quiz.

Experience Nirvana with Sub Pop Founder Bruce Pavitt

Experience Nirvana with Sub Pop Founder Bruce PavittSong Writing

The man who ran Nirvana's first label gets beyond the sensationalism (drugs, Courtney) to discuss their musical and cultural triumphs in the years before Nevermind.