White Man in Hammersmith Palais - HELP!!

[Bubba po]

I've recorded this over the last few days. I'm pretty pleased with it, but there's some falsetto vocal missing that I just can't do. Can anybody oblige?



UPDATE:

NotThatBright supplied me with some vocals, for which I'm very grateful. I remixed the whole thing, added some wood block percussion and a few vocal bits of my own, and now I'm thoroughly pleased with the whole thing.

But what do you guys think?

 

[Greg_L]

Fucking killer. I love that song and you did a great job. I can't help you with no falsettos, but it's kick ass nonetheless.

 

[Bubba po]

Fucking killer. I love that song and you did a great job. I can't help you with no falsettos, but it's kick ass nonetheless.

Thanks, Greg - glad I didn't ruin it! The mix isn't perfectly there yet I don't think, but I'm happy with the first draft.

 

[NotThatBright]

I broke out the "Clash Essentials" record and listened to the entire original for probably the first time in my life- this was always one of the ones I skipped in the past. Where is/are the falsetto part(s) you're talking about? I was going to try and see if the high end of my naturally-girlish voice can pass for a falsetto.

This song doesn't suit my tastes, but going back and forth listening to the original and yours, I can say you did another bang-up job on this one.

 

[Bubba po]

I broke out the "Clash Essentials" record and listened to the entire original for probably the first time in my life- this was always one of the ones I skipped in the past. Where is/are the falsetto part(s) you're talking about? I was going to try and see if the high end of my naturally-girlish voice can pass for a falsetto.

This song doesn't suit my tastes, but going back and forth listening to the original and yours, I can say you did another bang-up job on this one.

Thanks, NTB - the parts I'm on about are the high-pitched "oo-oo-oooh"s on the intro and under the "four tops all night" part. Also on the outro. Im pretty pleased with it, bearing in mind that I NEVER like my vocals. The singing improves after the first verse, though, and sounds quite reasonable for me! I might re-do the first verse tomorrow.

It's a shame you don't like the old Reggie. I'm quite keen on it, done Clash-style.

 

[NotThatBright]

Thanks, NTB - the parts I'm on about are the high-pitched "oo-oo-oooh"s on the intro and under the "four tops all night" part. Also on the outro. Im pretty pleased with it, bearing in mind that I NEVER like my vocals. The singing improves after the first verse, though, and sounds quite reasonable for me! I might re-do the first verse tomorrow.

The vocals are great. They are at least as good as the ones in the original. That statement might sound heretical to fervent Clash fans who believe they're hearing the voice of God when they listen to the original, but since I only like a few of their songs, I believe I can listen to the songs without wearing "Clash-colored glasses", to coin a poor mixed metaphor.

I thought you meant there was an Iron Maiden-type background vocal in there somewhere that I was missing. I am ashamed to say that I hit the "oooohs" easily. If you want a vocal track, let me know. That said, I recommend using me as a last resort, as about 95% of the guys in here have better voices, and I don't want to be the worst thing on your recording.

It's a shame you don't like the old Reggie. I'm quite keen on it, done Clash-style.

You should come with a freaking dictionary. Reggie was my dog when I was a kid, and I loved him. Were you talking about him?

 

[Bubba po]

The vocals are great. They are at least as good as the ones in the original. That statement might sound heretical to fervent Clash fans who believe they're hearing the voice of God when they listen to the original, but since I only like a few of their songs, I believe I can listen to the songs without wearing "Clash-colored glasses", to coin a poor mixed metaphor.

I thought you meant there was an Iron Maiden-type background vocal in there somewhere that I was missing. I am ashamed to say that I hit the "oooohs" easily. If you want a vocal track, let me know. That said, I recommend using me as a last resort, as about 95% of the guys in here have better voices, and I don't want to be the worst thing on your recording.





You should come with a freaking dictionary. Reggie was my dog when I was a kid, and I loved him. Were you talking about him?

Really? thanks NTB! I do like Joe's sore throat vocals a lot, but not enough to base a religion upon it.


Yes, I'll have a vocal track if you're up for it. If it's in tune it'll be fine. It's going to be walled up with guitars and steeped in reverb.

Reggie is just a nickname for Reggae round where I come from.

 

[Bruthish]

Not a big Clash fan, but you did a great job on this song. Funny, I am working on a song right now that has falsetto similar to some of parts of this song. It will be a few days before I present it though for advice. Trying to still clean the cobwebs out of my mind from being out of the game for so long. great job man.

 

[Bubba po]

Not a big Clash fan, but you did a great job on this song. Funny, I am working on a song right now that has falsetto similar to some of parts of this song. It will be a few days before I present it though for advice. Trying to still clean the cobwebs out of my mind from being out of the game for so long. great job man.

Ta very much, Bruthish. I'll look out for your track and will try to help, if it needs it, of course.

 

[Bruthish]

Oh...it WILL need help...guaranteed lol

 

[NotThatBright]

Yes, I'll have a vocal track if you're up for it. If it's in tune it'll be fine. It's going to be walled up with guitars and steeped in reverb.

No problem. If it sucks, say so in the thread so someone else can give you one. I won't be offended. I only get offended by British spelling and slang.

Reggie is just a nickname for Reggae round where I come from.

I guessed that about ten seconds after I hit the send button... but to me, Reggie will always be my great dog!

 

[Bubba po]

No problem. If it sucks, say so in the thread so someone else can give you one. I won't be offended. I only get offended by British spelling and slang.



I guessed that about ten seconds after I hit the send button... but to me, Reggie will always be my great dog!

It's gonna happen!

Just don't send me any guitar tracks.

 

[rayc]

The Clash often had a touch of reggae in their stuff.
I bought into the Clash politically & musically up until Sandanista - at which point their the music needed outside control because they obviously became indulgent rock stars etc. - in other words became what they hated.
They still made good songs - just not consistently.
Good work Bubba.
You've nailed it.
I'd have to go back to my LPs to cross ref the vocals but I thnk you did a grand job.
Strummers levels weren't exactly even but digging through to hear what he said (or what I though he'd said) was part of the fun.
The intro is particularly good.

 

[Bubba po]

The Clash often had a touch of reggae in their stuff.
I bought into the Clash politically & musically up until Sandanista - at which point their the music needed outside control because they obviously became indulgent rock stars etc. - in other words became what they hated.
They still made good songs - just not consistently.
Good work Bubba.
You've nailed it.
I'd have to go back to my LPs to cross ref the vocals but I thnk you did a grand job.
Strummers levels weren't exactly even but digging through to hear what he said (or what I though he'd said) was part of the fun.
The intro is particularly good.

Seriously, Ray, thank you so much. I know you go all the way back to this era the same as I do and any commendation from you is doubly appreciated. I have a later mix that is just waiting for those vocals before it's ready. I'm incredibly touched that you even give my version house-room. As Strummer himself said in interview, it's like some of the Jamaican stuff - it's not until you listen to it the hundredth time that you get what its meant to be saying. And that investment of time and the struggle to understand means everything. If meaning and appreciation is hard-won, then it's something that will stay with you for the rest of your life.

 

[Greg_L]

I hold The Clash in very high regard, and this song is one of their best.

 

[Bubba po]

I hold The Clash in very high regard, and this song is one of their best.

I know you do, Greg. It's a massive source of pride and satisfaction to me that there is a kernel of people who appreciate this stuff on here. Long may it continue.

 

[Greg_L]

I know you do, Greg. It's a massive source of pride and satisfaction to me that there is a kernel of people who appreciate this stuff on here. Long may it continue.

Fuck yeah. You know, the first time I went to London my favorite pastime was finding things in Clash lyrics. Camden Town, Charing Crossroads, West 11, Knightsbridge, Hammersmith Palais, etc. I had no idea what any of it really meant, but I was there in those places The Clash was talking about. Like the first time I ever went to NYC, my very first stop, fresh off the plane, was 53rd and 3rd. Those places are like musical holy ground to me.

 

[Bubba po]

Fuck yeah. You know, the first time I went to London my favorite pastime was finding things in Clash lyrics. Camden Town, Charing Crossroads, West 11, Knightsbridge, Hammersmith Palais, etc. I had no idea what any of it really meant, but I was there in those places The Clash was talking about. Like the first time I ever went to NYC, my very first stop, fresh off the plane, was 53rd and 3rd. Those places are like musical holy ground to me.

Did you get to (the guns of) Brixton?

 

[Greg_L]

Did you get to (the guns of) Brixton?

Lol, no that was too far.

My next trip there will include the Marshall factory. I'm gonna rob the place.

 

[NotThatBright]

I must be a real fucking dummy, I couldn't find a way to send mp3s over PM. Anyway, here are your "oooohs". I never did this before, but I assumed the procedure was to upload your song onto my mixer, then sing over it on different tracks so the timing is right.

It sounds like several voices in the original, so I did it three times on three tracks. I figure there are minute differences in each one that might make it sound like more people, even though I tried to do it the same each time. The tracks are completely raw.

This literally took only a few minutes, so if there's something you want done differently, I could probably swing that. I think this was simple enough that even I couldn't fuck it up, though.