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Author Topic: Almost perfect tracks spoiled  (Read 5568 times)

Redlight

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Almost perfect tracks spoiled
« on: 31 March, 2011, 11:03:02 pm »
Here's a thread to nominate those tracks that are almost perfect but let down by one element.  Here's a couple to kick off.

Labi Siffre's gorgeous "Something Inside So Strong" has an instrumental break that should be played on a saxophone, Baker Street-style.  But, being the mid-80s, it's played on a synthesizer which, unfortunately, sounds like a saxophone farting.  Fail

Before recording the bombastic, Clapton-fuelled version of "While My Guitar Gently Weeps" that appears on the White Album, George Harrison recorded an acoustic version, with only a few bars or organ accompaniment, played by McCartney. This is available on the Anthology box set and is exquisite... apart from when George inexplicably chooses to pronounce the word "alerted" (as in "no one alerted you") in an exaggerated Scouse accent, extending the 'e'.  It sounds awful and spoils an otherwise perfect performance.

Any more?
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Deano

Re: Almost perfect tracks spoiled
« Reply #1 on: 31 March, 2011, 11:11:16 pm »
George Thorogood - Bad to the Bone.

Why the sax solo, George, why?
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CAMRAMan

Re: Almost perfect tracks spoiled
« Reply #2 on: 01 April, 2011, 01:53:51 pm »
Eddie Reader has a fantastic voice, I'm sure you will agree. So why the fuck did they screw it up on Fairground Attraction's First of a Million Kisses*, particularly Whispers, by putting it through one of those voice changing software thingamajigs? I thought my speakers were knacked, but no, it's that very intrusive interference.

* OK, it's a bit twee, but I like it!
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mattc

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Re: Almost perfect tracks spoiled
« Reply #3 on: 01 April, 2011, 02:44:34 pm »
Hmm, good topic. But tricky ... pop songs aren't like books or films - being short, I tend to love them unconditionally, or not at all. But there must be some that fit your criteria ... I'll probably hear something days from now and think of this topic.

At the moment, the best I can do is Layla and that pointless piano section at the end. It's very nice but it doesn't fit, or add anything.

If I had perfect recall I could probably find some rock/pop classic that is ruined by a pointless string section; can we just list our favourite irritations?
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Mr Larrington

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Re: Almost perfect tracks spoiled
« Reply #4 on: 01 April, 2011, 02:53:06 pm »
The crowd noises on Hendrix' Voodoo Chile.
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LEE

Re: Almost perfect tracks spoiled
« Reply #5 on: 01 April, 2011, 05:11:00 pm »
All fantastic, kick-ass, rock songs when the lead singer later turns up promoting Butter, Car insurance or playing golf twice a day
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IanDG

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Re: Almost perfect tracks spoiled
« Reply #6 on: 01 April, 2011, 05:15:19 pm »
One I dislike is the instrumental bit at the end of Layla
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iakobski

Re: Almost perfect tracks spoiled
« Reply #7 on: 01 April, 2011, 05:40:34 pm »
I'll nominate virtually the whole of Zappa's Sleep Dirt - as released on CD.

An almost perfect album, on vinyl. Then rereleased on CD with the most ridiculous opera singing over the top. Unlistenable.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sleep_Dirt
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mattc

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Re: Almost perfect tracks spoiled
« Reply #8 on: 01 April, 2011, 05:42:16 pm »
Has anyone mentioned Layla yet?
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Wascally Weasel

  • Slayer of Dragons and killer of threads.
Re: Almost perfect tracks spoiled
« Reply #9 on: 01 April, 2011, 07:05:29 pm »
Quote from: mattc on 01 April, 2011, 05:42:16 pm
Has anyone mentioned Layla yet?

 ;D

Actually the end bit works really well in Goodfellas.
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Rhys W

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Re: Almost perfect tracks spoiled
« Reply #10 on: 01 April, 2011, 08:20:23 pm »
Quote from: windy on 01 April, 2011, 05:15:19 pm
One I dislike is the instrumental bit at the end of Layla

I think that bit is most excellent actually.

My personal grievance is any track where they've recorded an acoustic guitar using the piezo pickup. You're in a studio, stick a decent mike in front of it FFS!
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interzen

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Re: Almost perfect tracks spoiled
« Reply #11 on: 01 April, 2011, 08:22:29 pm »
No mention of "Hey Jude" yet, then?
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rogerzilla

  • When n+1 gets out of hand
Re: Almost perfect tracks spoiled
« Reply #12 on: 01 April, 2011, 08:29:53 pm »
Layla is an example of a particular electric blues genre where you *should* have a second instrumental half.

In the sequel "Blues Brothers 2000" there are some amazing songs regardless of the formulaic plot and wooden acting.  One of the highlights is a version of "New Orleans" sung by everyone, and I mean *everyone* who matters in the blues and who was alive at the time the film was made.

But they gave the annoying kid a verse  :sick:
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rogerzilla

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Re: Almost perfect tracks spoiled
« Reply #13 on: 01 April, 2011, 08:30:33 pm »
Quote from: interzen on 01 April, 2011, 08:22:29 pm
No mention of "Hey Jude" yet, then?

Is that the famous "Fucking hell!"?  I've never heard it.
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IanDG

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Re: Almost perfect tracks spoiled
« Reply #14 on: 01 April, 2011, 08:59:47 pm »
Quote from: mattc on 01 April, 2011, 05:42:16 pm
Has anyone mentioned Layla yet?

Me - 2 posts above ;)

edit - and you - 3 posts above that
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interzen

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Re: Almost perfect tracks spoiled
« Reply #15 on: 01 April, 2011, 09:20:53 pm »
Quote from: rogerzilla on 01 April, 2011, 08:30:33 pm
Quote from: interzen on 01 April, 2011, 08:22:29 pm
No mention of "Hey Jude" yet, then?

Is that the famous "Fucking hell!"?  I've never heard it.
It's there, but you need a decent set of headphones to hear it (around 2'32" IIRC)
However, I was referring to the 'na-na-na-nanana-naaaah' crap at the end.
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PaulF

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Re: Almost perfect tracks spoiled
« Reply #16 on: 01 April, 2011, 09:45:42 pm »
Quote from: mattc on 01 April, 2011, 02:44:34 pm
....

At the moment, the best I can do is Layla and that pointless piano section at the end. It's very nice but it doesn't fit, or add anything.

...

Doesn't fit but for some reason it works for me. Was apparently added as an after thought after Clapton heard the drummer Jim Gordon IIRC playing the piano part in a break from recording
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PaulF

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Re: Almost perfect tracks spoiled
« Reply #17 on: 01 April, 2011, 09:53:44 pm »
On the cd version of Reckoning there's a version of Moon River almost ruined by a 'twiddly' synth part at the end (or is it the start? I've edited out of my copy)
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clarion

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Re: Almost perfect tracks spoiled
« Reply #18 on: 01 April, 2011, 09:57:22 pm »
What about Layla?  Don't think it's been mentioned.
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clarion

  • Tyke
Re: Almost perfect tracks spoiled
« Reply #19 on: 01 April, 2011, 09:58:45 pm »
Anything by Eddy Grant.  He had a fondness for horrible synth sounds in what were otherwise very serviceble tunes.

And he looked great in leather trousers.

Did I just say that out loud? :-[
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Peter

Re: Almost perfect tracks spoiled
« Reply #20 on: 01 April, 2011, 10:04:06 pm »
Quote from: clarion on 01 April, 2011, 09:58:45 pm
Anything by Eddy Grant.  He had a fondness for horrible synth sounds in what were otherwise very serviceble tunes.

And he looked great in leather trousers.

Did I just say that out loud? :-[

This is a sort of reverse for the thread title....

In Eddy Grant's best song ("Baby Come Back" when he was in The Equals)  the recording, which was probably done on a negative budget, is full of bits where the singers are singing the wrong words and stuff like that.  It's brilliant and dirty and emblematic of an era when records where full of energy and not artifice.
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Torslanda

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Re: Almost perfect tracks spoiled
« Reply #21 on: 02 April, 2011, 09:44:45 am »
The dubbed laughter at the end of 'Within You, Without You' on Sergeant Pepper.

The honky tonk piano on the fade to 'Tomorrow Never Knows'
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VELOMANCER

Quote from: trekker12 on 16 July, 2016, 08:54:33 am
Well that's the more blunt way of putting it but as usual he's dead right.

Wascally Weasel

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Re: Almost perfect tracks spoiled
« Reply #22 on: 02 April, 2011, 10:00:44 am »
That bit on 'Imagine' where the song starts until all the way to the end.
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Wascally Weasel

  • Slayer of Dragons and killer of threads.
Re: Almost perfect tracks spoiled
« Reply #23 on: 02 April, 2011, 10:08:54 am »
The sax bit at about 1:53 on 'Bat out of Hell'.  It really jars.
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pcolbeck

Re: Almost perfect tracks spoiled
« Reply #24 on: 02 April, 2011, 10:15:40 am »
The synth drum sound on nearly anything recorded in the 80s that isn't supposed to be synth pop.
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I think you'll find it's a bit more complicated than that.
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