Master Zap Posted January 16, 2001 Share Posted January 16, 2001 From another thread: "Dancing Queen" has truly inane lyrics, but the voices on the choruses are pretty damn amazing. I'd love to get that kind of sheen on my vocals, and any article that tells me how is okay with me I could ask one of my fans *grin* Michael B. Tretow, because, you know, he was ABBA's producer, and is one of those great people who don't get the recognition they deserve. Spector at least got known. Michael B. hasn't - in the same degree. He is known in Sweden but not much else. One thing that I know he did, is vary the tape speed when recording the various backing vocal tracks. That gave the girls vocals differing timbres. But more importantly (my own speculation) is that since this trick moved the formants in the vocals slightly between the various speeds, mixing them must be easier on the frequency spectrum. (As we all know, the pitch with which you sing an "Aaa" doesnt matter, the formants that define the "Aaaa" sound are in the same frequency locations for all pitches) Could this be it? Otherwise I could ask him. Tell him Craig wants to know. Heck, I could invite him to this BB? /Z Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
richt Posted January 17, 2001 Share Posted January 17, 2001 Great! I have always been a big fan of ABBA and Michael B (growing up in the UK in the 70's had a lot to do with it!). I once read a terrific article in Studio Sound (from 1980!? )where he spilled a lot of the beans regarding ABBA production. I never got a copy of that artice, so any and all info would be very interesting. ABBA may be maligned, but they do have damn good songs and production (especially for the time). Cheerz! Richt Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Throatsinger Posted January 17, 2001 Share Posted January 17, 2001 The tape-speed trick is a great one to remind folks of, Zap. Often used by the Beatles, it does subtle but interesting things to the harmonic relationships of the changed parts, and can also tighten (or loosen) up things a bit. As for the ABBA connection, don't worry... we won't hold that against you! http://www.musicplayer.com/ubb/wink.gif Steve Sklar/Big Sky www.bigskyrocks.com Steve Sklar http://khoomei.com http://www.bigskyrocks.com Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Philip OKeefe Posted January 17, 2001 Share Posted January 17, 2001 Another one of those tricks from the old days is to track your BGV's to analog with Dolby encoding, and then play those tracks back sans Dolby. I think that was done on Philip Bailey's (sp?) parts on some old Earth Wind and Fire recordings. I love the vari-speed tricks. Try tracking drums with the vari speed set a few percent fast and then play them back at standard speed. Instant thickening. Then again, Paul McCartney's vocals on several Beatles tracks were tracked slow and played back fast, and sound great. Vari-speed is a cool tool. Phil O'Keefe Sound Sanctuary Recording Riverside CA http://members.aol.com/ssanctuary/index.html email: pokeefe777@msn.com Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Philip OKeefe Posted January 17, 2001 Share Posted January 17, 2001 >>I could ask one of my fans *grin* Michael B. Tretow, because, you know, he was ABBA's producer, and is one of those great people who don't get the recognition they deserve. Spector at least got known. Michael B. hasn't - in the same degree. He is known in Sweden but not much else. << Maybe he should have pulled out a M1911A1 .45 pistol and blasted away at the monitors like Spector is reported to have done oncebecause he didn't like what he was hearing! http://www.musicplayer.com/ubb/smile.gifhttp://www.musicplayer.com/ubb/eek.gif Actually, I like and respect Spector's work, but he's not my favorite producer. Sounds like he was too tough to work with - although I LOVE that story. Who hasn't been frustrated enough to want to cause serious damage to some gear? I think that's why Pete Townshend distroyed his first guitar on stage - he was frustrated that it wouldn't stay in tune, and totally lost it. Audience loved it, and the rest is history. Phil O'Keefe Sound Sanctuary Recording Riverside CA http://members.aol.com/ssanctuary/index.html email: pokeefe777@msn.com Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
miroslav Posted January 17, 2001 Share Posted January 17, 2001 There was an interview with Lindsey Buckingham a few years back, I belive in EQ magazine, and he talks a lot about using tape vari-speed. I think most of his guitar work with Fleetwood Mac utilizes the tape vari-speed technique. He talked about working the tape speed control for guitar parts until he got them to "fit" just right with the other tracks. Don't remember which issue, but I know I have it somewhere in my magazine archives. miroslav - miroslavmusic.com "Just because it happened to you, it doesn't mean it's important." Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David R. Posted January 17, 2001 Share Posted January 17, 2001 Most of Prince's vocals are pitched, he uses that on some lead vocals as well as backup. ABBA, the music is great, the lyrics are inane. I will give them credit for english being a second language, but wow they are bad. Funny thing, the words were written by the guys in the band for the woman to sing, so you get guys writing "give me a man after midnight..." No wonder they are such a hit in the gay community. -David R. -David R. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Master Zap Posted January 17, 2001 Author Share Posted January 17, 2001 On the Lyrics Of course Björn and Benny were young then but, frankly, from a Swedish perspective, English Lyrics (or maybe lyrics in general) are just noise. Filter modulation on the carrier vave of the vocal. The same way I twiddle the resonance/cutoff on a 303 in a trance track, throw some meaningless but GOOD SOUNDING syllables together. If they have rhyme great, if they have reason, greatere, but meaning - why? Really. I've written some pretty stupid lyrics myself, and I am not ashamed about it. For me lyrics are filter modulations. So sue me http://www.musicplayer.com/ubb/wink.gif /Z Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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