Robert Johnsons original recordings at wrong tempo?

[fatb0t]

According to this article Robert Johnson's original tracks were sped up by the record company. When you speed up the RPM of a record doesn't it change the pitch of the audio?

Robert Johnson revelation tells us to put the brakes on the blues | Music | guardian.co.uk

 

[Mr Insane]

I'm skeptical of this story

 

[mudfinger]

HOLY COW. I've never heard of this before. It makes perfect sense, and explains alot of what I couldn't figure out back in the day when I was trying to pull his licks off of vinyl recordings.

To me, this is pretty major stuff; Robert Johnson is usually cited by the rock guys as their seminal blues influence, and you can hear that influence loud and clear in classic rock and english blues rock. The high pitched singing, for one thing, is something that alot of guys emulated. The supernaturally fast riffing that RJ did is another thing, along with that wavering vibrato you can hear on the recordings.

But all that is an illusion created by a record company to increase sales. After listening to a few snippets of RJ's songs at the slower tempo, it's hard for me to doubt that the recordings were, in fact, sped up; his voice sounds more natural, his guitar playing is humanly possible, and even the background artifacts seem more natural.

This is a huge deal; I never could nail some of those crazy riffs that you can hear on the recordings. I need to get me a copy of his stuff at the right speed, and spend some more time with Robert Johnson. Just wow. Thanks, OP!

 

[mudfinger]

According to this article Robert Johnson's original tracks were sped up by the record company. When you speed up the RPM of a record doesn't it change the pitch of the audio?

Robert Johnson revelation tells us to put the brakes on the blues | Music | guardian.co.uk

Yes, the pitch and tempo would both increase. According to the article (and the supporting research), the Robert Johnson we're used to hearing is about 20 percent faster and higher-pitched than the Robert Johnson that Muddy and Wolf heard live back in the day.

It explains an awful lot. Just sayin. Thanks again, OP.

 

[fatb0t]

Yes, the pitch and tempo would both increase. According to the article (and the supporting research), the Robert Johnson we're used to hearing is about 20 percent faster and higher-pitched than the Robert Johnson that Muddy and Wolf heard live back in the day.

It explains an awful lot. Just sayin. Thanks again, OP.

Glad you found this useful.

 

[Ermghoti]

THANKS!!! I found and lost this site like three years ago, it was making me nuts.

 

[mtgguitar]

Interesting. I'll have to run the CD through my slow-down software and check it out.

 

[Drudeboy]

I just loaded kind hearted woman up in soundforge, made it play 20% slower with the pitch altered to match.

It sounds so much more real!!!!

His voice sounds much more natural!

 

[fatb0t]

I just loaded kind hearted woman up in soundforge, made it play 20% slower with the pitch altered to match.

It sounds so much more real!!!!

His voice sounds much more natural!

Wow, I'll have to try when I'm home. I'm surprised this wasn't more of common knowledge. I personally had no idea until today that those recordings were doctored.

 

[snaredrum]

i prefer the sped up versions. makes him sound less normal, more brilliant.

still, even 'normal' he's pretty special

 

[River]

I just loaded kind hearted woman up in soundforge, made it play 20% slower with the pitch altered to match.

It sounds so much more real!!!!

His voice sounds much more natural!

How many semi-tones?

 

[Makeitstop]

That's because Old Scratch did his mastering.

- D

 

[Drudeboy]

How many semi-tones?

I did it by time, made a 2.53 song last 3.40 min

 

[zep]

I always thought he was a lousy singer, mabey this is why.
would love to hear hellhound on my trail slowed down.

 

[Exluthier]

Not sure if I buy it. You'd think that guys who knew him, Robert Lockwood Jr. for instance, would have had something to say on this.

 

[snaredrum]

I always thought he was a lousy singer, mabey this is why.
would love to hear hellhound on my trail slowed down.

not the greatest, but here ya go

[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U0z0_FXeMS0]YouTube - Robert Johnson - Hellhound On My Trail (slowed down)[/ame]

 

[mudfinger]

Not sure if I buy it. You'd think that guys who knew him, Robert Lockwood Jr. for instance, would have had something to say on this.

The audio is compelling evidence for me. As common as manipulation of masters has always been, I doubt anyone thought much of it at the time, and the speedup doesn't do a thing to obscure the identity of the performer; he just plays faster and sings higher. Only after he was largely forgotten, then 'rediscovered' by guys like Keith Richards and Eric Clapton, who took the recording to be accurate, and emulated the playing and singing on the recording, did things get strange.

 

[snaredrum]

i think they should have moved that one up, as it's in C sharp. speed it up a semitone and it would make more sense.

 

[snaredrum]

this one sounds ace

[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gjXPo-uYdFo]YouTube - Robert Johnson - Crossroads (slowed down)[/ame]

 

[mudfinger]

i prefer the sped up versions. makes him sound less normal, more brilliant.

still, even 'normal' he's pretty special

I've only been listening to the slowed down clips for a bit today, but I feel you; the sped up version has its own appeal; I won't be throwin out my RJ collection, but I do want a copy of his catolog at the slower speed too, now.

Freakin' blues addict, I am.