Iplan, you pay me too high a compliment, I don’t think I’ve really had any valuable input to give you - these other guys know a whole lot more than I do. But I am a fatihful listener.
You ever read Twain’s “Extracts from Captain Stormfield’s Visit to Heaven”? There’s a great scene in there about the harp/boring thing… 
And as promised I have posted my “rip-off” of Sparks, here:
http://www.soundclick.com/bands/pagemusic.cfm?bandID=643221
"Above the Little Men."
In the interest of openness, however, I should tell you that part of the backwards vocal is a Buddhist chant. The rest is either nonsense or me reading the labels on some of my equipment. That worked surprisingly well, actually.
Peace.
TomS:
Sorry for not responding to your post sooner.
I’ve been out of town all week, and just took a peak to see what I’d missed.
Let me say that this is a great song!
I haven’t been a big Who fan for years, and I’m only familiar with their “hits” so I don’t correlate it to anything else.
That said, those vocals are so peculiar, they have a sureal, almost instrumental feel to them.
I think it’s very cool.
Quick Questions:
1.
I noticed your clean rhythm guitar on “Above the Little Men”… is that a Rickenbaker I’m hearing?
2.
Do you ever play live?
I think you’ve certainly got the material to choose from.
A lot of full time bands that don’t have 36 songs to choose from.
All the best,
Iplan
PS:
I think I’m going to keep the guitar solo “as is” in The Firehouse.
After figuring that I’d hate it in a day or so, just the opposite has happened.
I did get a suggestion to “fuzz” it up a bit at the beginning (3:33), but I’m not sure I’m going to do that.
PPS:
Heeeeyyyyy my “quick post option” is working!