AUdIoCoUrSeS
Joined: 31 Oct 2002
Posts: 2014
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| Steve Harley & Cockney Rebel - Make Me Smile |
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Steve Harley & Cockney Rebel - Make Me Smile (Come Up And See)
A classic indeed, for this workshop, which will see an evolving discussion around the recording and production techniques, musical arrangment and performance.
We are looking for good research here to discover as much as possible about this recording, much of which can be an analysis of what you actually hear when listening to it.#
Some things to listen for include:
'dynamics' (i.e. levels, compression)
how the song is structured
'imaging' (panning, depth)
'effects' (reverb, delay etc)
'frequencies' (eq etc)
Who will start us off .. ?
_________________
It's all in the ears. - Learn the concepts not the software.
Audio Courses is a way into the music business for you
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Mon Sep 05, 2005 6:30 pm |
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woodel
Newbie
Joined: 20 Jul 2005
Posts: 2
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| Listening Assignment |
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It seems to this neophyte that that alot of reverb. |
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Tue Sep 06, 2005 10:02 am |
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woodel
Newbie
Joined: 20 Jul 2005
Posts: 2
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was used. |
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Tue Sep 06, 2005 10:05 am |
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thx1138
Joined: 07 Jan 2005
Posts: 21
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Some information I found about this particular Steve Harley track:
It is from the album Best Years Of Our Lives which was released in 1975 on EMI and has been covered by many other bands in over 7 languages. It was written as a riposte when the original lineup of his band walked out on him.
Notably when he performed this track for the first time on Top of the Pops the music was a backing tape but Mr Harley sung the vocals live and promptly forgot most of the lyrics in the first and second verses (doh!).
Also, this track and the album it is from was produced by Steve Harley with Alan Parsons who was the engineer on the awesome Dark Side Of The Moon by Pink Floyd.
I will post more once I have had time to listen to this excellent track in a more analyitical fashion.
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AcousticalWeaponsDivision/Alex |
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Tue Sep 06, 2005 2:38 pm |
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tobyh1000
Joined: 10 Jul 2005
Posts: 13
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| make me smile - steve harley & cockney rebel |
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Steve Harley & Cockney Rebel – Make Me Smile (Come Up and See Me)
Ok this is all I’ve got from some listening to the track over and over for a bit!
The instruments involved
Guitar
Bass
Drums
Synth/Keyboard
Backing vocals
Main vocals
Song Structure
(and when instruments appear)
Riff
- Guitar and bass some drums then into-
Verse 1
– Lead vocal, guitar, bass and backing vocals starting half way through.
Middle 8
– Lead vocal, backing vocals, guitar and bass.
Chorus
– Same instruments as the middle 8.
Verse 2
– Lead vocal, backing vocals, guitar (which is slightly louder), bass and a keyboard fill-in halfway through.
Middle 8
– Same instruments as verse 2.
Chorus
– Same again.
Solo
– Guitar (louder again), and introduction of synth which is panned in till same volume as guitar.Bass and drums also playing.
Verse 3
– Vocal, backing vocal, bass, drums, synth replaces guitar.
Middle 8
– Same instruments as verse 3.
Chorus
– Bass line more complex, synth quieter.
Fades to end.
It seems that there is some reverb on the vocals and guitar as well, and maybe some delay on the synth when it's brought in? |
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Fri Sep 09, 2005 1:30 pm |
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AUdIoCoUrSeS
Joined: 31 Oct 2002
Posts: 2014
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| MOving on |
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OK good start so far people we have some information regarding the backgound and also the arrangment to an extent.
Let's now move forward and start listening to the sounds and describe them, how was it recorded, what do you hear? What type of snare drum sound is it? What type of stereo imaging do you hear?
_________________
It's all in the ears. - Learn the concepts not the software.
Audio Courses is a way into the music business for you
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Fri Sep 09, 2005 4:53 pm |
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Rbro
Joined: 07 Sep 2005
Posts: 12
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| Snare |
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Hi Everyone, sorry I'm late! Didn't enroll till late last week. I like the reverb on the song especially the guitar solo. Not sure about the synth chords over it a bit tinny (like they were done on a £9.99 keyboard from argos) 
The snare drum doesn't sound very sharp to me, it's almost in contrast with everything else (bass, guitar) are all quite trebley (don't think thats a word!)
Cheers
Russ |
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Sat Sep 10, 2005 2:28 pm |
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Rbro
Joined: 07 Sep 2005
Posts: 12
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| Guitar Intro |
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I think the guitar in the intro is an acoustic steel string. I don't think it was an electric-acoustic as I'm pretty sure I can hear fret noise during the pause 0:03 sec. The sound of this guitar makes me think the mic was positioned up the neck and a little bit out, with the mic pointing back down the fretboard. I think that is how they got a sharp (almost electric) sound rather than a warm sound obtained by a mic at the body. |
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Wed Sep 14, 2005 5:46 pm |
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Rbro
Joined: 07 Sep 2005
Posts: 12
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| Tambourine |
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I'm finding it difficult to work out whose's playing the tambourine. At first I thought it was mounted to the drums, it can be heard dying out during any of the pauses plus it sounds as though it's being struck. As I listened closer I'm sure I can hear it being played (by hand) during one of the verses (it fades in and out). If this is the case I think it had a mic and then mixed in. Can anyone verify it? |
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Thu Sep 15, 2005 3:47 am |
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