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View Full Version : Smile at You: New Edit


Netter75
06-08-2018, 01:05 AM
Hi everyone! Not sure if anyone is interested/if this is the place to put this but here it is for anyone looking for a slightly different take on an old song.

I'm a big fan of Smile at You in all forms, but particularly the one from the Tusk sessions. I like how Stevie's in good vocal form and it starts feeling "fragile" before escalating into "angry" with the dueling vocals (depending on the take you're listening to).

The problem is it very much feels like an early outtake and more studio polish would be needed for it to reach its potential. The levels of the backing vocals on the choruses always bothered me a bit, and it doesn't feel like the song reaches the intensity that it should (like it does in the Mirage outtakes). After listening to the different versions I decided to take a crack at it.

Obviously I don't know anything about professional audio mixing and haven't attempted something like this before... but here's what I threw together:
1. Compiled using the various 1978 takes of "Smile at You" I found here on The Ledge. I did not slap them over each other and tried to add backing vocals where I thought they added to the effect and messed with their levels to varying degrees.
2. Added rain effect for the first 30 seconds and the last minute, with some thunder cracks in rhythm with the drums to add intensity. Can't decide whether this adds to the song or makes it super cheesy.
3. Added extra vocal samplings in various spots around the song, including some from Christine (though they're really light).
4. Messed with the EQ levels and erased the tape hiss.
5. Added reverb on the backing vocals to add to the witchy-ness.

Anyway, here's the link: http://www.mediafire.com/file/pv629ba5dus7geb/Smile%20At%20You%20%28Stormy%20Weather%20Remix%29.mp3

Hope you enjoy! I'd love to hear what you think, good or bad :D.

DownOnRodeo
06-08-2018, 03:00 AM
Nice work. :)

Perhaps the rain will solve her flaming walls problem.

HomerMcvie
06-08-2018, 07:40 AM
Nice work. :)

Perhaps the rain will solve her flaming walls problem.

I always thought some Preparation H might be what she needs...

SisterNightroad
06-08-2018, 07:46 AM
I always thought some Preparation H might be what she needs...
Actually that line always made me think more about antifungal medications.

HomerMcvie
06-08-2018, 07:49 AM
Actually I've always thought more about antifungal medications.

Maybe that's what's made her so mean in recent years? Ain't nothing worse than constant cootchie itch.:wavey::laugh:

SisterNightroad
06-08-2018, 09:23 AM
Ain't nothing worse than constant cootchie itch.:wavey::laugh:
I can't say what this makes me think about instead...

BombaySapphire3
06-08-2018, 01:28 PM
Maybe that's what's made her so mean in recent years? Ain't nothing worse than constant cootchie itch.:wavey::laugh:

The once frequently visited oasis is now dry as a bone.

HomerMcvie
06-08-2018, 01:51 PM
The once frequently visited oasis is now dry as a bone.

Ain't nobody wants to ride dat ride!:D

SisterNightroad
06-08-2018, 03:38 PM
Ain't nobody wants to ride dat ride!:D

The once frequently visited oasis is now dry as a bone.
You're getting older too...

jbrownsjr
06-08-2018, 03:39 PM
You're getting older too...

You're just a kiss away, from where I don't know.

SisterNightroad
06-08-2018, 03:47 PM
You're just a kiss away, from where I don't know.
<iframe width="854" height="480" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/WH6kBq1lVgo" frameborder="0" allow="autoplay; encrypted-media" allowfullscreen></iframe>

jwd
06-08-2018, 05:28 PM
You're just a kiss away, from where I don't know.

"just a kiss away" reminds me of this

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/RbmS3tQJ7Os" frameborder="0" allow="autoplay; encrypted-media" allowfullscreen></iframe>

SteveMacD
06-08-2018, 07:05 PM
"just a kiss away" reminds me of this

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/RbmS3tQJ7Os" frameborder="0" allow="autoplay; encrypted-media" allowfullscreen></iframe>

Which again begs how awesome it would have been if they had gotten Mick Taylor instead of Dave Mason and had Bekka and Billy sing this.

vivfox
06-08-2018, 09:57 PM
My old bootleg of that song ended when she yells, "go outside!" So it was nice to hear the proper ending I had never heard before. The thunder u added into the beginning of the song sounds good but near the end, at least on my speakers, it made the sound feel muffled or cloudy. Keep experimenting with adding and subtracting to demos and in time you will be a whiz. Thank you for sharing.

Netter75
06-09-2018, 12:15 AM
My old bootleg of that song ended when she yells, "go outside!" So it was nice to hear the proper ending I had never heard before. The thunder u added into the beginning of the song sounds good but near the end, at least on my speakers, it made the sound feel muffled or cloudy. Keep experimenting with adding and subtracting to demos and in time you will be a whiz. Thank you for sharing.

Thanks for the feedback :D! You're right, there's probably too much going on in the mix at once for the thunder to be as loud as it is and overpower everything else. I'll lower the levels so its more in keeping with the rhythm track.

WeepingWall
06-09-2018, 11:34 AM
I completely agree with you that the song as released on the recent Deluxe edition still feels like an unfinished track, even though her vocals and the song itself are amazing. My main critique of your mix is that the levels are all over the place, but otherwise you did a lot of really fun things. The end is great and dramatic (cheesy but in a good way! -- very 60's The Ronettes or The Shangri- Las). I really enjoy when the thunder crashes on her intensity. The panning from left to right is a bit jarring, and then your layers go up and down in volume in a way that doesn't sound intentional. I'm excited to hear your next mix! Thanks for sharing.