Rock A Little ~ Outtakes, Demos & Alternates - Page 8

randydesertrat · #**106** 05-14-2011, 08:53 AM

As you all are no doubt aware, most of the Rock A Little outtakes and demos speeds are quite fast due to multiple copying and sharing via cassette format back in the day. At times Stevie sounds like a girl of 13 or a singing chipmunk! I have always wanted to get around to restoring these fast tracks to their proper speed and pitch. I have begun with Mirror, Mirror since we have a finished released track for a guide.

There are seven known tracks of Mirror, Mirror out there; the released track plus six outtakes. I am posting the outtakes here in WAV format. They have been restored to proper pitch and speed and have been optimized in volume to Odb. The audio quality of the tracks varies but is mostly good.

Of the six outtakes there are two different versions of the song. The first version is the "rock version" with the steady beat, different melody and lyrics. The second version is the one with the same backing track as the released version with five different vocal takes by Stevie.

Mirror, Mirror [Version #1]:
http://www.mediafire.com/download.php?2uun5elj3wc2ykl

There is no known complete copy of this version in circulation. In this outtake the music fades out midway through and then fades back in. For this pitch restored version I have spliced these two sections together so that the music never completely fades away and it sounds more like one take. For the pitch restoration I used the song "Rock A Little (Go Ahead Lily)" as my guide and that seemed a good match.

Mirror, Mirror [Version #2, Vocal #1]:
http://www.mediafire.com/download.php?hnbcwwg28v1csrn

The melodies vary greatly in the five takes of this second version. They are primarily identified by Stevie's last line in each take. In this first take the last line is "In spite of what you say, well I really wanted you".

Mirror, Mirror [Version #2, Vocal #2]:
http://www.mediafire.com/download.php?8fbw2i11bc8avww

In this second take Stevie's last line is "Now this will leave you haunted, I really wanted you!"

Mirror, Mirror [Version #2, Vocal #3]:
http://www.mediafire.com/download.php?mhb4h31zczgkbby

In this third take Stevie's last line is "Well ask your mirror, well I really wanted you...."

Mirror, Mirror [Version #2, Vocal #4]:
http://www.mediafire.com/download.php?ulgadkl9gwobwr7

In this fourth take Stevie's last line is "This will leave you haunted in your mirror".

Mirror, Mirror [Version #2, Vocal #5]:
http://www.mediafire.com/download.php?e8pls894e28jyjc

This fifth take includes most of Stevie's final vocal with a few different lines that were later re-recorded. In this take Stevie does not sing the bridge or the last chorus. The vocal ends at the instrumental section and the song remains instrumental from there to the end. The ending on this take fades out instead of finishing cold like the others do.

Enjoy everybody! Hopefully I'll get to restoring more of the Rock A Little fast tracks soon.

HighPassion · #**107** 05-14-2011, 12:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by randydesertrat

As you all are no doubt aware, most of the Rock A Little outtakes and demos speeds are quite fast due to multiple copying and sharing via cassette format back in the day. At times Stevie sounds like a girl of 13 or a singing chipmunk! I have always wanted to get around to restoring these fast tracks to their proper speed and pitch. I have begun with Mirror, Mirror since we have a finished released track for a guide.

There are seven known tracks of Mirror, Mirror out there; the released track plus six outtakes. I am posting the outtakes here in WAV format. They have been restored to proper pitch and speed and have been optimized in volume to Odb. The audio quality of the tracks varies but is mostly good.

Of the six outtakes there are two different versions of the song. The first version is the "rock version" with the steady beat, different melody and lyrics. The second version is the one with the same backing track as the released version with five different vocal takes by Stevie.

Mirror, Mirror [Version #1]:
http://www.mediafire.com/download.php?2uun5elj3wc2ykl

There is no known complete copy of this version in circulation. In this outtake the music fades out midway through and then fades back in. For this pitch restored version I have spliced these two sections together so that the music never completely fades away and it sounds more like one take. For the pitch restoration I used the song "Rock A Little (Go Ahead Lily)" as my guide and that seemed a good match.

Mirror, Mirror [Version #2, Vocal #1]:
http://www.mediafire.com/download.php?hnbcwwg28v1csrn

The melodies vary greatly in the five takes of this second version. They are primarily identified by Stevie's last line in each take. In this first take the last line is "In spite of what you say, well I really wanted you".

Mirror, Mirror [Version #2, Vocal #2]:
http://www.mediafire.com/download.php?8fbw2i11bc8avww

In this second take Stevie's last line is "Now this will leave you haunted, I really wanted you!"

Mirror, Mirror [Version #2, Vocal #3]:
http://www.mediafire.com/download.php?mhb4h31zczgkbby

In this third take Stevie's last line is "Well ask your mirror, well I really wanted you...."

Mirror, Mirror [Version #2, Vocal #4]:
http://www.mediafire.com/download.php?ulgadkl9gwobwr7

In this fourth take Stevie's last line is "This will leave you haunted in your mirror".

Mirror, Mirror [Version #2, Vocal #5]:
http://www.mediafire.com/download.php?e8pls894e28jyjc

This fifth take includes most of Stevie's final vocal with a few different lines that were later re-recorded. In this take Stevie does not sing the bridge or the last chorus. The vocal ends at the instrumental section and the song remains instrumental from there to the end. The ending on this take fades out instead of finishing cold like the others do.

Enjoy everybody! Hopefully I'll get to restoring more of the Rock A Little fast tracks soon.

I Like You

Thanks for your hard work!!

jeffd8382 · #**108** 05-14-2011, 01:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by randydesertrat

As you all are no doubt aware, most of the Rock A Little outtakes and demos speeds are quite fast due to multiple copying and sharing via cassette format back in the day. At times Stevie sounds like a girl of 13 or a singing chipmunk! I have always wanted to get around to restoring these fast tracks to their proper speed and pitch. I have begun with Mirror, Mirror since we have a finished released track for a guide.

Thank you very much for taking the time to do this... it is one of those things that always kinda bothers me. One of the problems I have with this era (in deciding whether to fix this or not) is her voice can sound quite different on various tracks (probably due to her voice changing significantly during the mid-80's)... sometimes even at the wrong speed, her voice will sound natural. But other times (like the Mirror Mirrors you posted), it is obvious the speed is unnaturally fast. Usually when I'm working on enhancing tracks, I don't mess with the speed unless I'm certain it's sped up (or too slow). There are a few cases when it's slightly sped-up where I wonder if it was intended to be that way... an example of a commercially released sped-up track is the Time-Life version of "Talk To Me". If you slow it down, you realize her voice is natural when it's in tune with the album version... however, the music is also significantly slower then, so I assume that's probably why they sped it up (to keep a faster tempo). Anyways... thanks again... much appreciated!

StevieNicksfann · #**109** 05-14-2011, 02:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mikebise

"Mirror, Mirror" 5 - B-Side version
http://www.mediafire.com/?bukgwkrjw59t3c7

Remember, although released in 1994 as the b-side to the US cassette single of "Blue Denim", this is a 1984 recording from Rock A Little, not re-recorded for Street Angel.

oh wow, I never knew this! Always assumed it was re-recorded like If You Were My Love and got kicked off the album again

Stevieforever · #**110** 05-14-2011, 02:58 PM

I never knew that either, I always thought her voice sounded more like mid-80s but always assumed that since it came out in 1994, it was re-recorded. So, what about "Thousand Days"? Was it re-recorded, or was it also a mid 80s vocal also that was released as a B-side like "Mirror Mirror"?

mikebise · #**111** 05-14-2011, 09:54 PM

Ginny Kamano sent out a letter in early 1993 stating that Stevie had newly re-recorded "Thousand Days" (which had preciously been recorded for Rock A Little in 1984) with production by Chris Lord-Alge. This was a new version done for Street Angel.

mikebise · #**112** 05-15-2011, 10:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by randydesertrat

Mirror, Mirror [Version #1]:
http://www.mediafire.com/download.php?2uun5elj3wc2ykl

There is no known complete copy of this version in circulation. In this outtake the music fades out midway through and then fades back in. For this pitch restored version I have spliced these two sections together so that the music never completely fades away and it sounds more like one take. For the pitch restoration I used the song "Rock A Little (Go Ahead Lily)" as my guide and that seemed a good match.

"You must know, Lily..."

This is awesome work, Randy!!!!!! I can finally understand Stevie now!!!!!!!!

Thanks for this!

76sparky · #**113** 05-23-2011, 02:51 AM

Heres a link to My RAL Live shows

http://www.mediafire.com/?ku1x006jpbju0

Theres about 45 shows in there

Posted this link in Demos as well.

OSOTM shows uploading as I type

equeen102289 · #**114** 05-23-2011, 09:51 AM

Holy crap I am in rock a little heaven. Thank you so much for all of these!!

mikebise · #**115** 05-23-2011, 10:34 AM

Yes, thanks for these RAL concerts!!!

I had the 08/05/1986 MSG show on cassette, but haven't listened to it in about 12 years or more. That "Rhiannon"!!!!!!

"There IS a Legend!"

"Well, she's taken by surprise!"

And WHY is everyone screaming like crazy near the end???!!! I wish there was video!!!!

LOVING these shows! Thanks, Sparky!!!!!

PenguinHead · #**116** 05-23-2011, 12:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mikebise

"Mirror, Mirror" 5 - B-Side version
http://www.mediafire.com/?bukgwkrjw59t3c7

Remember, although released in 1994 as the b-side to the US cassette single of "Blue Denim", this is a 1984 recording from Rock A Little, not re-recorded for Street Angel.

I have that cassette! I believe that Mirror Mirror is one of Stevie's most obscure song in her catalog of official releases. It should have been included on the third disc of her Enchanted box set! Was it ever included on a foreign CD single? Otherwise, all we have is a cassette version!

It's strange, considering that it was to be the title track of her album that became Rock a Little. I would love to hear her Street Angel version. It's too bad it wasn't released as a b-side on Blue Denim or Maybe Love. So now it lays dormant in a studio vault, along with Call You Missing, along with dozens of others.

Hopefully, eventually, when Stevie stops producing music, someone will mill the remants, and squeeze several albums (0r a box set) and her unreleased work, along with various alternate/demo versions of released songs, as well as a bunch of complete live concert CDs from every era of her career.

mikebise · #**117** 05-25-2011, 10:44 AM

That 1984 "Mirror, Mirror" is only officially released on the US Cassette Single of "Blue Denim" from July 1994. So, since "Real Tears" was available in several formats (CD-Single, vinyl, cassette) in several countries, that makes "Mirror, Mirror" Stevie's most obscure b-side, most definitely.

The original track listing for Enchanted had "Real Tears" and "I Pretend" on it. But "Real Tears" got replaced on Disc 2 by "Kind Of Woman" and "I Pretend" was dropped from Disc 3 by "It's Late".

jeffd8382 · #**118** 05-30-2011, 07:46 PM

With thanks to Randy for bringing up the topic of speed issues on various demos/outtakes, I went back to the "Tied Up (In Promises)" demo I worked on enhancing awhile back. I was sure it was slightly sped-up, so I slowed it down a little. Something about the equalization I did always bugged me. Lately, I have been toying with a new technique for equalizing poorer quality sources: I look at the frequency spectrum of the file and try to make some equalization adjustments based on that... you can visually see things that need to be adjusted which my ears would never be able to discern on their own. I think the sound is much improved from before... and it's nice to have it sounding more natural due to what I am hoping is the "correct" speed.

"Tied Up" (1st demo version) (original = mp3/lossy?) - enhanced 2.0 & speed-adjusted
http://www.mediafire.com/?l1p20226oo526iz

& for anyone who wants the improved equalization at the unaffected speed:
"Tied Up" (1st demo version) - enhanced 2.0
http://www.mediafire.com/?5p3al1w9elok6lz

Randy, please feel free to check the speed on this and see what you think!

Hope everyone likes it and finds it an improvement over what we had before!

mikebise · #**119** 05-31-2011, 08:45 AM

Just awesome, Jeff!!!!

Even if the winner of the eBay Motherload never shares his versions of "Tied Up", at least we have this great one!

mikebise · #**120** 05-31-2011, 12:42 PM

I re-uploaded this copy of "She Still Loves Him" from one of Maureen's Mystery Box CDs, and I think it sounds even better than when I found it last year in April 2010. Is it just from losslessness? There's even less hiss at the intro (to my ears).

"She Still Loves Him" Take 1
http://www.mediafire.com/?wxhdbi3sidq5h4t

I think it's spectacular!

Below is not as good, but a great performance by Stevie:

"She Still Loves Him" Take 2
http://www.mediafire.com/?wlua8rv1c9zmkdf