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Post by Kapitan on Jan 20, 2022 13:09:15 GMT
"Getcha Back" doesn't come across well live. Maybe that says something about Steve Levine's work on the song. I was a bit surprised Mike handed the lead vocal over to David, considering he was gone from the group for twenty years when the song was recorded. I guess it was nice that David got a shot at a lead vocal, you know, let him share in the spotlight, too. I thought it was a nice chance for David, and it's in his range. Brian handed him several leads on that subsequent "BAD" tour, too. "Little Bird" was one, I recall. "Summertime Blues." And I think the song mostly comes across fine live.
Except that non-falsetto falsetto, my god. Honestly not good at all. At first I suspected they'd dropped the key to make it easier on somebody else, but leaving that part in the awkward range between falsetto and non-falsetto that can be tough to navigate. But nope, I checked, same key.
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Post by The Cincinnati Kid on Jan 20, 2022 14:51:49 GMT
"Getcha Back" doesn't come across well live. Maybe that says something about Steve Levine's work on the song. I was a bit surprised Mike handed the lead vocal over to David, considering he was gone from the group for twenty years when the song was recorded. I guess it was nice that David got a shot at a lead vocal, you know, let him share in the spotlight, too. I thought it was a nice chance for David, and it's in his range. Brian handed him several leads on that subsequent "BAD" tour, too. "Little Bird" was one, I recall. "Summertime Blues." And I think the song mostly comes across fine live.
Except that non-falsetto falsetto, my god. Honestly not good at all. At first I suspected they'd dropped the key to make it easier on somebody else, but leaving that part in the awkward range between falsetto and non-falsetto that can be tough to navigate. But nope, I checked, same key.
Didn't Mike once say he had Dennis in mind for Getcha Back? Maybe he gave Dave the lead since they have a similar voice.
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Post by kds on Jan 20, 2022 15:20:42 GMT
I thought it was a nice chance for David, and it's in his range. Brian handed him several leads on that subsequent "BAD" tour, too. "Little Bird" was one, I recall. "Summertime Blues." And I think the song mostly comes across fine live.
Except that non-falsetto falsetto, my god. Honestly not good at all. At first I suspected they'd dropped the key to make it easier on somebody else, but leaving that part in the awkward range between falsetto and non-falsetto that can be tough to navigate. But nope, I checked, same key.
Didn't Mike once say he had Dennis in mind for Getcha Back? Maybe he gave Dave the lead since they have a similar voice. I believe that's correct. It does seem a tad clunky on C50 shows I've heard, and maybe that's why it wasn't a mainstay in the setlist that summer. IIRC, at the show I attended, David sang Mike's part on Wendy since Getcha Back was not in the setlist that night. I saw Mike and Bruce in 2015, and David was guesting with the band that day, and they did a very good version of Getcha Back.
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Post by lonelysummer on Jan 21, 2022 3:34:47 GMT
Last couple times I saw the band, Mike sang lead on Getcha Back. Sounded fine to me. I did think it odd, though, back in 85, that they didn't include in their sets at Live Aid and Farm Aid.
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Post by B.E. on Jan 22, 2022 3:05:44 GMT
I don't plan to become acquainted with "Male Ego" How come?
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Post by jk on Jan 22, 2022 9:27:07 GMT
I don't plan to become acquainted with "Male Ego" How come? I'm just not interested in getting to hear a song with that title -- it's as simple as that.
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Post by carllove on Jan 22, 2022 15:33:00 GMT
Funny - After giving this a 6 - I can’t seem to get “Getcha Back” out of my head. Maybe it’s growing on me.
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Post by Kapitan on Jan 22, 2022 15:39:45 GMT
I've decided on a 5. That's low, and maybe not quite fair. I'd say I'm actually just under 5.5, but not enough to round up. The thing is, I think the song itself is fine, but the sort of thing they could do any day of the week just as good as this. And then the production is something (I've said more than anyone wants to hear) I just do not like. The sound of this single (and album) drags it down significantly for me. I don't like to have to translate in my head as I hear it from awful 80s drums to relatively natural sounding drums, from keyboards to pianos, etc., just to make it sound good to me.
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Post by lonelysummer on Jan 23, 2022 3:43:25 GMT
With the 80's style production, you have to remember who they were competing with on the charts. It wasn't the Lovin' Spoonful, the Byrds, the Beatles, the Rascals, and Herman's Hermits; it was Tears for Fears, Culture Club, Daryl Hall John Oates, and Madonna. If they had recorded an album in 1985 the same way they did in the 60's, it might have gotten some airplay on college stations, but that's about it.
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Post by carllove on Jan 23, 2022 4:30:22 GMT
With the 80's style production, you have to remember who they were competing with on the charts. It wasn't the Lovin' Spoonful, the Byrds, the Beatles, the Rascals, and Herman's Hermits; it was Tears for Fears, Culture Club, Daryl Hall John Oates, and Madonna. If they had recorded an album in 1985 the same way they did in the 60's, it might have gotten some airplay on college stations, but that's about it. Great observation, lonelysummer!
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Post by Kapitan on Jan 23, 2022 12:54:52 GMT
With the 80's style production, you have to remember who they were competing with on the charts. It wasn't the Lovin' Spoonful, the Byrds, the Beatles, the Rascals, and Herman's Hermits; it was Tears for Fears, Culture Club, Daryl Hall John Oates, and Madonna. If they had recorded an album in 1985 the same way they did in the 60's, it might have gotten some airplay on college stations, but that's about it. I understand the logic of doing it, but that doesn't mean I need to give high ratings for it. If we were rating those other popular mid-80s groups, I'd be doling out a lot of low scores for them, too.
We're not doing this to be apologists, making every excuse to justify each choice they made. We're rating based on how we feel about the results.
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Post by lonelysummer on Jan 23, 2022 20:53:22 GMT
With the 80's style production, you have to remember who they were competing with on the charts. It wasn't the Lovin' Spoonful, the Byrds, the Beatles, the Rascals, and Herman's Hermits; it was Tears for Fears, Culture Club, Daryl Hall John Oates, and Madonna. If they had recorded an album in 1985 the same way they did in the 60's, it might have gotten some airplay on college stations, but that's about it. I understand the logic of doing it, but that doesn't mean I need to give high ratings for it. If we were rating those other popular mid-80s groups, I'd be doling out a lot of low scores for them, too.
We're not doing this to be apologists, making every excuse to justify each choice they made. We're rating based on how we feel about the results.
And that's alright, Kapitan. I just thought a little context was needed. It's true, too, that there was kind a roots movement happening at the time - bands like the Blasters, Los Lobos, guys like Marshall Crenshaw. That stuff rarely made it onto top 40 radio - Los Lobos being a prime example. Most people only know them as the "La Bamba" band. I remember seeing them live at Bumbershoot in 1988, the place was packed, and when they went into the big hit, the place exploded.
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Post by Kapitan on Jan 24, 2022 12:23:55 GMT
Nine voters rated "Getcha Back" backed with "Male Ego" an average of 7.1.
I will update the ratings thread, and we'll proceed shortly. Thanks for participating.
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