One of the greatest milestones of any musician is their first recording session, but whilst it can be imposing and nerve-racking at first, choosing the right music studio space, practising your material, being focused and having the discipline to get the takes you need are all recipes for success.
Of course, not every session is quite this smooth. Sometimes material that works well in a live setting needs to be adjusted, final takes and versions of songs need to be agreed upon, strings break, and the acoustics need to be adjusted to capture the exact sound a band wants.
Sometimes, however, abject chaos reigns, but as these examples prove, there are still many lessons to learn even in the midst of chaos.
Born Again – Black Sabbath
The recording of Black Sabbath’s legendary debut album is arguably one of the most efficient uses of studio time ever; over the space of 12 hours, they recorded their entire live set in almost one take per song.
However, by contrast, many of their live sessions were legendarily chaotic, even if they managed to put their hedonism aside to produce albums as critically and commercially acclaimed as Vol 4 and Sabbath Bloody Sabbath.
There was the famous story of Live Evil’s mixing session, where then-singer Ronnie James Dio was accused of sneaking into the studio and raising the volume of his vocals in the mix.
However, possibly the most chaotic session was the one afterwards for Born Again. Early on in the mixing process, then-singer Ian Gillan accidentally blew the speakers, leading to a muffled, unclear mix that lingered for years.
What Can You Learn From The Born Again Fiasco?
- Understand your equipment before you start.
- Make sure you test everything before going gold.
- Trust your instincts if you suspect an issue.
Remain In Light – Talking Heads
By contrast, Brian Eno’s mixing philosophy on the release of The Talking Heads’ critically acclaimed Remain In Light involved recording every track separately and discontinuously in order to emphasise every element individually.
It was the opposite of how music is meant to be recorded with a band, but it worked to utter perfection thanks to the skilled playing of the band, the quirkiness of David Byrne’s vocal performances and Mr Eno’s sheer skill at the desk. It is the exception that proves the rule.
What Can You Learn From Remain In Light’s Recording?
- In the right circumstances, you can break recording rules and create a quality product.
- Consider before entering the studio which elements of your music should harmonise and which should stand out.
- Trying to bring every instrument to the top the mix creates a discordant sound.
Fetch The Bolt Cutters – Fiona Apple
Whilst a borderline example due to largely being recorded in a home studio, Fiona Apple’s Fetch the Bolt Cutters was recorded in a truly chaotic, roughshod way.
It was made using GarageBand, but because Fiona Apple didn’t know how to use it initially, each song is largely composed of long takes, filled with mistakes, ambient sounds and unusual percussions. Dogs bark, doorbells ring, and birds sing harmonies alongside her own.
The result was serendipitous, and it showed that, in some cases at least, having something to work with is better than waiting for perfection.
What Can You Learn From Fetch The Bolt Cutters?
- It takes time to learn and understand studio recording and editing equipment, so work with professionals if you do not have that time.
- Much of the beauty of the final mix is brought out through editing and post-production.
- It is far better to have music recorded that you can work with than to consistently wait for the perfect situation.
