Country Music Question

Rick Campbell · Post by **Rick Campbell** » 5 Oct 2008 4:41 pm

Listen to the YouTube of the Tammy Waynette Medley as an example. Is there a reason why in concert the songs are faster tempo than the recordings were? This is especially true of the ballads. I've heard a lot of country singers do this. Also, the concert versions of their hit songs seem to be overproduced with a lot of extra chords and riffs added...it's almost like a novelty version of their hit song. Maybe they're trying to create more energy in the concert setting, or something. And, don't bother to name me individual singers that don't do this. I know about them. I'm asking about the ones who do it, and the reason why. I've heard Johnny Paycheck do this live also.

In the case of Tammy's video, Mikey kicked off Apartment #9 at a one tempo, but by the time Tammy started singing, it was up to about Apartment #11.

I've seen a lot of ballads ruined this way in a live show, and I always wondered why. Whatever the reason, it's a major turn off to me.

Michael Douchette · Post by **Michael Douchette** » 5 Oct 2008 4:49 pm

Lousy drummers...

Adrenaline tempo.

Too much speed for too many years.

All of the above.

Charles Davidson · Post by **Charles Davidson** » 5 Oct 2008 4:54 pm

They can also get the show over with faster.DYKBC.

Larry Bressington · Post by **Larry Bressington** » 5 Oct 2008 5:16 pm

The drummer thinks he's still driving the bus!

Clyde Mattocks · Post by **Clyde Mattocks** » 5 Oct 2008 6:03 pm

One consideration is that there may be a dozen or so players on the session, including two acoustic guitars, maybe two keyboards. They will sometimes
try to make up for the "fullness" or energy by
speeding the tempo up slightly. It's an old trick
thats been around I know since the 60s.

Ellis Miller · Post by **Ellis Miller** » 6 Oct 2008 7:56 am

Also, many Artists increase the tempos of ballads in their live performances to raise the energy level,or conversly, to keep the engergy from sagging.

As far as rushing - what Mikey D said!!!!

Michael Douchette · Post by **Michael Douchette** » 6 Oct 2008 8:18 am

We had one drummer, his deal was to speed up the second line of every chorus, then drop back a bit.

IHNFC...

Larry Bressington · Post by **Larry Bressington** » 6 Oct 2008 10:46 am

At least he dropped back!

Walter Killam · Post by **Walter Killam** » 7 Oct 2008 1:13 pm

I have discovered over the years that there are 2 speeds for a song played live:

TOO FAST, & TOO SLOW

I'll take too fast, it gets throught the pain quicker!

Ray Minich · Post by **Ray Minich** » 8 Oct 2008 4:41 am

They are practicing that "more music per hour" philosophy like the old radio stations.

I'll never forget hearing Linda Ronstadt's "When will I be loved" played in this format. The tune was over before it started....

Cal Sharp · Post by **Cal Sharp** » 8 Oct 2008 7:45 am

When you've played the same songs with the same artist a few thousand times musicians sometimes throw in extra chord substitutions and riffs, out of boredom or just because they want to show off their latest lick. Leroy VanDyke used to urge his band members to listen to the original records once in a while to (hopefully) ensure that this didn't happen on his show.

As for tempos, you couldn't get Buddy Harman to come out and work for $200 a day and help drive the bus, so you had to to settle for someone who would.

Artists sometimes change the lyrics, again, out of boredom or in an attempt to get the crowd going. I would post some of Faron's creative lyrics, but this is a family forum. LOL

Bob Wills, for one, would move the tempos up or down at a dance gig, depending on his reading of the dancers.

And, yes, a lot of artists will perform their songs faster in a concert setting because it seems to add a little more energy and excitement to the show.

But when you go see an artist do you really want to hear exactly what was on the record? Shoot, you might as well have them performing to tracks. How 'bout a little on-the-spot creativity and inspiration. Look at all the fantastic creative acts who were/are liable to do anything at a live performance - Dean Martin, Miles Davis, Willie Nelson, The Texas Troubadours, Buddy Emmons...

Rick Campbell · Post by **Rick Campbell** » 8 Oct 2008 2:06 pm

Yeah, I guess I understand that, but in the case of the "tear you heart out" ballads, too much speed and improvising take all the feel out of it for me.

I worked for the King of Bluegrass, Jimmy Martin, for a couple of years and he too stayed on the band about keeping it close to the records, especially the timing. He really knew his sound and wanted it to stay that way. However, I didn't have to copy the records note for note. I could play about any kind of break I wanted, as long as it was in his style of playing. He'd say "play anything you want to in the Orange Blossom Special, but my stuff I want to hear Jimmy Martin licks" He was the boss, so that's what I did and never had one complaint. I heard him tell one guy "if you want to play hot licks, get your own show".

Stephen Gambrell · Post by **Stephen Gambrell** » 8 Oct 2008 2:35 pm

Darius don't speed up. Darius is the Chuck Norris of country music. The world slows down.