It’s fair to say that the 1980s spawned more than a few overproduced records.
Certainly in the second half of the decade, itchy-fingered knob-twiddlers were very quick to swamp a track with all the latest technical gizmos.
But it’s also a producer’s job to get the best out of the musicians and singers he/she is working with, and to that extent the 1980s produced a surprising amount of suspect vocal performances.
Of course, there’s such a thing as good out-of-tune (Dylan, Chrissie Hynde, Neil Young, Randy Newman, Lou Reed, Boy George, Wayne Coyne) but there’s also just…out-of-tune.
Producers often claim that a ‘pitchy’ vocal is acceptable if the emotional force is there, but sometimes you just have to say: ‘Let’s try that one again’ (apparently rarely a problem for one-take masters David Bowie, Aretha Franklin and Billy Mackenzie, though the latter would insist on endless retakes, driving many collaborators to distraction). And there was a lot of money floating about in the ’80s so we can’t really blame time or budget pressures.
Here are seven takes that were probably best left on the cutting room floor. More suggestions please.
6. Yazz: The Only Way Is Up
Maybe it’s the timbre, maybe it’s the pitching, but there’s just something so wrong about the vocals on this huge hit that drove many to distraction in 1988.
5. Wah!: Story Of The Blues
Where to begin? The whole song sounds pretty out-of-tune to me…
4. The Eurythmics: There Must Be An Angel (Playing With My Heart)
This is a weird one. Of course Annie is a fantastic singer, but virtually the whole middle eight sounds just ‘out’ to my ears. The fact that her voice is so high in the mix doesn’t help.
3. The Smiths: Shakespeare’s Sister
Morrissey was always on the verge of a bum note, often in a good way, but this pushes it way too far.
2. Bette Midler: Wind Beneath My Wings
Another toe-curling vocal, particularly the ‘ad-libs’ towards the end.
1. The Communards: Don’t Leave Me This Way
Jimmy Somerville’s inimitable soprano is usually pretty damn foolproof but something goes seriously awry in the intro to this kitsch uber-hit. I blame guest singer Sarah Jane Morris.
Pretty much anything by human league; but let’s start with Don’t You Want Me.
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Ah yes, know what you’re saying, Seb. I’m generally a big fan of Le League and Oakey but his rather ‘monolithic’ vocal style does push the melodic envelope from time to time…
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I never knew that Yazz became a born-again Christian.
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Hi Suzanna, that’s news to me too. I’m not sure that singing was her calling but I guess you can’t argue with a hit as big as that (though I’ve just found it was a cover version – more on that later…).
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Agreed on all those songs Matt. I love Story of the Blues but always wondered if all that reverb on the production was to hide the fact that it’s ALL OUT OF BLOODY TUNE!!
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Ta Leon, good call. Reverb was always a good cover-up for a multitude of sins in the ’80s…
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…and let’s not forget anything sung by Marc Almond…
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Indeed! ‘Say Hello Wave Goodbye’ is a great song but the chorus is just painful…
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Loud Cough! Simon Le Bon
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Thanks for that, Yasmin! Of course, the famous Live Aid ‘View To A Kill’ bum note.
I must confess, I’ve had a cheeky pop at Simon’s vocals before… https://movingtheriver.com/2015/02/27/where-80s-pop-went-wrong-in-five-songs/
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