Pat DiNizio made a house call to the "House of Vibes" recording studio in Highland Park, NJ on Tuesday April 19, 2005. He was there to record his vocal for a brand new Smithereens version of "In A Lonely Place" (best-known, of course, from the Smithereens' debut full-length album "Especially For You"). This remake of the popular Smithereens tune is to be used in a forthcoming independent film.

Kurt Reil (of the "Grip Weeds" and "Jim Babjak's Buzzed Meg" fame) manned the controls this day at the "House of Vibes" studio that he runs with his fellow Grip Weeds bandmembers - brother Rick Reil and wife Kristin Pinell. Kristin Pinell has since contributed a lovely new duet part that was performed by Suzanne Vega in the original version. Jim Babjak plays some tasty flamenco-style acoustic guitar licks and has added a smashing extended electric guitar coda to the end of the song that's punctuated by some grand "power-popping" Dennis Diken drumming. Even Kurt played vibes on the track (as is perhaps fitting since this is, after all, the "House of Vibes"). The last time the Smithereens entered the "House of Vibes" studio they produced their cover version of "I Want To Tell You" for the Koch CD "Songs From The Material World: A Tribute To George Harrison" and that Beatles cover song also appears on Koch's newly released "God Save The Smithereens - Deluxe Edition". Expect more of those same great results this time out as The Smithereens put their new spin on an old classic.

And, by the way, you fans of power pop and just good ol' rock 'n' roll music in general might want to check out the fab new "Grip Weeds" CD "Giant On The Beach" recorded at this very same "House of Vibes" studio and available for sale at their website store as well as at all fine record stores everywhere. You'll be glad you did.