|
Post by Kinkcan on Sept 29, 2008 21:41:00 GMT -5
Yes, very interesting !
|
|
|
Post by lanius on Oct 1, 2008 8:58:38 GMT -5
Well, thanks. If, like me, you're fascinated by this kind of stuff, then you really ought to get the Hinman book -- huge amounts of detail there about their recording sessions and concerts. If you want to know which mixes are available where, Doug Emlen's website is a great resource.
|
|
|
Post by franklima on Oct 21, 2008 9:56:35 GMT -5
don't know if this has been mentioned yet but I just found out the anticipated and scheduled release date for the box set as of right now anyway is set for December 1st/2nd
|
|
donl
Session Man
Posts: 299
|
Post by donl on Oct 21, 2008 18:31:19 GMT -5
is this going to be released in the states or available as an import? amazon uk has it up as a pre order
|
|
|
Post by russellsmith on Nov 18, 2008 16:28:13 GMT -5
NoisyRoom: The recording equipment used by the Kinks varied widely throughout their career. To stick to the Pye albums, their debut was mostly recorded to 3-track; Kinda Kinks and Kontroversy were 1-track; Face to Face was mostly 3-track again; Kelvin Hall, Something Else, and Village Green were generally 4-track; Arthur was 8-track; and Lola and Percy were 16-track. The 1-track recordings can't be released in true stereo, of course, so Kinda Kinks and Kontroversy have only ever been released on CD in mono. (Back in the day there were some hideous-sounding fake-stereo mixes on vinyl.) Their first album and the five albums from Face to Face through Arthur were originally released in both mono and stereo mixes. Starting with Lola only stereo LPs were released, although a few songs were also mixed to mono for singles. I'm not sure what your brother means by "crappy HISSY re-processed for stereo versions." The stereo mixes used on the various CD issues are the original 1960s stereo mixes*, and in general they don't sound any hissier than the mono mixes. Now, the mono mastering done by Castle Essential in 1998 — i.e., the mastering used on the reissues of Pye albums with bonus tracks — was often less hissy than previous stereo CDs of the same material. But that's not because of the mono mixes. It's because Castle used digital noise reduction that removed the tape hiss, but simultaneously removed any natural decay from the guitars and percussion, giving the songs a rinky-dink toy-instrument feel. Your mileage may vary; I prefer the tape hiss. The early stereo mixes often sounded kind of odd — sometimes they threw the lead vocals off into the right channel, sometimes they sounded like mono with a few panning effects. If the multi-tracks survived, then it would indeed be possible to mix new stereo versions, and that's just what was done with the "Johnny Thunder" stereo remix on the Village Green deluxe edition. But most of those multi-tracks, alas, are thought to be destroyed, though "Sunny Afternoon" and a few others probably survive. *Except for "Tin Soldier Man" and "Situation Vacant." The Reprise CD of Something Else uses the original stereo mixes, but all other stereo CDs use 1980s remixes. Nearly... Pye studios 1&2 were equiped as 4 track studios when the Kinks started recording there in 1964. Studio 1 [the large studio] converted to eight track in the first quarter of 1968 and Studio 2 in the spring of 1969. From that point of view the recording equipment was pretty consistent. The Kinks routinely recorded in studio No 2 which was the smaller of the two studios and was located in the basement of ATV House. Its not clear if that was thier choice or Pye's preference. The Kinks rarely used Pye No1. Pye number 2 was described once by Pete Quaife as being claustrophobic. It was pretty standard practice for the Kinks to use four track thus: three tracks in varying options for vocals and instrumentation and the forth track was left free for the mono mixdown, from which the production master was created. It is possible to create a stereo mix from the three tracks, but due to the inherent uneven nature of three tracks is why the some of the early stereo version sound odd. Arthur was the first album recorded in 8 track, considered by most as the first true multi-track format, after which the Kinks decanted to Morgan Studios to use thier 16 track facilities.
Only the production masters in the main survive, I personally don't understand the term the 1980 remixes, remixing in the main is not possible. The 1998 re-issues were A-B'd against the the original vinyl not anything else and they are authentic to those.
To The Bone is Rays original demo not the version recorded for radio syndication.
Stock copies of the box will not come with a T-shirt, but various retailers will no doubt offer extras to tempt buyers.
Kind regards
Russell Smith
|
|
|
Post by no44 on Nov 18, 2008 17:01:45 GMT -5
Thanks for that background, Russ!
Now, can you tell us the address of Pye Studios 1 & 2?
Does the building still exist? Are the studios still functioning?
Have you seen them? Have you been inside?
|
|
|
Post by russellsmith on Nov 18, 2008 17:15:23 GMT -5
ATV House was sited in Cumberland Place not far from Marble Arch - hence the name of the Marble Arch label. Those of you that read my liner notes to on the Marble Arch box set will have already twigged to that. It was quite a complex "in it's day" not only did it house two state of the art recording studios it included television studios as it was the home of ATV.
Contary to popular belief [certainly No1 studio] was advanced for its time converting to 8 track shortly after Abbey Road.
The building still exists, I seem to recall reading it has been converted to resturant/hotel complex now.
Kind regards
Russell Smith
|
|
|
Post by franklima on Nov 18, 2008 17:25:46 GMT -5
Russell, Glad to have to over here on this forum. Are you going to be in Providence with Doug or any shows coming up?
|
|
|
Post by russellsmith on Nov 18, 2008 17:37:42 GMT -5
Russell, Glad to have to over here on this forum. Are you going to be in Providence with Doug or any shows coming up? I wish, I will be lucky to get as far west as Oldham in the next few weeks. Given I live in the Western fringes of the Yorks Pennines. kind regards Russell Smith
|
|
|
Post by franklima on Nov 18, 2008 17:44:22 GMT -5
So is the demo from this cd the same one on the box set The Guardian KINKS 'to the bone 'radio edits' CD. The disc has 3 versions of 'to the bone'. 1.) Single Edit 2.) LP version 3.) the Ray Davies demo on the back of the jewel case wrapper reads; This special collection of edits for radio only highlights versions of the new Kinks single TO THE BONE, and includes an acoustic remix by Ray Davies. First two tracks are mixed by Bob Clearmountain The third track is remixed by Ray Davies. Guardian Records - 7087 6 10080 2 9 For Promotional Use Only Not for resale Made and distributed in the USA
|
|
|
Post by HollyH on Nov 19, 2008 15:16:19 GMT -5
Great information, Russell, I love learning all this stuff. Somehow it's very apt that the Kinks would have been sent down to claustrophobic little Studio #2, isn't it?
|
|
|
Post by franklima on Nov 19, 2008 15:23:31 GMT -5
|
|
|
Post by russellsmith on Nov 20, 2008 7:23:23 GMT -5
Great information, Russell, I love learning all this stuff. Somehow it's very apt that the Kinks would have been sent down to claustrophobic little Studio #2, isn't it? As I said I don't know if No2 was a preference of the Kinks or the label. It could be the Kinks prefered the intimate atmosphere of the smaller studio. I however, suspect that No1 because of its size and good facilities was in demand - a lot of soundtrack material was recorded there over the years - and no doubt it was a good stream of revenue for Pye. Kind regards Russell Smith
|
|
|
Post by Smiley on Nov 20, 2008 10:16:15 GMT -5
Thank you Russell for all the great info! Smiley ;D
|
|
|
Post by franklima on Nov 20, 2008 10:56:46 GMT -5
|
|