Vincent Price rap vox chain?

[Philip S Bova]

Hey Bruce,

I've been hooked on your recordings since I was five. No joke. I remember listening to Thriller as a child on my little G.E ghetto blaster (lying right between the two speakers) and knowing even back then that the sound quality of that album was vastly superior to anything else I would play through that system. It was also the first time that I discovered stereo panning (all of MJ's hard panned BVs and such). I was only 5 years old and this seemed like the coolest thing to me at the time. All I can say is thanks.

One quick question:

Which mic and compressor did you use to record Vincent's rap? I love how gritty the recording is. It always sounded like some type of ribbon mic to me. Is the short verb on his voice an EMT 250? Sounds like the crazy laugh at the end fades into the ecoplate though....

Thanks again,

Philip Shaw Bova

[Bruce Swedien]

Originally Posted by Philip S Bova

Hey Bruce,

I've been hooked on your recordings since I was five. No joke. I remember listening to Thriller as a child on my little G.E ghetto blaster (lying right between the two speakers) and knowing even back then that the sound quality of that album was vastly superior to anything else I would play through that system. It was also the first time that I discovered stereo panning (all of MJ's hard panned BVs and such). I was only 5 years old and this seemed like the coolest thing to me at the time. All I can say is thanks.

One quick question:

Which mic and compressor did you use to record Vincent's rap? I love how gritty the recording is. It always sounded like some type of ribbon mic to me. Is the short verb on his voice an EMT 250? Sounds like the crazy laugh at the end fades into the ecoplate though....

Thanks again,

Philip Shaw Bova

Phillip.......

Good question...

When we recorded Vincent Price's vocal for his 'Rap' sequence, Michael had just finished recording a vocal track for "Thriller".

So I used Michael's mike - A Shure SM7. It is recorded through a Neve 1084 and a Urel 1176 , with almost NO compression on it...

Here's the story...

The Vincent Price “Rap” on “Thriller”...

When I begin reminiscing about recording the song “Thriller”, one of the first things that comes to mind is the Vincent Price “Rap”. Quincy’s wife, Peggy Lipton, knew Vincent Price. So Quincy and Peggy got it together and called him. Vincent said he would love to do it. I remember Rod’s idea, at first was that Vincent would just talk some horror talk from the type of lines he would deliver in some of his famous roles.

Well, the night before the session with Vincent Price, I remember Quincy and Rod on the phone, talking excitedly about something to do with Vincent’s part in “Thriller”. I was getting the track ready for Vincent to overdub on for “Thriller”, so I only overheard bits and pieces of Quincy and Rod’s conversation.....

The next day at about 12:00 noon, Quincy shows up at the studio, looking like the ‘Cat That Swallowed The Canary’! Q looked at me and said, “‘Svensk’, (Quincy’s nickname for me... It means, “Swedish Man”, in swedish.) Vincent Price is going to be here at 2:00 pm! Rod is writing Vincent’s ”Rap” lyrics in the taxicab on the way here to the studio!”

Quincy told me, “I don’t think that Vincent has ever been on a pop record before. This should be interesting...” I get chills just thinking about it!

The next thing I knew, Rod came roaring into the control room with several sheets of paper in one hand, and a Marlboro cigarette with a two-inch ash ready to fall over the floor, in his mouth... Out-of -breath Roddy said to me, “Bruce, quick... He’s here! I saw a car pull up, and it was Vincent Price! He’s on his way in!” He thrust the papers in my hand and said, “Give these to the secretary -Have her photo-copy these quick!”... This was done, we put the ‘Rap” lyrics on the music stand... Vincent walked in, sat down on his chair, off he went, and it was all done in about two hours.

Vincent Price had never used earphones in his work before. He reluctantly put them on, and when the music track for “Thriller” started, he jumped up from his stool with a very startled look on his face. I know he had never heard anything like that before. He asked Rod Temperton to come out in the studio with him and help him by cueing him where to come in and speak his verses.

Rod actually wrote three verses for “Thriller”, for Vincent to do. We recorded all three but only used two. I have that unused verse in my tapes somewhere.
Vincent experienced a huge resurgence in his career commensurate with the incredible success of “Thriller”.

About six months after the release of “Thriller”, Vincent appeared on the “Johnny Carson, Tonight” show. He told about being in Paris and walking down the street and having a group of young people recognize him and chase him down the street to get his autograph.

To me, the miraculous thing about the Vincent Price ‘Rap” on “Thriller”, is that Rod Temperton wrote a brilliant ... Edger Allan Poe style spiel... in the Taxi-cab on the way to the session! When the chips are down, that’s when you find out what true genius is all about!

Of course, speaking of unquestionable genius... Vincent’s performance was remarkable! Obviously, Vincent Price was in his element on “Thriller”... Timing, inflection... And he did it in two takes! Michael’s vocals’ are more than wonderful as well... What an experience!

Bruce Swedien

[Rednose]

Great story Bruce! Can't believe you remember all the details.
Im also surprised you used an SM7 on the lead vocals.
Thats been on my list for a bit, gotta get one!

[Sounds Great]

Vincent did a pretty awesome job on Alice Cooper's 'Black Widow' in the 70's, as well.

[Sqye]

That is a wonderful epic recording.

And VP's performance is unforgettable. The laugh is just AMAZING,

it was a fantastic production / arrangement call to pause bfore th laugh - really chilling.

And, yes, the writing is PERFECT.

Everything about that song and record and video, is just MONUMENTAL.

It was really a special place and time in our music history.

Thanks for the story, Bruce.

And thanks for helping bring such a GREAT recording to us all.

[Bruce Swedien]

Bruce, Swedien, Vincent Price and Michael Jackson.....

We had just recorded Vincent's Rap on "Thriller"

[mic monkey]

Great picture Bruce!!!

You look like you have a very long arm!!
:D