Peer Comments

Hello Elise,

                  

Dave Stewart here. I really enjoyed visiting your blog.                      

You’re blog about The Beatles was well written.  

I believe I enjoyed it as much as you did writing it.

      One of the most remarkable things about this group was their ability to create    

      music that touched the hearts of people around the globe. The lyrical content     

      in each song was always from the heart. Some people throw tracks on a        

      record and call it a day but The Beatles wanted every song on their albums to

      be what they wanted.

       Since I was a boy I wanted to know what artist or engineers did to get the

       that they were using. I used to imagine what my voice would sound like that 

       way. I got some of my answers so in the first two weeks of this class.

       The recording techniques used on both Pet Sounds and Revolver has greatly

       influenced me. I can see in your writing that you enjoy studying different

       artist. Your page is beautiful. It makes me feel young again. Every paragraph

       is constructed perfectly. They were brief and concise. It also makes me think

       of my blog and how I “blabbed” too much. 

  

       Keep up the good work  
      P.S, I did not see a peer comment page so I left it here.

Jason,

         I really enjoyed reading your blog. It was very informative. I was really impressed with your lead paragraph and how it took me to the next. After that

everything just fell into place. The page itself is easy on the eyes.

I don’t think many people know how great an impact on “Black America” this group had. I will discuss this more in my blog but I will say that Kraftwerk influenced Teddy Riley and Teddy Riley gave us “New Jack Swing” which leads us to another genre of music that hasn’t been discussed.

Lastly I would like to encourage you to use the spelling and grammar check more often. I know sometimes we do forget to do that one last check but it’s all for our benefit.

Thanks for sharing.

Good evening Laman. I enjoyed reading your blog about Phil Spector. I think one of the most extraordinary things about Mr. Spector was how harsh he treated those that worked for him.  I’ve come to learn that some situations can only be dealt with by harsh. Some people work better under pressure/stress and I think that was Phil’s way of getting the most out musicians. He isn’t the only one that has used this strange technique.  As we have learn in this short month there were 3 others who used different but yet harsh methods to achieve the sound they were seeking.

I have to say that I was thrown for a loop when he was first charged. Whenever a celebrity is charged with a high profile crime it makes us all wonder. Let’s not forget that Robert Blake was also charged with a crime.

This raised many questions on my behalf. I didn’t know how to take it.  Here we have two Film and music legends both being charged with murder and it left me wondering why do certain famous people always get themselves in trouble.

Phil will always be remembered for his classic sound to the older generation but I think many young people will view him as a “coo-coo.”

Thanks for sharing.

      

The Beatles: Revolver to Legends

Early life for The Beatles was not an easy one. Virtually every record company had turned them down. Their style was confusing and their harmonies didn’t fit rock and roll. Hard work and determination would drive this group into music immortality.

By the 1964 The Beatles were on their way to super stardom. With an appearance on the Ed Sullivan Show under their belts the band “netted four albums in a mere 21 months” as told by the book Sonic Alchemy.

The Beatles had many musical influences but their non- musical influences helped them create beautiful music. They also served as a trust factor. All four Beatles along with George Martin were avid Peter Sellers Fans. In fact, George Martin produced Peter Sellers, which made both parties trust each other. The other influence was drugs. Pot, pills and Lsd became a part of the Beatles diet with Lsd becoming the basis for the song “She Said She Said”

As a producer I was impressed to learn how The Beatles used their studio as an instrument.  The opening count off to Revolver brings the audience into the studio with them and continues through out as your can hear little things happening inside the studio.

There were many innovations in revolver. Like stuffing a wool sweater inside of a bass drum or using a loudspeaker as a microphone to enhance the sound of an instrument. Another innovation can be found in the song “Tomorrow Never Knows” The signal from Ringo’s drums was sent through compressors and valve limiters.

As a listener I found revolver very relaxing. This album really opened up my mind as a fan. I imagined myself being a teen in the 60’s and what this music represented. It represented a rebirth of Rock & Roll. From the vast amounts of instruments being played to the delicate harmonies of John and Paul.

As a professional I view this album as nothing short of genius. The innovative recording techniques and the use adding the studio as an element were superb. Sometimes I wonder how many other artists invited their audience into the studio with them. I know if I were a teen in the 60’s and witnessed this I would have been awe struck. Music is personal and The Beatles were as personal as you can get with this release. I was overly impressed with the making of Eleanor Rigby. With no bass, no drums or guitar the overall sound is magnificent. It feels as if you are sitting in the pit with the orchestra as they play.

In an interview from Paul Ingles Everything was Right: The Beatles’ revolver, David Ganns is quoted saying “the Beatles did indeed give everybody a license to experiment”  “They tried everything and they used unexpected chords and they used unexpected rhythm changes” and  “invented stuff completely out of thin air and they made it all work.”  These innovations and genius not only produced one of the greatest albums ever but it also made the greatest Rock & roll band of all time.

References

The Beach Boys

Tyrannical father  Sonic Alchemy page 53
Religious Experience The Bob Edwards Show Peter Carlin at 4:27

The Beatles
"netted 4 albums in a mere 21 months" taken from the book Sonic Alchemy page 17 paragraph 2
David Gann quotes are taken from Paul Ingles Everything Was Right: The Beatles' Revolver
hr 1 part 1 stating at 6:50

The Velvet Underground
John Cales quote was taken from The Velvet Underground- It Began Here  by Eric Olsen.

What's Going On
Marvin Gaye's brother Frankie quote is from the article  What Went on by Ben Edmonds
http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/2001/dec/08/extract

Dangerous by M. Jackson over 30 million copies sold.  Sales and certification taken from
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dangerous_%28Michael_Jackson_album%29
there are too many countries and listings to list them all but they are here.

Kool Moe Dee's  Go See the Doctor
http://www.billboard.com/song/kool-moe-dee/go-see-the-doctor/333401#/song/kool-moe-dee/go-see-the-doctor/333401

Kraftwerk's Autobahn on Billboard
http://www.billboard.com/song/kraftwerk/autobahn/2767258#/song/kraftwerk/autobahn/2767258

Willie Mitchell "home of the Instrumental quote taken from the book Sonic Alchemy
page 151 paragraph 1.
Al Green's Let's Stay Together on Billboards Hot 100

http://www.billboard.com/search/?keyword=?keyword=al%20green#/artist/al-green/chart-history/4749

All photos provided by

http://media.photobucket.com/image/the%20beatles/LittleLoverChick/beatles.bmp?o=159

http://i303.photobucket.com/albums/nn121/christopherrobinporter/marvin.jpg

http://media.photobucket.com/image/the%20beach%20boys/mustang0210/beach-boys-1.jpg?o=64

http://media.photobucket.com/image/phil%20spector/citybilton/spector1.jpg?o=44

http://media.photobucket.com/image/kraftwerk/3rdeyepanopticon/Artists/kraftwerk74.jpg?o=337

http://media.photobucket.com/image/the%20velvet%20underground%20%20%20nico/AnarchyImp88/Bands/the_velvet_underground_and_nico_in_.png?o=31

http://media.photobucket.com/image/teddy%20riley/jeffre1/riley.jpg?o=5

http://media.photobucket.com/image/sp1200/cearone/SP1200_600x562.jpg?o=6

http://media.photobucket.com/image/willie%20mitchell/djharryd/willie_mitchell_pauls.jpg?o=7

The Beach Boys "Brian Wilson" and Pet Sounds

Throughout their early years the Beach Boys struggled to gain an identity.  They faced many obstacles that gave them they desire to reach their full potential.

Most of the groups’ problems directly came from their manager and father of 3 of the “Boys”.  This relationship was harsh and even violent at times.  The book Sonic Alchemy refers to Murry Wilson as “tyrannical father” and accuses him of using “emotionally tortuous methods” These acts had a profound impact on Brian who was the band leader, arranger, composer and producer. He was in a constant battle with his father/manager over how to write and arrange songs.

This abuse eventually left the Beach Boys without a manager. It also gave them a positive outlook for the future. Early Beach Boys music was developed out of the California teen-age lifestyle. Which were typically surf, girls and cars. This was one of the problems that Brian’s father had with him. He wanted Brian to go outside of his norm and write more songs about love.

At an early age, Brian was influenced by complex harmonies.  The Four Freshman known for their well-blended vocal harmonies had a profound impact on Brian’s life.

In an interview on The Bob Edwards Show, Peter Carlin makes reference to Brian’s feelings after he heard The Four Freshmen sing as “almost a religious experience.”

Brian also had another influence that ultimately made Brian who” He wanted to be.

The legendary Phil Spector and his odd recording techniques peaked Brian’s curiosity.  Brian would often go the studio where Phil would be and he would sit in a corner without saying a word and just watch Phil.

By the time Pet Sounds is released, Brian was able to put certain regrets behind him and make the music he wanted to make. In Pet Sounds Brian delivers an album that

takes rich harmonies from the past and mixes it with a sound from the future.

It was the first album that didn’t have any musical contributions from any of the Beach Boys.

Overall, I think this album was good. The recording techniques and the vocal harmonies made this album what it was. I think that Brian Wilson may have seen his father in Phil.  Phil treated people bad in the studio sort of the way Brian’s dad treated him. But I think the connection was made because being around Phil made Brian feel “free.” He respected Phil for being harsh but also for letting his musicians be free so they can achieve the sound he wanted.  Professionally, I think this album was well crafted. The way Brian manipulated sound made him stand apart from others. Couple that with two very good influences and you have one of the greatest albums of all time.

Introduction

My name is David Stewart and I am student at Fullsail University.  My course of study is Music Production and Engineering. I am a singer/songwriter who has been writing lyrics for 20 yrs.  My primary goal is to write powerful song lyrics for artists for the world to hear.