The Bear Jew Posted June 30, 2009 Share Posted June 30, 2009 OK, so I'm sitting here at work, listening to a little Black Sabbath on my mp3 player, and, well... I swear I'm hearing two basses running around on "War Pigs." I've heard this song about a zillion times, but I don't think I ever noticed this before. Now, granted, the mix is kinda crazy, and there's a lot going on in the instrumental sectiions, but I guess I always sorta self-edited the song and filtered it down to the basic elements after hearing it live so many times. I also haven't listened to the studio version of this tune in quite a while. What say you, fellers? Am I hearing Geezer rocking out on pair of basses in there, or have my ears started to fail me? \m/ Erik "To fight and conquer in all your battles is not supreme excellence; supreme excellence consists of breaking the enemy's resistance without fighting." --Sun Tzu Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DanYmaL X Posted June 30, 2009 Share Posted June 30, 2009 HMM... I had to go and find it and give it a listen (it's been a while)... and it does kind of sound that way in a few spots, doesn't it? DX Aerodyne Jazz Deluxe Pod X3 Live Roland Bolt-60 (modified) Genz Benz GBE250-C 2x10 Acoustic 2x12 cab Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
butcherNburn Posted June 30, 2009 Share Posted June 30, 2009 It could sound that way because of the limited number of tracks used. They had to come up with creative ways of getting everything they wanted with only 4 or 8 tracks so a lot of times two or more instruments played on the same track. When it came to the final mix, two basses may have came up. Just a BS theory, I'm full of them. I'll give it a listen if I get a quiet moment on the way home. Is there any part that it's really evident? BTW thanks for your previous (similar) post about the drum pedal squeak on Since I've Been Loving You, now it's impossible to ignore. If you think my playing is bad, you should hear me sing! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Bear Jew Posted June 30, 2009 Author Share Posted June 30, 2009 I really hear it in the instrumental sections--one on the left and one sorta in the middle-ish, towards the right. Sounds like they did two different basslines to see which they liked best, but wound up leaving both in the mix because they don't step on each other. They're both pretty sweet, really. I just wanted to see if anyone else could hear that. Of course, the bass tone is, IMO, kinda lacking (sounds kinda like a rubbery, lower-pitch guitar sometimes), and very low in the mix, but yeah... I think I hear two Geezers in there. Butcher... sorry about that, bro. I kinda like it, though. Makes me remember that, although Bonham was awesome, he was still a human and a prisoner of the technology he used to create music. \m/ Erik "To fight and conquer in all your battles is not supreme excellence; supreme excellence consists of breaking the enemy's resistance without fighting." --Sun Tzu Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lug Posted June 30, 2009 Share Posted June 30, 2009 I think Sharon had Geezer mixed out out and Rudy Sarzo overdub his parts on your copy. You can stop now -jeremyc STOP QUOTING EVERY THING I SAY!!! -Bass_god_offspring lug, you should add that statement to you signature.-Tenstrum I'm not sure any argument can top lug's. - Sweet Willie Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nicklab Posted June 30, 2009 Share Posted June 30, 2009 BTW thanks for your previous (similar) post about the drum pedal squeak on Since I've Been Loving You, now it's impossible to ignore. Welcome to the club! I really used to love that song. But ever since I started hearing that telltale squeak of the Ludwig speedmaster pedal, it's just about the only thing I can hear when I listen to the song. It really drives me up the wall. And I swear I've started hearing the squeak on some other tracks, too. Obligatory Social Media Link "My concern is, and I have to, uh, check with my accountant, that this might bump me into a higher, uh, tax..." Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
picker Posted June 30, 2009 Share Posted June 30, 2009 Is it possible they doubled the bass line in places, like they do vocal lines sometimes? I never thought of doing that before, but it seems like it would fatten it up some, make it heavier. I can see Sabbath doing that... Always remember that you are unique. Just like everyone else. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Bear Jew Posted June 30, 2009 Author Share Posted June 30, 2009 I'm listening again... I think the bass line is doubled all the way through, but, like the guitars during the solos, the bass part seems to split off a little during these parts. It might be a panning thing, too, but I definitely feel like I'm hearing some slight discrepancies between the two bass sounds... like maybe there's a slight delay happening there? This might be the difference between the miked cab and the direct signal combined with the panning of these signals or some such wizardry... I dunno. There's something spacey happening there for sure. I'm probably just out of my mind. \m/ Erik "To fight and conquer in all your battles is not supreme excellence; supreme excellence consists of breaking the enemy's resistance without fighting." --Sun Tzu Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
picker Posted June 30, 2009 Share Posted June 30, 2009 ...Makes me remember that, although Bonham was awesome, he was still a human and a prisoner of the technology he used to create music. In an interview I read quite a while ago, John Fogarty talked about having a lot of stuff to deal with in the old CCR recordings. Those old Kustom amps were famous for the 60 cycle hum that is inherent in their design. He said they had a lot of extraneous drum noise and rattle off the toms to work with/around in their recordings. These days, you can make cleaner, better sounding recordings in your bedroom than they did in million dollar studios back then, and without any extraneous noise from amps or drum hardware, or anything else. But even with all the improved technology out there, most folks want to work with huge, cumbersome analog tube recording gear, expensive and rapidly diminishing supplies of analog tape, cheesy little tube amps, old drums and all the stuff from the days when they had to work around all the problems that stuff caused that have been solved since then, because it sounds better. The paradox is proven undenyably true; you have to be unhappy to be really happy. I think I have a headache... Always remember that you are unique. Just like everyone else. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ZZ Thorn Posted June 30, 2009 Share Posted June 30, 2009 How awesome is Allen Woody's bass on the Govt Mule version? They used to keep him in a cage. http://www.myspace.com/themoustachioed Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
1111000 Posted June 30, 2009 Share Posted June 30, 2009 I have seen footage of Geezer using a large number of basses for this song, maybe he recorded with two different instruments for flavor. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fingertalkin Posted June 30, 2009 Share Posted June 30, 2009 How awesome is Allen Woody's bass on the Govt Mule version? They used to keep him in a cage. My old bass teacher got to play one of his basses when his band recorded at the Abbey Roads Studios a few years ago. You can see it somewhat here: at the 3:40 mark. The audio is terrible in this video though. The songs didn't sound so good either. Here is another video. I know it is a lot of guitar wanking, but this is one of the BEST live bands I have seen. The energy they give out is amazing. And I don't really like Indie style music. How do you sign a computer screen? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
butcherNburn Posted June 30, 2009 Share Posted June 30, 2009 BTW thanks for your previous (similar) post about the drum pedal squeak on Since I've Been Loving You, now it's impossible to ignore. Welcome to the club! I really used to love that song. But ever since I started hearing that telltale squeak of the Ludwig speedmaster pedal, it's just about the only thing I can hear when I listen to the song. It really drives me up the wall. And I swear I've started hearing the squeak on some other tracks, too. I wasn't complaining, I love this sort of stuff. These things are only the type of stuff musicians hear. I was teaching someone a little bit of g****r in hopes he would take off on it (never did, probably because I had no business teaching anyone anything) and he always thanks me for the way he hears things now. I still need to analyze this further (packed train and bus ride). It is amazing what these guys were able to do with such limited resources (thanks Les Paul for kicking gear in the nuts to get things going). If you think my playing is bad, you should hear me sing! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
... Posted June 30, 2009 Share Posted June 30, 2009 What say you, fellers? Am I hearing Geezer rocking out on pair of basses in there, or have my ears started to fail me? Yeah. There are two bass parts going on in the instrumental section for sure. I've always heard that but never really paid enough attention to make my brain realize, "Hey dumbass, there are two distinct bass parts going on there". It's cool. I love stuff like this. BTW thanks for your previous (similar) post about the drum pedal squeak on Since I've Been Loving You, now it's impossible to ignore. Welcome to the club! I really used to love that song. But ever since I started hearing that telltale squeak of the Ludwig speedmaster pedal, it's just about the only thing I can hear when I listen to the song. It really drives me up the wall. And I swear I've started hearing the squeak on some other tracks, too. So it would not be good to start brain dumping all the little subtle things like this that I know of here? Like the phone ringing in Led Zeppelin's "The Ocean"? Or the annoying delay on the keyboards that going all the way through a certain Van Halen song? Or all the horrible punch-ins during Kirk Hammet's solos on ? I'll not do that then. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jeremy c Posted June 30, 2009 Share Posted June 30, 2009 What about the mistake that John Paul Jones made in Good Times, Bad Times? Or the one that Duck Dunn made in Soul Man? When I play the songs should I play them exactly as they were played on the record or should I play what they would have played if punch-ins had been available? Free download of my cd!. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fingertalkin Posted June 30, 2009 Share Posted June 30, 2009 I play the mistake in Soul Man. I like it. How do you sign a computer screen? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nicklab Posted July 1, 2009 Share Posted July 1, 2009 So it would not be good to start brain dumping all the little subtle things like this that I know of here? Like the phone ringing in Led Zeppelin's "The Ocean"? I've always found that to be rather charming. Obligatory Social Media Link "My concern is, and I have to, uh, check with my accountant, that this might bump me into a higher, uh, tax..." Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DanYmaL X Posted July 1, 2009 Share Posted July 1, 2009 I play the mistake in Soul Man. I like it. I do too... but not on purpose... DX Aerodyne Jazz Deluxe Pod X3 Live Roland Bolt-60 (modified) Genz Benz GBE250-C 2x10 Acoustic 2x12 cab Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
... Posted July 1, 2009 Share Posted July 1, 2009 What about the mistake that John Paul Jones made in Good Times, Bad Times? Or the one that Duck Dunn made in Soul Man? Both wonderful examples. The JPJ one is especially amusing when you consider it was song #1 of album #1 and the bass player makes such a glaringly huge error. When I play the songs should I play them exactly as they were played on the record or should I play what they would have played if punch-ins had been available? I usually play the mistakes as recorded. It gives me something fun to do and I like to see if anyone ever comments on it afterwards. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
... Posted July 1, 2009 Share Posted July 1, 2009 So it would not be good to start brain dumping all the little subtle things like this that I know of here? Like the phone ringing in Led Zeppelin's "The Ocean"? I've always found that to be rather charming. Me too. For the longest time I knew about it and couldn't hear it. After I finally heard it I can't NOT hear it. It jabs me in the ear with a hot poker now. RING! RING! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Davo-London Posted July 1, 2009 Share Posted July 1, 2009 That's like listening to our own recordings. You can't hear the band you can only hear yourself. Davo "We will make you bob your head whether you want to or not". - David Sisk Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Bear Jew Posted July 1, 2009 Author Share Posted July 1, 2009 See, I love this kind of stuff. It's part of the magic of the whole thing. It's good to be reminded that recordings (especially the classic ones) weren't made to be these pristine, perfect things--they're real, honest documents of real bands playing in real environments. I think that's neat. Slightly off topic... I am onto Black Sabbath's Volume IV right now... and if there's a heavier song than "Supernaut," I've never heard it. \m/ Erik "To fight and conquer in all your battles is not supreme excellence; supreme excellence consists of breaking the enemy's resistance without fighting." --Sun Tzu Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
davio Posted July 1, 2009 Share Posted July 1, 2009 Ahdunno, mang...I'd have to say this one competes: *Note the 100% guitar solo on Expert Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rizzo9247 Posted July 1, 2009 Share Posted July 1, 2009 I'm listening again... I think the bass line is doubled all the way through, but, like the guitars during the solos, the bass part seems to split off a little during these parts. Wow, after hearing this song countless times, I never noticed it before. Nice. Slightly off topic... I am onto Black Sabbath's Volume IV right now... and if there's a heavier song than "Supernaut," I've never heard it. Not only 'Supernaut', but the roots of heavy metal being laid down on their first 6 or 7 albums up until Never Say Die is just ridiculous. Too many to pick from, but I am currently spinning Master of Reality and 'Into the Void' simply kills. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
... Posted July 2, 2009 Share Posted July 2, 2009 and if there's a heavier song than "Supernaut," I've never heard it. Hell yeah. All the Ozzy Sabbath for that matter. They just killed it and took no prisoners. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
picker Posted July 2, 2009 Share Posted July 2, 2009 "Paranoid" has some genuinely heavy stuff. The intro to "Fairies Wear Boots" is right up(down?) there, and "Hand of Doom", and of course the title cut. Some folks say Zeppelin was the beginning of "heavy metal", but I think Sabbath was the band that really got it going. Always remember that you are unique. Just like everyone else. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
J. Dan Posted July 2, 2009 Share Posted July 2, 2009 What about the mistake that John Paul Jones made in Good Times, Bad Times? Or the one that Duck Dunn made in Soul Man? Both wonderful examples. The JPJ one is especially amusing when you consider it was song #1 of album #1 and the bass player makes such a glaringly huge error. When I play the songs should I play them exactly as they were played on the record or should I play what they would have played if punch-ins had been available? I usually play the mistakes as recorded. It gives me something fun to do and I like to see if anyone ever comments on it afterwards. My old band played Stray Cats - "Rock this Town" and there was a little mistake in the guitar part that our guitar player insisted on playing. Kind of funny. Although most people probably didn't realize that it was recorded that way and just thought he was making a mistake playing it live. Dan Acoustic/Electric stringed instruments ranging from 4 to 230 strings, hammered, picked, fingered, slapped, and plucked. Analog and Digital Electronic instruments, reeds, and throat/mouth. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
doc taz Posted July 6, 2009 Share Posted July 6, 2009 "Paranoid" has some genuinely heavy stuff. The intro to "Fairies Wear Boots" is right up(down?) there, and "Hand of Doom", and of course the title cut. Some folks say Zeppelin was the beginning of "heavy metal", but I think Sabbath was the band that really got it going. Yep. Zep is more or less classic hard rock, whereas Sabbath had the riffage and mental imagery that's still relied upon by many metal bands, esp. the darker genres like doom, death, black, stoner (?) etc. sevenstring.org profile my flickr page Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Bear Jew Posted July 15, 2009 Author Share Posted July 15, 2009 OK, here's another one... This morning, listening to "Chocolate City" by Parliament... I can hear the click track bleeding through someone's headphones (the drummer?) during the intro when nothing else is playing but a guitar and a bass. Never noticed that before. It's either a click track or the hi-hat... because when the drums kick in later, the hi-hat is playing at the exact same thing. If it's the hi-hat, I guess it was bleeding into either the guitar or bass amp ISO room... or both? \m/ Erik "To fight and conquer in all your battles is not supreme excellence; supreme excellence consists of breaking the enemy's resistance without fighting." --Sun Tzu Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
... Posted July 15, 2009 Share Posted July 15, 2009 Another I've noticed before but not really made the mental connection, "Hey dumbass, that's probably not supposed to be there". It almost sounds like a china cymbal being hit lightly and near the center of it - obviously to keep time until the drums come in. GAININ' ON YA! Can't ya feel my breaf? Ha. What was the common click track sound back in Ye Olde Daye? The drum machine had existed for some time by 1975 (when Chocolate City was released) and through the magic of teh interwebz I just discovered that the first programmable one was also released in 1975. Bone-us sillyness: Van Halen's song "When It's Love". The keyboard intro has this stick click delay thing going on. Listen carefully and you'll notice that it's actually part of the keyboard patch and continues through the entire song. This will haunt and annoy you whenever this song comes on the classic rock radio station from now on because once you've heard it you can't unhear it. Thank you. Drive through. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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