Ugo
Group: Members
Posts: 5495
Joined: April 2000 |
 |
Posted: Dec. 03 2002, 09:06 |
 |
Hi everyone. It seems like there has been, during the last few days, some very interesting discussion over what is live and what is not in the TB II and III premiéres. So I'd like to join in [and maybe sparkle further discussion  ] with my own detailed track-by-track list of what I think is live and what I think is not. I use M (= Mimed) for all parts where what you hear does not really match with what you see, but the part was anyway performed live [as long as computer-controlled keyboards and synthesizers may be called 'live' ]; T (= Taped), where the part is coming from a pre-recorded (studio) tape; and S (= Sequenced) where the part is played neither live not from a tape, but from a computer/sequencer. When a part is not listed, it means that I think it's live.
TB II - Edinburgh Castle
(My main source for the following is a video tape I have of the real live performance, as broadcast by the BBC, i.e. before Mike remixed it for the Warner commercial video release.)
1) Sentinel
Drums: S for a bit, then live during the climax.
Handclaps: M/T.
Tubular Bells: M
(Note: The TBs are mimed all the way through, except on [the version I have of] 'The Bell'. See below.]
Vocals: live, except for the breathing which may be M/T.
2) Dark star
Acoustic guitars: At least one of them is T.
On the commercial release, Mike re-played one of the fast guitar parts.
3) Clear light
Everything live; maybe some vocals are added live over a tape.
4) Blue saloon
Guitar duet: It sounds very live on my version. But in the video release both
parts may have been re-played by Mike.
Everything during the honky-tonk part is live.
5) Sunjammer
Acoustic guitars: same as 'Dark star', live over a tape.
6) Red dawn
Everything live. Mike hits a 'wrong' note, i.e. a note not corresponding to what he played on the studio version.
7) The Bell
Guitars: here I have a doubt over the final solo. In the version I have, Mike plays it with a slide, and he hits the final note with a great effort by sliding over the pickups. On the released version, Mike has no slide and he's not shown while playing the final note, so maybe the whole thing was redone later [without Jools Holland  ].
Drums: same as 'Sentinel', live over a sequencer.
Handclaps: all M/T.
TBs: they sound real on the recording I have. On the commercial release, Mike is seen muting with his hand some of the bells, yet the sound is still playing. 
Everything else is live.
8) Weightless
Backward rhythm: T
Sitar-like guitar: maybe T, it's not seen clearly.
Vocals: again, live over a tape.
9) The great plain
Drums in 4/4 section are partly S.
Timpani and cymbals: maybe T.
10) Sunset door
I think everything is live here, as the track is short.
11) Tattoo
Bagpipes and 'Highland drums': live over a tape.
Keyboard accompaniment: S.
12) Altered state
Drums: live. Re-done for the commercial release.
Trombone: maybe M. I don't see a microphone on it.
Vocals: Piltdown Man is very obviously M/T, other vocals are live.
Everything else is live; they switch the key one or two times, which can't be done with tapes.
13) Maya gold
Everything live, except the percussion in the 6/8 ending (T).
14) Moonshine / The Bell (Reprise)
Everyone live, and having a great time. I can't really hear the fiddle.
TB III, Horse Guards Parade, London
1) The source of secrets
Wind and thunder: T.
Glasses (breath melody): M and maybe T, here and elsewhere. They are not even a trigger, as sound and vision don't match.
Piano: live, maybe re-done for the video release.
Glockenspiel synth loop: S.
Drums: Live over a sequencer, throughout the performance.
Final explosion: S, triggered from somewhere.
2) The watchful eye
Breath melody: maybe T, but Mike may have sampled the sound and someone is triggering it on a synth.
3) Jewel in the crown
Breath melody: as above.
Drums: all S.
Ending synth: S.
4) Outcast
Acoustic guitars: T
Drums: live over a tape.
Synth fills: S.
Vocals: T.
5) Serpent dream
Handclaps/Percussion: M/T except for the bodhrán (live).
Rattles: T (or S).
At least one electric rhythm guitar sounds taped to me.
6) The inner child
Children's voices: T.
Glasses/Breath melody: as above.
Wind/Thunder: T.
7) Man in the rain
The acoustic guitar intro sounds taped to me.
Drums: live over a tape/sequencer.
Guitar solo: live, with a beautiful tone switch from the computer(s).
8) The top of the morning
Piano: live, re-done for the video release. Same for the guitar solo.
Synth loop (link to Moonwatch): S.
9) Moonwatch
Synth loop and other synth effects: S.
Cymbal hits: S.
10) Secrets (and Reprise)
Drums and Percussion: live/S.
Glockenspiel synth loop and synth 'beeps': S.
Wobbly synth: M/S.
11) Far above the clouds (and Reprise)
Heartbeat percussion: S.
Drums: live over a sequencer and a tape.
TBs: M (triggered on bells set, only M on Mike's 3 giant bell hits).
Breath melody: as above.
Vocals, birds, church bells: all T.
That's all. You are obviously free to agree or disagree with the above, but please do it by posting here, and, as far as possible, giving reasons for agreeing or disagreeing.
--------------
Ugo C. - a devoted Amarokian
|
