iamapirate Posted September 26, 2009 Share Posted September 26, 2009 (edited) I've been talking to a lot of record producers/mixers/recorders and the general impression I'm getting is that there is a LOT of post-event stuff that gets recorded and tracked into live albums (ok, duh I knew that already). One of them sarcastically said 'cos we'd never take a studio track and just put a congregation singing behind it haha'. hmm, i understand (especially) if the singing wasn't that great on the night, but I don't like buying live albums now, just doesn't seem... right. Edited September 26, 2009 by iamapirate Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OldGit Posted September 26, 2009 Share Posted September 26, 2009 Gosh No! Really? I wonder about these gigs where you come out and they are selling a CD of that very night's gig .... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wateroftyne Posted September 26, 2009 Share Posted September 26, 2009 Like you say, old news! It's not a recent thing either... The Last Waltz, Eagles Live... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MB1 Posted September 26, 2009 Share Posted September 26, 2009 MB1. ....Is It Live?..or is it Memorex? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OldGit Posted September 26, 2009 Share Posted September 26, 2009 [quote name='MB1' post='609312' date='Sep 26 2009, 03:41 PM']MB1. ....Is It Live?..or is it Memorex? [/quote] or Protools ... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EssentialTension Posted September 26, 2009 Share Posted September 26, 2009 [quote name='wateroftyne' post='609301' date='Sep 26 2009, 03:30 PM']Like you say, old news! It's not a recent thing either... The Last Waltz, Eagles Live...[/quote] Thin Lizzy [i]Live and Dangerous[/i]: all vocals, guitars and bass overdubbed; drums and audience live. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bassassin Posted September 26, 2009 Share Posted September 26, 2009 [quote name='wateroftyne' post='609301' date='Sep 26 2009, 03:30 PM']Like you say, old news! It's not a recent thing either... The Last Waltz, Eagles Live...[/quote] Or Rush's Exit Stage left, which the band refer to as "live-ish". Jon. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EssentialTension Posted September 26, 2009 Share Posted September 26, 2009 So what is the 'most live' live album? I've got to say that I remember [i]Slade Alive[/i] sounded exactly like Slade live. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RhysP Posted September 26, 2009 Share Posted September 26, 2009 [quote name='Bassassin' post='609321' date='Sep 26 2009, 03:50 PM']Or Rush's Exit Stage left, which the band refer to as "live-ish". Jon.[/quote] I'm surprised at that, mainly because the sound quality of that album is bloody awful. Alex Lifeson's guitar is so deeply buried in the mix he may as well not be on there. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
iamapirate Posted September 26, 2009 Author Share Posted September 26, 2009 yeah yeah I knew for quite a while that things were overdubbed. but not to this extent! i always though 'oh I missed a note there, I'll just re-record this chorus', but it's ridiculous the amount of overdubbing. lol at rush 'live-ish' Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
YouMa Posted September 26, 2009 Share Posted September 26, 2009 Even james browns sex machine album,its been going on years,zappa used to do the opposite and paste bits of live recorded guitar solos into studio tracks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OldGit Posted September 26, 2009 Share Posted September 26, 2009 I think an un-improved live album would be pants. You just can't record atmosphere. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
acidbass Posted September 26, 2009 Share Posted September 26, 2009 Frampton Comes Alive is a stellar example of this - great album nonetheless! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RhysP Posted September 26, 2009 Share Posted September 26, 2009 [quote name='OldGit' post='609343' date='Sep 26 2009, 04:19 PM']I think an un-improved live album would be pants. You just can't record atmosphere.[/quote] I completely agree. Would you REALLY want an album to sound like it was recorded at the back of Wembley Arena or the NEC? An unimproved live album would just sound like 99% of bootlegs - absolute sh*te. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wateroftyne Posted September 26, 2009 Share Posted September 26, 2009 [quote name='RhysP' post='609360' date='Sep 26 2009, 04:36 PM']I completely agree. Would you REALLY want an album to sound like it was recorded at the back of Wembley Arena or the NEC? An unimproved live album would just sound like 99% of bootlegs - absolute sh*te.[/quote] A great live album doesn't have to be overdubbed or sound like it was from the back of the NEC. It just needs to be well played, well recorded and well mixed. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chris_b Posted September 26, 2009 Share Posted September 26, 2009 I think live should mean "played live". Post processing the sound has always happened although not to the extent that it does today, but I do disagree with rerecording parts in the studio and calling it "live", cos plainly it isn't!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
whynot Posted September 26, 2009 Share Posted September 26, 2009 My favorite live album is The Who 'Live at Leeds'. Pretty sure no post recording on that as sounds just like them at any gig around that period, but could be wrong. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tonybassplayer Posted September 26, 2009 Share Posted September 26, 2009 [quote name='EssentialTension' post='609323' date='Sep 26 2009, 03:52 PM']So what is the 'most live' live album? I've got to say that I remember [i]Slade Alive[/i] sounded exactly like Slade live.[/quote] Brilliant live album and I am sure that it is "how it was on the night" as there are many bits left in that would probably be taken out these days Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Happy Jack Posted September 26, 2009 Share Posted September 26, 2009 I think a lot depends on whether it's a Live Album only, or also a Video/DVD. What makes The Last Waltz so painful is that you can see what's being played on stage, while hearing something very obviously different through the speakers. If I'd only ever heard the album, I'd think it was great! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chris_b Posted September 26, 2009 Share Posted September 26, 2009 [quote name='EssentialTension' post='609323' date='Sep 26 2009, 03:52 PM']....So what is the 'most live' live album?....[/quote] Roadwork by the Edgar Winter Band. It's raw enough to be completely live and powerful enough to knock your speakers over! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
purpleblob Posted September 26, 2009 Share Posted September 26, 2009 (edited) It's a difficult one to comment on for me (but I will ). At the end of the day I love live albums, I'll always buy live albums in preference to a studio album, but (and here's the hypocrosy of it) I want them to be of the best quality - good mix, good levels, perfect vocals etc. and frankly I don't want to hear the bum notes or whatever. Such a "live" album rarely exists and unless you like your music raw, the sound quality of such albums (whilst pretty damn good nowadays) is not upto the standard of a properly mixed album - so I say keep those "fakes" coming. Greatest live album ever UFO Strangers in the night - and it makes no difference to me if Michael Schenker played the solo on Rock Bottom 100% live or fixed it in the mix or recorded it later. It's still a brilliant album in my view. EDIT: I need a spellchecker ! Edited September 26, 2009 by purpleblob Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dubs Posted September 26, 2009 Share Posted September 26, 2009 If it sounds good then it sounds good. Who cares if a lot is added post if the end result is great? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RAY AGAINST THE MACHINE Posted September 26, 2009 Share Posted September 26, 2009 Judas Priest 'unleashed in the studio' . UFO album is awesome, also scorps,worldwide live. Bizarrely enough ,I think Ted Nugent's Double Live Gonzo is the best album he's done. I used to love Space Ritual by Hawkwind,tho' I'd be wondering if they'd be able to be upright if they did overdub in the studio... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul S Posted September 26, 2009 Share Posted September 26, 2009 Not sure if it was overdubbed but Humble Pie's 'Performance - Rockin' the Filmore' sounds very live. You can hear beer bottles being clanked during quiet bits. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Happy Jack Posted September 26, 2009 Share Posted September 26, 2009 [quote name='Paul S' post='609502' date='Sep 26 2009, 07:30 PM']You can hear beer bottles being clanked during quiet bits.[/quote] It's called "percussion". Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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