HEVYDEVY FORUMS

Sammy Hagar has a book coming out, and one of the things leaked is that Van Halen's only live album, "Live: Right Here, Right Now," was recorded in the studio. That CD sold more than 2 million copies. I've followed VH for years, and the album has always been suspect, but the confirmation is still mind-blowing. It is common knowledge that many bands will "touch-up" live recordings, but this is the first I have heard of an entire live CD being recorded in the studio and made to sound live.

That takes a hell of a lot of balls, and absolutely no scruples.

I saw the title and instantly thought of when I saw Nightwish. The majority of the music was backing track with a few widdly guitars over the top, it just looked like a £20 kareoke that no one else could join in with. Fuck that. If you can't figure out a way to do it live, then don't do it at all.

But in regards to your subject, I dunno if I'm surprised or not. I've always wondered if bands would do that, and now that's been confirmed it kinda just makes me smirk.

I'm fine with it when it's upfront about what it is, like the Safe Zone DVD or the Origin of Feces.

Makes you appreciate Unleashed in the East or Live After Death all the more though.

Yeah, this definitely wasn't upfront. lol It was released in the early 90's, but Sammy is just now copping to it. It was advertised and sold as a live album. It even listed the supposed where and when the songs were recorded.

I have seen VH a bunch of times live, and for the most part they have always sounded great. I'm not sure why they would go this route. Seems like a lot of effort when they'd had shows recorded. They put out a live DVD at the same time.

It has been discussed amongst the fans since the release, simply because one song in particular, a cover of The Who's "Won't Get Fooled Again" was not on any set list from the previous tour, or any show they had done. That made the entire album suspect, but now the cat is out of the bag.

Personally, I'd prefer live in the studio to actual concert recordings, as long as they didn't add in the audience. That's the worst part about live albums. lol

Lettuce wrote:I saw the title and instantly thought of when I saw Nightwish. The majority of the music was backing track with a few widdly guitars over the top, it just looked like a £20 kareoke that no one else could join in with. Fuck that. If you can't figure out a way to do it live, then don't do it at all.

I've heard people say similar things about Dev when I've showed them live footage. It's kind of difficult nowadays to draw a line between what is acceptable when it comes to prerecorded music in a live setting. So many artists do it. I mean, they've done it forever, but it is more blatant now.

I'd rather see musicians onstage than computers, though. I know it isn't always feasible for some artists, but there are a ton of musicians out there that need jobs, dammit! lol

Many bands I saw at the Big Day Out were just the singers with a DJ. It was rubbish.

It's funny how so many things which we take for granted in metal are far from it in mainstream music, eg actually playing live, and writing your own music.

mrbean667 wrote:Many bands I saw at the Big Day Out were just the singers with a DJ. It was rubbish.

It's funny how so many things which we take for granted in metal are far from it in mainstream music, eg actually playing live, and writing your own music.

Ugh, Big Day Out... Hmmm, I think I'm getting old!

Sorry, thought I should actually contribute something of relevance too! I don't mind a bit of VH and they are clearly excellent musicians with vast live experience. Only reason I can think of is monetary... Make it sound slick but live and rake in the bucks. Pretty disappointing as a fan, but I can't say I'm shocked at all.

ppinkham wrote:

Lettuce wrote:I saw the title and instantly thought of when I saw Nightwish. The majority of the music was backing track with a few widdly guitars over the top, it just looked like a £20 kareoke that no one else could join in with. Fuck that. If you can't figure out a way to do it live, then don't do it at all.

I've heard people say similar things about Dev when I've showed them live footage. It's kind of difficult nowadays to draw a line between what is acceptable when it comes to prerecorded music in a live setting. So many artists do it. I mean, they've done it forever, but it is more blatant now.

I'd rather see musicians onstage than computers, though. I know it isn't always feasible for some artists, but there are a ton of musicians out there that need jobs, dammit! lol

Yeah, Devin has a ton of vocal backing tracks not to mention all synthy parts being played off Ableton nowadays. This shit would need a choir and army of keyboardists to properly perform live I guess, so it's an acceptable compromise. And lead vocals are magnificent enough to compensate that

But surely fitting live recordings with parts added in studio can look/sound weird. PT's Arriving Somewhere DVD has bits with suddenly oddly perfect singing, not to mention the Peter Gabriel's Secret World which has all vocals redubbed as I remember - looks even odder, it's pretty obvious.

Octillus wrote:Makes you appreciate Unleashed in the East or Live After Death all the more though.

Unleashed in teh East perhaps not the best example as that one is overdubbed to death. Still love it though.

Billy Rhomboid wrote:

Octillus wrote:Makes you appreciate Unleashed in the East or Live After Death all the more though.

Unleashed in teh East perhaps not the best example as that one is overdubbed to death. Still love it though.

That's true, and Live After Death was frankenstein monster'd from 4 separate nights, but you know, at least they were out there.

I've sometimes wondered if Slayer's Live Undead was actually live.
But then I just shrug my shoulders and put something else on.

Motorhead's No Sleep till Hammersmith, which is oneof the great live albums of all time, whilst not overdubbed, was taken from about six different gigs, none of which were at Hammersmith Odeon(despite the title and the picture on the cover), nor even in London for that matter.

I think there is a sliding scale of deception though, with Motorhead/Maiden at one end, and VH definitely at the other.

Ultimately though, if you enjoy listening to it, does it matter?

Origin of the Faeces was, IMHO, a great example of quality, humour and atmosphere. Recorded in a studio but with a crowd of friends as "The crowd".

Aboot to Rock isn't to shabby either

ppinkham wrote:

Lettuce wrote:I saw the title and instantly thought of when I saw Nightwish. The majority of the music was backing track with a few widdly guitars over the top, it just looked like a £20 kareoke that no one else could join in with. Fuck that. If you can't figure out a way to do it live, then don't do it at all.

I've heard people say similar things about Dev when I've showed them live footage. It's kind of difficult nowadays to draw a line between what is acceptable when it comes to prerecorded music in a live setting. So many artists do it. I mean, they've done it forever, but it is more blatant now.

I'd rather see musicians onstage than computers, though. I know it isn't always feasible for some artists, but there are a ton of musicians out there that need jobs, dammit! lol

Granted, Dev does have a backing track, but not to the extent where if the entire band stopped playing, the song wouldn't really change. His stuff is guitar orientated most of the time, Nightwish's is mostly orchestral...from an orchestra they don't have. Maybe I'm being biased? He also provides a show, they just made sound.