If Music Could Talk

Cheers Marky!

I'm still processing this after several listens. It's been so long since I've heard the original that it's hard to compare. It's definitely an improvement, though -- Cool Under Heat, Are You Red Y, Dirty Punk and Movers and Shakers all seem to have had some crap cut from them. Thanks again, Marky.

I do wonder who decided for Sheppard to do lead vocals on North and South. I actually like that song, but obviously Joe could've done so much more with it. Perhaps they were trying to recreate the old egalitarian spirit with Mick having so many songs of his own to sing.

appleseed1 wrote: ↑

29 Aug 2017, 9:12pm

I'm still processing this after several listens. It's been so long since I've heard the original that it's hard to compare. It's definitely an improvement, though -- Cool Under Heat, Are You Red Y, Dirty Punk and Movers and Shakers all seem to have had some crap cut from them. Thanks again, Marky.

I do wonder who decided for Sheppard to do lead vocals on North and South. I actually like that song, but obviously Joe could've done so much more with it. Perhaps they were trying to recreate the old egalitarian spirit with Mick having so many songs of his own to sing.

It's more like duet than a Nick lead vocal. Joe even has some lines to himself.

I finally gave this a proper listen today, I'm loving the deeper bass, especially noticeable on Three Card Trick.

Heston wrote: ↑

01 Sep 2017, 3:58pm

appleseed1 wrote: ↑

29 Aug 2017, 9:12pm

I'm still processing this after several listens. It's been so long since I've heard the original that it's hard to compare. It's definitely an improvement, though -- Cool Under Heat, Are You Red Y, Dirty Punk and Movers and Shakers all seem to have had some crap cut from them. Thanks again, Marky.

I do wonder who decided for Sheppard to do lead vocals on North and South. I actually like that song, but obviously Joe could've done so much more with it. Perhaps they were trying to recreate the old egalitarian spirit with Mick having so many songs of his own to sing.

It's more like duet than a Nick lead vocal. Joe even has some lines to himself.

I think Nick does a decent job. OK he's no Joe but the two of them together sound pretty good. I also think Joe could've done a lot worse than sticking with Nick and Pete and releasing Shouting Street as his first solo outing.

I finally gave this a proper listen today, I'm loving the deeper bass, especially noticeable on Three Card Trick.

I long for the stems to remix this. If only all the samples could be removed on Dictator and those hideous horns. I think that would at least make some of the synth drums more tolerable.

Marky Dread wrote: ↑

01 Sep 2017, 5:28pm

Heston wrote: ↑

01 Sep 2017, 3:58pm

appleseed1 wrote: ↑

29 Aug 2017, 9:12pm

I'm still processing this after several listens. It's been so long since I've heard the original that it's hard to compare. It's definitely an improvement, though -- Cool Under Heat, Are You Red Y, Dirty Punk and Movers and Shakers all seem to have had some crap cut from them. Thanks again, Marky.

I do wonder who decided for Sheppard to do lead vocals on North and South. I actually like that song, but obviously Joe could've done so much more with it. Perhaps they were trying to recreate the old egalitarian spirit with Mick having so many songs of his own to sing.

It's more like duet than a Nick lead vocal. Joe even has some lines to himself.

I think Nick does a decent job. OK he's no Joe but the two of them together sound pretty good. I also think Joe could've done a lot worse than sticking with Nick and Pete and releasing Shouting Street as his first solo outing.

I finally gave this a proper listen today, I'm loving the deeper bass, especially noticeable on Three Card Trick.

I long for the stems to remix this. If only all the samples could be removed on Dictator and those hideous horns. I think that would at least make some of the synth drums more tolerable.

I have a drummer on stand by if the stems ever come out. It would be so easy to replace the drum machine. Strip it back to a couple of guitars, bass and Joe's vocals and you would be in business. Dictator gets crazier every time I hear it, I really don't know what the hell was going on at the mixing session.

Heston wrote: ↑

01 Sep 2017, 5:44pm

Marky Dread wrote: ↑

01 Sep 2017, 5:28pm

Heston wrote: ↑

01 Sep 2017, 3:58pm

appleseed1 wrote: ↑

29 Aug 2017, 9:12pm

I'm still processing this after several listens. It's been so long since I've heard the original that it's hard to compare. It's definitely an improvement, though -- Cool Under Heat, Are You Red Y, Dirty Punk and Movers and Shakers all seem to have had some crap cut from them. Thanks again, Marky.

I do wonder who decided for Sheppard to do lead vocals on North and South. I actually like that song, but obviously Joe could've done so much more with it. Perhaps they were trying to recreate the old egalitarian spirit with Mick having so many songs of his own to sing.

It's more like duet than a Nick lead vocal. Joe even has some lines to himself.

I think Nick does a decent job. OK he's no Joe but the two of them together sound pretty good. I also think Joe could've done a lot worse than sticking with Nick and Pete and releasing Shouting Street as his first solo outing.

I finally gave this a proper listen today, I'm loving the deeper bass, especially noticeable on Three Card Trick.

I long for the stems to remix this. If only all the samples could be removed on Dictator and those hideous horns. I think that would at least make some of the synth drums more tolerable.

I have a drummer on stand by if the stems ever come out. It would be so easy to replace the drum machine. Strip it back to a couple of guitars, bass and Joe's vocals and you would be in business. Dictator gets crazier every time I hear it, I really don't know what the hell was going on at the mixing session.

I think Bernie was just chucking in everything including the kitchen sink into the mix. It's not really all that surprising what Bernie did to Out of Contol and turning it into Cut the Crap. Let's not forget it was Bernie who was responsible for the Black Arabs on the Swindle album. Joe really should've seen all this coming.

I didn't know about that Bernie was responsible for Black Arabs, I actually thought it was pretty funny, CTC not so funny.

coffeepotman wrote: ↑

02 Sep 2017, 10:03am

I didn't know about that Bernie was responsible for Black Arabs, I actually thought it was pretty funny, CTC not so funny.

On the Swindle it works fine. The whole joke was the piss-take of the music biz. Cut the Crap however was not so funny for a premiere group making a come back.

In fairness to Bernie he Joe and Paul as (Pepe Unidos) were allegedly responsible for "The Call Up" remix "The Cool Out" which in my opinion is a far superior mix than the single.

I long for the stems to remix this. If only all the samples could be removed on Dictator and those hideous horns. I think that would at least make some of the synth drums more tolerable.

I can't think of an another album that I'd rather hear remixed from the ground up with the stems than CTC. Earthquake Weather springs to mind obviously, but in a triage situation CTC goes to the operating room first.

And count me as surprised as well to hear about Rhodes' input on that Black Arabs track. It makes sense, though, since I've heard that Subway Sect was involved in the track, or were the Black Arabs themselves.

appleseed1 wrote: ↑

03 Oct 2017, 11:44pm

I long for the stems to remix this. If only all the samples could be removed on Dictator and those hideous horns. I think that would at least make some of the synth drums more tolerable.

I can't think of an another album that I'd rather hear remixed from the ground up with the stems than CTC. Earthquake Weather springs to mind obviously, but in a triage situation CTC goes to the operating room first.

And count me as surprised as well to hear about Rhodes' input on that Black Arabs track. It makes sense, though, since I've heard that Subway Sect was involved in the track, or were the Black Arabs themselves.

'The Black Arabs' were an original group and not the Subaway Sect. Although I understand the slight confusion. In 1979 after Bernie Rhodes had sacked the current Subway Sect members Bob Ward/Colin Scott/Johnny Britten/Spartan Atkinson and retaining only Vic Godard the album "What's The Matter Boy?" was recorded and the backing vocals and percussion was provided by The Black Arabs. Also on these recording were Terry Chimes (Drums) and his brother Paul Chimes (Bass). The Black Arabs had also been used previously for the recording of Subway Sects debut album that was recorded in 1977 at Gooseberry Studios, London. Only a handful of tracks from this recording remain as the master tapes are lost.

I like this version better than the original - job well done, but I don't know if I'll ever add it to regular rotation! I agree - if someone could just get the stems - I "think" there is a good record in there - if someone could remove a lot of the extra gunk and get some actual live drums! I just don't see this ever happening. The band has washed their hands of the whole thing - cut it from their history - written it off as Bernie trying to yet again be Malcolm. I think we're stuck with the album as is - so again, thank you for doing what you can with what there is to work with!!

Marky Dread wrote: ↑

04 Oct 2017, 2:37am

The Black Arabs had also been used previously for the recording of Subway Sects debut album that was recorded in 1977 at Gooseberry Studios, London. Only a handful of tracks from this recording remain as the master tapes are lost.

To what extent were they involved? Just for reinforcement, or was it more of a Mick/Paul replacement situation?

Kory wrote: ↑

04 Oct 2017, 12:27pm

Marky Dread wrote: ↑

04 Oct 2017, 2:37am

The Black Arabs had also been used previously for the recording of Subway Sects debut album that was recorded in 1977 at Gooseberry Studios, London. Only a handful of tracks from this recording remain as the master tapes are lost.

To what extent were they involved? Just for reinforcement, or was it more of a Mick/Paul replacement situation?

It is mentioned by Vic himself in the sleevenotes for the reissued "What's The Matter Boy?". Just Percussion and backing vocals as far as I can tell. I think though I've misread this and what Vic is saying only refers to the Chimes brothers on that original '77 album. I don't think the Black Arabs were formed in '77 but later in '78.

Marky Dread wrote: ↑

04 Oct 2017, 1:49pm

Kory wrote: ↑

04 Oct 2017, 12:27pm

Marky Dread wrote: ↑

04 Oct 2017, 2:37am

The Black Arabs had also been used previously for the recording of Subway Sects debut album that was recorded in 1977 at Gooseberry Studios, London. Only a handful of tracks from this recording remain as the master tapes are lost.

To what extent were they involved? Just for reinforcement, or was it more of a Mick/Paul replacement situation?

It is mentioned by Vic himself in the sleevenotes for the reissued "What's The Matter Boy?". Just Percussion and backing vocals as far as I can tell. I think though I've misread this and what Vic is saying only refers to the Chimes brothers on that original '77 album. I don't think the Black Arabs were formed in '77 but later in '78.

Ah, interesting. Thanks!

Heston wrote: ↑

01 Sep 2017, 5:44pm

Marky Dread wrote: ↑

01 Sep 2017, 5:28pm

Heston wrote: ↑

01 Sep 2017, 3:58pm

appleseed1 wrote: ↑

29 Aug 2017, 9:12pm

I'm still processing this after several listens. It's been so long since I've heard the original that it's hard to compare. It's definitely an improvement, though -- Cool Under Heat, Are You Red Y, Dirty Punk and Movers and Shakers all seem to have had some crap cut from them. Thanks again, Marky.

I do wonder who decided for Sheppard to do lead vocals on North and South. I actually like that song, but obviously Joe could've done so much more with it. Perhaps they were trying to recreate the old egalitarian spirit with Mick having so many songs of his own to sing.

It's more like duet than a Nick lead vocal. Joe even has some lines to himself.

I think Nick does a decent job. OK he's no Joe but the two of them together sound pretty good. I also think Joe could've done a lot worse than sticking with Nick and Pete and releasing Shouting Street as his first solo outing.

I finally gave this a proper listen today, I'm loving the deeper bass, especially noticeable on Three Card Trick.

I long for the stems to remix this. If only all the samples could be removed on Dictator and those hideous horns. I think that would at least make some of the synth drums more tolerable.

I have a drummer on stand by if the stems ever come out. It would be so easy to replace the drum machine. Strip it back to a couple of guitars, bass and Joe's vocals and you would be in business. Dictator gets crazier every time I hear it, I really don't know what the hell was going on at the mixing session.

Bernie wanted to be an "artist" like Malcolm!