That weird sound on Gold Dust Woman...
 

I recently bought the Classic Albums - Rumours documentary on DVD and was struck by one particular detail ...

Lindsey is shown breaking down the original album version of the song into the various instruments and he's saying how it was very loose, musically. The final part he plays he calls 'the loosest of all' .... and subsequently plays a sound that sounds like a screaming guitar, a screaming voice or both.

If you listen to the album version of the song, this sound can be heard around the 4:35 minute mark.

I've debated this with friends and over and over in my head, and am still not sure whether it's a voice or guitar. On the DVD it starts off like a guitar, but then sounds more and more human ...

[My father reckons it's a cat being run over by a truck, but we'll say nothing about that.]

If anyone's got any further details or opinions I'd love to hear them!

my bet it's Stevie howling, imitating a guitar.

I LOVE that part, and I've always thought it was Stevie screaming. I think if you listen, you can hear some Lindsey screams too in the same section.
I think Lindsey kinda confirms this in the Rumours doc when he says something about, "I think it's fair to say we were under a fair amount of duress" during the screams.

Well, I'd say......


your father is right.......

That's one of my favorite parts!! I also love it when he talks about GDW being a rather acrimonious song and then he says "the acrimony was probably directed at me" with an impish little grin on his face. Makes me laugh every time.

i believe those screaming banshees to belong to stevie, and maybe lindsey too. a good indicator is when you listen to the very early live rumours shows, including the rehearsals obviously. stevie tries to mimic those sounds on the record. the best version in that respect has got to be philly 3-77. she did this mariah carey/opera thing before the song fades where she held probably the highest note she's ever done in her life for a good 6 or 7 seconds. if you've heard it, you know what i'm talking about.

I think it is Stevie screeching. You really hear it on the Staying True Unmixed Rumours GDW. I heard more on that version than on even the remastered Rumours. I think LB's mention of "being under duress" while speaking of this song and playing this part gives credibility that it is Stevie's screeching. This is, without question, one of my most favorite parts.

I have not heard the Philly '77 version, but would love to! If any kind soul out there could email it to me, that would be GREAT!

I love those sounds!! I've never been sure what they are either - I always figured it was something that was grossly messed with by Linds. But they are the perfect way to end the song. The sounds do have a somewhat more technical sound than human sound, to my ears anyway. Though they could be Stevie moaning and crying out put through Lindsey's manipulations...

You can download the whole show (and a whole heap of others) here:

fmp3.de

Wow that's a great Oh Daddy! :woohoo:

Whoa, I just downloaded it. That's incredible! :shocked:

You're telling me!

:eek: that was pretty much my face when I heard it! I didn't know she had that in her....

damn

Thanks much!! :wavey:

It sounds like Stevie growling to me.

:eek: I agree!! That's amazing ... who'd have thought? Took an hour to dowload [lousy dial-up connection] but was so worth it!! Reminds me a little of Kate Bush ... I think that provides fairly conclusive evidence that it's her voice ... thanks everyone!