Recording cockups that made the cut

[Cosmo Valdemar]

Fit Boy + Faint Girl by 3 Colours Red -  irritating buzzy fret during the bass solo at 1:37:

Really pronounced buzz on the open A string in Starless - it's subtle at first but as the distortion increases it really jumps out at 6:10:

 

[Dankology]

Great thread!

I'm surprised no-one has mentioned Lennon's very loose bass playing on The Long and Winding Road yet.

As an aside, many many years ago I told my brother that the laugh at the start of Roxanne had been prompted by Sting whipping his member out at the start of the take. It was only very recently that I found out that he'd assumed I was serious and had spent the intervening two decades believing that was exactly what had happened. 

[Marky L]

The Police - So Lonely. Later on in the song in one of the verses Sting plays on the wrong beat. Stands out like a seriously sore thumb.

Bowie - Watch That Man (Aladdin Sane) It's endowed with some corking bass errors. It's like Trev was just have a first practice , got a bit lost and they kept it. I love it.

Two that come to mind at the mo.

[dmccombe7]

Think Trevor Bolder once commented that Bowie almost always used the first take in the studio because he liked the spontanuity of it more. On a lot of the songs they didn't get much chance to rehearse either. Almost like a semi-structured jam session.

Have to say its one of the things i like about his earlier albums. Its not all perfect but i never gave it a second thought about there being mistakes. Funny how some of us pick up on these things more than others. Until others point it out i never even noticed.

Dave

[Marky L]

16 minutes ago, dmccombe7 said:

Think Trevor Bolder once commented that Bowie almost always used the first take in the studio because he liked the spontanuity of it more. On a lot of the songs they didn't get much chance to rehearse either. Almost like a semi-structured jam session.

Have to say its one of the things i like about his earlier albums. Its not all perfect but i never gave it a second thought about there being mistakes. Funny how some of us pick up on these things more than others. Until others point it out i never even noticed.

Dave

Fascinating! Just what I had thought. The vocals are mixed too low in Watch That Man too. I love little mistakes and such like, it's extra colour and I feel it gives me hope!

[dmccombe7]

6 minutes ago, Marky L said:

Fascinating! Just what I had thought. The vocals are mixed too low in Watch That Man too. I love little mistakes and such like, it's extra colour and I feel it gives me hope!

Makes it more real for me. Even better on live albums. Rush never did overwrites on their early live albums. The mistakes were included and stated as such on the album cover. Not sure if they continued to do that. Unlike Thin Lizzy Live and Dangerous which i think only had the drums as the only original live part. (i could stand to be corrected on that tho)

Dave

[bass_dinger]

Paul McCartney and Wings, C Moon.  Paul misses his vocal cue and says "Was that the intro?  I should have been in . . ".

Paul McCartney & Wings - C Moon [High Quality] - YouTube

 

 

[Stub Mandrel]

1 hour ago, bass_dinger said:

Paul McCartney & Wings - C Moon [High Quality] - YouTube

You can't have 'c-moon' and 'high quality' in the same sentence! It's drivel!

[dmccombe7]

5 minutes ago, Stub Mandrel said:

You can't have 'c-moon' and 'high quality' in the same sentence! It's drivel!

I quite liked it when it came out. Was just a catchy wee tune.

[dodge_bass]

First bar of the first chorus of Soul Man Duck Dunn carries the verse riff over (works harmonically so he gets away with it).

In Son of a Preacher Man second bar of the middle section (D7) Tommy Cogbill gets briefly ‘jazz’ with a D7/A, followed by D7/Eb before finally finding the D7 at the end of the bar. The bass is so buried in the mix it’s not that audible but it’s there. 

[mowf]

“Steven’s last night in town” by Ben Folds Five. As Ben’s singing the last long note before the band comes back in, you can hear a mobile phone ring in the background followed by a burst of laughter.

[PaulThePlug]

Led Zep, Black Country Woman.

Chatter and Airplane Noise... "No, Leave It"

[Guest]

Sometimes it feels like YouTube exists primarily as a vehicle for ridiculing Lars Ulrich, so this probably needs taking with a pinch of salt, but people out there want you to know that some of the complexities in the drumming on ...And Justice For All are thanks to Lars getting lost, and the cockups felt to be worth keeping, or at least not worth trying to correct.

Edited May 23, 2021 by Ricky Rioli

[BillyBass]

Led Zeppelin: In My Time of Dying

"my dying dying dying....cough   Thats got to be the one hasn't it!"

I think its Bonham that says 'Thats got to be the one hasn't it"

[Woodwind]

On 21/05/2021 at 21:49, AndyTravis said:

‘My life is brilliant…’ at the start of “you’re beautiful” by James blunt, came in a bit early, they left it in.

Is that doubling up/repetition of my life is brilliant a mistake? I had no idea. 

[Woodwind]

On 22/05/2021 at 07:27, Doctor J said:

Bonzo's squeaking bass drum pedal features on a number of songs but is particularly clear on Since I've Been Loving You and The Ocean. Be warned, though, once you hear it, it gets louder every time 🙂

The squeaking bass drum pedal on James Brown's Sex Machine makes the track unlistenable for me.

[Sarah5string]

Best. Thread. Ever.

[Owen]

I used to have a whole spreadsheet of these for Aural Perception at work. I will dig it out.

[Owen]

 

Sting falling on the piano and then laughing at the beginning of Roxanne

This clip plays two phrases from the 2nd verse of Roxanne. Compare the reverb tail at the end of "night" and "right." The first decays naturally and cleanly, the second ends abruptly.

Trevor Bolder screws up, with knobs on, when he goes into the chorus of Gene Genie too early

Bowie

On Hey Jude at 2:58, one of the band says "f'kin' 'ell" under the vocals

'F*ck!' at the beginning of Green Day's 'Good Riddance'.

nose whistle on the intro to Caroline i see you' on James Taylors October Road album

roaring wrong bass note in a KC and the Sunshine band tune .. I think it's in the outro or last verse of Please Don't Go. @3:26

Paperback Writer with only one of the other channels on? Can't recall if it is R or L but you can tell its all on one continuous vocal take cause you can hear Macca snuffling

accident master tape Led Zep III? I think I read that the first few inches of the tape got crinkled up somehow, and they had to iron it flat to get it through the tape heads, resulting in that weird hissing sound at the beginning of "Immigrant Song".

Beautiful Christina Headphone bleed rhythm track on vocals

Cypress Hill Insane in the brain. Listen to drum loop. It comes in "slightly" early every time

Working class hero Lennon Vocal tonality change @ 1:24

Jamie's crying Missed bass note @1:10

Jamie's crying High hats cutting pre-chorus short and anticipating the 2nd chorus by coming out of the double high hats eafly - under the line "Give me, give me a call sometime"

http://www.hometracked.com/2007/08/23/10-recording-bloopers-that-made-the-album/

Adam's Song Blink Tempo speed up @ 1:10ish

Space oddityWeird bass line

All along the watchtower - studio version

Drums all over the place into first vocal

FireFadeout - bass goes into intro again2:59

 

Purple - The mule

Drums change half way through - erased in the final mixing session so new kit new studio

 

Black dog studio version,

Time sig mistake on drums

 

Maggie MayBass line

Stay with me

 

Keys go into ending before song is over

All my lovin3rd verse bass flub

 

Roll over Beethoven Start is really fast

RESPECT live Vocal crashes intro

 

Ticket to ride

Towards end after music break bass comes in on A# instead of A @2:47

 

Armenia. City in the sky

The Who Bass learning changes all the way through

 

Rock and Roll Page last note

Jefferson Starship - With your loveOpening of solo

 

Unforgettable fire - track 4

intro Drums count off too early "Oh flip"

 

I'll say goodbye to love Squall in guitar solo

 

Young man's blues - Live at leads

Rough downbeat from whole band

 

Every picture tells a story Rod Stewart

Early vocal with "I firmly believe

 

Crossroads - Clapton

Solo he loses his place in the bar - ends up playing on 3 instead of one

 

Amy Winehouse You know I'm no good

Poss drop at :16 double snare hits just sitting outside the groove?

 

Pavaroti Panis Angelicus @ 3:24 bang in background

So lonely Bass @ 3:20

I want you back Jackson 5 Flat vox @ 1:13

Tears of a clown Drop @ 2:03 + bass flub @ 2:10

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E2E_RSJAhYU

Jean Genie Bass flub @ 3:07

Methu dal y pwysau Bass flub @0:53

Exam

Alanis Morisette ironic Vocal drop @ 0:20

The Jean Genie Bass@ 3:08

Pavaroti Panis Angelicus @ 3:24 bang in background @3:36 Dom 7 in bass3

Reflections Supremes Drop @ 2:29 + 2:39

Your love has lifted me higher Guitar out of tune

Soul Man Bass misses chorus @ 0:34

Allman bros live One way out Pile up @ 3:22

So lonely Bass @ 2:48

New dawn fades Joy division Drums @ 2:19

Come on Eileen Save Ferris Drums drop in @ 43

Sex machine Bass drum squeak in intro11

Polythene Pam bass swoop up @ 0:4412

Can't you hear me knocking Bass flat in intro + Guitar @ 5:3513

September Earth Wind + Fire Bass octaves @ 0:1514

Can't you hear me knocking Bass flat in intro15

Boston Let me take you home tonight  - Guitar unexpected Dom 7th @ 3:24

Mistakes Closer Corinne Bailey Rae @3:35

Mistakes Give it away - bass @ 3:35

Jeff Buckley - So real @ 2:45

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-v6ML2DsBfA&feature=fvwrelLoudness

Goodbye to love drop @ 0:32

Don't change your plans drop @ 3:49

You've got a friend Carol King Bass sharp@ 1:49

Precious - Esperanza Spalding - lots o edits at beginning

Street Life Vocal Edit Who you think you are03:40

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=youYairWMFM

https://www.treblezine.com/27339-10-great-songs-with-mistakes/

http://www.prefixmag.com/features/10-mistakes-werent-edited-iconic-songs/204790/

https://sonicscoop.com/2014/11/06/10-mistakes-intentionally-left-in-classic-recordings/

http://www.openculture.com/2017/08/when-mistakesstudio-glitches-give-famous-songs-their-personality.html

http://www.collegehumor.com/post/6997297/production-glitch-music-errors-blooper-subreddit

Edited May 24, 2021 by owen

[Supernaut]

On 22/05/2021 at 01:27, MacDaddy said:

Guns n Roses - Don't Cry

Terrible misfret 4 seconds in.

 

 

That's not a misfret... this is a misfret! 

 

[MacDaddy]

2 minutes ago, Supernaut said:

That's not a misfret... this is a misfret! 

 

Crivens! 😬

[bass_dinger]

Bob Dylan's Hurricane 

Bob Dylan - Hurricane (Audio) - YouTube

The percussion is not locked in with the guitar at 3'58".  And, icing on the cake, the bass is totally out of time from 6'00".  

 

 

 

[dmccombe7]

59 minutes ago, owen said:

 

Sting falling on the piano and then laughing at the beginning of Roxanne

This clip plays two phrases from the 2nd verse of Roxanne. Compare the reverb tail at the end of "night" and "right." The first decays naturally and cleanly, the second ends abruptly.

Trevor Bolder screws up, with knobs on, when he goes into the chorus of Gene Genie too early

Bowie

On Hey Jude at 2:58, one of the band says "f'kin' 'ell" under the vocals

'F*ck!' at the beginning of Green Day's 'Good Riddance'.

nose whistle on the intro to Caroline i see you' on James Taylors October Road album

roaring wrong bass note in a KC and the Sunshine band tune .. I think it's in the outro or last verse of Please Don't Go. @3:26

Paperback Writer with only one of the other channels on? Can't recall if it is R or L but you can tell its all on one continuous vocal take cause you can hear Macca snuffling

accident master tape Led Zep III? I think I read that the first few inches of the tape got crinkled up somehow, and they had to iron it flat to get it through the tape heads, resulting in that weird hissing sound at the beginning of "Immigrant Song".

Beautiful Christina Headphone bleed rhythm track on vocals

Cypress Hill Insane in the brain. Listen to drum loop. It comes in "slightly" early every time

Working class hero Lennon Vocal tonality change @ 1:24

Jamie's crying Missed bass note @1:10

Jamie's crying High hats cutting pre-chorus short and anticipating the 2nd chorus by coming out of the double high hats eafly - under the line "Give me, give me a call sometime"

http://www.hometracked.com/2007/08/23/10-recording-bloopers-that-made-the-album/

Adam's Song Blink Tempo speed up @ 1:10ish

Space oddityWeird bass line

All along the watchtower - studio version

Drums all over the place into first vocal

FireFadeout - bass goes into intro again2:59

 

Purple - The mule

Drums change half way through - erased in the final mixing session so new kit new studio

 

Black dog studio version,

Time sig mistake on drums

 

Maggie MayBass line

Stay with me

 

Keys go into ending before song is over

All my lovin3rd verse bass flub

 

Roll over Beethoven Start is really fast

RESPECT live Vocal crashes intro

 

Ticket to ride

Towards end after music break bass comes in on A# instead of A @2:47

 

Armenia. City in the sky

The Who Bass learning changes all the way through

 

Rock and Roll Page last note

Jefferson Starship - With your loveOpening of solo

 

Unforgettable fire - track 4

intro Drums count off too early "Oh flip"

 

I'll say goodbye to love Squall in guitar solo

 

Young man's blues - Live at leads

Rough downbeat from whole band

 

Every picture tells a story Rod Stewart

Early vocal with "I firmly believe

 

Crossroads - Clapton

Solo he loses his place in the bar - ends up playing on 3 instead of one

 

Amy Winehouse You know I'm no good

Poss drop at :16 double snare hits just sitting outside the groove?

 

Pavaroti Panis Angelicus @ 3:24 bang in background

So lonely Bass @ 3:20

I want you back Jackson 5 Flat vox @ 1:13

Tears of a clown Drop @ 2:03 + bass flub @ 2:10

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E2E_RSJAhYU

Jean Genie Bass flub @ 3:07

Methu dal y pwysau Bass flub @0:53

Exam

Alanis Morisette ironic Vocal drop @ 0:20

The Jean Genie Bass@ 3:08

Pavaroti Panis Angelicus @ 3:24 bang in background @3:36 Dom 7 in bass3

Reflections Supremes Drop @ 2:29 + 2:39

Your love has lifted me higher Guitar out of tune

Soul Man Bass misses chorus @ 0:34

Allman bros live One way out Pile up @ 3:22

So lonely Bass @ 2:48

New dawn fades Joy division Drums @ 2:19

Come on Eileen Save Ferris Drums drop in @ 43

Sex machine Bass drum squeak in intro11

Polythene Pam bass swoop up @ 0:4412

Can't you hear me knocking Bass flat in intro + Guitar @ 5:3513

September Earth Wind + Fire Bass octaves @ 0:1514

Can't you hear me knocking Bass flat in intro15

Boston Let me take you home tonight  - Guitar unexpected Dom 7th @ 3:24

Mistakes Closer Corinne Bailey Rae @3:35

Mistakes Give it away - bass @ 3:35

Jeff Buckley - So real @ 2:45

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-v6ML2DsBfA&feature=fvwrelLoudness

Goodbye to love drop @ 0:32

Don't change your plans drop @ 3:49

You've got a friend Carol King Bass sharp@ 1:49

Precious - Esperanza Spalding - lots o edits at beginning

Street Life Vocal Edit Who you think you are03:40

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=youYairWMFM

https://www.treblezine.com/27339-10-great-songs-with-mistakes/

http://www.prefixmag.com/features/10-mistakes-werent-edited-iconic-songs/204790/

https://sonicscoop.com/2014/11/06/10-mistakes-intentionally-left-in-classic-recordings/

http://www.openculture.com/2017/08/when-mistakesstudio-glitches-give-famous-songs-their-personality.html

http://www.collegehumor.com/post/6997297/production-glitch-music-errors-blooper-subreddit

Brilliant list. Just listened to Jean Genie mistake at 3:07. Never really noticed that one before but Trev def makes quite a few "jazz versions" of the songs.

Gonna have some fun going thru this list. 

Cheers

Dave

[Grahambythesea]

The Hollies - that dreadful out of tune wail which I think is supposed to be harmonica at the beginning of He Ain’t Heavy.

Elvis Presley - Live in Las Vegas (I think), he’s introducing the band and forgets the name of one the backing singers.  He has rather a lot of them so may be forgiven for not remembering, or may be it’s too many cheeseburgers and pills.

[paul_5]

Bon Scott comes in a bar or two early on ‘it’s a long way to the top’ - funny thins is, I don’t hear it on every system, only in good quality headphones.