semi-related: Perry-era b-vox

[WalrusOct9]

So I dug out the Japan '81 DVD I'd downloaded awhile ago but never got around to watching, and sure enough, all the background vocals were taped. Perry's lead vocals were live, but when they got to the chorus of "Wheel In The Sky," even his main melody line was recorded, and it looked pretty silly when he held the microphone out to the audience and you could still hear his voice.

So my question is...how did they do this in the pre-digital age? Did Steve Smith just have a click track even back then? Or did they take the time to "clean up" the show just for the Japanese TV broadcast? I was just kinda surprised that they were using taped backing vocals way back then. Even my fav. melodic band Toto only started doing that within the last 6-7 years. I just thought it was amusing.

[Red13JoePa]

How do you know they weren't live?

I'll fucking see you guys who wanna talk about the band and its music down in classic rock. The dogmatic proclamations of tapes are becoming too much.

[WalrusOct9]

:lol:

How do you know they weren't live?

Because Jonathan and Steve singing, no matter how good they might be, still cannot sing 3 or 4 different vocal parts by themselves. Also, unless there's some weird technique I don't know about, it's impossible for Steve Perry to sing multiple pitches at the same time.

[Red13JoePa]

So it's your opinion based on what you hear, in other words, right?

[Monker]

Because Jonathan and Steve singing, no matter how good they might be, still cannot sing 3 or 4 different vocal parts by themselves. Also, unless there's some weird technique I don't know about, it's impossible for Steve Perry to sing multiple pitches at the same time.

One thing I always thought was 'weird' was when they sang "Rubicon". There is that bit where three Steve Perry's sing "Opportunity is yours...yours....yours..." From what I remember, and it's been years since I listened to it, that part sounds EXACTLY like the album. I always wondered how they did that.

[*Laura]

There is that bit where three Steve Perry's sing "Opportunity is yours...yours....yours..."
I always wondered how they did that.

I think it's a voice effect.It's called delay,or digital delay.Or it could be voice reverb,or an echo effect on the voice.All these effects were/are used by all the singers in concerts.
Considering that Journey always used the best concert technology of their times,no wonder their sound on stage was almost like in the studio.

[WalrusOct9]

Yeah, they've used delay on vocals for many years...Queen's "Now I'm Here" is the most obvious example.

[Memorex]

There is a Perry interview from when the DVD came out. In it he states that he and the other guys in Journey stood around a microphone after the show and sang some backgrounds to beef it up. During the show, the crowd heard only them. What went to MTV was beefed up a little.

As far as albums (i.e. Rubicon and Troubled Child), lots of layers always. But that's true with any band.

I heard once that infinity was sped up to make the vocals higher. I know DLR's 2nd solo album as sped up for that reason.

[whocares]

it's called a harmonizer. You can split the incoming vocal up to come out and sound like a complete harmony. Even the 85 year old guy that plays his rink-a-dink keyboard at out local fish fry has been using one for years. Perfect (or as perfect as he can get with his sound) 4 part harmony, and only one person singing.

As far as holding the mic out and still hearing his voice, well even I knew back in '86 seeing the ROR tour, that I was hearing Perry singing his own backgrounds. So that doesn't surprise me at all that they MAY have used backing vocals. That's much different that lead "tapes" though.

[Red13JoePa]

Shania, are they your real legs?

[Rockindeano]

You have got to be kidding? The Classic lineup didn't sing any good at all. I have live shows where during such songs as WITS, when the band sang the chorus, "Wheel in the Sky keeps on Turnin'" it sucked, until Perry came back on live again.

Heck, listen to BGTY live from 86. Perry sang lead AND Chorus....Augeri to my knowledge has never done that nor attempted it; and no, that's not a slam. It's no secret Neal and Jon really can't sing. Smith never did. Basically, perry sang every damned thing.

Can youimagine if deen was in the band back then? They quite possibly might still be together. Perry sang 14 yrs worth in 7, because he sang every goddamned thing.

But yes, they had background vocals piped in, no question.

On Rubicon, I have just lsitened and Perry simply says, Yours, yours, yours...no blending, just new words right after another.

[*Laura]

Shania, are they your real legs?

Sure! Do you believe in avatars,13?

[Red13JoePa]

Mmmm, well looking at that particular one hoping they're yours....like Steve Augeri so very eloquently penned, "I believe in you. Believe in me."


Oh, and a preemptive "Shut up" to TNC.