Maniac Mansion (NES) - Michael's Theme / Flashbulb Funk (All Instrument Cover w/ Drum Solo)

Here's another tune from the NES soundtrack for Maniac Mansion, Michael's Theme which is otherwise known as Flashbulb Funk, and was composed by David Hayes. This is an absolute slamming tune that features a lead melody that puts down a monster solo for a whopping 28 measures (an eternity in NES song song arrangement!).

The NES arrangement for this song is somewhat unusual, the triangle wave bass part is in an extremely high register for bass. The second melody line, which sounds like a guitar, is rather low for guitar (at least by 1988 no 8 string guitars everywhere standards), and the melody that takes a solo is in a higher register than a regular guitar is able to play. The lead melody features alot of blues note diminished 5ths, implying a blues E sound, which isn't particularly unusual. It is unusual for the melody to modulate up to F# though, which is probably one of the things that gives this song it's unique standout quality.

For performance, I double tracked the melody on guitar, and ran the guitar out through a pitch shifter during the solo to imply the melody on the actual soundtrack. I recorded the remaining melody and bass parts on bass, so my arrangement has two basses, and I slapp-uh'd both duh basses. The drums I kept in the pocket for 3/4 of the song, but for the second go round of the guitar solo, I pretty much took a full on drum solo. I hope you dig the drum solo being played on a relatively properly mic'd drum kit!

Anyway, hope you enjoy the trip down memory lane on the NES! You can follow me on facebook at:
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