Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

Hi all.

Some of you may recall that Brian and I put together a track in 2006 called 'Nothing Ain't Real'. Despite our best intentions and earnest desires nothing further came from the ICBM studio until now. A fortnight or so ago Brian was noodling away - as he often does - and suggested we try a cover this time.... "Under My Thumb" by the Stones.

We commenced recording around noon on Sunday the 10th and apart from some mixing had it 'in the can' on Monday the 11th - about 8 hours recording time in total.

There's not a lot of Rick content in this one but we're planning on doing an original this week which will be full of it!!

All tracks were recorded through mics - nothing direct. Even the drums were played through one of the Peavey amps to provide some ambience and a 'live' sound as against an 'electronic' one. Here's the equipment list:

Rickenbacker 4003 bass
Takamine F340 acoustic guitar
Fender '61 resissue Stratocaster
Custom built 'Fender' Stratocaster
Yamaha RX-21 drum machine
Roland XP-50 workstation
LP tambourine
Sunn Model T head with Behringer 8X10 bass cabinet
2 x Peavey 212 Stereo Chorus amps
Marshall MX1 V67 microphone
Fender P51 microphone
Alto AMX100 mixer
Creative Soundblaster Audigy Z2 Platinum Pro sound card and hub
Cakewalk Pro Audio 9 software
Labtec mixing/playback monitor system

The tracks were recorded in the following order:

Drums - Yamaha san
Acoustic rhythm guitar - Howard
Electric rhythm guitar (Fender '61 reissue) - Howard
Bass - Brian
Keyboard rhythm (piano) - Brian
Keyboard lead (vibraphone) - Brian
Drum fills and cymbal clashes - Brian
Tambourine - Howard
Lead guitar (custom built 'Fender') - Brian
Vocals - Brian

We'd appreciate you taking the time to have a listen and give us your feedback - good and bad..... please make it constructive in the case of the latter!!

Under My Thumb

Many thanks to Peter for providing the link...... you're a champ!

Cheers!!

Love it,love the laid back smokey feel to this with the lazy Growl of rhythm! Nice one guys im a fan.

Great stuff, Brian and Aitch!!

Good work, Guys! I am really enjoying this recording.

Dig the lo-fi feel of it. It's nice that you kept elements of the original while adding a bit of your own flair to it. The key to getting a live feel is really the reverb. Check out my album that I posted earlier (viewtopic.php?f=11&t=383772). I tried to get a real live sound going on that album, even though everything was recorded separately. I think your vocals are a little too dry/loud and stand out from the rest of the instrumentation too much. In turn, the instruments could be eq'd to push the highs so that they'd open up a little and fit in with the vocals.

1965 wrote:Dig the lo-fi feel of it. It's nice that you kept elements of the original while adding a bit of your own flair to it. The key to getting a live feel is really the reverb. Check out my album that I posted earlier (viewtopic.php?f=11&t=383772). I tried to get a real live sound going on that album, even though everything was recorded separately. I think your vocals are a little too dry/loud and stand out from the rest of the instrumentation too much. In turn, the instruments could be eq'd to push the highs so that they'd open up a little and fit in with the vocals.

Great performance(s) guys!

I agree with Wes that the backing instruments could use a little eqing, especially the drums, and maybe a touch more reverb on aitch's guitars. However, I love the lead guitar and vocal track as is.

This is, of course, the never-washed, burnt-out pot calling the kettle black. I make no claims to being a production guru!

ICBM scores a direct hit!

Personally, I think reverb on the vocals would have taken away from their impact and just washed out the mix. Since the song has such a laid back feel, the vocals offer a narrative that keeps the vibe consistant, and more natural sounding.

1965 wrote:Dig the lo-fi feel of it.

Sorry 1965 (Wes), Aitch and I have conferred and we have no idea what "lo-fi" is. Is that a (perhaps uncomplimentary?) remark with respect to the recording and/or the playing?

We are at a loss, perhaps it's because we are Australian and British and we don't understand this expression? We would love to hear the explanation of that term.............please.

Thanks to everybody for the great feedback so far.

winston wrote:

1965 wrote:Dig the lo-fi feel of it.

Sorry 1965 (Wes), Aitch and I have conferred and we have no idea what "lo-fi" is. Is that a (perhaps uncomplimentary?) remark with respect to the recording and/or the playing?

We are at a loss, perhaps it's because we are Australian and British and we don't understand this expression? We would love to hear the explanation of that term.............please.

I think it's a huge compliment Brian! At least to me, lo-fi is a simple, stripped-back approach to production and arrangement that eschews masses of over-ornate muck and lets the soul of the music come out. Classic lo-fi is a recording of a live performance, with no studio jiggery-pokery after the fact.

I liked it just the way it is.

Sounds great, guys! It's a real treat to hear a new ICBM release.... Count me in as a fan!

[quote="whojamfan"]ICBM scores a direct hit!

Another innovataive accomplishment on a good-old tune by ICBM... solid, pulsating, rocking rhythmn; very tasteful guitar licks/solos and great vocals. The blend of background instruments was very well scripted and carried the tune very well. Definitely will add this to the list of favorites to play frequently.

The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame nomination is coming soon for ICBM !!

Now, we want to see you guys with an intergalactic web-cam hookup for a live rendition posting on You Tube !

I am an ICBM fan ..... bring us more !!
Thanks for sending the download.
Best Regards
Rich F.

Rich,

You are far too kind in your assessment but we thank you never the less.

Aitch is leaving on Friday and we are hoping to at least have a bed track for one of my original songs completed before he leaves. At this point we have worked out the arrangement and some of the parts and what instruments will be played. Even though I have been "noodling" somewhat this evening I have to work out a bass progression yet that I like for the song, so that is a work in progress.

I am confident that given the time left that we can knock off another effort although it may well turn out just as "lo-fi" as the last one.

Oh and by the way lest I forget, apart from the drums of course, It is our plan that this song will feature nothing but Rickenbacker instruments in it.

Hi Brian and Aitch,

great effort, I enjoyed every minute of it.

Looking forward to more.

Aitch is leaving on Friday and we are hoping to at least have a bed track for one of my original songs completed before he leaves. At this point we have worked out the arrangement and some of the parts and what instruments will be played. Even though I have been "noodling" somewhat this evening I have to work out a bass progression yet that I like for the song, so that is a work in progress.

I am confident that given the time left that we can knock off another effort although it may well turn out just as "lo-fi" as the last one.

Oh and by the way lest I forget, apart from the drums of course, It is our plan that this song will feature nothing but Rickenbacker instruments in it.

Brian --Sounds like ICBM should launch your new original song on the new upcoming RRF Forum CD#2

Rich F.