recreating the beatles for dad... how'd i do?

[u b k]

so here was an interesting challenge: my 66 year old father, who's never sung in front of anyone or recorded his voice on anything other than an answering machine, wanted to sing the beatles' _something_ and give it to my mom as her 63rd birthday gift.

i downloaded a few karaoke versions, but a) the song's key is way too high for most folks; and b) they didn't *feel* like the beatles. they felt like cheesy cover bands playing the right notes in the right places, squeaky clean.

so my challenge: to re-create the song, note for note, tick for tack, and put it together into a production that, while it may not sound exactly like the beatles, authentically evokes the mood of the original.

and i had less than two weeks to do it. hmmm....

my friend john did the basic b3 chords, my friend will did the guitar solo. everything else is me, with my dad on lead vox. a lot of vintage and retro gear and instruments are in this mix, i think my favorite thing is the mono drums with coles on front of kit, they sound like a freakin' drumkit. dad was a remarkably easy gig, he sang a lot better than many self-proclaimed 'singers' i've had the dubious pleasure of producing in the past. it took me 13 days to figure out and record all the music (#~ck*ng strings!), and i mixed it on the last day.

how'd i do? there're a few things i'd do differently, but overall i'm extremely happy with what i accomplished. mom has yet to hear it, looks like dad needs a little nudging.

enjoy.

http://www.everydayclarity.com/ubk/s...for_martha.mp3


gregoire
del
ubk

[Jazzpunk]

Your dad must feel like a rock star! Nice work

[warhead]

For a guy who doesn't really sing / record he did a fantastic job! Your mom will be psyched!

War

[James Guitar]

those drums are just one coles 4038 in front of the kit?
-J

[u b k]

Originally Posted by James Guitar

those drums are just one coles 4038 in front of the kit?
-J

oh, no! there's an re20 in front of the kick, and a 440 off the side of the snare. the mix is 80% coles with just a kiss of the other mics for snap.


gregoire
del
ubk

[James Guitar]

Originally Posted by u b i k

oh, no! there's an re20 in front of the kick, and a 440 off the side of the snare. the mix is 80% coles with just a kiss of the other mics for snap.

awesome. the overall sound of your drums is pretty rich.
man, i love the coles. i got 2 of them myself and use them for drums each and every time.
-J

[astronmr20]

Brilliant!


Funny you posted this;

My Dad has recently expressed some interest in doing the same for my mom, except with the old Jazz standard "Something Wonderful." Small world! I need to work something up on the acoustic or ES-335.


I've been scared that it might not work well, but you have inspired me to give it a go!

[SK1]

It rocks !!!

Nothing like doing somthing you love for somone you love.

How much fun is that.

[Acoustic Cloud]

nice job!!

The thing that hits me the most, from listening to the original 3,547 times, is that the kit sounds exactly Ringo...

Super nice!!

[Reza]

That's really very cool. Great Job!!! Your mom will be over the moon.

[bunnerabb]

The bass is spot on.

**** me.. cool.

[DeepSpace]

Originally Posted by Acoustic Cloud

...the kit sounds exactly Ringo...

and

Originally Posted by bunnerabb

The bass is spot on.

Yeah, Well done! The bass and drums are are particularly good. Very painstaking and a remarkably good match - not just for the notes, but also for feel and sound/ambience or the original.

Also love the staccato hammond chords (I don't want to leave her now...). Classic!

[brianroth]

Wow...maybe it's because it was a LONG day for me on a Sunday and it's now in the middle of the night, but that realy worked for me.

My Old Man is pushing age 80 and isn't in the best of health...maybe another reason I felt a few goosebumps.

Well done.

Bri

[joaquin]

Great!!! Felicidadez U b i k !!

[tele_player]

Excellent!

[The Beatsmith]

hey, this is really awesome. congrats to you and your dad - and to your mom too!

[chester]

wow! it just flows so niecely! great job...welcome back beatles!

what a nice present...everyone should have those.

what a great work!

[HeatWAVS]

Wow... this made my day. I'm sure your mom will love it

[CassidyGT]

That is beautiful -

Really - I hope I love my wife that much when I'm 66.

[James Guitar]

Originally Posted by CassidyGT

That is beautiful -
Really - I hope I love my wife that much when I'm 66.

i hope i have a son that will engineer my music to sound like the beatles when i'm 66!
-J

[marcan]

Very well. Clearly your dad sang it a lot since 1969.
Just a detail, the bass was panned on the right on the original (IIRC).

[David Brown]

A great thing to do with and for your family! For several years now, after Christmas breakfast and before dinner, my family & I head out to the studio to de-construct (and record) a Beatles tune. We almost have enough for an album!

This type of stuff will really mean a lot in years to come.

David Brown

[AjD]

What, not 'Martha My Dear'?

But seriously. I guess you suspect this already, but that is wonderful. Totally organic sounding. Even the little drum timing fluctations (nitpick, nitpick) add to it.

These sorts of 'birthday present' recordings are actually a little cottage industry (check out the adverts in the back of your local family/parents newsweekly; or just check my avatar). But you may have just recorded the first one in history worth a second listen (and a third, and a fourth).

Think I'll go play it for the wife now...

Adam

P.S. Someone get a copy of this to Ken Scott right away...

[rainsinvelvet]

How cool! You nailed it. Nice job. Your Mom will be stoked!

ERic

[C/G]

Originally Posted by Acoustic Cloud

the kit sounds exactly Ringo...

Super nice!!

That is pretty Rad Gregoire.

[Mike Tholen]

Great Job!!! I love this song...and I love my family and this is just kicking my ass.
You'll cheerish this recording forever.

[tvanveen]

sweet

[djui5]

Well well well...boy where do I begin?

















Sounds f'n great Ubik. Your pap's has some chops on the vox too. Amazing isn't it

[hawaii82]

Sounds great m8, and you're dad sings nicely, well done

[astronmr20]

Question for you Ubik,

You say your dad had no vocal experience with singing or microphones or performances, but he sounds great.

How did you pull it out of him? How many takes did you end up doing.. how much did you have to edit/comp? Was it wierd saying "Dad, give me another take... think about Mom this time.."?