Hit Songs where the Original Performance was Filmed

Discussion in 'Music Corner' started by Alert, Apr 22, 2014.

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  1. fourfeathers

    fourfeathers Forum Resident

    Location:
    North America
    They aren't exactly hit songs but on Archives Volume One, there's awesome footage of Neil and the Stray Gators recording 'Words', 'Are You Ready For the Country' and 'Alabama', all off the hit record Harvest. Some of the coolest footage I've ever seen!
     
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  2. Alert

    Alert Forum Resident Thread Starter

    Location:
    Great River, NY
    Is that the version of "Words" that takes up all of side three of "Journey Through the Past?"

    I've often listened to that -- and the long "working" version of "Alabama" from the same album -- appreciating the gloriously grungy and heavy sound of the guitars.

    Wow, I'd like to see that!
     
    Last edited: Apr 23, 2014
  3. fourfeathers

    fourfeathers Forum Resident

    Location:
    North America
    Now that I think about it, there's also footage of the recording of 'A Man Needs A Maid' and 'There's a World' too! That set is a real treasure trove of classic Neil studio footage.
     
  4. Alert

    Alert Forum Resident Thread Starter

    Location:
    Great River, NY
    At first glance I would suspect this to be a "promo" put together after-the-fact and, thus, not film of the actual recording. But it's obvious this was filmed in the studio where the song was recorded (Le Studio in Quebec). So it's possible that this meets the criteria.

    Here's what guitarist Alex Lifeson had to say about his "Tom Sawyer" solo: "I winged it. Honest! I came in, did five takes, then went off and had a cigarette. I'm at my best for the first two takes; after that, I overthink everything and I lose the spark. Actually, the solo you hear is composed together from various takes."

    Unlike "It Was a Very Good Year" and "Alfie" in which complete track after complete track was recorded with the best take being selected for release -- or the live performances ("A Boy Named Sue," etc) -- rock studio songs like "Tom Sawyer" tend to be pieced together from many different studio elements (including overdubs).

    However, if cameras are present and utilized during the recording sessions it's possible to have a filmed version of the recording. In fact, in some instances it will be obvious when the film is actually depicting the recording (example: the banter at the end of "Hey Bulldog").
     
  5. I realise the end result was compiled from several takes (due to engineer/producer Mack introducing the band to the concept of punching in to keep the recordings as fresh as when ideas were first played, mostly during initial jam sessions), but you can see portions of Queen's One Vision being created in the song's music video. Also, there is an extended "making of" clip that shows even more of the group in Musicland Studios, and I suspect Queen Productions have far more than just those recently unearthed bits from the much earlier News Of The World sessions in the vaults yet to be seen as well...
     
  6. DJ LX

    DJ LX Forum Resident

    Location:
    Madison WI
    I thought of another one: "We Are the World", the song Micheal Jackson & Lionel Ritchie wrote, and sundry pop stars sang on. The filming of the stars laying down the vocals was turned into a video to promote the single, the proceeds of which went to fighting famine in Africa.
     
  7. Frittenköter

    Frittenköter Forum Resident

    Location:
    Germany
    the "One Vision" music video is this trope done really well. Seeing Freddie singing this visibly excited and seeing them goof off adds to the enjoyment. I prefer these kinds of videos to most music videos.
     
  8. Mal

    Mal Phorum Physicist

    "Chicken-feed, baby!"

    :D
     
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  9. Mal

    Mal Phorum Physicist

    The promos for these look like vocal sessions but may be staged:

    "Águas de Março" - Antonio Carlos Jobim & Elis Regina
    "Only Yesterday" - Carpenters
     
  10. markbrow

    markbrow Forum President

    Location:
    Denver
    Funny. The unplugged "All Apologies" is the version they play on the radio in my town.
     
  11. JRM

    JRM Forum Resident

    Location:
    Eugene, Oregon
  12. markbrow

    markbrow Forum President

    Location:
    Denver
    The only song on Let It Be that appears to be a straight take from the movie (to my ears anyway) is "Two of Us," which was not a hit.
     
  13. Mal

    Mal Phorum Physicist

    "Tragedy" - Bee Gees

     
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  14. Linto

    Linto Mayor of Simpleton

    XTC recording Towers of London



    VERY cool bit of film
     
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  15. pbuzby

    pbuzby Senior Member

    Location:
    Chicago, IL, US
    The rooftop versions of One After 909, I've Got A Feeling and Dig A Pony are in the film and on the album, but none of those were hits either.
     
  16. AudiophilePhil

    AudiophilePhil Senior Member

    Location:
    San Diego, CA
    "Feelin' Stronger Every Day" - Chicago (from the 1973 album "Chicago VI")

    After recording all of Chicago's first five albums - 1969-1972 (including the live album "Chicago At Carnegie Hall") in New York City, producer James William Guercio had his own Caribou Studios built in Nederland, Colorado during 1972, finished in time for the band to record their sixth album the following February 1973. It would remain their recording base for the next four years.

     
    Last edited: Apr 24, 2014
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  17. Larry Geller

    Larry Geller Surround sound lunatic

    Location:
    Bayside, NY
  18. zobalob

    zobalob Senior Member

    Location:
    Glasgow, Scotland.
    The Hollies "On a Carousel", the recording session was filmed in 1967.

     
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  19. Alert

    Alert Forum Resident Thread Starter

    Location:
    Great River, NY
    This is great, thanks!

    Too bad it doesn't go on for another five to ten seconds so it doesn't cut during the fade...
     
  20. readr

    readr Forum Resident

    Cheap Trick - I Want You To Want Me (Live)

     
  21. ferdinandhudson

    ferdinandhudson Forum Resident

    Location:
    Skåne
    This was completely staged for the TV special, shot well after the actual recording of the song.
     
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  22. Mal

    Mal Phorum Physicist

    Those three songs were recorded live at First Avenue (the released versions were edited and received overdubs) but the film 'performances' are staged recreations performed to the recorded tracks.

    Not that this takes away from their greatness :)
     
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  23. JuanTCB

    JuanTCB Senior Member

    Location:
    Brooklyn, NY
    Mal - he was really lip-synching to his own live tracks? That's hilarious! The wee purple man had me fooled for 30 years...
     
  24. Mal

    Mal Phorum Physicist

    The most electric mimed performances ever :agree:
     
  25. Mal

    Mal Phorum Physicist

    ^

    Well, I suppose the "Sign 'O' The Times" movie recreations are up there too.

    Prince is so talented he even mimes better than everyone else :D
     
    Last edited: May 1, 2014
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