That weird sound on Gold Dust Woman...

Sahara · #1 05-10-2005, 02:38 PM

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!

Mari · #2 05-10-2005, 02:44 PM

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

blinker12 · #3 05-10-2005, 03:38 PM

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.

shackin'up · #4 05-10-2005, 03:57 PM

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

your father is right.......

cliffdweller · #5 05-10-2005, 04:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by blinker12

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.

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.

#6 05-10-2005, 09:10 PM

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.

Mad4stevie · #7 05-10-2005, 10:20 PM

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!

blinker12 · #8 05-11-2005, 01:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by joe

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.

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

shackin'up · #9 05-15-2005, 01:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by joe

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.

Incredible.
But if Mariah Carey did that she would be shot by her vocal coach. Oh no, She only ends up doing that in case she's been forced into a mental hospital.... This is rock 'n' roll. Not singing tricks.

Ghost_Tracker · #10 12-08-2007, 02:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by blinker12

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.

I think it was probably both Stevie screaming and Lindsey on guitar. Maybe L. screaming too.

I don't doubt that they were under a certain amount of duress, but so were the factory workers ten miles away being told to get the damn widgett made by 5 p.m. or they'd be fired. Don't get me wrong - Believe me - I GET it. But I really feel that Lindsey was playing things up in the Rumours Doc. for "dramatic effect." They wanted an "eerie" feeling at that part of the album and that's what they created on that particular day of very hard work.

David · #11 12-08-2007, 01:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ghost_Tracker

I think it was probably both Stevie screaming and Lindsey on guitar. Maybe L. screaming too.

I agree. Even on the March 1977 concert that was posted here, I think the guitar is part of the shrill sound. Lindsey used to do that: merge his high-pitched guitar tone with Stevie's vocal. Just listen to the middle of Rhiannon from the Osaka 12.04.77 tape. He & Stevie employ this effect right there.

Quote:

I don't doubt that they were under a certain amount of duress, but so were the factory workers ten miles away being told to get the damn widgett made by 5 p.m. or they'd be fired. Don't get me wrong - Believe me - I GET it. But I really feel that Lindsey was playing things up in the Rumours Doc. for "dramatic effect." They wanted an "eerie" feeling at that part of the album and that's what they created on that particular day of very hard work.

I think you're absolutely spot on here. Like almost everything else on the album, the tag out on Gold Dust Woman isn't a Method exercise or a primal-scream therapy session. It's a calculated effect that must have been planned out & listened to on tape hundreds of times -- & maybe even spliced together from multiple takes -- to create mood & mystery (as Esquire put it in its review: "the Welsh witch howls that end the record"). People sometimes seem too naive when they mistake life for art, possibly from watching too many episodes of "The Real World" or "Temptation Island" & assuming it's transparent "real life." The idea that the Fleetwood Macsters are always living the emotional turmoil written about in the song AT THE TIME of recording it is as silly as the idea that the actors onstage performing the final act of "Long Day's Journey" are actually confronted with a morphine addict.

danax6 · #12 12-08-2007, 01:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ghost_Tracker

I think it was probably both Stevie screaming and Lindsey on guitar. Maybe L. screaming too.

I don't doubt that they were under a certain amount of duress, but so were the factory workers ten miles away being told to get the damn widgett made by 5 p.m. or they'd be fired. Don't get me wrong - Believe me - I GET it. But I really feel that Lindsey was playing things up in the Rumours Doc. for "dramatic effect." They wanted an "eerie" feeling at that part of the album and that's what they created on that particular day of very hard work.

I really think he was just joking. If not, well, I still laughed.

**mylittledemon** · #13 05-12-2005, 06:58 AM

It sounds like Stevie growling to me.

sara31tx · #14 12-06-2007, 04:46 PM

That sound is Stevie Screaming, I also read that lindsey came up with the idea of broken glass in the song.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sahara

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!