Just catching up with a programme from BBC2, broadcast on 11 August, called 'The 80s with Dominic Sandbrook'. At about 20 mins in there is a short snippet of Hammer To Fall played, and to me it seems like a different mix, and possibly even a different version/take.
The drums sound as if the electronic drum on the snare is not in the mix, and there are possibly a couple of cymbals that are in this mix that are not in the final versions. (Notably on the vocal of 'history' in the first verse).
Anyone know anything about this? Do the BBC have an early radio promo/working mix in their vaults which they've pulled out unknowingly to put on this show? The drum track really stood out to me as it sounds so different to what I'm used to hearing...I almost thought it was a cover to start with until Freddie came in!
It is only a short snippet and some of it is masked in the background, but it's clear enough for half a verse or so of it to be heard.
Sadly the show doesn't appear to be on the iplayer now but is available here - relevant clip starts at 20m 30s: link
Speaking of Hammer to Fall, why do a lot of versions have different takes for "Baby now your struggles are all in vain"?
1:58 here link (best sounding take to me)
1:51 here link has odd pacing and seems to come in a little later
Are these actual different versions, like single vs. album? Always noticed it but never seen it mentioned anywhere.
TheAdmiester wrote:
Speaking of Hammer to Fall, why do a lot of versions have different takes for "Baby now your struggles are all in vain"?
1:58 here link (best sounding take to me)
1:51 here link has odd pacing and seems to come in a little later
Are these actual different versions, like single vs. album? Always noticed it but never seen it mentioned anywhere.
Two different vocal takes to fit the different cuts. The single version cuts out the first half of the instrumental, so Freddie's vocal line '...all in vain' needs to lead into the A chord. On the album version, the full instrumental is used, which begins with a modulation to B, so the preceding vocal needed to be different to fit that.