Classic recordings that are out of tune
Classic recordings that are out of tune
The Blue Nile thread got me thinking about other classic recordings from the pre-Auto-tune days when human beings were relied upon to either sing in key or not.
I was thinking a few years ago about how flat Duran Duran was in the early days. "Hungry Like the Wolf" and "Rio" have some questionable pitch, but they're so classic. They're perfect the way they are. I never noticed until I started using Autotune how pitchy vocals can be cool.... Thank god they never tuned those songs. The backups in "Cruel to be Kind" by Nicke Lowe, the out of key solos in "All Summer Long" by the Beach Boys, and "California Dreaming" by the Mamas and Papas.
The "ahhhhh" backups in the last bridge of "No Matter What" by Badfinger. Perfectly flat.
One of my favorites is the chord squeezed out of tune in "It's the End of the World" as we Know It" by REM. What about the vocals at the end of "Fool in the Rain" by Led Zeppelin. They go so sharp that I used to think my record was speeding up. I love it now.
Roger
I was thinking a few years ago about how flat Duran Duran was in the early days. "Hungry Like the Wolf" and "Rio" have some questionable pitch, but they're so classic. They're perfect the way they are. I never noticed until I started using Autotune how pitchy vocals can be cool.... Thank god they never tuned those songs. The backups in "Cruel to be Kind" by Nicke Lowe, the out of key solos in "All Summer Long" by the Beach Boys, and "California Dreaming" by the Mamas and Papas.
The "ahhhhh" backups in the last bridge of "No Matter What" by Badfinger. Perfectly flat.
One of my favorites is the chord squeezed out of tune in "It's the End of the World" as we Know It" by REM. What about the vocals at the end of "Fool in the Rain" by Led Zeppelin. They go so sharp that I used to think my record was speeding up. I love it now.
Roger
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Re: Classic recordings that are out of tune
The rhythm guitar break in Bowie's "Young Americans" is so wretchedly out of tune that they replaced it with a drum break on the recent Bowie Hits collection.
Ringo's "in the town" at the beginning of "Yellow Submarine" is sharp, if I remember correctly.
Ringo's "in the town" at the beginning of "Yellow Submarine" is sharp, if I remember correctly.
"Jeweller, you've failed. Jeweller."
"Lots of people are nostalgic for analog. I suspect they're people who never had to work with it." ? Brian Eno
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"Lots of people are nostalgic for analog. I suspect they're people who never had to work with it." ? Brian Eno
All the DWLB music is at http://dwlb.bandcamp.com/
Re: Classic recordings that are out of tune
Any good Neil Young song. The ones he tries too hard to sing on just sound forced.
Steve Albini used to like it
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Re: Classic recordings that are out of tune
Helmet - Meantime
I never noticed it before a friend pointed it out this year. Now I only hear out of tune bass when I listen to it. Still great though.
I never noticed it before a friend pointed it out this year. Now I only hear out of tune bass when I listen to it. Still great though.
Donny Cooper
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Re: Classic recordings that are out of tune
Or anything by Guv'nor. Auto-tune would've ruined them, for sure.
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Re: Classic recordings that are out of tune
The backup vocals on the Beatles' "Magical Mystery Tour" are SO ADT'd that they sound awfully out of tune.
"Jeweller, you've failed. Jeweller."
"Lots of people are nostalgic for analog. I suspect they're people who never had to work with it." ? Brian Eno
All the DWLB music is at http://dwlb.bandcamp.com/
"Lots of people are nostalgic for analog. I suspect they're people who never had to work with it." ? Brian Eno
All the DWLB music is at http://dwlb.bandcamp.com/
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Re: Classic recordings that are out of tune
There is a somewhat obscure album by Jefferson Airplane called "Thirty Seconds over Winterland". The vocals on it are atrocious! But there is something about the album that makes it really good, there are a couple of cool sounding songs on it. The drummer on it is one of the unsung heroes of rock drummers, Johnny Barbeta. He also played drums on the live CSNY "Four Way Street" on the electric set. The guy has a sound all his own.
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Re: Classic recordings that are out of tune
I have that album. I'm gonna go play it now!
"Jeweller, you've failed. Jeweller."
"Lots of people are nostalgic for analog. I suspect they're people who never had to work with it." ? Brian Eno
All the DWLB music is at http://dwlb.bandcamp.com/
"Lots of people are nostalgic for analog. I suspect they're people who never had to work with it." ? Brian Eno
All the DWLB music is at http://dwlb.bandcamp.com/
Re: Classic recordings that are out of tune
Listen to "Love Me Do" and MacCartney's bass is out of tune on the A-string. Assuming that he uses that on the notes d and c. The second and third notes he plays in the song.
I don't get the "California Dreamin'" example. I mean, the vocals are human and all, but I don't think they reach the level of being out of tune. The high female part can be intoned a bit flat, but I don't think of that as being "out". All in the ear of the beholder....
PC
I don't get the "California Dreamin'" example. I mean, the vocals are human and all, but I don't think they reach the level of being out of tune. The high female part can be intoned a bit flat, but I don't think of that as being "out". All in the ear of the beholder....
PC
Re: Classic recordings that are out of tune
The thing about "California Dreamin'" (and "Monday, Monday") is that the orchestral tracks are way out of tune with the vocal and rhythm tracks.
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Re: Classic recordings that are out of tune
This is so funny. I just heard Badfingers "No Matter What" yesterday and there are definitely tuning issues contained therein. Ever hear "Lady Jane" on Aftermath? Ughh.
But hey, these things can add a little character. There's a great old garage/rock band out where I live called Dead Moon. They're never in tune and on the right night they can blow away just about any band around.
But hey, these things can add a little character. There's a great old garage/rock band out where I live called Dead Moon. They're never in tune and on the right night they can blow away just about any band around.
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Re: Classic recordings that are out of tune
I think perhaps the advent of digital tuners has ruined music for a lot of people, .... everyone has gotten so used to hearing robotic sounding music that the real magoo sounds unnatural now
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Re: Classic recordings that are out of tune
Tom Waits - "Johnsburg, Illinois" off the Swordfishtrombones album. He's pretty free with his pitch anyway, but that song is like a litmus test.
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Re: Classic recordings that are out of tune
Great thread. Terminally unfashionable but JJ Burnel's vocals on the track The Raven are meh. He made the switch from bar-room brawler delivery to...what? Whispered semi-falsetto. On this LP (The Raven), and whooh. I was listening the other day and was surprised out just how weird the singing on that track actually is. He really has trouble in places. I dunno if it spoils it or not. Hard to say.
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Re: Classic recordings that are out of tune
A lot of old dub stuff has badly-intonated (or just out-of-tune) bass, and vocals are often pitchy when they're there at all... but still sounds awesome.
I could listen to Scientist "rids the world of the curse of the evil vampires" or "scientist meets king tubby" or basically any king tubby compilation forever...
drew
www.toothpastefordinner.com
I could listen to Scientist "rids the world of the curse of the evil vampires" or "scientist meets king tubby" or basically any king tubby compilation forever...
drew
www.toothpastefordinner.com
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