happy together

[heatmiser]

Hey,

I have finished a humble reinterpretation of the Turtles' classic Happy Together and would love to get some feedback (on anything) - particularly the vocal performance and the mix itself.

I feel like at least a couple of the falsetto notes at the end of the verses are mildly embarrassing, and the first note of the chorus often comes in flat while I struggle to bring it up to pitch...I kinda want to know how bad this is.

The recording and mix is on a tascam 988 8 track cassette with dynamic mics and various guitar effect pedals. I changed the rhythm section substantially, tried to retain the basic melody, but I did ditch the coda in favor of a jam based on the melody of the chorus.

http://www.soundclick.com/bands/page_songInfo.cfm?bandID=660667&songID=6237237

 

[chrisharris]

That was a cool interpretation. I'll leave the mix stuff to others, but man, if there's any way you can ball up and just sing the chorus up an octave....DO THAT!!!! It's what gives the original a weird intensity in a pretty mellow tune; he's on the edge of losing it. SCREAM IT.



Nice job otherwise.

 

[heatmiser]

thanks chris...

i'll have to check into the whole balling up thing, but i'm pretty sure i can't go up an octave...i didn't try too much before settling on the lower register, so maybe i'll try again...

 

[Acoustic-Fury]

I thought the vocals came through really nice, were on key and had a distinct style...and the little solo riff you started going into around the 4 minute mark was real nice.

 

[SnakeDog5050]

Definitely a different vibe from the original.. which always gives me a thumbs up for a cover if it's still good. I dig the effects of the staccato echoing guitar part behind your vocals. The vox flow well. For the chorus, I do think you should add up a backup vocal part on top of what you have (an octave higher if possible)... the solo section that closes out the song is really good, a nice vibe to that throughout, kinda jammy and fun. Cool work man

 

[A Reel Person]

I

like

it.....

 

[propman]

GOOD! You know what would be cool, I like it just the way it is, but if you wanted to go up an octave, leave the lower, and dub over that. That may sound cool, but leave the bah bahs lower, because that just has a really cool vibe for me.

 

[dementedchord]

holy flo and eddie batman...

 

[patlang12]

good version, I like it.

 

[mwthompson]

Haha, cool. I like it. It sounds sarcastic, like you're rolling your eyes the whole time you're singing it... to a bitchy girlfriend...

 

[heatmiser]

Definitely a different vibe from the original.. which always gives me a thumbs up for a cover if it's still good. I dig the effects of the staccato echoing guitar part behind your vocals. The vox flow well. For the chorus, I do think you should add up a backup vocal part on top of what you have (an octave higher if possible)... the solo section that closes out the song is really good, a nice vibe to that throughout, kinda jammy and fun. Cool work man

Thanks Dog! That is vote number two for higher vocal part on the chorus...hmmm. I'm glad you liked the jam at the end. It is kind of long, but its the only part that is really my own, so much appreciated

I thought the vocals came through really nice, were on key and had a distinct style...and the little solo riff you started going into around the 4 minute mark was real nice.

Thanks for listening Fury...this is encouraging as I really thought pitchy vocals was going to be the big criticism here, but maybe I got it more or less right this time...

like

it.....

Thanks Dave. You, above all else, must recognize my typo in the op. It is a 688, not a 988 (for those of you keeping score at home).

GOOD! You know what would be cool, I like it just the way it is, but if you wanted to go up an octave, leave the lower, and dub over that. That may sound cool, but leave the bah bahs lower, because that just has a really cool vibe for me.

Thanks much propman. That makes three similar suggestions for the vocals on the chorus...perhaps there is something to this...

holy flo and eddie batman...

Yes, I love some of their contributions to the Mothers. They do this tune on a Fillmore Live album which is a pretty crazy version.

 

[heatmiser]

good version, I like it.

Thanks Patlang!

Haha, cool. I like it. It sounds sarcastic, like you're rolling your eyes the whole time you're singing it... to a bitchy girlfriend...

Excellent observation...I am generally very sarcastic, but didn't mean to impart any sarcasm while recording this tune. I hope this doesn't represent how I subconciously feel about my wife!...

that bitch!

...oh man, did I just write that??

 

[A Reel Person]

Thanks Dave. You, above all else, must recognize my typo in the op. It is a 688, not a 988 (for those of you keeping score at home).

Yeah, of course. I remember you from previously. I was gonna say this version sounds a lot like Black Sabbath's The Wizard!!! Heh.

Speaking of which, did you hear my 488mkII demos?...

 

[rayc]

A good reinterpretation.
They were a weird band as subsequent Bolan, Zappa, Flo & Eddie work demonstarted.
Twists & perversions sprinkle the songs.
I'm still trying to get hold of their long lost concept album - apparently very psychedelic in it's dada/surrealist approach to playing all the bands in a band comp.
If you can manage the upper register for the chorus it'd blend with the current level to be a monster.
Well done.

 

[A Reel Person]

I think...

your mixes show the 688 in good light, especially this one.

 

[Monkey Allen]

Agree about upper register for chorus....very good....nice work

 

[heatmiser]

Yeah, of course. I remember you from previously. I was gonna say this version sounds a lot like Black Sabbath's The Wizard!!! Heh.

Speaking of which, did you hear my 488mkII demos?...

I still say that riff is pretty similar to one of the ones from the verses in the wizard. just slowed down and with a totally different distortion.

I don't know that I have heard your 8-track stuff. I have listened to a ton of your 4 track recordings. I will check your site...i'm guessing they'll be ramones, beatles, alice cooper or kinks tunes...

your mixes show the 688 in good light, especially this one.

Thank you. that is encouraging...especially from a portastudio expert such as yourself...you must have a least one 688...? no mp3s though?

 

[heatmiser]

A good reinterpretation.
They were a weird band as subsequent Bolan, Zappa, Flo & Eddie work demonstarted.
Twists & perversions sprinkle the songs.
I'm still trying to get hold of their long lost concept album - apparently very psychedelic in it's dada/surrealist approach to playing all the bands in a band comp.
If you can manage the upper register for the chorus it'd blend with the current level to be a monster.
Well done.

Thanks rayc!...yes, the live filmore '71 album is nothing if not perverse.

Agree about upper register for chorus....very good....nice work

Thank you Monkey Allen! Ok, so there is consensus on the chorus...i've had sinus/cold thing for weeks...so maybe when and if my head clears up i'll revisit this and try to overdub one more part on the chorus.

btw- i finally burned a disc of some soundclick stuff by people from this forum and it has that song you did with True and the mellow one...come on i think?..anyway, they sound absolutely great on the stereo compared to the pc...very full...love those tunes.

Anyone hear any other issues with the performance or the mix that i could work on?

 

[A Reel Person]

I still say that riff is pretty similar to one of the ones from the verses in the wizard. just slowed down and with a totally different distortion.

Then sue e'one who used the E and F chord!

I don't know that I have heard your 8-track stuff. I have listened to a ton of your 4 track recordings. I will check your site...

Thanks! I will too!

i'm guessing they'll be ramones, beatles, alice cooper or kinks tunes...

Naaaaaaaawwwwwwww!!!!!!!!

Thank you. that is encouraging...especially from a portastudio expert such as yourself...you must have a least one 688...? no mp3s though?

Ah yes, but of course! My 688 productions are all as yet TBD!!! I thought I'd start small, (644!)

 

[A Reel Person]

Even the 688 and 644 are Happy Together,...

in my closet!............