Some time ago i was hearing the bass line from Don't Stop Me Now and I hear Freddie singing in the very begining of the track, but his voice was so low and i tried to cut the low frequencies and I up the high frequencies.
After doing this I find an early vocal take of this song which I never heard before.
Freddie's voice still so low in this mix but if you try to hear with a headphone probably you will hear more.
And I hope someone can improve this.
Sorry from my bad english. This is not my native language.
you'll have to pinpoint where you hear the specific proof that it's an "early vocal take"
my understanding of the recording process is that "early vocal takes" or any other instruments takes would not appear on the finished multitrack.
they'd most likely be on a a completely different run-through/take - that's why "takes" have different numbers
also - this sounds more like a "bleed" which happens with the recording techniques used for some "bass guitars" in the 70s.
as i understand it, there were three simultaneous recordings of the bass taken at once
1. direct to desk
2. from the bass amp
3. from the room
all were then used for the finished bass track
it's the "from the room" recording - via a mic, that usually picks up the vocal playback and that's what ou could be hearing
I would guess this is a bleed from a guide vocal whilst they were putting down piano, bass and drums. It's definitely not the final vocal but if is a guide he's certainly going for it some.
Wow. Being unable to get those multi tracks...I'm surprised how buzzy John deacons playing is here. Sounds like a standard p bass. Funny how the reduction in frequencies seems tho bring back the punch. Is that track for real?
(More surprised by deacon isolation)
matt z wrote:
Wow. Being unable to get those multi tracks...I'm surprised how buzzy John deacons playing is here. Sounds like a standard p bass. Funny how the reduction in frequencies seems tho bring back the punch. Is that track for real?
(More surprised by deacon isolation)
matt z wrote:
Wow. Being unable to get those multi tracks...I'm surprised how buzzy John deacons playing is here. Sounds like a standard p bass. Funny how the reduction in frequencies seems tho bring back the punch. Is that track for real?
(More surprised by deacon isolation)
Prob cause I can't torrent without a proper isp.
Just using a mobile device. Bummer but its cool hearing these perspectives on the good posts here on qz
Just go to youtube and search for.. example.. 'dont stop me now vocal only' or 'dont stop me now piano only'... do this with every track of every Queen song.. they are all on there....
"aren't guide vocals put down specifically for that purpose? and not intended as an attempt at a final recording - ie a take? "
I have been thinking about this and I am going to say it is a take. Simply because of the amount of energy put into it... I have heard plenty of guide vocals from the multitracks I have collected over a long period of time by various artists and they are very insipid affairs. It may or may not have been the first time Freddie ever recorded the vocal but it was probably a case of go for it and use it if its good enough.
I Saw Her Standing There comes to mind. 12 (I think) takes recorded. Stuck with take one. link
mooghead wrote:
Just go to youtube and search for.. example.. 'dont stop me now vocal only' or 'dont stop me now piano only'... do this with every track of every Queen song.. they are all on there....
Too bad Innuendo, for example, isn't one of those songs that's on there... or is it...
It doesn't seem logical that an actual vocal take (i.e. a performance meant to be on the final product) would leak onto the room mics of a Bass recording. The bass would be the first thing that is recorded (at the same time as drums and piano) and not as an overdub after the vocal was recorded.
It is most likely a guide vocal, which you can hear in several songs like Somebody to Love and Bohemian Rhapsody. Most of the time it's audible in the piano tracks, since Freddie was playing piano while singing the guide vocal to keep the band together.
You don't want to sing too loud, since you want to record everything else, and not the vocals.
Another possibility is Track bleed. where the audio recorded on a track leaks to the tracks next to it.
But just as with the vocal, guide backing tracks can, and often are recorded so the track can be built on, then a final 'take' recorded later on which will appear on the record. Ultimitely we will never know but its frustrating to know that there must be reams of stuff on tapes all over the place with amazing things on that will never be heard.
Great find !
Without a doubt it isn't a guide vocal, as Mercury is singing full tilt. It's another take that bled through to the bass track.
I wonder if they still have the actual take on tape ? Box set material, if it ever happens...