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Volume #0165 October 14, 1998
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"Wide Dynamic Range"
Subject: compression
Sent: 10/13/98 9:13 am
Received: 10/14/98 1:18 am
From: Marty Rudnick, mrudnXXXX@XXXro.com
To: Spectropop List, spectroXXXX@XXXties.com
john rausch, jXXXX@XXXnet wrote:
>
> all this talk about tape compression...
> can someone please explain what "compression" is ?
> I have a vague idea but would like someone's professional opinion.
> thanks
> jonr
Marty sez:
Compression is in effect squeezing the dynamic range of the
program material such that it is at a uniform volume. Best
examples of compression? AM Radio and/or The Raspberries' first
album....
It also has a net effect of making the program material seem
louder -- more "in your face"
The opposite is usually called "Wide Dynamic Range", and an
example might be a proper classical recording where you can easily
discern and "feel" the difference between soft quiet passages and
thunderous crescendos.
/Marty
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Subject: Re: compression
Sent: 10/13/98 11:49 am
Received: 10/14/98 1:18 am
From: Marc Wielage, XXXX@XXXtrax.com
To: Spectropop List, spectroXXXX@XXXties.com
John Rausch <jXXXX@XXXnet> asked on the Spectropop List:
>all this talk about tape compression...
>can someone please explain what "compression" is ?
>I have a vague idea but would like someone's professional opinion.
----------------<snip>----------------
Well, as a working recording engineer in LA, I'll give it a try
[even though my expertise is more in video than in audio].
In a superficial way, "compression" is just a fancy way of saying
"controlled volume," or at least controlling the _dynamic range_ -
the relative loudness and softness of the recording.
A COMPRESSOR typically brings up the level of quiet sounds, and
then brings _down_ the level of very loud sounds. Different
adjustments yield different results, some subtle, some not. To
give you an example of an extremely-compressed recording, listen
to "Any Way You Want It" by The Dave Clark Five. The whole thing
sounds loud, distorted, and grossly-compressed, from start to finish
-- but that sound probably contributed to making the song a hit.
There's also a LIMITER, which is a device used to prevent only the
loud sounds from getting too loud. Many limiters combine
compression circuits in the same box, and different kinds of
limiter/compressors can sound very different from other devices.
For example, some engineers and producers love the sound of old
1960s-era tube-type compressors for certain vocals, feeling it
adds a kind of "warmth" and texture to the sound quality that you
can't get any other way. Overused, you can hear certain kinds of
limiters doing their job; as an example, listen to the 1972
Raspberries' hit "Go All the Way," where the limiter "pumps" the
volume up and down throughout the recording. (Great song, BTW.)
Without any limiting or compression, you run the risk of winding
up with a recording that has an excessively wide dynamic range.
This can happen with movie soundtracks, where the audience has to
strain their ears to hear the dialog, but then they get blown out
of the room when the music jumps in or if there's a loud explosion.
And as far as 1960s music is concerned, if you hear the flat,
uncompressed studio tape without any compression, it can have a
drastic effect on the sound you might remember hearing on vinyl.
Compressors and limiters were standard equipment in many
record-cutting lathes of that era, because the equipment wasn't
capable of cutting loud or deep-bass grooves very well.
--MFW
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Subject: Re: Sunshine Company
Sent: 10/13/98 11:38 pm
Received: 10/14/98 1:18 am
From: David Bash, BashXXXX@XXXom
To: Spectropop List, spectroXXXX@XXXties.com
<< Another record I found but somehow didn't end up buying (it's not
easy having the memory of a goldfish) was one with The Sunshine
Company - did I miss something great? It's the only time I've seen
one of their LPs.....
Tobias>>
Hi Tobias,
The Sunshine Company had three albums of good to excellent "soft
pop" in the late '60s. Based upon my impressions of your taste,
you should probably pick up all of them. I'm hoping that someone
will one day issue a solid CD compilation of Sunshine Company
material. Varese would be a good bet, except for the fact that The
Sunshine Company had no big hits the label could use as a selling
point. Possibly Sundazed, but the wimp factor may be too high for
them (yes, I know about The Yellow Balloon but that album has
hipness factor among collectors). Perhaps a Japanese label? Or
perhaps Revola? :-)
--
Spectropop Rules!!!!!
Take Care,
David
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Subject: Lesley Gore's Backup Singers
Sent: 10/13/98 10:13 am
Received: 10/14/98 1:18 am
From: CLAUDIA CUNNINGHAM, TPXXXX@XXX.net
To: Spectropop List, SpectroXXXX@XXXties.com
One of my favorite things about Lesley's great hits is her
excellent pick of background singers...mostly girls. Interesting
that Ellie Greenwich sang backup on most of her albums. Does
anyone else know which singers, by name, she used ...especially on
"Look of Love" which still gives me chills after thirty plus years.
The vocals are lush and full and completely compliment Lesley's
unique style without drowning her out...a great musical marriage.
I always thought Bobby Rydell's girl backups were tops but
Lesley's are right up there with the best of them. And, while
we're on the subject, did her song writer brother Mike ever sing
background on any of her tunes? I did detect some male voices on
"Sunshine Lollipops and Roses."
Cheers...Claudia
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Subject: Lesley stereo
Sent: 10/13/98 1:00 pm
Received: 10/14/98 1:18 am
From: Ron Bierma, ELRONXXXX@XXXom
To: Spectropop List, spectroXXXX@XXXties.com
In a message dated 10/8/98 6:50:11 PM, you wrote:
<<Speaking of "Leader" & stereo, has anyone found a stereo copy of
Lesley Gore's "Look of Love" in the "single-mix" form? >>
both dubbed & undubbed versions appear on the Bear Family Box-both
in stereo-back to back!! 1-2 punch...RB
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Subject: RE: MOJO's Top Singers
Sent: 10/13/98 12:58 pm
Received: 10/14/98 1:18 am
From: Stuart Kazanow, milesXXXX@XXX.net
To: Spectropop List, spectroXXXX@XXXties.com
>Mojo Magazine's latest issue has it's 100 greatest singers of all
>time as voted by a number of rock musicians (Brian Wilson, Robert
>Plant, Bobby Womack, Pat Boone, etc.) The Top Ten are:
>
>1) Aretha Franklin
>2) Frank Sinatra
>3) Ray Charles
>4) John Lennon
>5) Billie Holiday
>6) Marvin Gaye
>7) Elvis Presley
>8) Stevie Wonder
>9) Sam Cooke
>10) Otis Redding
>
>11-15
>
>Bob Dylan
>
>Third: Bob Dylan the singer? Give me a break. As one researcher
>said: You have to be a lead edge baby boomer to get this joke. A
>GREAT songwriter. As a singer, yeah, placing him above Sarah
>Vaughan makes sense.
I was going to write about this on another list a few days ago in
regards to E. Costello, but now seems as good a time as any.
People have a really bad habit of underestimating Dylan's vocal
prowess. Seems that people mistake the ability to sing with the
ability to make clear tones.
The true art of singing is in delivering the emotional impact of a
song. Many singers can hit the notes but still be mediocre singers
(Mariah Carey and Celine Dion come to mind). They are more
interested in vocal pyrotechnics than truly selling a song. Other
singers can have mediocre voices, but surely deliver the goods. For
instance, give a good listen to current recordings by Tony Bennett.
The man's voice isn't that great anymore, but hell if he can't sell
a song. Much better than any later year Sinatra.
While Dylan's voice is not "clean," he can still sell the songs.
In fact, outside of Hendrix's take on "All Along the Watchtower,"
I would have trouble naming one artist who has even done justice
to Dylan's lyrics besides himself. Listen to "Positively 4th
Street." No one has ever been cut down so viciously in popular
music as the subject of this song by Dylan. Flo and Eddie may
sound vocally better, but damn, did they miss the boat on "It
Ain't Me, Babe." And despite how much I like some of the Byrds'
interpretations, they never really hold a candle to the originals.
It is probably said best by Paul Evans, in the Rolling Stone
Record Guide:
"...he employed words provocatively, often cryptically, and with a
surreal, dreamlike power. And those words served a range of emotion
- irony, prophecy, anger, anxiety and private jubilation- that had
by and large gone unspoken in mainstream pop. Fittingly, the voice
delivering the new language was a startling one- absolutely
unschooled, Dylan's singing struck some of the radio-ears of his
moment as ugly or funny, but as an interpretive vehicle it soon
became understood as a revelation: Dylan sang with the immediacy
of talking, of sharing secrets and conveying intimate truths."
Consider the group of "singers" that Dylan shares company with...
voices that while not pretty, say much more than a million pretty
voices can:
Lou Reed, Tom Waits, Robbie Robertson, Mick Jagger, Elvis Costello, David
Byrne, Captain Beefheart, Roger Waters, Billy Bragg, Bruce
Springstein, Alex Chilton, Mick Jones, Randy Newman, Mark Knopfler.
Not too shabby, IMHO.
-Stuart
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Subject: Lesley's 2Cd set/Cinderellas/Crystals
Sent: 10/13/98 10:14 am
Received: 10/14/98 1:18 am
From: Stos, William, wsXXXX@XXXtyenet.com
To: Spectropop List, spectroXXXX@XXXties.com
I have Lesley's set, and there are many great songs! I have to
agree with Doc, Lesley's version of "Wedding Bell Blues," is
supreme. But I seem to like some of the lesser known original
recordings of some of the songs she did. The Cookies ruled on "The
Old Crowd," and the Shangri-las in my mind own "What's A Girl
Supposed To Do." meanwhile I still feel the Chiffons' "What Am I
Gonna Do With You," blows Lesley right out of the water! Even with
Specs producing it can't compete with my favourite girl group's
harmonies or feeling. Judy Craig sings her heart out on the
Chiffons' cut. Hands down my favourite GG record ever!
I have some questions about the Cinderellas. I have their double
sided flop Baby baby (I Still Love You)b/w Please Don't Wake Me,
but what else is out there. I know groups recorded using that name
during the sixties, but is anything else out there that good?
Finally, I'm friends with Barbara Alston of the Crystals, and I've
told her about this list. Just in case she joins, let's make sure
we hear some good things about the Crystals in upcoming editions!
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