| Subject: Brutal overdubs |
Author:
Dale (quite sad)
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Date Posted: Sat July 25, 2020 03:07:45
My intuition had told me the Buddy Holly "philharmonic enhancements" were going to be a huge mistake, from the moment I heard that they were being recorded.
Because of that firm belief, I put off listening to them until today.
My bad expectations were not only confirmed, they were wildly understated.
I sincerely hope very few Holly fans were tempted sufficiently to pay for this mess.
I'm already certain there are those of you who will have branded me a hater, raining on the parade, and always looking for the negative.
I have to respectfully disagree.
For any well known pop culture to be "improved" by decades later tinkering, there has to have been something lacking in the original. Seriously lacking. Legendary and iconic
recordings can only be disrespected and damaged by such attempts, even if those involved are well meaning.
Not only are the Holly orchestrated versions unnecessary, they are simply not well done.
The arrangements are not clever, the mix reduces the impact and personality of Buddy's own performance, and the added
instrumentation is uniformly inferior to the playing on the original sessions.
How dare anyone attempt to replace Tommy Allsup's sublime work on Heartbeat, to name just one example.
I simply can't think of anyone, no matter how talented or respected, coming up with arrangements that could make these recordings, and this awful concept, any better.
The folks behind this release, the producers and arrangers in particular, are clearly not fans of classic rock and pop.
I give a pass to the orchestra members, who likely knew very well they were out of their element.
I'm sure a fair number of them are embarrassed by the final result. After all, they had no say in the final mix that has diminished the impact of Buddy's voice.
I'm fully expecting to get the usual response. "If you don't like it. you don't have to listen to it". Isn't that a little like saying "if you don't like air pollution, don't breathe."?
I can't wrap my head around the hubris it takes to do these
bizarre alterations, or the gall.
I suppose this sort of release could be mildly tolerated if the original recordings were included as bonus tracks. At least then the poor unsuspecting first time Holly buyer
would have a fighting chance to appreciate his legacy.
Lastly, I will ask, quite sincerely, why the producers
wouldn't have simply recorded the material with one or more current vocalist, allowing their attempt to stand on it's own. Leave Buddy's originals where they belong, in the pantheon of classic rock and pop that is beyond need of ham fisted "enhancement".
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