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young stranger · 12-19-2000, 03:41 PM

There is definitely a change that cannot be helped. As far as the recording techniques go, I am not that knowledgeable, but I know I have read interviews in which Gord prides himself on NOT using many of the technological marvels that others use. He says he has been criticized for it, but adds that he believes it's a "damn honest sound." Even the untrained ear can see some truth in that by listening to Sunday Concert. What a joy to go to a concert where the band, and especially the singer's voice, sound just like the recordings. I also heard it on the tape Charlene sent us which included some older footage. On all those older live performances, his voice is just as we hear it on the albums from the 60's and 70's. Then something most definitely happened that I don't think has that much to do with any technology changes. We try to find the answer by suggesting years of substance abuse, but then realize that there are many singers in their 60's and even 70's who abused drugs and/or alcohol, but still have deep voices. Maybe Gord's case does have to do in part with substances he used. They can affect different people in different ways, so maybe it affected Gord's voice but not Sinatra's. And perhaps it is more age than anything else, again affecting some people's voices more than others, or a combination of all of these things and maybe others. He also is quite a bit thinner than he used to be, and I forget right now exactly when that happened, but perhaps that affected things too. In any case, there is definitely a real, physical change that took place, but you can't argue on one point: the man can still sing. I noticed, like others, that it takes him a few songs to get warmed up and then he starts sounding like the younger Gord, but never quite as deep. And I did notice that he changes some notes that used to be higher. For instance, in Rainy Day People, he no longer goes for the high note on the line, "...if you've been down to long." But for those of you with a copy of Much More Music or with some footage from the PBS special from Reno, watch and listen again, and take in the whole package. The band sounds terrific. I could watch Terry Clements play that lead guitar all concert long and the others are just as good. And even though Gord's voice is different, he still sings great; with all the feeling and sincerity he always did.

12-19-2000, 03:41 PM	#20
young stranger Member Join Date: Jun 2000 Location: New England Posts: 62	There is definitely a change that cannot be helped. As far as the recording techniques go, I am not that knowledgeable, but I know I have read interviews in which Gord prides himself on NOT using many of the technological marvels that others use. He says he has been criticized for it, but adds that he believes it's a "damn honest sound." Even the untrained ear can see some truth in that by listening to Sunday Concert. What a joy to go to a concert where the band, and especially the singer's voice, sound just like the recordings. I also heard it on the tape Charlene sent us which included some older footage. On all those older live performances, his voice is just as we hear it on the albums from the 60's and 70's. Then something most definitely happened that I don't think has that much to do with any technology changes. We try to find the answer by suggesting years of substance abuse, but then realize that there are many singers in their 60's and even 70's who abused drugs and/or alcohol, but still have deep voices. Maybe Gord's case does have to do in part with substances he used. They can affect different people in different ways, so maybe it affected Gord's voice but not Sinatra's. And perhaps it is more age than anything else, again affecting some people's voices more than others, or a combination of all of these things and maybe others. He also is quite a bit thinner than he used to be, and I forget right now exactly when that happened, but perhaps that affected things too. In any case, there is definitely a real, physical change that took place, but you can't argue on one point: the man can still sing. I noticed, like others, that it takes him a few songs to get warmed up and then he starts sounding like the younger Gord, but never quite as deep. And I did notice that he changes some notes that used to be higher. For instance, in Rainy Day People, he no longer goes for the high note on the line, "...if you've been down to long." But for those of you with a copy of Much More Music or with some footage from the PBS special from Reno, watch and listen again, and take in the whole package. The band sounds terrific. I could watch Terry Clements play that lead guitar all concert long and the others are just as good. And even though Gord's voice is different, he still sings great; with all the feeling and sincerity he always did.