Songs that start out sounding like they're playing through a tinny radio before bursting into full produced stereo

This seems like a fave trick of '90s alternative rock.

"the way" by fastball

"candy" by trusty

Pink Floyd on the song "Wish you were here".

in my head "sucked out" by superdrag did this but apparently i was wrong

'I've Got A Flair' - Fountains Of Wayne

same but different

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FHOW_9Ypomw

Couple of dudes from my high school cut a jam band album in the 00s that featured this effect on the first track

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gpW9MvgGXoU

even tho it's the Searchers playing, it kinad counts....

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u5w2RLBdA2Q

music sounds better with you

Paramore's "Misery Business" (but with the song's riff playing on horns on an old-timey victrola)

i can never tell if this is what Pearl Jam's "Black" is doing or not

PJ Harvey - Highway 61 Revisited

The Fall - Bury Pts 1 & 3

I think their Paintwork does a similar thing throughout. As does PIL's Religion.

There's gotta be a Green Day song that does this.

The Raspberries' "Overnight Sensation (Hit Record)" goes in the opposite direction
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s82ho7w9X6Q

Comet Gain - The Kids at the Club

Minor Threat - Stepping Stone

Happy Man - Sparklehorse

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ccd_-jBK-lA

Am sure Tarnation and His Name Is Alive have tracks that do this.

I've used this trick myself!

Collective Soul - "Gel"

QUOTSA- the first tune off songs for the deaf. And multiple others off that record

Chumbawamba - Tubthumping

The Wildhearts - Pissjoy, if by 'bursting into full produced stereo' you mean 'attempting to destroy your speakers'

Mr. Blue Sky - ELO

Also, Honey Pie by The Beatles if we count old timely scratchy record effects, too.

"people of the sky" by sloan

Although they're technically two different songs, the opening of Foxbase Alpha is my favorite example of this combination. This Is Radio Etienne leading directly to Only Love Can Break Your Heart. I prefer to hear them together.

Madonna - "Hung Up"

Darkness-I Believe in a Thing Called Love, IIRC

yes just for the opening guitar chords

Also, Honey Pie by The Beatles if we count old timely scratchy record effects, too.

That would mean we'd have to count XTC's 'Respectable Street' too (album version)

"people of the sky" by sloan

such a great song!

Built to Spill, "Made-Up Dreams"

Raspberries' entry is by far the best use of this trick

I've thought of one that does this at the end of the song - "Rage In Eden" by Ultravox.

The "rock band" segment of "This Flight Tonight" by Joni Mitchell.

I've thought of one that does this at the end of the song - "Rage In Eden" by Ultravox.

― Kent Burt, Sunday, January 6, 2013 2:07 AM (56 minutes ago) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink

Came into this thread to say that I'd thought of this as an example of a song that does it in reverse. Delighted that someone beat me to it, though!

Wussy - Airbourne

If we count videos, "Swagger Jagger"

SUFJAN GRAFTON are you talking about who I think you're talking about

In not sure...

*i'm

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fJAbycTe5VM

*drops a name*

Beastie's "Hey Ladies" has that thing where it pops into stereo on the verse riff.

does 'owner of a lonely heart' qualify?

The lead vocal of "Video Killed the Radio Star." If that's one of the youtubes posted upthread, oh well -- I have images off.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hjg39XRkjVc

noooo I'm about to go to sleep and it's suddenly the face of Art Alexakis

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Af-XYfFUZ3o

florrie - i took a little something

stp "dead and bloated"

nsync "gone"

I'm trying to remember if the Monkees' "Magnolia Simms" ever shifts out of scratchy, old-timey mode.

Well if we're including songs that sounds like they are on scratchy vinyl - "Honey pie" - then let's include "This is the way" by Ultra Vivid Scene - except it never blows up into full blown stereo, it just says scratchy all the way in a most annoying way. There is a His Name Is Alive song that does this too, can't remember the name but it had a chorus like "I can't live at home in this world anymore" and was on "Stars of ESP".

Comet Gain - The Kids at the Club

I was trying to figure out how this fit but you must be talking about that re-recorded version they did a few years ago?

My Bloody Valentine - "Soon"

insert "no the whole record is tinny" joke here

Queen "Mustapha"

Yeah, in the mid to late 90's, this was called the Mark Trombino Jump

Oh, and "Just like Gene Autry : a foxtrot" by Moby Grape. So authentic that it played at 78 rpm on the original LP.

Dang, beaten by 3 minutes to that one!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M3f8VUZ5xAU

Daniel Johnston - Now

does 'owner of a lonely heart' qualify?

― rap steve gadd (D-40), Saturday, January 5, 2013 11:45 PM (Yesterday) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink

Good call. I was wondering that myself, but since it's just the one drum bit, it's more likely a Trevor Horn tic than a conscious attempt to make it sound like a radio.

Ben Folds Five, "Underground"

The visual equivalent of this phenomenon:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pmtIL1x725U

Pagan Angel And A Borrowed Car by Iron and Wine
Birdhouse in Your Soul by They Might be Giants

Portishead - Strangers.

Though it has a couple of bars of full stereo before going tinny-crackly and back again.

whatever the first song on blood sugar sex magic is called

Eels - Novacaine For the Soul

Weezer - Runaway

(if we can include dictaphone intros)

I'm trying to remember if the Monkees' "Magnolia Simms" ever shifts out of scratchy, old-timey mode.

No, it doesn't. There's even a note on the sleeve saying so.

Phil Ochs did a similar track around the same time--"Half A Century High" maybe?

not sure if Cut Copy - "Strangers in the Wind" qualifies

Slayer = Ghosts of War . also a tune on the new Soundgarden

Undertones - "Get Over You"

Ramones - "Do You Remember Rock and Roll Radio"

i don't know if "tiny" but Sonic Youth - Mote

sometimes i wish they made a full song out of that 2 seconds opening sound there

goofy's concern - butthole surfers

probably something by Man Or Astro Man?

One Big Family by Embrace.

First time I ever heard this effect was on the Chili Peppers' "The Power of Equality". I was 13 or so and that shit was like wow.

"If You All Get To Heaven" - Terence Trent D'Arby

aimee mann – 'amateur'
they might be giants – 'with the dark'

Kept trying to think of a Who song that would fit this and realized there isn't one. There's a whole album, though:
http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_M9Gmi7m9JCM/S7x8d6lfsLI/AAAAAAAAAFA/sa5uMKvgrhY/s200/concept09-The-Who-Sell-Out.jpg

"Don Caballero 3"

Ruins - Quetzalcoatl (first issue only? was checking out YT for audio clips and apparently the remaster doesn't include the muted drum intro)

Natalia Lafourcade & Gilberto Gil, "Farolito"

First time I ever heard this effect was on the Chili Peppers' "The Power of Equality". I was 13 or so and that shit was like wow.

the power of equalization

"The Love I'm Searching For" by the Rentals. I recently revisited this album and it's great! It's aged quite well.

Songs that start out sounding like they're playing through a tinny radio telephone before bursting into full produced stereo:

"You Burn Me Up I'm a Cigarette" - Robert Fripp

And of course "Telephone Line" - Electric Light Orchestra, but only the vocal

team dresch - screwing yer courage

Pale Saints - Way the World Is

Wings' "You Gave Me the Answer" has the "megaphone vocal," too.

"hummer" by smashing pumpkins, duh