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Dr Rubberfunk
pushin' record
Joined: 15 Sep 2007
Posts: 213
Location: London, UK
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 Posted: Sat Oct 06, 2007 6:06 am Post subject: 'Shitty Is Pretty : Anatomy Of A Funk 45' |
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I hope no-one minds me cross-posting these - I stuck them in the Daptone / Sharon Jones thread in the Mag forum, but thought there might be folks who don't check in there all the time...
These are the 'Shitty Is Pretty : Anatomy Of A Funk 45' articles that Gabriel Roth did for Big Daddy magazine (published in the UK, but with alot of heavyweight US input) a few years back. I know from the TapeOp interview that he's not doing everything this way anymore, but it's still an interesting and amusing read, and might be of inspiration to some...
http://www.phobospeepl.dk/documents/shitty1.pdf
http://www.phobospeepl.dk/documents/shitty2.pdf
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madtho
steve albini likes it
Joined: 30 Jan 2004
Posts: 354
Location: Makin' it in MA
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| Posted: Sat Oct 06, 2007 10:39 pm Post subject: Re: 'Shitty Is Pretty : Anatomy Of A Funk 45' |
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Those are great.
It -is- really hard to fuck things up enough/properly/appropriately.
thanks.
-mad
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We wanted to play traditional jazz in the worst way...and we did!
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apropos of nothing
dead but not forgotten
Joined: 13 May 2003
Posts: 2103
Location: Hillsborough, NC
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thethingwiththestuff
george martin
Joined: 23 Mar 2004
Posts: 1296
Location: philly
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| Posted: Sun Oct 07, 2007 5:13 pm Post subject: Re: 'Shitty Is Pretty : Anatomy Of A Funk 45' |
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wow, just read those. very cool!
one day i'll move to tape... |
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EasyGo
buyin' a studio
Joined: 08 May 2003
Posts: 834
Location: Culver, IN
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| Posted: Mon Oct 08, 2007 6:17 pm Post subject: Re: 'Shitty Is Pretty : Anatomy Of A Funk 45' |
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| I remember this, thanks for posting the scans. Flies in the face of good recording technique! |
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tony_tomlinson
gettin' sounds
Joined: 09 Aug 2006
Posts: 105
Location: San Diego, CA
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| Posted: Wed Oct 17, 2007 1:31 am Post subject: Re: 'Shitty Is Pretty : Anatomy Of A Funk 45' |
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| MTV recently visited Daptone. The video clip from which are posted on Daptone's web page. |
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percussion boy
george martin
Joined: 07 May 2003
Posts: 1487
Location: Bay Area
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| Posted: Wed Oct 17, 2007 10:35 am Post subject: Re: 'Shitty Is Pretty : Anatomy Of A Funk 45' |
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Settling into my role as the board grouch:
It's cool that he's reinforcing the Tape OP ethic: relax, do what you can, stop tripping about perfection.
However, his take on funk as a simple music really burns my ass. When it's good it's NOT simple -- lot's of complicated polyrhythms going on, lots of jazz chords, lots of great singing on top of it. Has he tried playing like Bernie Worrell, or Paul Jackson, or Ziggy Modeliste? Maybe he should ask Mr. Douglas or Mr.Corsaro how simple it is to engineer that stuff too.
Just 'cause it's moving doesn't mean it's dumb. Was Beethoven simple?
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MoreSpaceEcho
on a wing and a prayer
Joined: 07 May 2003
Posts: 5794
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| Posted: Wed Oct 17, 2007 11:23 am Post subject: Re: 'Shitty Is Pretty : Anatomy Of A Funk 45' |
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| yeah funk is all about being deceptively simple. |
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apropos of nothing
dead but not forgotten
Joined: 13 May 2003
Posts: 2103
Location: Hillsborough, NC
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| Posted: Wed Oct 17, 2007 11:39 am Post subject: Re: 'Shitty Is Pretty : Anatomy Of A Funk 45' |
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| percussion boy wrote: | Settling into my role as the board grouch:
It's cool that he's reinforcing the Tape OP ethic: relax, do what you can, stop tripping about perfection.
However, his take on funk as a simple music really burns my ass. When it's good it's NOT simple -- lot's of complicated polyrhythms going on, lots of jazz chords, lots of great singing on top of it. Has he tried playing like Bernie Worrell, or Paul Jackson, or Ziggy Modeliste? Maybe he should ask Mr. Douglas or Mr.Corsaro how simple it is to engineer that stuff too.
Just 'cause it's moving doesn't mean it's dumb. Was Beethoven simple? |
I think a lot of what you're reacting to is the bombast of the article. I've seen the Dap Kings twice. Rest assured they have very interesting, complex arrangements. Yes, occasionally even with 9th and 11th chords. If you haven't seen'em, I recommend that you do so at y'r earliest opportunity. They are the yum.
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-Jj
Boogie piano, punk rock, Minneapolis funk, metal guitar, synth pop |
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tony_tomlinson
gettin' sounds
Joined: 09 Aug 2006
Posts: 105
Location: San Diego, CA
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| Posted: Wed Oct 17, 2007 2:47 pm Post subject: Re: 'Shitty Is Pretty : Anatomy Of A Funk 45' |
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Yeah, I don't think he was saying that funk is pedestrian or anything like that. I think the point of the article and Daptone's approach in general is to record and perform in a manner that is consistent with the style in a traditional sense.
They're sort of making period pieces and when you do that, there are formulas to follow (that's not to say that Prince or whoever isn't funky). He's simply saying here's how WE do it and it's a terrific read.
I just picked up the new Sharon Jones record 100 days/100 nights and it's great. Everyone plays appropriately and it's recorded by engineers who are sympathetic to the genre. Daptone isn't a studio that dabbles in many forms, it's a niche outfit that is extremely good at what it does. As was Stax, Motown, Hi, and Chess.
Personally, I want them to succeed in the worst way. The music they're putting out is reactionary and creative. |
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swelle
takin' a dinner break
Joined: 27 Jul 2004
Posts: 190
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| Posted: Wed Oct 17, 2007 7:59 pm Post subject: Re: 'Shitty Is Pretty : Anatomy Of A Funk 45' |
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I liked that article, I printed out a copy.
He pretty much dismisses compression, and of course if you're going to vinyl, they're gonna handle alot of it at mastering.
However, this is a pretty good primer on Motown compression:
http://www.recordingeq.com/motown/motownb.htm |
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SpencerBenjamin
gimme a little kick & snare
Joined: 18 Jul 2007
Posts: 88
Location: Bondi Beach
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| Posted: Thu Oct 18, 2007 5:55 am Post subject: Re: 'Shitty Is Pretty : Anatomy Of A Funk 45' |
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| Well as he says himself most of his compression is by hitting the tape as hard as hell. This quote: "NEVER, UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES "SLAP" OR "POP" THE STRINGS OF A BASS. THIS IS NOT FUNKY AND COOL. IT IS TASTELESS AND EMBARASSINGLY STUPID." leads me to think he is deliberately excluding those such as Bernie Worrell & Paul Jackson. |
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percussion boy
george martin
Joined: 07 May 2003
Posts: 1487
Location: Bay Area
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| Posted: Thu Oct 18, 2007 11:48 am Post subject: Re: 'Shitty Is Pretty : Anatomy Of A Funk 45' |
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| apropos of nothing wrote: | | I think a lot of what you're reacting to is the bombast of the article. I've seen the Dap Kings twice. Rest assured they have very interesting, complex arrangements. Yes, occasionally even with 9th and 11th chords. If you haven't seen'em, I recommend that you do so at y'r earliest opportunity. They are the yum. |
Glad to hear it. I really want them to be what they say they are -- gotta track down the Sharon stuff.
| SpencerBenjamin wrote: | | This quote: "NEVER, UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES "SLAP" OR "POP" THE STRINGS OF A BASS. THIS IS NOT FUNKY AND COOL. IT IS TASTELESS AND EMBARASSINGLY STUPID." leads me to think he is deliberately excluding those such as Bernie Worrell & Paul Jackson. |
Yep. In his universe, Bootsy, Larry Graham, Louis Johnson, and their many funky disciples aren't funky. I guess at the end of the day, it's all a matter of taste really.
But again, glad to hear he's making good records.
edited for clarity
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"The world don't need no more songs." - Bob Dylan
"Why does the Creator send me such knuckleheads?" - Sun Ra
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b3groover
deaf.
Joined: 22 Dec 2003
Posts: 1973
Location: michigan
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| Posted: Thu Oct 18, 2007 12:31 pm Post subject: Re: 'Shitty Is Pretty : Anatomy Of A Funk 45' |
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The articles are just his opinion of what funk is; its no more valid than the opinions of the "jazzers" he belittles.
Do what you like and don't worry about it.
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ideaofnorth
takin' a dinner break
Joined: 05 Oct 2003
Posts: 184
Location: portland, maine
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