Put your headphones on now and leave them on. Unless of course you have a whole barn at
your disposal.
Don’t know what I am talking about?
There is an old story where Graham Nash and Neil Young
were--- Why don’t I let them tell the story…
From The Huffington Post 6/21/16 written by Todd Van Luling:
As
the myth goes, Nash was at Young’s ranch just south of San Francisco when Young
asked him if he wanted to hear something. (That something would become Young’s
now famous 1972 “Harvest” album, which features the track “Heart of Gold.”)
Nash, of course, said yes and suggested going into Young’s studio. That wasn’t
Young’s plan.
“He said, ‘Get into
the rowboat,’” Nash explained on NPR’s Fresh Air in 2013. “I said, ‘Get into
the rowboat?’ He said, ‘Yeah, we’re going to go out into the middle of the
lake.’”
The two row out on the
lake, with Nash assuming Young brought a cassette player and headphones with
him.
“Oh, no,” said Nash on
NPR. “He has his entire house as the left speaker and his entire barn as the
right speaker. And I heard ‘Harvest’ coming out of these two incredibly large
loud speakers louder than hell. It was unbelievable. Elliot Mazer, who produced
Neil, produced ‘Harvest,’ came down to the shore of the lake and he shouted out
to Neil, ‘How was that, Neil?’”
The best part is
Young’s apparent response to the situation. As Nash explained, “I swear to God,
Neil Young shouted back, ‘More barn!’”
Although Nash has spoken about this
moment throughout the years, you’d be hard-pressed to find Young’s account. So
with an opportunity to speak with Young for his new album, “Earth,” The
Huffington Post had to ask about the infamous lake scene.
“Well it’s funny, it’s just a
little thing that happened one day and it keeps growing and getting crazier,”
Young said over the phone. “But I had the left speaker, big speakers set up in
my house with the windows open. And I had the PA system — that we used to
rehearse and record with in the barn where I recorded ‘Alabama’ and ‘Words’ and
a couple other things — over there playing the right-hand channel. So, we were
sitting in between them on a little lake and that’s what we were doing.”
When asked if the kicker of the
legend was true — whether he truly did yell back, “More Barn!” — the singer
laughed for a bit. Then he said, “Yeah, I think it was a little house heavy.”
So there you go..
Anyways, this whole blog is about Stereo. Or more importantly 2 channel stereo. So basically
left and right.
Some of these are little things that you probably never noticed,
but I did.
So seriously put some headphones on and listen to this. Because unless you paid big bucks for a sound
system and expert set up, your best bet is a pair of headphones. Especially with the recent advances in their
quality
If you really want good headphones check out https://www.nuraphone.com/
So any ways, on with the post
I will be giving you some great songs to hear, but I won’t tell
you everything to listen for. But I will
hold your hand along the way.
Rest assured, you will enjoy this and then you can show off to all
your friends all the cool things you can hear.
If you wanna really check it out, switch between ears, put the
left one on, then the right. Or however you wanna do it.
Ok So as a final warning. This whole thing is about stereo, so put
headphones on. If you listen to this
from a mono system or a device with only 1 speaker, or two shitty/closely
spaced speakers, it won’t work.
You’re the Boss –
Elvis Presley and Ann Margret
This one is simple, yet effective.
A great way to feel 2 channel.
It’s a love song that basically makes you the chaperone between
the 2 stars.
So basically you have 1 in each ear, but since they ended up
having an affair, you clearly suck at being a chaperone.
And actually this song was not in the movie, supposedly because it
was too sexy…
So go ahead and get started with this little ditty
Space Oddity –
David Bowie
Let’s just get this one out of the way now while we can.
So the lyrics are all sung by the same guy, David Bowie. Duh..
But listen to how he harmonizes with himself.
Also listen to how the instruments fade in and out.
Even if somehow you are within that 1 percent of people who don’t
like this song, you can still appreciate everything that went into creating
such a sonic masterpiece.
Here you go…
Also, just for shits and giggles, check out this recording, It’s a
cover from an actual astronaut. And it uses some good stereo aspects. More importantly the video was filmed from
the International Space station
2:45 am - Elliot
Smith
So, if you are familiar with Smith, you will know there’s not a
lot of instrumentation to fool around with.
So just listen to the way he sings with himself.
Think of all the singers you’ve seen that can barely carry a tune
and Smith can carry 2 at a time.
It takes a while to get there, just indulge me a little, the
payoff is worth it.
The Gift – The Velvet
Underground
You will hear it right away.
No reason for me telling you anything, but brownie points for anyone who
makes it to the end.
Girls Just Want
to Have Fun – Cyndi Lauper
This one begins with an epic panning at the beginning, and then goes
on from there. The vocals are in mono so
you will hear them in both ears.
But this is when you get to a great use of instruments in stereo;
you will hear certain things in each ear and its fun to go back and forth
between each ear.
Don’t like Cyndi…
Fine it gets better…
But you are still an asshole
Not really. I am a nice guy…
I think.
Anyways
Bohemian Rhapsody
– Queen
This is actually my favorite test song.
Like when I am setting up musical equipment.
This song really draws from more than 2 channels but you can still
get all the great effects with a 20 cent pair of headphones.
I am sure you know the song, and maybe you have heard some of the
things to pick up on in this song.
But seriously, this one, if you have never heard it in stereo,
this will start to blow your mind.
You are going to want to listen to the whole song, it is so worth
it.
Hump de Bump –
Red Hot Chili Peppers
This might be the first RHCP song to appear on my blog. I don’t mention them much, and this is my
favorite song of theirs
It might be because the video is so great I don’t know, maybe it’s
the horns, maybe it’s because it is a throwback to their older stuff.
Maybe it’s because it doesn’t begin with a solo guitar strumming
some sad chords (see every single RHCP hit song after 1996.)
The whole Stadium Arcadium album is supposedly in a stereo set up
to reflect their stage setup, with Flea’s bass left based and John Frusciante’s
guitar on the right.
When the breakdown hits, that’s when you really get to hear the
music weaving from one side to the other.
Oh and if this song doesn’t make you wanna dance then you must be
a red head.
Gingers have no soul
And they look dirty to colorblind people
Oh and, yes Flea actually is the trumpet player for the song. That
guy is wicked talented
Ok, sit back down, that’s enough dancing for now.
Speaking of color blind people, or should I say blindingly
uncolored people…
Frankenstein –
Edgar Winter Group
Now we are finally getting into the cool stuff.
We can break for a hit of acid if you like.
This song is layered with so many sounds, most of them by the
multi instrumental, Edgar Winter himself.
Winter plays the synthesizer that hums through your brain, plus
the electric piano, saxophone and timbales.
The title of Frankenstein actually refers to the fact that the
song was much longer and then spliced together.
Just listen to the thing, and wait for the drums, hell just hear
the thing through. But the drums are the
best. maybe…
Diamonds on the
Soles of Her Shoes – Paul Simon
This is hard to hear, but if you listen closely you will hear it.
By the way,
Ladysmith Black Mambazo!!!!
So, hopefully you can pick it all up, the horns, the guitars and
the drums all play around with your ears.
Not to mention the aforementioned Ladysmith Black Mambazo is
recorded in stereo, so you can hear different tones and quality from each side
of their part.
Dig it...
Suzie Q –
Creedence Clearwater Revival
If you don’t pick up on this one right away, then maybe this blog
post isn’t for you.
Stairway To
Heaven – Led Zeppelin
So, you have probably heard this so many times in your life that
you didn’t think it was that special anymore.
There is so much that happens in this song,
But the main thing to note is the guitar and the flute, and then
later you have 1 guitar in each ear, each playing something slightly
different.
There are a lot of little things worth noticing, this one may take
a few tries
Money – Pink Floyd
Remember that acid break I offered you a little bit ago, take
another one.
This song starts giving it to you right away, then just fucks with
your head for a while, I mean I guess it’s not as trippy sober, but still there
is a great amount of stereo action in this song.
Maybe do the whole Dark Side of the Moon/ Wizard of Oz thing with
headphones on. Then you might feel it more.
I don’t know…
Do what you want, just check it out? Let it play to the end.
Tomorrow Never
Knows – The Beatles
This one will trip you out sans acid.
This is just 3 minutes of pure mind fuckery
There is just a ton of tape loops, random sounds, and backwards
cymbals backwards anything.
Then the vocals were run through an organ speaker (A Leslie Cabinet
to be specific) so Lennon sounds like he is running around the room chanting
these vocals. Some of which are also
backwards.
There’s so much.
Seriously close your eyes and take it all in…
So, hopefully you have opened your eyes by now.
I hope you enjoyed it
Hell I hope you enjoyed this whole post
Cause that is it for today.
Did I miss your favorite?
Let me know. Check me out
on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/musicnotesfromthepast/
See you soon.
