R/E/P Community

R/E/P => R/E/P Archives => Reason In Audio => Topic started by: maxdimario on December 11, 2005, 06:48:57 PM

Title: best vocal.
Post by: maxdimario on December 11, 2005, 06:48:57 PM
Vocal recording can be very subjective, given the fact that song and vocalist have so much to do with it..

from a personal 'engineering' point of view I am curious to know if any of you have one favourite all-time track which embodies your concept of a 'perfect' vocal recording.

personal opinions, of course.

Title: Re: best vocal.
Post by: Pingu on December 11, 2005, 10:35:22 PM
Show me heaven is one that springs to mind.

Maria Makee
Title: Re: best vocal.
Post by: Tidewater on December 12, 2005, 03:14:45 AM
I haven't bought a copy, and carefully thought of it, but Shania Twain Still the One seemed to be just dumbfoundingly good..

What a dimwit!


M
Title: Re: best vocal.
Post by: Pingu on December 12, 2005, 05:34:43 AM
Dan Hill

Sometimes when we touch.
Title: Re: best vocal.
Post by: mattrussell on December 12, 2005, 01:03:08 PM
seal, human being.  every track is done amazingly well.

Title: Re: best vocal.
Post by: tuchel on January 04, 2006, 10:18:50 AM
The Paul MaCartney vocal on "Let It Be" (from the one generation cleaner Let It Be Naked) sounds perfect to me.
If you haven't bothered to check it out, bother. I've played for hardass musicans who all say the same thing, wow.

Terry
Title: Re: best vocal.
Post by: Eric Rudd on January 04, 2006, 05:43:19 PM
Erik Zobler's engineering on Rachelle Ferrell's song, "Will You Remember Me?" from the album "Individuality."

Not a stitch of verb. Telefunken 251 into a MasteringLab mic pre, if I remember correctly.

Eric
Title: Re: best vocal.
Post by: compasspnt on February 19, 2008, 09:43:39 AM
Anything Sinatra from the Capitol years.
Title: Re: best vocal.
Post by: KungFuLio on March 29, 2008, 12:27:41 AM
84,000 Different Delusions
Shawn Colvin
Title: Re: best vocal.
Post by: Hallams on April 16, 2008, 10:26:59 PM
 This one is a stand out for me. Astrud Gilberto's vocals on The Girl from Ipanema"  album By Stan Getz Tom Jobim, and Jo
Title: Re: best vocal.
Post by: Dominick on April 17, 2008, 07:19:57 AM
Paralyzed by The Legendary Stardust Cowboy
Title: Re: best vocal.
Post by: JDNelson on June 20, 2008, 06:06:32 PM
"Over the Rainbow/Wonderful World" Israel Kamakawawiole
Title: Re: best vocal.
Post by: compasspnt on June 20, 2008, 06:40:59 PM
JDNelson wrote on Fri, 20 June 2008 18:06

"Over the Rainbow/Beautiful World" Israel Kamakawawiole


Nice thought.

Have just been working with that track in a movie, and really enjoying it.
Title: Re: best vocal.
Post by: JDNelson on June 21, 2008, 05:36:16 PM
Thanks, Terry.  There's something very direct about that vocal and that song... like you're plugged into Iz's emotions with a cable or something.  

I picked up an original German vinyl pressing of Humble Pie's "Performance - Rockin' the Fillmore" LP last week.  Listened to it last night for the first time in probably thirty years... I get that same "plugged in" feeling with Steve Marriott's vocals.  I mean he could very well be singing from the telephone book, it's all in the emotions carried in his voice.

Janis was very much like this, too.
Title: Re: best vocal.
Post by: Steve Hudson on June 23, 2008, 05:22:54 PM
"Let Me Love You Tonight" by Harry Connick, Jr., the opening track on the album, "To See You".
Title: Re: best vocal.
Post by: Mike O on July 15, 2008, 09:26:07 PM
At the very top you just get different, not better. Witness some of the greats noted hear. So no single example, but at the last AES in NYC, ATC had a side room set up for auditioning their speakers. I wandered in during the silence prior to them cueing up Joni Mitchell's "Both Sides Now" from the CD/DVD Audio set of the same name recorded at Air by Allen Sides in 2000.

Truly stunning. Especially in the way that the subtle details of the vocal contributes to the emotion of this song. I saw several tears. Seldom has a room at AES been so quiet after that tune ended.

P.S. I bought the set later and in general was disappointed with the rest.
Title: Re: best vocal.
Post by: Fig on July 17, 2008, 01:45:32 PM
maxdimario wrote on Sun, 11 December 2005 17:48



personal opinions, of course.




Most, if not all, of what Seal has done I find to be intimate and realistic.

I also wanna mention the late Jeff Buckley on his fine album Grace.

My $0.02,

Fig
Title: Re: best vocal.
Post by: aamicrophones on July 18, 2008, 03:34:02 AM
Possibly, Joni Mitchell on Blue(C12) and Jennifer Warrens on Bird on a  Wire or anything from Famous Blue Raincoat.  The question is?  Is it the microphone or the performer?  

Dave Thomas

www.aamicrophones.com
Title: Re: best vocal.
Post by: jerrybosun on December 02, 2008, 01:56:10 PM
Along the Joni vain... I am a lover of Riki Lee Jones first two albums vocal
Title: Re: best vocal.
Post by: Kassonica on December 12, 2008, 11:41:22 PM
Jeff Buckley hallelujah is pretty damn good.

Lennon on a day in the life is another.


Title: Re: best vocal.
Post by: Smitty on December 13, 2008, 11:27:14 AM
2000 AD Eryka Badu
Evil Earth Wind & Fire
Title: Re: best vocal.
Post by: garret on December 13, 2008, 11:47:16 PM
Paul's vocal on Oh! Darling.

Title: Re: best vocal.
Post by: jimlongo on December 14, 2008, 02:06:43 PM
Esther Phillips - Home is Where the Hatred Is - From a Whisper to a Scream
Title: Re: best vocal.
Post by: amorris on January 12, 2009, 12:04:46 PM
just a comment on the Jeff Buckley,

incredible performance, shrilly recording. we recorded him in Miami before his death and Grace doesnt even come close to how incredible he was. I really cant listen to it. the performances are stellar though.
Title: Re: best vocal.
Post by: leonardo valvassori on January 13, 2009, 04:38:56 PM
I'm with Terry on the Sinatra.

All or Nothing at All from Strangers in the Night just floors me every time.

Recently, even though it's older, Dave Rietzas' recording of Substitute for Love on Madonnas Ray of Light is an engineering touchstone. I've never 'enjoyed' her singing alot but that track gets an amen. Have to mention Cyndi L's Time After Time;--the sound of that vocal is compelling time after time for me.

Joni M For the Roses. All of it.

Oops, I'm way past One choice.....

Title: Re: best vocal.
Post by: Kassonica on January 18, 2009, 07:30:34 AM
amorris wrote on Tue, 13 January 2009 04:04

just a comment on the Jeff Buckley,

incredible performance, shrilly recording. we recorded him in Miami before his death and Grace doesnt even come close to how incredible he was. I really cant listen to it. the performances are stellar though.


Could you please expand on the recordings?

What songs did you record and his preferences for mics etc.


Much thanks in advance for any info.
Title: Re: best vocal.
Post by: Fig on January 23, 2009, 05:53:06 PM
Kassonica wrote on Sun, 18 January 2009 06:30

amorris wrote on Tue, 13 January 2009 04:04

just a comment on the Jeff Buckley,


Could you please expand on the recordings?

What songs did you record and his preferences for mics etc.


Much thanks in advance for any info.



Yes please!!
Title: Re: best vocal.
Post by: Deuce 225 on January 23, 2009, 07:53:08 PM
From a pure vocal performance standpoint -- the one that stands out for me is Whitney Houston's "I Have Nothing". Artie Garfunkel's "Bridge Over Troubled Waters" is also a standout for me -- again from purely a vocal perspective.

Tim Cochran
Title: Re: best vocal.
Post by: audiohhh on February 27, 2009, 05:44:19 AM
+1 on that
Title: Re: best vocal.
Post by: Strummer on March 12, 2009, 07:28:42 PM
Best?

Too many bests too choose one.

Peter Gabriel singing Red Rain at Live Aid in New Jersey.

Maria McKee Shelter.

Many have already been mentioned.

So which is best?

The one that moves you now I suppose.

Title: Re: best vocal.
Post by: tristanolson on September 06, 2009, 05:27:22 AM
Hai you have the same taste as i have yes it is great touchng song
Title: Re: best vocal.
Post by: wwittman on September 14, 2009, 11:48:50 PM
Lennon on Twist And Shout

McCartney on For No One


Tracy Nelson (with Mother Earth) on Down So Low

Judy Collins on My Father

Johnny Rotten on Anarchy In The UK


and probably my very favourite:

Robin Williamson (the Incredible String Band) on First Girl I loved
Title: Re: best vocal.
Post by: Sean Eldon Qualls on September 17, 2009, 02:52:31 PM
Sonically...I've got a few in mind that many people probably haven't heard.

PERFORMANCE-WISE...almost everything Otis Redding ever did...most notably for me, "Pain In My Heart". I get a SEVERE case of the chills every single time I hear that song.
Title: Re: best vocal.
Post by: seedyunderbelly.com on September 21, 2009, 02:03:12 AM
Songbird  Christe McVie

Shannon Wright

Coward Bettie serveert

One Chord Progression  Redd Kross

Misty Mountain Hop

Keep on Knockin  Little Richard


I too Love Sinatra

Different Drum  

Talk about Love Barbara George

I want to Break Free! Freddie Mercury



So Many good ones




Title: Re: best vocal.
Post by: seedyunderbelly.com on September 21, 2009, 02:34:22 AM
Handle With Care - Traveling Wilburys
Title: Re: best vocal.
Post by: sirfun on December 20, 2009, 10:40:51 PM
The third verse of Honky Tonk Blues by Hank Williams.
Title: Re: best vocal.
Post by: Future_One on February 08, 2010, 08:25:25 AM
Dusty Springfield - Son Of A Preacher Man.
Title: Re: best vocal.
Post by: jonathan jetter on February 18, 2010, 11:18:49 AM
Fiona Apple on "Across the Universe"
Jeff Buckley on "Grace"

im not sure that either of these are technically perfect but both these performances have an energy that is just overwhelming.