Trees -

Trees was the recording moniker of San Diegan musician Dane Conover, who used it for the 1982 synthpop album Sleep Convention on MCA.

Members: Dane Conover (Vocals, Keyboards [Yamaha 40m, Arp Odyssey, Arp 2600], Computer [Apple II], Piano [Treated Piano], Guitar, Bass, Marimba, Autoharp, Cymbal [Chinese], Chimes, Other [Radio, Glass Sliding Door])

Background

Trees was the recording identity of San Diego musician Dane Conover, who released the 1982 MCA synthpop album Sleep Convention after keyboard and songwriting work with the Puppies.

Puppies formed in San Diego in 1979 with keyboardist–singer Dane Conover, guitarists Richard Filaccio and James Krieger, bassist Nino Del Pesco, and drummer Irene Liberatore. Conover wrote “Mechanical Beat,” which High Rise first issued on the six-song Fun Is Right EP. The band recut the song with producer Liam Sternberg for a 1981 Stiff Tees single backed with “Atmosphere.” Kim Fowley promoted Puppies and helped secure the Stiff agreement. Fowley later introduced Conover to MCA. The keyboardist signed apart from Puppies and adopted Trees for a solo studio project.

Sleep Convention

Trees released the singular album, Sleep Convention, in July 1982 on MCA.

Conover wrote all ten songs and produced the album. He arranged the material and handled lead vocals, keyboards, guitar, bass, piano, Apple II programming, and selected percussion. Martin E. Eldridch supplied percussion and vocals; Missy Zizzo added further voices.

A1. “Come Back” (3:42)
A2. “Shock of the New” (2:35)
A3. “Delta Sleep” (3:40)
A4. “No Stranger” (4:14)
A5. “Midnight in America” (3:48)

B1. “11:00 A.M.” (3:23)
B2. “Wildwood” (4:18)
B3. “India” (3:03)
B4. “Gotta Moon” (3:38)
B5. “Red Car” (4:42)

Conover spent one month producing Sleep Convention at Earle Mankey’s studio in Thousand Oaks. Mankey recorded and mixed the sessions. He played guitar in Halfnelson and the renamed Sparks. Later in 1982, the engineer produced the Three O’Clock EP Baroque Hoedown for Frontier.

British graphic artist Clive Piercy designed the sleeve under George Osaki’s art direction. Los Angeles photographer Paul Hodara supplied the front image, which places Conover across a console with his head below the worktop beside a television and wired studio electronics. In 1983, Piercy designed Elton John’s Too Low for Zero sleeve. Hodara also photographed Leon Russell for the 1978 Americana cover and documented the Masque nightclub.

In 1982, MCA issued “Come Back” as a US seven-inch.

Rubellan Remasters issued a 2018 CD with alternate versions of “Come Back” and “11:00 A.M.” plus ten recordings planned for a second Trees album.

Later Activity

Conover set Trees aside after the MCA release and moved to Northern California, where he made music with his wife. The Beat Farmers later recorded his song “Happy Boy,” which Country Dick Montana performed.

Discography: