Words@brothersgibb.com message digest 02/28/2017 21:01 (#2017-288)
3 messages included in this issue
Date: Tue, 28 Feb 2017 22:39:31 +0000
From: Robin Setty <robin.setty@gmail.com>
Subject: Grease
So, this is a brand spanking new and very interesting cover of Grease.
https://open.spotify.com/track/60QyhE1tC9pLCZUU9HLOpR
Thoughts anyone?
Kilburn Towers
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Date: Tue, 28 Feb 2017 14:46:05 -0800
From: Martin Hogan <martyhogan@sbcglobal.net>
Subject: Re: Grease
Any other access to this link other than Spotify?
Sent from my iPhone
> On Feb 28, 2017, at 2:39 PM, Robin Setty wrote:
>
> So, this is a brand spanking new and very interesting cover of Grease.
>
>
> https://open.spotify.com/track/60QyhE1tC9pLCZUU9HLOpR
>
> Thoughts anyone?
>
> Kilburn Towers
>
>
>
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Date: Tue, 28 Feb 2017 21:01:17 -0500
From: David Garcia <garcia10303@gmail.com>
Subject: Re: Double Tracking
Kilburn Towers asked:
> Returning to a real 'music' discussion...
> I was listening to Robin's Reign today and from last year's box set and
it got me thinking.
> Why did Robin around the time insist on double tracking his melody line
vocal on pretty much every song?
> I can see why you'd maybe do it occasionally for effect but I think it
just takes away a lot of the purity/clarity - especially for a voice such
as his. Typically, double tracking is used when you don't want that much
power. (You might double-track the verses but you'd would always
single-track the chorus as it kind of brings it more to the front of the
mix.)
> I'm not sure it was particularly a 'thing of the times'. Really
interested to hear what my fellow Wordsians think.
And days later, Julian said:
>Like so much of Living Eyes a decent song and vocal performance let down
by a lifeless, colourless, tedious instrumental backing. The vibrancy they
found in Main Course never reached the studio
.
Okay, I'll respond to both here. But first, a little story:
.
There was, in the north woods of Minnesota, a canoe builder. His canoes
were wonderfully crafted, highly sought after. And yet he always seemed so
sad.
One man, upon buying one of his canoes, asked him why he was so sad. After
all, these were amazing canoes, all his customers are quite satisfied. Why
wasn't he?
The canoe builder said, because they are merely canoes.
Merely canoes?
Yes, the canoe builder replied. I wanted them to all be aircraft carriers.
.
You ask why Robin did so much overdubs of vocals, when one single vocal
track of his was a great work all by itself. I suggest he wanted to write
and record operas. All the brothers did.
Which brings me to the question about the arrangements on Living Eyes. The
bland leading the bland? Far from it.
Pay close attention -- or even casual attention -- to the arrangement for
Living Eyes track "Be Who You Are." A bland arrangement? It was a Bee Gees
orchestral arrangement, what they were best known for in the sixties.
Indeed, it is the Godzilla of Bee Gees orchestral arrangements. If you
wanted to hear this live, you would need more than a ticket: you would need
a tuxedo.
And what was Robin aspiring to, vocally? On High Civilization, we have
another "blandly arranged" album track, Barry's performance on "The Only
Love." It sits there unappreciated. But listen to the vocals on the chorus,
especially the last chorus and the long "repeat and fade out." Really
listen.
This is meant to be opera. The kind of opera that, on Public Broadcasting
programs, are part of pledge drives with tote bags.
Barry came closest to achieving that in "The Only Love," with infinite
vocal tracks and digital processing. But in that humble analog studio, with
far more primitive recording technology, THAT is what Robin aspired to with
Robin's Reign. AND what Barry aspired to, years later, with "Be Who You
Are." It is unmistakable.
But difficult to achieve. They were trying to build aircraft carriers. But
had to be content with really, really, really nice... canoes.
I'm convinced of it.
.
David Garcia, who wonders if, had they stayed with Robert Stigwood, he
could have, at some point, got a good and proper opera out of them
eventually in NYC
.
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End Words@brothersgibb.com message digest 02/28/2017 21:01 (#2017-288)