EagleMoon Posted January 9, 2015 Share Posted January 9, 2015 I don't think anyone's mentioned this yet, but on the Fly by Night version of this tune, they do something I don't think they ever did again, which was to start the song in C - with I think a very down-tuned bass (those are some very low frequencies) - and then it sounds as though the tape speeds up (at around 1:40) and the electric comes in with a D chord. Kind of a neat effect. Must have been the same issue they had with Xanadu being faster than normal A440. Well not faster, but higher in pitch.Is it? I never noticed. On the Kings album you mean? Or...maybe you're talking about live, when they segue from By Tor to Xanadu? You hear the synthesizer increase in pitch? Yes that's what I mean. On AFTK's. All of Xanadu is higher in pitch.Huh. Something subtle, like a quarter tone, or something? I never noticed. Yeah, the low note is somewhere between E and F. The theory I heard was that they played it a bit too slow for their liking (and didn't discover that until playback) so they sped up the tape just a bit. I just read they sped it up (though it doesn't sound sped up to me, just higher pitched) to fit on the vinyl album Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EagleMoon Posted January 9, 2015 Share Posted January 9, 2015 Also I remember that the intro is different from the main part of the song. If you tune to the intro synth stuff, you'll be out of tune for the main part of the song. So maybe they just sped up part of the song to fit the album. Interesting to know. I much prefer the way it sounds in standard tuning from the live recordings better. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RUSHHEAD666 Posted January 9, 2015 Share Posted January 9, 2015 :) "One two buckle my shoe..........." 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JARG Posted January 9, 2015 Share Posted January 9, 2015 I don't think anyone's mentioned this yet, but on the Fly by Night version of this tune, they do something I don't think they ever did again, which was to start the song in C - with I think a very down-tuned bass (those are some very low frequencies) - and then it sounds as though the tape speeds up (at around 1:40) and the electric comes in with a D chord. Kind of a neat effect. Must have been the same issue they had with Xanadu being faster than normal A440. Well not faster, but higher in pitch.Is it? I never noticed. On the Kings album you mean? Or...maybe you're talking about live, when they segue from By Tor to Xanadu? You hear the synthesizer increase in pitch? Yes that's what I mean. On AFTK's. All of Xanadu is higher in pitch.Huh. Something subtle, like a quarter tone, or something? I never noticed. Yeah, the low note is somewhere between E and F. The theory I heard was that they played it a bit too slow for their liking (and didn't discover that until playback) so they sped up the tape just a bit. I just read they sped it up (though it doesn't sound sped up to me, just higher pitched) to fit on the vinyl album Ooooh...that's a pretty good theory! It doesn't sound sped up to me either, but I've only ever heard it at that speed (other than live performances, of course). 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JARG Posted January 9, 2015 Share Posted January 9, 2015 (edited) I don't think anyone's mentioned this yet, but on the Fly by Night version of this tune, they do something I don't think they ever did again, which was to start the song in C - with I think a very down-tuned bass (those are some very low frequencies) - and then it sounds as though the tape speeds up (at around 1:40) and the electric comes in with a D chord. Kind of a neat effect. You sure it starts in C on FBN? I seem to recall having to use a capo when I learned it. I do know all of my guitars are out of tune, because I haven't played in a while . . . but to my "ear" it sounds like the first chord (12 string) is C. Maybe the guitar's tuned down a whole tone? Yeah, I sat down with it last night. I tuned my guitar down a full step so that I could use the D-G-F-C shaped chords and utilize the same open strings that he does. Edited January 9, 2015 by JARG Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fridge Posted January 9, 2015 Share Posted January 9, 2015 It's a cracking song, and proof that Neil wasn't the only one who could write a good lyric. ATWAS version for me, but then everything on ATWAS is magnificent so........ 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fridge Posted January 9, 2015 Share Posted January 9, 2015 I kind of get it if the studio version doesn't blow up everyone's skirt...But that's the version that made me love it. ATWAS made me really love it! I heard the live version to many times to count before I ever heard the studio one. By comparison, the studio one was a bit of a letdown at the time. I could say that for most of the songs on ATWAS however... ATWAS...all killer, no filler. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lorraine Posted January 9, 2015 Author Share Posted January 9, 2015 :) "One two buckle my shoe..........."Earl, don't you just love it? :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Narps Posted January 9, 2015 Share Posted January 9, 2015 I am a bit surprised at the 34 - 0 that all folks seem to like the song. For some reason I didn't expect that. I know how special it is to me but.... :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lorraine Posted January 9, 2015 Author Share Posted January 9, 2015 I am a bit surprised at the 34 - 0 that all folks seem to like the song. For some reason I didn't expect that. I know how special it is to me but.... :)I'm surprised too. But now that we have mentioned it, some wiseacre will come along and vote no. :sigh: I'm going to go listen to the two versions now..... 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Narps Posted January 9, 2015 Share Posted January 9, 2015 I am a bit surprised at the 34 - 0 that all folks seem to like the song. For some reason I didn't expect that. I know how special it is to me but.... :) some wiseacre will come along and vote no. :sigh: This is very true^^^^.... :sigh: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lorraine Posted January 9, 2015 Author Share Posted January 9, 2015 I see what you mean about the studio version having a more crisp sound, but the ATWAS version has lots more character and pizazz!! Geddy sings it a lot better too. More energy and feeling in his voice. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lorraine Posted January 9, 2015 Author Share Posted January 9, 2015 Love his voice echo at the end too. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
toymaker Posted January 9, 2015 Share Posted January 9, 2015 I don't think anyone's mentioned this yet, but on the Fly by Night version of this tune, they do something I don't think they ever did again, which was to start the song in C - with I think a very down-tuned bass (those are some very low frequencies) - and then it sounds as though the tape speeds up (at around 1:40) and the electric comes in with a D chord. Kind of a neat effect. You sure it starts in C on FBN? I seem to recall having to use a capo when I learned it. I do know all of my guitars are out of tune, because I haven't played in a while . . . but to my "ear" it sounds like the first chord (12 string) is C. Maybe the guitar's tuned down a whole tone? Yeah, I sat down with it last night. I tuned my guitar down a full step so that I could use the D-G-F-C shaped chords and utilize the same open strings that he does.Cool. So that means they recorded it with down-tuned instruments, then played the tape back and increased the tape speed as the last chords rang out, so that it would seem to "rise up" in pitch to meet the opening electric chords of the next part. And am I hearing a very low C on Lee's bass, like he tuned the E string all the way down to C? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EagleMoon Posted January 9, 2015 Share Posted January 9, 2015 I don't think anyone's mentioned this yet, but on the Fly by Night version of this tune, they do something I don't think they ever did again, which was to start the song in C - with I think a very down-tuned bass (those are some very low frequencies) - and then it sounds as though the tape speeds up (at around 1:40) and the electric comes in with a D chord. Kind of a neat effect. You sure it starts in C on FBN? I seem to recall having to use a capo when I learned it. I do know all of my guitars are out of tune, because I haven't played in a while . . . but to my "ear" it sounds like the first chord (12 string) is C. Maybe the guitar's tuned down a whole tone? Yeah, I sat down with it last night. I tuned my guitar down a full step so that I could use the D-G-F-C shaped chords and utilize the same open strings that he does.Cool. So that means they recorded it with down-tuned instruments, then played the tape back and increased the tape speed as the last chords rang out, so that it would seem to "rise up" in pitch to meet the opening electric chords of the next part. And am I hearing a very low C on Lee's bass, like he tuned the E string all the way down to C? It's another one of those songs that isn't in standard tuning. Sounds like they did that with the tape too. I've never noticed the very low note before. I'll have to go listen to the song. :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JARG Posted January 9, 2015 Share Posted January 9, 2015 I've always loved that "disco guitar" part and how it moves from one channel to the other. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
toymaker Posted January 9, 2015 Share Posted January 9, 2015 It's another one of those songs that isn't in standard tuning. Sounds like they did that with the tape too. I've never noticed the very low note before. I'll have to go listen to the song. :)Check the very last bass note of the opening bit.To me, the bass sound is a bit weird - I almost hear a subtle octave-y kind of thing, like in Jeremy by Pearl Jam, but not as prominent. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JARG Posted January 9, 2015 Share Posted January 9, 2015 Also pretty cool that he doubled the solo. He doesn't do that very often. It also means the solo doesn't have any improvised bits. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
toymaker Posted January 9, 2015 Share Posted January 9, 2015 I've always loved that "disco guitar" part and how it moves from one channel to the other.You mean the bit that Lee plays on the bass in the live version? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JARG Posted January 9, 2015 Share Posted January 9, 2015 I've always loved that "disco guitar" part and how it moves from one channel to the other.You mean the bit that Lee plays on the bass in the live version? Yeah. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
toymaker Posted January 9, 2015 Share Posted January 9, 2015 I've always loved that "disco guitar" part and how it moves from one channel to the other.You mean the bit that Lee plays on the bass in the live version? Yeah.Seems to be a unique song for Rush in the sense that they tried some things they never really did again! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Prime Mover and Shaker Posted January 9, 2015 Share Posted January 9, 2015 Awesome song, I really dig it. Unique for them, indeed. Plus it has sort of a butt love title. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Narps Posted January 9, 2015 Share Posted January 9, 2015 If JARG digs the song I feel even better about it. For some reason I just trust this mans judgement. There are all kinds of cool things going on musically in the ATWAS version that I couldn't explain obviously from a musical perspective. I just know I love it. Numero uno in my book and the By-Tor lead in is icing... 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lorraine Posted January 9, 2015 Author Share Posted January 9, 2015 If JARG digs the song I feel even better about it. For some reason I just trust this mans judgement. There are all kinds of cool things going on musically in the ATWAS version that I couldn't explain obviously from a musical perspective. I just know I love it. Numero uno in my book and the By-Tor lead in is icing...JARG voted for the FBN version. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Narps Posted January 9, 2015 Share Posted January 9, 2015 If JARG digs the song I feel even better about it. For some reason I just trust this mans judgement. There are all kinds of cool things going on musically in the ATWAS version that I couldn't explain obviously from a musical perspective. I just know I love it. Numero uno in my book and the By-Tor lead in is icing...JARG voted for the FBN version.Even better if he appreciates that version... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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