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Post by fretbuzzzzz on Sept 20, 2019 7:46:31 GMT
Rossi's vocals are very good for a man of 70 years old. The problem is the backing vocals. Rhino should not be singing at all, his voice is awful, Richie has a not very exciting voice, certainly not a lead singer and Andy just doesn't match with Rossi. Rick's voice did well with Rossi's. I miss that interaction. Mate, have you listened to I think you're in some trouble? When the vocal harmony kicks in it totally sounds like Rick is there too. It also sounds great imo, which certainly isn't the reaction from myself I expected Lead vocals are a matter of opinion (I like rhino's revenge and rhino suits the songs he writes),I also like Richie, but for vocal harmonies I think the album proves Quo can still deliver. You are not alone not liking the backing vocals (the reason I started the thread). Thankfully they don't bother me 👍 There is something reminiscent of Rick's vocal style in the harmonies on that track. Board member I Ain't Complaining mentioned it the other day and is correct.
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Post by fretbuzzzzz on Sept 20, 2019 8:25:55 GMT
I've always liked Francis' production - for me he is head and shoulders away the best pproducer for Quo - always was (let's be honest, he'll have done most of the production back in the 70s heyday). If you listen to Alan in interviews Francis was slightly novice in the studio and started to develop first when they started to hire external producers. Alan on the other hand had a home studio in the early 70's and was more practiced in how to work in the studio. I know you should not believe everything said from either side of this but I haven't heard someone who has denied this yet. The job of a Producer can vary considerably depending on the person and their remit. Sometimes more hands-on, sometimes less so. In some cases the Producer can be responsible for getting the studio booked and all the musicians sorted out and the more admin side of things and then once in the studio and recording, may just be the ears listening in on the sessions and giving musical advice and direction, usually from behind the board but not always. I remember hearing that the late great Mick Ronson (Bowie's guitarist) had been asked to produce a band and essentially he stood at the back of the control room and just listened and would chip-in and say if he liked something or if he didn't. Still credited as a Producer though! Though Mick was able to help with musical arrangements. In Pip's case he also helped with musical ideas and arrangements. Pip's particular strength being vocal and guitar arrangements. An excellent case being when he and Francis worked on the superb solo for the track 'For You'. They looped the backing track then sat and worked out the solo step by step. I'm sure some fans thought Pip had played the solo on the album as not in Rossi's more usual style though Francis copied and recorded what Pip had helped him work out. John Eden's youtube videos of the re-mixing of 'For You' and other tracks are worth checking out. An insight into the process. It is the Engineer, as in John Eden, who can be far more involved on the technical side, setting up the mics, drums and amps etc and preparing the tape machines (as in the past), the nuts and bolts in a sense and also sitting behind the board, sometimes alongside the Producer. Often involved in the mixing as well. In the early years the band would have been wet behind the ears technically in terms of recording and the label of producer used in a loose sense though the band would have been using their ears and know if they liked what they were hearing back in the control room. I think it may have been Alan who was perhaps more technically aware in the earlier years as they progressed and then Francis had his studio built in his roof, gradually learning the ropes.
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Post by frozenhero on Sept 20, 2019 9:09:01 GMT
Leon played superbly at Hyde park and knows his way around his kit and uses all of it to great effect. Curiously with Backbone there is feeling that he had been more restrained. The guitars are doing all the work. When I think of Quo records of old, such as On The Level, JC was especially fond of his cymbals and hi hat. Quite busy on various tracks/albums. With Backbone, the drums seem more restrained in a way and about keeping a steady beat and sometimes just a crash cymbal every bar or two. Strange really, I am fairly sure I'd heard that Rossi had been on Matt's case with QPQ and asking him to "let go". It seems to me they utilized a click track. I suppose they've been doing this on other albums too, but some drummers take better to it than others. I know Francis sort-of mocked John for stating he didn't like playing with a click track...
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Post by freewilly on Sept 20, 2019 9:23:43 GMT
He openly says he had to be in control That he had to make the decisions That he decided on the sound, the songs to be recorded, how they should be recorded. He had to be in charge.
He said other members had their nose put out of joint but, came round to the idea...
From experience, that is not healthy in a band at all
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Post by Gaz on Sept 20, 2019 10:06:01 GMT
He openly says he had to be in control That he had to make the decisions That he decided on the sound, the songs to be recorded, how they should be recorded. He had to be in charge. He said other members had their nose put out of joint but, came round to the idea... From experience, that is not healthy in a band at all History repeating?
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Post by freewilly on Sept 20, 2019 11:56:22 GMT
He openly says he had to be in control That he had to make the decisions That he decided on the sound, the songs to be recorded, how they should be recorded. He had to be in charge. He said other members had their nose put out of joint but, came round to the idea... From experience, that is not healthy in a band at all History repeating? Who knows? Every band should have a leader, of course. But, not when it feels like a dictatorship. Believe me, it's horrendous
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Post by Gaz on Sept 20, 2019 12:01:33 GMT
Who knows? Every band should have a leader, of course. But, not when it feels like a dictatorship. Believe me, it's horrendous Mate, throw in cocaine addiction/management issues and who leads a band? Someone made a lot of money through Quo’s heyday? Give Francis his dues... he gave up the drugs to the best of our knowledge and got fit, which is a massive effort and it’s his fitness which is shining now. Good on him. Actually I’m taking a leaf out of his fitness book.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Sept 20, 2019 12:41:59 GMT
Who knows? Every band should have a leader, of course. But, not when it feels like a dictatorship. Believe me, it's horrendous Mate, throw in cocaine addiction/management issues and who leads a band? Someone made a lot of money through Quo’s heyday? Give Francis his dues... he gave up the drugs to the best of our knowledge and got fit, which is a massive effort and it’s his fitness which is shining now. Good on him. Actually I’m taking a leaf out of his fitness book. Have you dusted off that old Jane Fonda video and legwarmers?
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Post by freewilly on Sept 20, 2019 13:08:00 GMT
Who knows? Every band should have a leader, of course. But, not when it feels like a dictatorship. Believe me, it's horrendous Mate, throw in cocaine addiction/management issues and who leads a band? Someone made a lot of money through Quo’s heyday? Give Francis his dues... he gave up the drugs to the best of our knowledge and got fit, which is a massive effort and it’s his fitness which is shining now. Good on him. Actually I’m taking a leaf out of his fitness book. I'm talking from a creative point of view
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Post by 4th Chord on Sept 20, 2019 13:11:09 GMT
Mate, throw in cocaine addiction/management issues and who leads a band? Someone made a lot of money through Quo’s heyday? Give Francis his dues... he gave up the drugs to the best of our knowledge and got fit, which is a massive effort and it’s his fitness which is shining now. Good on him. Actually I’m taking a leaf out of his fitness book. Have you dusted off that old Jane Fonda video and legwarmers?
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Post by Gaz on Sept 20, 2019 19:51:27 GMT
Mate, throw in cocaine addiction/management issues and who leads a band? Someone made a lot of money through Quo’s heyday? Give Francis his dues... he gave up the drugs to the best of our knowledge and got fit, which is a massive effort and it’s his fitness which is shining now. Good on him. Actually I’m taking a leaf out of his fitness book. Have you dusted off that old Jane Fonda video and legwarmers? haha you may have just given Porter another money spinner idea for Francis. ‘Quorking out with Francis’😂
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Post by Deleted on Sept 20, 2019 20:17:42 GMT
Have you dusted off that old Jane Fonda video and legwarmers? haha you may have just given Porter another money spinner idea for Francis. ‘Quorking out with Francis’😂 Oh dear God! You may have just unwittingly unleashed the next gimic. The thought of Francis's bony ass gyrating in a mankini sends shivers down my spine.
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Post by frozenhero on Sept 20, 2019 22:25:02 GMT
Who knows? Every band should have a leader, of course. But, not when it feels like a dictatorship. Believe me, it's horrendous Andy called him a "friendly dictator". I doubt there was much friction... except perhaps with Rhino (?) Remember, they all have their solo albums if an idea doesn't make the cut, and I think Francis was more generous towards Leon and Richie than he would've needed. Apparently he told Richie to finish "Get Out Of My Head" on his own because he realized he would've probably ruined it if he messed with it too much.
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Post by freewilly on Sept 21, 2019 8:47:39 GMT
Who knows? Every band should have a leader, of course. But, not when it feels like a dictatorship. Believe me, it's horrendous Andy called him a "friendly dictator". I doubt there was much friction... except perhaps with Rhino (?) Remember, they all have their solo albums if an idea doesn't make the cut, and I think Francis was more generous towards Leon and Richie than he would've needed. Apparently he told Richie to finish "Get Out Of My Head" on his own because he realized he would've probably ruined it if he messed with it too much. You would know more than me tbh. Just reading and hearing his quotes about being a producer brought up a bad vibe in me. I believe creativity should be nurtured and not under any rules if that makes sense
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gav
Veteran Rocker Rollin'
Posts: 2,152
Favourite Quo Album: On The Level
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Post by gav on Sept 22, 2019 17:09:00 GMT
Rhino's bass comes across well on the album. It will never quite have the definition Alan's did for the reason that Rhino uses his fingers and not a pick.
But since the early 00's, Rhino's bass on the albums seems to have become stood out a fair bit more. Maybe his playing changed a bit too with not having Jeff in the band, who was always over-produced on record.
There's some great playing by Rhino on Backbone. He gets the heaviness of Quo for sure, and on Cut Me Some Slack, there's some very tasty bits from him. Very fluid playing.
Any thoughts?
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