About me
subject appears to be a white male, early 50's, pathologically tall/skinny. brain patterns show evidence of a life in alcohol - first swimming in it then running from it. fingers show wear from years of guitar playing. heart presents slow repair, through writing, from being broken by rock and roll.
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We Need a Bigger Piano, Phil: How Sonny Bono Invented Feedback
Once upon a time, back in the 20th century, there lived a homicidal record producer by the name of Phil Spector. Running his own Philles record label, Spector specialized in teenage girl group mini-symphonies; kinda like Roy Orbisson records on helium. He heard, in mis mind, what he called 'The Wall of Sound'. A typical Spector session would consist of 5 or 6 guitar players 4 or 5 piano players, 3 drummers, multiple percussionists and just about everybody in the building at the time on background vocals and handclaps.
Still, Spector felt the sound was still not huge enough.
Legend has it that during the sessions that resulted in 'Be My Baby', Spectors, and perhap's rock and rolls 3 minute high point, that Spector was frustrated that the sound STILL wasn't big enough.
Enter Sonny Bono. At that time a promotion man for Philles records and as ambitious a rack jobber to ever marry up and into stardom as ever strolled down the pike, was hanging around the studio trying to position himself in such a way as to bask in the great man's glory. At this session he was struck by an idea of Newton vs. Apple proportions.
'Phil', he said - and I paraphrase - ' here's whatch do! Look, ya got what? 7 pianos here. Open the lids on those babies and hear the difference! Ya see, piano's being essential stringed instruments, are prone to what we at the Acoustical Institute call 'sympathetic beatings...." etc. etc.
Basically, Bono was referring to the acoustic phenomenon known as 'transient harmonies'. Dig: 88 keys times, say 7 pianos. Piano 1's 'c' note will be microscopically out of tune w/say, piano #5's. Multiply that, adding the natural tonal variance acheived by 7 piano players pounding out the same simple rhythm and suddenly the air will be filled w/harmony notes that, while heard, are not actually being played.
Acoustic feedback, Brought to you by Sonny Bono into yr radio, yr llife, and as a result, yr history. Legend also has it that when the rough mix of 'Be My Baby' came into the control room Bono wept. Legend also has it that Spector said 'Hear that? That's GOLD coming out of those speakers. So once again it seems that for every Elvis Presley dancing the holy dance there's a Colonel Parker changing money in the temple.
Ii prefer to line my chips up w/the likes of Sonny Bono, who only saw/sees the beauty that results from the mechanics and ain't so focused on the reward.
Authors Note: Social experiment time here at prb. As we all know Jim and I have been having this circlejerk 'debate' for far too long. As a result I am going to boycott responding to him and would like yr help. So from now on, for purposes of pest free writing here at OUR punkrockblues Jim Muglia no longer exists. Thank you. Tim Byrnes/punkrockblues.
Posted by: timbyrnes at 17:38 |
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