Eric Carmen Posted March 30, 2006 Share Posted March 30, 2006 Jimmy, Shelly,Dennis (the Fly) Wally, David,Jim and Myself were all very young. Did we make mistakes? Yep. Do I love the way those records sound? Nope. Did we work long and hard on them? Yep! Could they be better recoded with today's technology? Maybe.Did we capture the passion on those tracks? You bet'cha! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mannoman Posted March 30, 2006 Share Posted March 30, 2006 Eric you would have made a great computer programmer. They are never satisfied with their code. (I raised one - a former musician, too - hmmmm?)As somone once wrote: "...but perfection is consuming and it seems we're only human after all". LOLFrom my perspective, the fourth album was closer to what I felt Raspberries were trying to achieve but unfortunately it was too late - actually it was way too soon for the public to understand. As you can see by the activity on your site, at least some of us got it. Amazingly, most of the songs still translate well today. Before I go I gotta ask. I noticed at the Chicago show, Let's Pretend was different than the Cleveland shows. The change was a phenomenal improvement. It never sounded so good. Whadja do? 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
seattlesteve Posted March 30, 2006 Share Posted March 30, 2006 McCartney had a special recently where he demonstrated how they got those multilayered tracks on a 4 track recorder by recording separate tracks, than recording the set of tracks back on to one track, then repeat. Obvious to you guys that have spent time in a studio, but I thought it was interesting. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
raspberrywine Posted March 30, 2006 Share Posted March 30, 2006 Its funny how when you read these different stories on various producers how different the roles can be. Some guys more or less just hang out,party, and keep the morale up while others play intruments on the tracks and arrange. Its quite interesting the various dimensions that can take on. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tony Cartmill Posted March 31, 2006 Share Posted March 31, 2006 "Shotgun Gord" is back on the board! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
suede Posted March 31, 2006 Share Posted March 31, 2006 eric every note sounds so calculated and precise but then again we don't hear it the same way as you do. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tony Cartmill Posted March 31, 2006 Share Posted March 31, 2006 Did we capture the passion on those tracks? You bet'cha! Even through a little tinny AM radio, We could feel the passion! We just couldn't hear the bottom end of the mix. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eric Carmen Posted March 31, 2006 Author Share Posted March 31, 2006 Ted, During the two Cleveland shows, Billy Sullivan was playing what we affectionately call "chinks" during the verse and chorus of "Let's Pretend." Those would be short, clipped little chords, usually played between the 7th and 12th fret using only the top 3 or 4 strings of the guitar. ( For an example, listen to "Mr Tambourine Man" by the Byrds or the solo of "Don't Worry Baby.") Something about the arrangement just felt a bit flat to me. It just wasn't soaring onstage. I listened to the tapes of the two shows and when we came in to the next rehearsal Billy brought his Rickenbacker 12 string. After trying all sorts of other things that didn't really work, I asked Billy to drop the "chinks" and just double what Wally was playing. That was the first time we had tried TWO Rickenbacker 12 strings together. As soon as we started to play, the song just took off. I also noticed that Jim was playing his hi-hat cymbal throughout the song. I thought that a ride cybal in the chorus might open it up a bit. It did. We also worked on Paul's keybord sound. Before Chicago, Paul had been using a straight piano sound. During rehearsals we tried combining layers of piano, organ and bells to create a richer effect. What you heard in Chicago (and thereafter) were the results of those three changes. I'm glad you liked it. ec 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eric Carmen Posted March 31, 2006 Author Share Posted March 31, 2006 ...... couldn't hear the bottom end of the mix? No kidding. Imagine my dismay. ec 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
When I'm Cool Posted March 31, 2006 Share Posted March 31, 2006 Eric, I love that stuff. This is like a clinic! Thank you. Scott Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zuke Posted March 31, 2006 Share Posted March 31, 2006 Eric,Zucco here.It's not too late to do them all again.Didn't SPIRIT release an album in 1984 called SPIRIT 1984 where they replayed some or all of their hits? Just do it. Then you could do BONUS TRACKS of NEW STUFF!!Or visa versa, do some new stuff and re-record old stuff as BONUS TRACKS with some bottom end.SOUNDS GOOD TO ME.What does everyone think? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gene Posted March 31, 2006 Share Posted March 31, 2006 I was always a fan of the bottom end (sonically speaking, that is). In 1973 I had 8" woofers mounted in wooden boxes in the back of my VW. It didn't help the AM radio much, but the 8 track sounded better. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul Davie Posted March 31, 2006 Share Posted March 31, 2006 God, I could read EC's stuff all day!!!!! What a textbook for us average musicians who yearn to be just 'above' average!Whenever I hear 'little' things out of sorts when my band plays, and I tell them in a nice way..."what if we did THIS instead?"...I'd never hear the end of how much a perfectionist I am, and to lay off. Sheesh.I begged my guitarist for months to "chink" on "Tell Me Why" and "chunk on the upbeat" for 'No Matter What'...finally he did it, and the then lights went on his head..."hey that sounds cool". AAAARGH! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matthew C. Clark Posted April 1, 2006 Share Posted April 1, 2006 Zuke: Spirit did release a remake of "I Got A Line On You" but it peaked at # 54 (Billboard's Mainstream Rock Tracks Chart) back in August of 1984. The album "Spirit Of '84" (Mercury) (remakes of their material) only went to # 206 (1 week) back in September 1, 1984. Matt Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zuke Posted April 3, 2006 Share Posted April 3, 2006 Are ya sayin' remakes of Raspberries wouldn't sell?I think everyone should be required to re-record their stuff after 20 or 30 years. I know I'm tired of hearing the same versions all the time.Though those CDs that are released as "songs performed by one or more of the original artists" are certainly a letdown. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Foolin' Myself Posted April 5, 2006 Share Posted April 5, 2006 I don't think that I would want to record songs over with todays technology. That's what makes these songs classics. If the Beatles were together today would they remake "Hey Jude"? Paul McCartney is still alive and kicking and he plays Beatle songs on his tour and they are still performed the way they were recorded over 30 years ago. For instance, EC has had several people remake "All By Myself" with new technology and his version is still the best. I say what was done in the past should stay. For good or bad. Besides, some of the older songs had a twang in the guitar because the amp's were not so great and I think that is eunique. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tony Cartmill Posted April 5, 2006 Share Posted April 5, 2006 But by the 1975 Album, Jimmy and Eric had the equipment and the educated mixing ear to put out a full frequency effort. If they record that album for Capitol in 1972,..."Mmmmmmm, Tonto not so satisfied." Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MikeC Posted April 5, 2006 Share Posted April 5, 2006 It's awesome to hear about all of these things, to get the right mix and sound. It does take quite an ear to hear what's best in each song. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sthom3521 Posted April 13, 2006 Share Posted April 13, 2006 Wow! I'm awake from the dead. I too can't get enough of the technicals (RE: differences in playing Let's Pretend, starting in Chicago). Yes, Eric keep 'em coming.Steve T.Blues Country, MSP.S. - Mannoman, good to be on here to see your posts again Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Al Posted April 17, 2006 Share Posted April 17, 2006 Man, Eric those records sound great and now that I've found out a little bit about how you recorded them (compressing the heck out of Go All The Way), it makes me listen to them with new ears. Producers are a mixed bag (the Rubinoos' experience with Todd Rundgren...grr), but Jimmy was so perfect for the Berries, plus he sang a GREAT bass vocal! Dave, Wally, Scott, and your songwriting are what really make those records amazing. I think that Jimmy brought out the best in you guys and Shelly and Dennis, whew! what great engineers. Those records stand the test of time. Happy Easter everybody! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
seattlesteve Posted April 17, 2006 Share Posted April 17, 2006 Wow, makes me want to take my guitar and throw it in the campfire. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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