He was a chemist - or,as he would say, he knew how to follow mixing instructions - but much more: his contribution to music is "that he almost single-handedly changed the way rock bands are heard and recorded." Rather than bands, no matter what their 'sound', plugging in to whatever the available sound-system was, Owsley started with a personal PA system that the band would take with them on tour: the Wall of Sound (click on image for design and explication of this wall). "The Grateful Dead became the first ever rock band to haul their own PA to concerts."
"Owsley would record every concert he worked on, applying his theories of microphone placement and stereo imaging. His live recordings are still considered unrivalled in quality and definition."
2 comments:
Kid Chalemagne from The Royal Scam is probably the best known song that immortalised him, fantastic lyrics that I know by heart (but then you would have guessed that!)
Not surprised! When I had to think about Steely Dan "Reelin' in the years" was the sum total!
I spent a lot of money and I spent a lot of time...
I guess their album titles told a story: 'Can't Buy a Thrill and Countdown to Ecstasy!
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