"24 Karat Gold: Songs From The Vault" album discussion episode of Phonogenics 101

[mitzo]

The album is clearly a treat for real fans, the general public or casual fans are unlikely to get most of it. As one panelist said, it is honest and there is no grasping desperately for a radio hit and (almost) no cowrites or covers.

The songs are really Stevie and Dave Stewart seems to have let her run free here while supporting the songs with good production for the most part. Listen to some tricks here and there, like the whispered "wrap her in velvet" in the intro to 24 Karat Gold. In some cases, like Blue Water, Lady, She Loves Him Still it sounds like Stevie was working hard on the vocal or they did the vocal in one take, making it seem almost concert-like at times.

The discussion focused on comparisons to old demos a lot, which is typical of fans, but I like to take the finished products as they come.

I love the album, it is quirky and self-indulgent and rambling and Stevie. I always seem to deviate sharply from the majority of fans in this: My favourite thing about it is that it has no less than 4 ballads, 5 is you count Hard Advice. The best non-ballad is, of course, Mabel Normand, which is bat ***** crazy but delivered with such strength and conviction you are yanked hard into the nutso world of Stevie at her kookiest. A roller coaster ride of almost nonsense but sounding oh so important.

And unlike most, I put Watch Devil and Belle Fleur at the bottom of my list, that style of Stevie leaves me bored and cold. Or lying face-down in the rain...

[UnwindedDreams]

Originally Posted by mitzo

The album is clearly a treat for real fans, the general public or casual fans are unlikely to get most of it. As one panelist said, it is honest and there is no grasping desperately for a radio hit and (almost) no cowrites or covers.

The songs are really Stevie and Dave Stewart seems to have let her run free here while supporting the songs with good production for the most part. Listen to some tricks here and there, like the whispered "wrap her in velvet" in the intro to 24 Karat Gold. In some cases, like Blue Water, Lady, She Loves Him Still it sounds like Stevie was working hard on the vocal or they did the vocal in one take, making it seem almost concert-like at times.

The discussion focused on comparisons to old demos a lot, which is typical of fans, but I like to take the finished products as they come.

I love the album, it is quirky and self-indulgent and rambling and Stevie. I always seem to deviate sharply from the majority of fans in this: My favourite thing about it is that it has no less than 4 ballads, 5 is you count Hard Advice. The best non-ballad is, of course, Mabel Normand, which is bat ***** crazy but delivered with such strength and conviction you are yanked hard into the nutso world of Stevie at her kookiest. A roller coaster ride of almost nonsense but sounding oh so important.

And unlike most, I put Watch Devil and Belle Fleur at the bottom of my list, that style of Stevie leaves me bored and cold. Or lying face-down in the rain...

I never heard a whisper in 24 Karat Gold! Was the demo called Watch Devil rather than Watch Chain? I know lyrics from Watch Chain are in the Enchanted booklet.

[mitzo]

Originally Posted by UnwindedDreams

I never heard a whisper in 24 Karat Gold! Was the demo called Watch Devil rather than Watch Chain? I know lyrics from Watch Chain are in the Enchanted booklet.

Watch Chain or Devil... was not in the Enchanted box set at all. The 24 Karat Gold whisper is in the instrumental intro to the song. Sort of a whisper that blends with the music.

[UnwindedDreams]

Originally Posted by mitzo

Watch Chain or Devil... was not in the Enchanted box set at all.

Open the booklet within Enchanted and let us know what you see.

[mitzo]

Originally Posted by UnwindedDreams

Open the booklet within Enchanted and let us know what you see.

Yes a couple of lines are in there. Now go listen to 24KG and see if you can find that whisper.

[UnwindedDreams]

Originally Posted by mitzo

Now go listen to 24KG and see if you can find that whisper.

Too bad Team Stevie didn't include the whisper in this lyric video
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NQIk_SOsiys

[JeremyGloff]

I keep listening over and over and for the life of me I can't hear that whisper on the album version of "24 Karat Gold" - I was also the guy who never saw the "hidden picture" in those weird paintings back in the 90s lol. Where exactly in the song is this whisper? I've tried like 5 times with no luck!