I just bought "Fresh" by Sly & the Family Stone and . . .

the whole record sounds so modern

jordan so otm, i can't even really think about this as a 1973 record even though the sound says somehow i should

brian eno also otm

http://beatpatrol.wordpress.com/2010/02/10/brian-eno-the-studio-as-compositional-tool-1983/

Then, from the time of Sly and the Family Stone’s Fresh album, there’s a flip over, where the rhythm instruments, particularly the bass drum and bass, suddenly become the important instruments in the mix. A timbral change also takes place. The bass becomes a very defined instrument; by the use of amplitude control filters, the bass actually begins to take on a very vocal attack. The bass drum gains a more physical sound, and also has a click to it; generally you’ll find that bass drums are equalized very heavily, something like 1000-1500 cycles, to give a real sharp click. It becomes the loudest instrument in disco — watch the vu meter while a disco track is playing, and you’ll see the needle peak each time the bass drum hits.

The hi-hats on "In-Time" blow me away (both playing-wise and recording/EQ-wise). The 16ths are so light and subtle and then the barks just scream (er, bark) out of the mix.
― Jordan (Jordan), Wednesday, December 14, 2005 2:02 PM (8 years ago) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink

yeah these type of drums are basically my favorite thing

Ha, I just randomly heard a song from this record the other day on the radio and totally though it was new song.

Thanks for that essay j

Goddamnit, if you don't think this album is classic YOU'RE FUCKING WRONG

It's the personal, sort of optimistic twin to Riot IMO. It's an album I want to make the whole world listen to and then I want them to fill out questionnaires about it and if I think you don't get its greatness, you'll listen again and again. Because its beautiful and sad and happy and funky and weird and that goddamn BASS and those fucking DRUMS man.

Their best album.

Eno otm about the centrality of the rhythm. Another Green World's "Over Fire Island" sounds like a product of this album.

My favourite Sly. Especially (as I've doubtless said already in this thread) the later mix that Sony accidentally pressed on CD in 91.

You are all right. And we need a deluxe 2cd version with both mixes and whatever else they can find. I'd pay for a third disc of just isolated drum and bass tracks.

I'd be happy if someone just pressed that alt mix on vinyl