There are many things out there purporting to be ‘old school’ or ‘retro’ nowadays, but few are the real deal. In the case of DownTown Mystic, aka Robert Allen, his authenticity speaks for itself.
By Graeme Smith
Allen grew up on classic groups like The Beatles and The Rolling Stones and has always striven to recreate their analogue warmth in his own recordings. His latest release, Hard Enough (On E Street Remix), doesn’t imitate the classic, though, it is born from it.
The original On The E Street recording session happened in the early ‘80s where Allen teamed up with two members of Bruce Springsteen’s E Street Band, Max Weinberg & Garry Tallent. The pair worked on it while simultaneously recording Born In The USA.
“Working with them was an eye opener,” says Allen. “They were so in sync with each other’s playing, and I had a front row seat.”
Allen originally revisited the record five years ago, remastering them to create the deluxe version of On The E Street. He wasn’t done there, though.
“I thought it was time to finally remix them and update their sound,” he says. “I went into Shorefire Studios this past summer, where the original tracks had been recorded in 1983, and remixed them. I also wanted to show my gratitude to Max & Garry. They have been a part of DownTown Mystic’s legendary history.
“They gave me instant credibility. They took me seriously, playing my songs at a crucial time in my life and career.”
While Allen loves the authenticity of analogue, he isn’t turning his back on modern technology completely. “Everyone thinks I’m this old‑school analogue guy, which I am in spirit, but the reality is everything is digital. Pro Tools changed recording. I recorded everything I did on analogue tape but had it all transferred to hard drives. Digital makes so many things possible and easier to store. What I record on and how I record is another matter, which is why my records sound like warm analogue in a cold digital world.”
Outside of the technicalities of the recording process, it’s important to look at Hard Enough as a narrative. Even the track’s story is more than just what’s written in the lyrics though.
“I attended the same high school as Max, Columbia High School in Maplewood,” says Allen. He goes on the explain how the two were reminiscing while setting up one day. “At one point he goes, ‘do you remember the girl?’ and we both said her name. Then we really started reminiscing!
“The odds that we would both say this girl’s name simultaneously after all these years are astronomical. The irony was that we were about to record a song I wrote about a girl I imagined. It was later that I realised that I had probably written Hard Enough with this girl in mind. She was that memorable. It has to be about her, which is crazy, right?”
The song unfolds with classic rock and roll swagger, with a memorable riff opening things before Allen’s gruff, expressive vocals come in. The title, of course, is an innuendo, so we get plenty of sauciness in the verse before things reach its climax in the chorus. The groove never quits, right up to its frenetic close.
Allen is planning more DownTown Mystic remixes, with a new EP set for release in April. The EP will include Way To Know, his track that has been sync-licensed on over 250 TV shows and films. “The other song, And You Know Why, might be the best song I’ve ever written,” Allen adds. “It casts a big shadow over my career for its importance.”
DownTown Mystic is a true legend. The name might not be as recognisable as Bruce Springsteen’s, but it’s highly likely that you’ve heard his music. It’s great to finally get him onto our pages.
To keep up to date with all he’s doing you can head to his website, and follow him on Facebook, X, Instagram, Spotify, Soundcloud, and YouTube.
Hard Enough (On E Street Remix) is out now, and you can listen to it below.
Supported by Musosoup #SustainableCurator
