Age Of Aquarius

[AllenM]

So I'm sure you have heard the song by the fifth dimension? Well the intro starts with the orchestra then blends in with the band (thump, th-thump). How does recording a song like this start? Do they listen to a click track? Im so confused about this.

 

[SteveM]

Allen, what is it about it that confuses you? I doubt they used a click track. They usually didn't in the 60's. It was probably well rehearsed and just counted off in the beginning. Great tune!

Actually sounds like they faded in the drums and bass. So they probably originally started together with the strings.

 

[Chilljam]

come on guys, use your imagination!

They could have easily just recorded the orchestral section completely separate then mixed it into the band multitrack tape or just blend the two together (using a mixer) onto the mixdown tape. They did have imaginations back then! They weren't just great musicians.

 

[AllenM]

Well I'd like to do something similar where an orchestra comes first then the music blends in. I'm sure the band started right when the orchestra came in and they maybe just mixed it to their taste. Its beautiful. I think the 5th dimension is my favorite band/singers. I love the harmonies and the time changes!

 

[grimtraveller]

The band probably just set a long groove to which the orchestra played when they did the overdub. The groove would have been longer than needed precisely so that as the orchestra is heard to sound first on the record, the rest of the band can be faded in and it all syncs together because the orchestra played along to the band in the first place.