TGGITS - The Second Best Vocal Performance in Rock History

General discussion about Pink Floyd.
User avatar
space triangle
Hammer
Hammer
Posts: 858
Joined: Tue Jan 21, 2020 1:25 pm

TGGITS - The Second Best Vocal Performance in Rock History

Post by space triangle »

The Great Gig In The Sky was voted the second best vocal performance in Rock history.

1. Queen, 'Bohemian Rhapsody'
2. Pink Floyd, 'The Great Gig in the Sky'
3. The Beatles, 'Twist and Shout'
4. The Who, 'Love Reign O'er Me'
5. Tina Turner, 'River Deep, Mountain High'
6. Led Zeppelin, 'Stairway to Heaven'
7. The Rolling Stones, 'Gimme Shelter'
8. Deep Purple, 'Child in Time'
9. Nirvana, 'Where Did You Sleep Last Night'
10. Joe Cocker, 'With a Little Help From My Friends'

Immortal vocal by Clare Torry. RIP Rick Wright you quiet master..

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qanO3qf9-rE
User avatar
Annoying Twit
Hammer
Hammer
Posts: 1425
Joined: Sun Feb 03, 2008 1:26 pm

Re: TGGITS - The Second Best Vocal Performance in Rock History

Post by Annoying Twit »

Deservedly so. Clare Torry hit that ball way, way, out of the park.
Kerry King
Hammer
Hammer
Posts: 537
Joined: Wed Dec 16, 2009 8:54 am

Re: TGGITS - The Second Best Vocal Performance in Rock History

Post by Kerry King »

Another absurd list. TGGITS vocals are total overkill. I never cared for that song and it's because of the vocals. The list is in an insult to my intelligence. It's a sales pitch.
space triangle wrote: Thu Aug 27, 2020 4:00 pm The Great Gig In The Sky was voted the second best vocal performance in Rock history.
Who voted?
Kerry King
Hammer
Hammer
Posts: 537
Joined: Wed Dec 16, 2009 8:54 am

Re: TGGITS - The Second Best Vocal Performance in Rock History

Post by Kerry King »

Seriously, space triangle. You've given no source for this list. Or am I blind?

Clare Torry once said she was embarrassed after she finished the take. https://markdeutsch39.blogspot.com/2013 ... e-she.html

..."I just thought it was screechy-screechy"

I agree.
User avatar
space triangle
Hammer
Hammer
Posts: 858
Joined: Tue Jan 21, 2020 1:25 pm

Re: TGGITS - The Second Best Vocal Performance in Rock History

Post by space triangle »

Kerry King wrote: Mon Aug 31, 2020 2:38 am Seriously, space triangle. You've given no source for this list. Or am I blind?
https://www.rollingstone.com/music/musi ... ds-232565/

Yeah it's a bit older article. But, I searched and not found it discussed here on the NPF forum before. So I thought It would be interesting to se what a people here think about it anyway.
User avatar
Annoying Twit
Hammer
Hammer
Posts: 1425
Joined: Sun Feb 03, 2008 1:26 pm

Re: TGGITS - The Second Best Vocal Performance in Rock History

Post by Annoying Twit »

Kerry King wrote: Mon Aug 31, 2020 2:38 am Seriously, space triangle. You've given no source for this list. Or am I blind?

Clare Torry once said she was embarrassed after she finished the take. https://markdeutsch39.blogspot.com/2013 ... e-she.html

..."I just thought it was screechy-screechy"

I agree.
There are no shortage of artists who have done classic work who are personally unimpressed by it at the time.

Dave says that she was 'fantastic'. http://www.openculture.com/2020/05/clar ... floyd.html Rick Wright mentioned 'that fantastic voice'. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Great ... e_involved

So, it seems that members of Pink Floyd including the co-composer of the track, among many others, disagree. And I agree with Dave and Rick, it's a fantastic performance.
ZiggyZipgun
Hammer
Hammer
Posts: 1236
Joined: Mon May 05, 2008 3:04 pm

Re: TGGITS - The Second Best Vocal Performance in Rock History

Post by ZiggyZipgun »

Annoying Twit wrote: Mon Aug 31, 2020 7:54 am Dave says that she was 'fantastic'. http://www.openculture.com/2020/05/clar ... floyd.html Rick Wright mentioned 'that fantastic voice'. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Great ... e_involved
In the Classic Albums documentary, Roger says, "...and of course it's absolutely brilliant - both Rick's piano and organ work and Clare's singing."

These goddamn session musicians. :lol: :lol: :lol:
User avatar
Annoying Twit
Hammer
Hammer
Posts: 1425
Joined: Sun Feb 03, 2008 1:26 pm

Re: TGGITS - The Second Best Vocal Performance in Rock History

Post by Annoying Twit »

ZiggyZipgun wrote: Mon Aug 31, 2020 12:23 pm In the Classic Albums documentary, Roger says, "...and of course it's absolutely brilliant - both Rick's piano and organ work and Clare's singing."

These goddamn session musicians. :lol: :lol: :lol:
Yes, agreed. While PF could often do it all themselves, even after Rog split, they've had some stellar support on albums.

Appreciation of music is always subjective. And, I appreciate that some people will probably hate that track and think that Clare Torry's vocals are the worst things ever on a PF album, worse even that DG's cod Spanish. But, I don't think it's reasonable for someone to say that because they don't like it, that it shouldn't be high up on a list of the best vocal performances in rock history.

I see things that I disagree with. E.g. Breakfast in America being listed as the best Supertramp album. However, while I would say that there are three ST albums I prefer, I wouldn't say that BiA shouldn't be anyone else's favourite and the list is 'wrong'.
ZiggyZipgun
Hammer
Hammer
Posts: 1236
Joined: Mon May 05, 2008 3:04 pm

Re: TGGITS - The Second Best Vocal Performance in Rock History

Post by ZiggyZipgun »

I'd just argue that this (and "River Deep, Mountain High") isn't "rock" music, and if it is, then the bar should be much higher for the rest of the artists on this list. Coincidentally, "The Great Gig in the Sky" is much closer to "soul" music than it is "rock".

Also, Clare has said that Dave was the only person that spoke to her during the session. In the Wider Horizons documentary, he talks about how girl groups, soul music, and the "wall of sound" were big influences on him - specifically "Remember (Walking in the Sand)" by The Shangri-Las.

Rock music, huh?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V5YxtweUxrA
ZiggyZipgun
Hammer
Hammer
Posts: 1236
Joined: Mon May 05, 2008 3:04 pm

Re: TGGITS - The Second Best Vocal Performance in Rock History

Post by ZiggyZipgun »

I'm fairly certain the real inspiration for bringing Clare in was "Walkin'" from Beaver & Krause's Gandharva album.

Similarly, Dick Parry has said that Dave coached him through the session when he recorded the saxophone for "Us and Them", asking him to get as close as possible to the sound of "By Your Grace", also from Gandharva.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZTV4CgYWNJg
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mBs1-pCneqs

Rock and roll, motherf8&%$#@s!
User avatar
Annoying Twit
Hammer
Hammer
Posts: 1425
Joined: Sun Feb 03, 2008 1:26 pm

Re: TGGITS - The Second Best Vocal Performance in Rock History

Post by Annoying Twit »

ZiggyZipgun wrote: Mon Aug 31, 2020 1:10 pm I'm fairly certain the real inspiration for bringing Clare in was "Walkin'" from Beaver & Krause's Gandharva album.
It certainly sounds plausible, but in all the accounts of the session this is never mentioned. It could be that PF thought of adding the vocal and asking for it to be wordless inspired by the (to my ears inferior) B&K track. But, no accounts have Clare being aware of the track and imitating it in any way.
ZiggyZipgun
Hammer
Hammer
Posts: 1236
Joined: Mon May 05, 2008 3:04 pm

Re: TGGITS - The Second Best Vocal Performance in Rock History

Post by ZiggyZipgun »

Annoying Twit wrote: Mon Aug 31, 2020 3:27 pmBut, no accounts have Clare being aware of the track and imitating it in any way.
No, and I'm not suggesting that - but it was likely what Gilmour had in mind when bringing her in and talking her through it. She did say tried an "oooh baby" and he stopped her and said they'd hire Doris Troy (who sang elsewhere on Dark Side as well as "Give Birth to a Smile") if they wanted that!
User avatar
space triangle
Hammer
Hammer
Posts: 858
Joined: Tue Jan 21, 2020 1:25 pm

Re: TGGITS - The Second Best Vocal Performance in Rock History

Post by space triangle »

ZiggyZipgun wrote: Mon Aug 31, 2020 3:34 pm

No, and I'm not suggesting that - but it was likely what Gilmour had in mind when bringing her in....
Actually, as much as I know the whole idea of bringing a female vocal for the TGGITS was Alan Parson's. Pink Floyd tried in a several ways to finish that song, but were not happy with anything they done. Then Alan Parsons suggested that they could try a female vocal, preferably a vocal without a words.
ZiggyZipgun
Hammer
Hammer
Posts: 1236
Joined: Mon May 05, 2008 3:04 pm

Re: TGGITS - The Second Best Vocal Performance in Rock History

Post by ZiggyZipgun »

I fucking love Venetta Fields' telling of the "Shine On You Crazy Diamond" sessions:

"I didn't know them from a bar of soap, and I didn't like their music in the beginning - it was all in a minor key, it was all very low and everything was "ooohs" and "aaahs" - WHO ARE THESE PEOPLE?! I thought Motown was meticulous, but this was the most meticulous four musicians that I'd ever seen work before, and something told me in my head, Venetta, you're here for a reason - you must enjoy this music, you must get on with this music, because you're here, and there's something for you to learn."
ZiggyZipgun
Hammer
Hammer
Posts: 1236
Joined: Mon May 05, 2008 3:04 pm

Re: TGGITS - The Second Best Vocal Performance in Rock History

Post by ZiggyZipgun »

space triangle wrote: Mon Aug 31, 2020 3:49 pmActually, as much as I know the whole idea of bringing a female vocal for the TGGITS was Alan Parson's.
"Clare Torry didn't really look the part. She was Alan Parsons' idea. We wanted to put a girl on there, screaming orgasmically. Alan had worked with her previously, so we gave her a try. And she was fantastic. We had to encourage her a little bit. We gave her some dynamic hints: "Maybe you'd like to do this piece quietly, and this piece louder." She did maybe half a dozen takes, and then afterwards we compiled the final performance out of all the bits. It wasn't done in one single take." - DG