#1 | Posted by Corky

The story of the fight between Barry Gordy and Marvin Gaye over the release of this album is an interesting read.

Sidenote: "Islands in the Stream" was originally a Motown creation which didn't work out, so they gave it to the country-western folks.

#5 | Posted by C0RI0LANUS

You're partially right.

It was written by the BeeGees Gibbs, originally intended for Marvin Gaye.

If we ever talk privately I'll share some insider info about Motown/Marvin Gaye.

#9 | Posted by C0RI0LANUS

You're welcome :-) Good luck at the table tonight!

Popsicle Toes - Michael Franks

"When my baby eats her eggplant ..."

Timeless tune.

Jaco used to play Tuesday nights at a jazz club in in Studio City called The Baked Potato with other top studio musicians. He didn't know how to read music - in an era where arrangers wrote out notation - but made it as a first call studio bassist anyway.

For you guys who like fusion, check out Dirty Loops. Currently touring. Vocals and musicianship are top notch!

@#21 ... some Steely Dan. ...

Oh, don't get me started ...

:)

Posted by LampLighter

Michael McDonald's been a friend of mine for many years. I already knew Steely Dan would typically record 4 and sometimes 5 different drummers on a track, or a couple different horn arrangements, whatever, and choose which one they'd use at a later point in time. Every song a long process of addition and elimination.

Mike told me he was in the studio doing background vocals for 2 days because those guys were so picky.

A few years ago I while at Mike's studio while doing some overdubs, asked me if I'd help him with something when the session was over.

What he wanted was my opinion on which of his 4 Fender Rhodes electric pianos was the best, IMO. Now, Mike hadn't sold a piece of gear ... ever. Still had every keyboard, mic, etc he ever bought.

We set 'em up in the main room. I started playing the intro lick to Peg on the keys. Using a voice like you'd hear in an ad for a local electronics store sale, I said "Come on down to Michael McDonald's Fender Rhodes world! We're moving 'em out! We will NOT be undersold!" etc. "Tell 'em, Michael!" "We will not be undersold!" he sang. "What's that number to call, Michael" ... he sings "4321 PEG" Laughter ensued.

I asked him a couple years ago if he's sold any more gear. With a sheepish chuckle, "Nope." LOL

What a classic voice. And what a nice guy!

Mike told me he was in the studio doing background vocals for 2 days ... working on Peg.

Another friend's played on several Steely Dan cuts. Same deal where 3 or 4 other drummers played on the same song.

About the time in '76 when Joni was getting jazzy with Pat Metheny

CORKY

Remember the Joni album "Mingus" featuring her lyrics and melodies by Charles Mingus?

IIRC, also Herbie Hancock, Wayne Shorter, Jaco (of course), and (?)

#32 | Posted by LampLighter

No problem at all :-) A matter of personal taste. I like pre-Michael Doobies just as much. The band didn't have much choice. New singer or bust due to Tom Johnson's personal demons. Since he was the lead singer, not much to do but have someone else take that role ... Kinda worked out for them.

#34 | Posted by LampLighter

It was impressive how well Orbison's voice held out late into his life. He could still hit the high notes clear as a bell.

@#27 ... Steve Winwood ...

Yeah, he entered the Hall of Fame a while ago for his work in Traffic.

I wore out a couple copies of The Low Spark of High Heeled Boys

But I also want to note, I listened to the album, not individual songs, but the album.

Same here. Most bands made albums full of good songs. Those were good times! We'd get a new album, read the liner notes, listen front and back, then listen again. The corporate takeover of the music biz led to too many cases of one good song and a bunch of crap to fill the rest of the grooves.

The legendary "music guys" who used to run labels (Mo Ostin of Warner Bros, Ahmet Erteun of Atlantic, others) started having to account to the bean counters for last quarter's profits. Those guys (also Clive Davis) would stick with many now legendary artists/bands if the first or second album didn't meet sales expectations. They cared about the music. And it would usually pay off in the long run.

Back in the day, when I noticed that I was starting to listen to an album many times, I would put it on tape (7 1/2 ips, Teac tape deck), and I listened to the album from tape.

I was a teenager with no tape deck

The back story behind the release of What's Going On is interesting ...

You might have to do a lot of Googling to find the whole story, but Gaye reached a point during the battle with Gordy over releasing the album that he told Gordy he'd never make another album if Gordy didn't release it.

... make another album for Motown

Also, the back story behind some of the recording sessions for the album is full of "what?!" anecdotes. Waking musicians up in the middle of the night to record, song choices and how they came about.

When I said it, the Fuzz looked at me and said, "In a goddam what?".

www.youtube.com

#47 | Posted by Corky

LOL!

Also cassettes allowed for rewinding, fast-forwarding, and better sound quality with Dolby.

#65 | Posted by Corky

Tape gives audio a yummier sound than straight digital. Dolby was a big step in lowering white tape noise.

The trend in recording now is to use digital emulations of tube gear in mixing, some of which are spot on emulations of classic gear (compressors, EQ's, etc). Many producers track studio bands on 24 track tape. I do too. Tape adds the audio harmonics that are missing in digital recording. That's why LPs and analog tape are warmer and more pleasing to the ear than cuts done only digital ...

#70 | Posted by Corky

Some of the emulations come very close.

I was one of the first producers here to embrace and use emulations. One time, maybe 20 years ago, while producing a major label artist in my studio, I rented a wall of classic tube outboard gear. When my Grammy-winning engineer got here, I asked him his opinion in an A>B comparison, flipping my console inputs between the digital emulations (Universal Audio, known for accuracy) and the real gear. "98% identical," were his words.

#73 | Posted by Corky

Sock it to me! lol