"Leakage is a key to the sound of many classic recordings" - EQ article

I always find lots of great recording tips on this newsgroup, so I
thought you folks might enjoy this article about the mix of old and new
recording techniques that went into the making of Brian Wilson's
wonderful SMiLE album:

http://www.eqmag.com/archive/1104/1104_Features1.htm

- Frank H.

<Brian Wilson's wonderful SMiLE album>

Except for the few great cuts like "Good Vibrations" and "God Only Knows",
"Smile" is an overwrought and drug induced selfish trip into the mind of a
lunatic with too much studio time and money. Who forgot what being a "Beach
Boy" really meant to the music buying public. Most of "Smile" sounds like
very bad elevator music.

TP

What a relief!
I thought I was the only one who reacted this way to it.

Steven

"Ted Perlman" <> wrote in message
news:abTtd.40420$...
> <Brian Wilson's wonderful SMiLE album>
>
> Except for the few great cuts like "Good Vibrations" and "God Only Knows",
> "Smile" is an overwrought and drug induced selfish trip into the mind of a
> lunatic with too much studio time and money. Who forgot what being a
"Beach
> Boy" really meant to the music buying public. Most of "Smile" sounds like
> very bad elevator music.
>
> TP
>
>

Re: "Leakage is a key to the sound of many classic recordings" -EQ article

<"God Only Knows">

You're thinking of Pet Sounds, another wonderful album.

- Frank H.

< Pet Sounds, another wonderful album.>

Those songs were originally intended for "Smile" but got moved over when
Smile got delayed.

TP

In news:yG6ud.40721$ the killer robot
"Ted Perlman" <> grabbed the controls of the
spaceship cakewalk.audio and pressed these buttons...

> < Pet Sounds, another wonderful album.>
>
> Those songs were originally intended for "Smile" but got moved over
> when Smile got delayed.

I personally think Pet Sounds is a great album. From Hal Blain's
playing an empty Sparklettes water bottle as a drum on Caroline No, to
the use of a Coke bottle for a slide guitar part on the title track. My
favorite track from that album is "I just wasn't made for these times",
with one of the first appearances of a Theremin on record. Sir Paul
McCartney has said on many occasions that it was that album that lit the
fire under the Beatles asses to put together the Sgt. Peppers album.

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Re: "Leakage is a key to the sound of many classic recordings" -EQ article

Glennbo wrote:
>
>
> I personally think Pet Sounds is a great album. From Hal Blain's
> playing an empty Sparklettes water bottle as a drum on Caroline No, to
> the use of a Coke bottle for a slide guitar part on the title track. My
> favorite track from that album is "I just wasn't made for these times",
> with one of the first appearances of a Theremin on record. Sir Paul
> McCartney has said on many occasions that it was that album that lit the
> fire under the Beatles asses to put together the Sgt. Peppers album.
>

Ya know, for some reason I just have never been able to get into the
Beach Boys. Maybe it's because when I was still hearing them on the
radio as a kid, I just didn't get it. I just thought they were a bunch
of high-singin' wussies.

After reading for years about Pet Sounds, it's one of those recordings
that I keep meaning to pick up. But I'm almost scared to. After
hearing about how influential it's been for so many, I'm afraid that I'm
going to be really let down by it.

eric

In news: the killer robot Eric Deibler
<> grabbed the controls of the spaceship
cakewalk.audio and pressed these buttons...

> Ya know, for some reason I just have never been able to get into the
> Beach Boys. Maybe it's because when I was still hearing them on the
> radio as a kid, I just didn't get it. I just thought they were a
> bunch of high-singin' wussies.
>
> After reading for years about Pet Sounds, it's one of those recordings
> that I keep meaning to pick up. But I'm almost scared to. After
> hearing about how influential it's been for so many, I'm afraid that
> I'm going to be really let down by it.

It's got some weird and cool music in it, and it all comes from the
heart. Not some *manufactured* music by korporate bozos who are only in
it for the money. It is the kind of music that requires a few listens
before realizing it's depth. It has imperfections, like where you can
hear Brian counting for the studio musicians during a retard in the
music, and when the orchestra players breathe or bump their music
stands, but that stuff just gives it more life and character IMO.


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"Ted Perlman" <> wrote in message
news:abTtd.40420$...
> <Brian Wilson's wonderful SMiLE album>
>
> Except for the few great cuts like "Good Vibrations" and "God Only Knows",
> "Smile" is an overwrought and drug induced selfish trip into the mind of a
> lunatic with too much studio time and money. Who forgot what being a
> "Beach
> Boy" really meant to the music buying public. Most of "Smile" sounds like
> very bad elevator music.
>
> TP

I wasn't that crazy about it either though I only listened a time or two.

<...as a drum on Caroline No>

You should check out the Brian Wilson tribute CD I worked on: "Caroline Now"
(Marina Records). There are great new versions of Wilson's lesser-known
songs and well known classics like "Pet Sounds" and :Heroes & Villains" done
by artists like Alex Chilton, Chip Taylor/Evie Sands (the one I worked on -
"Let's Put Our Hearts Together"), and Kim Fowley. It's a very cool record
for Wilson fans, and received very good reviews worldwide.



--
Regards,

Ted Perlman

Featured article, resume & photos: www.synthax.com

<It has imperfections>

Hmmmm, sounds like a typical Dan Bonow recording - full of flaws, ****ed up
recording, bad playing, horrendous singing, lousy songs, inadequate
musicians....


TP

<though I only listened a time or two>

That's one time too many

TP

In news:grbud.57096$ the killer
robot "Ted Perlman" <> grabbed the controls of the
spaceship cakewalk.audio and pressed these buttons...

> <...as a drum on Caroline No>
>
> You should check out the Brian Wilson tribute CD I worked on:
> "Caroline Now" (Marina Records). There are great new versions of
> Wilson's lesser-known songs and well known classics like "Pet Sounds"
> and :Heroes & Villains" done by artists like Alex Chilton, Chip
> Taylor/Evie Sands (the one I worked on - "Let's Put Our Hearts
> Together"), and Kim Fowley. It's a very cool record for Wilson fans,
> and received very good reviews worldwide.

Sounds cool.

I think Brian Wilson was a total nut case, (not surprising. His dad
deafened him in one ear with a smack upside the head) but he tossed
out some incredible music on the way to getting there.

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\___/____/___/_/|_/_/|_/____/\____/
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Glennbo These go to eleven
Non-Linear Sound http://www.soundclick.com/glennbo
Hear My Music http://www.soundclick.com/jambits

<His dad deafened him in one ear with a smack upside the head)>

So you're saying he also could have had a career inventing the light bulb?



(Edison also lost the hearing in one ear when he was a young man)

TP

"Ted Perlman" <> wrote in message
news:grbud.57096$...
> <...as a drum on Caroline No>
>
> You should check out the Brian Wilson tribute CD I worked on: "Caroline
> Now"
> (Marina Records). There are great new versions of Wilson's lesser-known
> songs and well known classics like "Pet Sounds" and :Heroes & Villains"
> done
> by artists like Alex Chilton, Chip Taylor/Evie Sands (the one I worked
> on -
> "Let's Put Our Hearts Together"), and Kim Fowley. It's a very cool record
> for Wilson fans, and received very good reviews worldwide.

Did you work with Kim Fowley?

<Did you work with Kim Fowley?>

No, just the one track with Chip Taylor and Evie Sands.

TP

Re: "Leakage is a key to the sound of many classic recordings" -EQ article

> <though I only listened a time or two>
> That's one time too many

Actually, that's the very thing about Smile - it rewards repeated
listenings handsomely. I was lukewarm about it after first hearing it -
in fact, I was prepared to be hugely disappointed after all the hype
(the legend of the "greatest album never released" blah blah blah) - but
now, 3 months later, I cannot stop listening to it. Very different feel
than Pet Sounds, but in its own way it too touches the heart and lifts
the spirits. On one level it could be dismissed as just a dog's
breakfast of disjointed song fragments. But what brilliant fragments,
and how lovingly and cleverly weaved together! More musical ideas -
GREAT musical ideas - in 40 minutes than I can ever hope to come up with
in a lifetime ... sigh ...

Some of my favourite albums of all time are actually the ones that grew
on me really slowly rather than knocking me out at first listen.
Hendrix's Electric Ladyland, Dylan's Self Portrait, Zappa's Burnt Weeny
Sandwich, Beethoven's 7th, and lots of jazz records spring to mind -
pretty much hated them at first, but then absolutely loved them. Some
music just takes a long time to become familiar. Not sure what makes
you keep listening to something you hate at first - kinda like when you
start eating olives or smoking, I guess

- Frank H.

Re: "Leakage is a key to the sound of many classic recordings" -EQ article

Glennbo wrote:
> In news:yG6ud.40721$ the killer robot
> "Ted Perlman" <> grabbed the controls of the
> spaceship cakewalk.audio and pressed these buttons...
>
>
>>< Pet Sounds, another wonderful album.>
>>
>>Those songs were originally intended for "Smile" but got moved over
>>when Smile got delayed.
>
>
> I personally think Pet Sounds is a great album. From Hal Blain's
> playing an empty Sparklettes water bottle as a drum on Caroline No, to
> the use of a Coke bottle for a slide guitar part on the title track. My
> favorite track from that album is "I just wasn't made for these times",
> with one of the first appearances of a Theremin on record. Sir Paul
> McCartney has said on many occasions that it was that album that lit the
> fire under the Beatles asses to put together the Sgt. Peppers album.

Which turned out be an atrocious monstrosity compared to "Pet Sounds."
I still cringe when I hear that album.

RS

Re: "Leakage is a key to the sound of many classic recordings" -EQ article

Ted Perlman wrote:
> <It has imperfections>
>
> Hmmmm, sounds like a typical Dan Bonow recording - full of flaws, ****ed up
> recording, bad playing, horrendous singing, lousy songs, inadequate
> musicians....

This from the man who allegedly produced Chiacgo.

RS

Frank Herr crawled up to the microphone and uttered these words of wisdom
on 10 Dec 2004:

> Not sure what makes
> you keep listening to something you hate at first - kinda like when you
> start eating olives or smoking, I guess
>
> - Frank H.
>

See Ted, you can learn to like Bonow. <G> Just keep listenening and
listening and before you know it you'll either like it or be reaching for
the pistol beside the bed. ;-)

RB

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