Tape editing question for Steve

[ArneW]

Steve,

could you give me a hint since when record producers actually splice several takes together to "get what they want"? I always had the impression (naïve me) that most of my beloved Sinatra or Nat Cole recordings from the mid-50s to mid-60s are un-edited takes. I was disturbed when I recently read in the booklet of a (1995) classical recording that there were "only 37 edit points" in the 3rd movement of a Brahms symphony - the remark was clearly meant to emphasize the excellence of the performance, but I was kind of horrified.

Arne

[Steve Hoffman]

To give Sinatra and Nat Cole credit, I've NEVER seen an edit point in a Sinatra Capitol master tape. On the Nat Cole discs I've done, there are NO edits on the albums "Love Is The Thing", "The Very Thought Of You", and "Greatest Hits".

Likewise, no edits on Judy Garland "Alone" and "Judy In Love".

So, I hope that restores your faith....

;)

[ArneW]

I know I have to get these two Nat Cole CDs. I decided to go for "Cosmo's Factory" and "Leon Russell" 4 weeks ago. I could have bought "The Very Thought Of You" and leave either the Creedence or the Russell on the shelf. This was probably not a wise decision.

Thanks again for caring to answer my ever boring questions, Steve!

Arne

[ArneW]

SH wrote:

To give Sinatra and Nat Cole credit, I've NEVER seen an edit point in a Sinatra Capitol master tape.


The more I think of it...how amazing! Just think of the old man (he must have been 78 by that time) recording "Summer Wind" with a Phil-Ramone-dialed-in Julio Iglesias in just one take! Without any edits!:D

Just kiddin'

Arne

[lukpac]

Originally posted by Steve Hoffman
Likewise, no edits on Judy Garland "Alone" and "Judy In Love".

Didn't you say one of the songs on Judy In Love was edited in mono?

[Steve Hoffman]

To tighten up the band at the end. Nothing to do with her.

[Pinknik]

Just to provide a contrast, I read somewhere that Billy Corgan said that there's not a complete line of vocal on Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness that hasn't been cut and pasted from multiple takes. Still like the album, but sheesh!

[Steve Hoffman]

Sheesh is right. :eek:

[Mike]

Billy Corgan can't sing? Shocker! :rolleyes: I read an article that described Flood and Billy Corgan pasting together words to form sentences for "Bullet With Butterfly Wings". This example was used to illustrate their painstaking efforts to get it just right. Maybe they should have just hired a singer. :D

[Matt]

It doesn't seem that surprising, really. Their music has the sound of obsessive studio tinkering, the way the music of Phil Spector or Brian Wilson's does. Very meticulous, very heavy production. Great stuff.

P.S. Any Elvis Costello fans? Check out "Beyond Belief." Lots of edits. Try singing that recording in one take!

[Sckott]

Also the fact that they conciously played the band fast, then slowed the VSR down. Makes the band sound mushy and surupy, while putting Elvis' vocal on top in some simple reverb. The accents of the ride cymbols sound totally slow-mo.

Beyond Belief is a great track.