After an excellent live response to a number of original songs performed in 1998 Peter and Graham compiled a list of possible songs to record for a CD to sell at gigs. They recorded all the vocals to very rough MIDI files during December 1998.

The vocals were recorded using a Neumann U48, (the same type of microphone featured in many of the shots of The Beatles in the recording studio) into a Mackie mixer and onto a Mac Hard-drive using Logic Audio software.

During 1999, as the Secret Deals part of the business developed, Peter and Graham purchased an Audiowork2 card which enabled them to by-pass the Mac's A/D converters, and consequently improve the sound quality of their recordings. In 2000 they got serious about the CD and began work on the backing tracks.

Their software arsenal grew to inclue an LM-4 drum sampler and an EXS24 software sampler. All the instrumental parts were re-recorded to take advantage of the improved sound quality. Guitar parts were recorded though a Line6 Pod.

During Term 4 2000 Peter and Graham took long service leave from their respective teaching positions and they used this time to "master" the CD. This was undertaken during 10 sessions at Moose Mastering with Franc Tetaz utilising a Pro-Tools system. His mixing and mastering took the songs to another level.

In the meantime the cover was designed, photographs taken, fonts chosen and artwork compiled. The CD's and covers were produced in January 2001 and work began in earnest on the web site secretdeals.com.au