All Time Great Pro Mixes.

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jeffmaher

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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U7FwLTrY6do&feature=related

Al Stewart 'Time Passages'

I've always loved this tune...so I'm adding it to my repertoire as a solo acoustic piece...very challenging.

This live version on YouTube was my study; and the more I listened to it, the more I appreciated the greatness of the mix...panning, levels, sound: ambience, EQ... [and it's live!]

And, I think if you were to have a case study of how a pop tune should be composed and arranged: themes, groove, musicality, interest, features, texture, backing vox, HOOK EVERYWHERE...alla that stuff...this work would be in the top-ten-all-time best, IMHO

The only nit would be the need for more testosterone in the lead vocal.

The sound is fantastic, and the arrangement is everything I'd like to have in my work.....a real huge 'bag of tricks'.

Wondering if y'all have pro works that you consider all-time-best for composition, arrangement, mix, and sound that you'd mind linking to on this thread. Sort of a reference library.

I know there are reference libraries for strictly recording quality; but this would be a list comprising the best quality of recording AND composition/arrangement. I wouldn't mind hearing your picks...get me into other 'boxes' , according to your tastes....puink. metal, country...whatever. I'd love to listen and hear your comments on why the work is special in both regards...a learning tool...things to shoot for and be aware of as I [we] pursue that 'pro' sound.

Just a thought.
 
i also enjoy Year of The Cat by Al Stewart:):D i'll try to think of some with everything you were talking about but i think there are way too many to list:)
 
OK so this isn't exactly the type of music you're using as an example. But I think this whole album sounds amazing and of course better than the audio on youtube video. You can tell it's a super clean mix though and one of my guitar idols as well :D

[video=youtube;<object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="https://www.youtube.com/v/wm9pNmBFZHw&hl=en_US&fs=1&"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="https://www.youtube.com/v/wm9pNmBFZHw&hl=en_US&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object>]video[/video]
 
YEAH!

That one's way up there..recording/mixing/panning arranging and performance!! And as it played, I could catalogue a dozen or more approaches that were , although used in a a radically different bag from my initial offering, parellel to it.

That's what I'm listening for, and, maybe, trying to preach a little: there are things, across genre, that work in musical creations. Without tweedling over the definitions: cogent movements and themes; accuracy of playing; interest; texture; mix balance re: frequency-band use; re-statement of theme and major hook....yadda. Most important....the guitar-hero vomit was packaged nicely....musical, without the over-the-top 'dig-me'. Taste! Sometimes what a great guitarist leaves out is more important than what's included, right?. I liked the guitarin' a lot. And, especially, I'm left wondering how the guitars R&L were linked...ms delay of a single track panned opposite?? Another identical track played so accurately that is sounds exact?? Really fills the field without clutter. Good drive, without mud.

That was a really well-constructed and recorded tune. TX!

The vocal could use more testosterone....NOT!! :D
 
A decade of hits by Charlie Daniels. I think the mix and sound levels are just about perfect. Amazing sound for the time.
 
jeffmaher said:
YEAH!

That one's way up there..recording/mixing/panning arranging and performance!! And as it played, I could catalogue a dozen or more approaches that were , although used in a a radically different bag from my initial offering, parellel to it.

That's what I'm listening for, and, maybe, trying to preach a little: there are things, across genre, that work in musical creations. Without tweedling over the definitions: cogent movements and themes; accuracy of playing; interest; texture; mix balance re: frequency-band use; re-statement of theme and major hook....yadda. Most important....the guitar-hero vomit was packaged nicely....musical, without the over-the-top 'dig-me'. Taste! Sometimes what a great guitarist leaves out is more important than what's included, right?. I liked the guitarin' a lot. And, especially, I'm left wondering how the guitars R&L were linked...ms delay of a single track panned opposite?? Another identical track played so accurately that is sounds exact?? Really fills the field without clutter. Good drive, without mud.

That was a really well-constructed and recorded tune. TX!

The vocal could use more testosterone....NOT!! :D
Click to expand...

That's Chuck Schuldiner. He's considered by most to be the Father or Godfather of death metal and also the pioneer of it as well. The creator of that sound. Of course the music has gone in every directions since then. Not everyone is going to like it, but Chuck was one of the most flawless live guitar players.
 
This live version on YouTube was my study; and the more I listened to it, the more I appreciated the greatness of the mix...panning, levels, sound: ambience, EQ... [and it's live!]
Click to expand...
The mix does sound good.:) Even on YT.

Done before the Loudness Wars, heh.
 
I'm trying to train my ear...um...i've been listening a lot in order to pay attention to the production of music by artists that I have heard over and over through the years. I've been trying to put aside that I may like the artist or song and just listen, and ask, is this a good production work? I'm not sure if this is the perfect place to examine this question, but maybe it's close?...as in posting something and asking from those of you who are in the know, is this a good mix..good production work?

How about this...dissect..what do you think?
Todd Rundgren, A Dream Goes On Forever

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=avAcAFYzclE

As far as arrangement, I guess, the bridge doesn't seem to be adequately differentiated from the verse...it almost blends too much with the chorus until finally you realize, oh, he just made a change, we're now in the bridge.

Anyway, thoughts?(not on my ramblings, the song/production/mix)
 
hm, what am I doing wrong...how do you embed the youtube player?
 
"How about this...dissect..what do you think?"

Not one of Todd's best, I think. I'm not crazy about the sounds...might be a badly compressed version. The piano sounds distorted n' stuff. It's unusual ...but not something I think reflects suberb arranging instinct....like you said. And there was nothing impactful, to me, about the sounds of the kit, bass, etc. But that might be the compression, too.
 
hi jeff, one thing i've noticed about most of my favorites is that the lead singer is always very distinct or unique sounding. one of my favorite bands is Big Country, if someone said i had to go to a deserted island for the rest of my life and all i could take were a certain number of cd's Big Country would be one of them.

I don't think Big Country could be Big Country without Stuart (i think the lead singers name was Stuart). although, i don't know how he would've faired as well without the great songs, band and production that was with him either.

but really if you think of people like John Cougar Mellencamp and others that stand out, the lead singers are really unique. do you think so too? would any of thier songs have been so popular around the world if they weren't? thanks

(those lucky turds born with it, ugh..... gets me mad sometimes lol
 
Court of the Crimson King has always been a fav for me

Ol Greg Lake singing on this one but the whole album is golden..

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For Al Stuff I prefer The Roads To Moscow from Past Present & Future - EXCEPT for the lousy segue between the beautiful intor guitar & the lovely rest of the piece - I reda thta he was in a hurry to be somewhere else & just did a botch job so he could be gone. Didn't get around to fixing it - not even for the nice mastering to CD.
Balance, EQ, panning, indivudual instruments shine in their own spaces. Terrific work.
He lost me with TYOTCat & subsequqnt albums - & reinforced the division between him & the real world with his last album - a concept piece about WINE!
 
almost everything by Alan Parsons...stuff he did with his project, but also "Dark Side Of The Moon" by Pink Floyd, "Year Of The Cat" by Al Stewart, he also worked on "Abbey Road" by The Beatles... all the stuff he does is quite amazing too, all the mixes are so clear...
 
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TAE:
I found a download of Epitaph that played in stereo.....but it was a live version. I remember this record when it was new....my brother was hooked on the band.....gotta listen in stereo to get a snoutful of it.

Ocean: Never appreciated Al Steward until listening to this YouTube thing. I'd always liked the song...except for the vocal.....but actually workin' it out, listening to the studio-perfect parts playing [he must be a real whip-crackin' taskmaster...like JamesBrown]....and wondering how the heck a squished YouTube mix could still sound that good* made me a fan 40 year after the fact. And that recording is about that old!

*and I'll never blame mp3 or 4 compression for ruining the sound of one of my tracks: A good recording, obviously, can take it without problems....Like "Passages". AND IT FREAKIN' LIVE!!!! Still can't believe what I hear.
 
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