What if...BW88 as a live special in '13?

[Wirestone]

I think the main thing he is really great at now is doing a sensitive ballad-type vocal, and I hope that is the role he is most used in on the new album. And I think they should leave the rockers, for the most part to Al, and occasionally Mike.

Yes, yes and double yes. Brian's not bad on the up-tempo numbers live these days (he seems to feed off the band's energy), but they don't quite work on the Gershwin and Disney albums.

[Iron Horse-Apples]

I think that anyone who thinks this is Brian's unadulterated voice on these recent recordings is deluding themselves. His vocals have not only been comped, but also pitch corrected.

And these techniques will be all over the new BB album if  "Do It Again" is anything to go on.

But so what? We're still getting the essential timbre of their voices, and, as someone pointed out recently, they've been using studio trickery on their voices since they first overdubbed themselves back in '63,

Pitch correction, if done tastefully and sparingly, is a wonderful tool. Do you really think if Brian had had the ability to autotune back in the day he wouldn't have used it?. Just listen to that "Hang On To Your Ego" session with Al for the answer.

So I think we're in agreement really. If it sounds good, who cares how it's been done.

[Wirestone]

I will say that it was insisted upon when BWRG was released -- by Andrew, actually -- that no autotune was used on the album. He cited his sources.

Whatever the case, I think the amount of audible processing on the Disney albums and the new DiA are quite different. The two albums have a much drier, naturalistic sound on Brian's vocals (the Like in I Love You excepted). The new DiA sounds pretty darn processed, from Mike to Jeff and everyone in between.

This has nothing to do with what was actually done, mind you. Just what the final product sounds like.

[Iron Horse-Apples]

Yes, Jeff in particular sounds heavily pitch straightened.

[Sam_BFC]

I think the main thing he is really great at now is doing a sensitive ballad-type vocal, and I hope that is the role he is most used in on the new album. And I think they should leave the rockers, for the most part to Al, and occasionally Mike.

Yes, yes and double yes. Brian's not bad on the up-tempo numbers live these days (he seems to feed off the band's energy), but they don't quite work on the Gershwin and Disney albums.

I Just Can't Wait To Be King?

[Lowbacca]

I think the main thing he is really great at now is doing a sensitive ballad-type vocal, and I hope that is the role he is most used in on the new album. And I think they should leave the rockers, for the most part to Al, and occasionally Mike.

Yes, yes and double yes. Brian's not bad on the up-tempo numbers live these days (he seems to feed off the band's energy), but they don't quite work on the Gershwin and Disney albums.

I Just Can't Wait To Be King?

Brian ROCKZ "I Just Can't Wait To Be King" on ITKOD! Best version ever recorded.

[b00ts]

I'm just trying to figure how somebody thinks BW vocals today are better than they were in '88!

Um ... because they clearly are? Certainly on record, BWRG and ITKOD are light years ahead of any vocals he's put on tape since the early 70s.

*koff* Comped. *koff*

I assume they had the ability to edit various vocal takes together in 1988 as well, Andrew. Actually, I'm fairly certain they had that ability in the 1960s, too. Yet having that in your production arsenal does not make for automatically euphonious vocals.

Exactly. Comping is standard practice, and could be done just as well in 2004 as in 2011... But there has been a sea change in Brian's ability to sing with subtletly and warmth, especially with BWRG/ITKOD. Maybe his voice is physically older/has less stamina than in 1988, but he knows how to sing sweetly and dynamically, in a way that he hadn't for nigh on 40 years.

[onkster]

OK. Comping, yeah, pro or con.

My point: wouldn't it be cool to have a better-sounding BW88? Preferably by doing a nice live version?

[Dave in KC]

Just for the record, as per the previous post about Brian's present day vocals vs. '88. There is no doubt he absolutely killed it on the Gershwin album. And the Disney album made my wife cry.

[hypehat]

Oh come on, it wasn't THAT bad 

[Awesoman]

I really like the songs on BW88. As many have already mentioned, the production sounds a bit dated these days, as much synth/mechanized gizmos were used...

Wouldn't it be nice if BW and his talented band could work up a live rendition of that album, and do it in a Burbank studio for HBO or something similar, just so we could have a more natural version of that great album? His band could make the arrangements feels less techno, and BW's vocals would likely be much better now.

What say y'all?

Nah.  Next topic, please.

[Awesoman]

Oh come on, it wasn't THAT bad 

...awwww ya beat me to it! 

[Chris Brown]

OK. Comping, yeah, pro or con.

My point: wouldn't it be cool to have a better-sounding BW88? Preferably by doing a nice live version?

I do think that some parts of BW88 could be improved upon by 2012 Brian and his band, with more tasteful production.  His vocals could be improved in spots (less shouty), and a less dated sound would help - my main reservation though is that despite sounding pretty darn good these days, he had a much clearer tone and better range 25 years ago, and I would miss hearing his dynamic voice.  I would also miss the "wall of Brian" harmonies, which, in my opinion anyways, sounded great during that era. 

[Wirestone]

I think the main thing he is really great at now is doing a sensitive ballad-type vocal, and I hope that is the role he is most used in on the new album. And I think they should leave the rockers, for the most part to Al, and occasionally Mike.

Yes, yes and double yes. Brian's not bad on the up-tempo numbers live these days (he seems to feed off the band's energy), but they don't quite work on the Gershwin and Disney albums.

I Just Can't Wait To Be King?

Brian ROCKZ "I Just Can't Wait To Be King" on ITKOD! Best version ever recorded.

Wow! That is my least favorite song on the album. I love the idea of it -- Bo beat! -- but Brian sounds a little winded to me. Maybe I'll have to listen again.

It would be interesting to have a "live in the studio" version of BW88 -- maybe for its 25th anniversary last next year. That way you could edit a few takes together to get more consistent vocals from Brian. And they really should bring Andy Paley back to the band if they do it, too.