Bells on Who's Joe

There's been a raging debate between Parma Mick and me about whether there are bells to be heard from 0:15 to 0:45 on Who's Joe. (But we're in total agreement about the sequenced banjo on ITYS.) So, in order to shed some light on that question, what do you hear?

Could the gentleman please clarify that the 'bells' are an audible item beyond the 'synthetic metallic' timbre wistfully occupying the initial melody?

Huntsman wrote: Could the gentleman please clarify that the 'bells' are an audible item beyond the 'synthetic metallic' timbre wistfully occupying the initial melody?

In response to the gentleman's request for clarification, the aforementioned bells in issue are not separate from the "synthetic metal" occupying the initial melody. The bells at issue are the items carrying the melody during the specified period of time. The question up for debate is whether, to your ears, the "synthetic metal" sounds like bells. As noted elsewhere, if one were to consult the lyrics page for Who's Joe, one would see a quotation attributed to SM, purportedly a member of the band, referring to "clangy" sounds on this track. In common usage, the term "clangy" is often associated with bells.

I hope the foregoing was responsive to the gentleman's request for clarification.

ShugZV© wrote: I am hearing the bells....but it is the downloaded bootleg copy here at work

Thanks very much for your input, Shug. I felt sure that I could count on you. The member from Corby has cast his vote.

I've registered a vote for the bells. I believe the metallic sound has the necessary wavelength to form a bell sound.

Whether the bell has a meaning beyond the positioning in the mix to register against the other elements is again open to interpretation.

Huntsman wrote: I've registered a vote for the bells. I believe the metallic sound has the necessary wavelength to form a bell sound.

Whether the bell has a meaning beyond the positioning in the mix to register against the other elements is again open to interpretation.

Yes, H, I tried to avoid injecting any additional interpretative issues into the question, beyond the mere bells/no bells question. Once there's been a decision on this point, we can move on to debate the consequences of that decision.

Thank you very much for your input, H. The gentleman from ???? has cast his vote.

ShugZV© wrote:

Patrick wrote:

ShugZV© wrote: I am hearing the bells....but it is the downloaded bootleg copy here at work

Thanks very much for your input, Shug. I felt sure that I could count on you. The member from Corby has cast his vote.

Now I am intrigued to know what our Italian comprade believes the bells to be! Surely not a big Triangle?

I will have to let him speak for himself, Shug. Which I have no doubt he will do.

Only three votes so far? On this important issue of the day?

It's a keyboard programmed in the range that we associate with the sound of a bell. It also continues under the vocals for some of the first verse and reappears at 2.30 to 2.45. And at 5.02 to the end of the song.

Kevin Smith wrote: It's a keyboard programmed in the range that we associate with the sound of a bell. It also continues under the vocals for some of the first verse and reappears at 2.30 to 2.45. And at 5.02 to the end of the song.

Should we count that as a "yes"?

That other noise restricted to the area of the track specified sounds like synthesised drums to produce a sound similar to a large piece of metallic being whacked. A bell would give a clang of some decription, regardless of how deep the tone is and there is no clang present.

Patrick wrote:

Kevin Smith wrote: It's a keyboard programmed in the range that we associate with the sound of a bell. It also continues under the vocals for some of the first verse and reappears at 2.30 to 2.45. And at 5.02 to the end of the song.

Should we count that as a "yes"?

I don't know. It's not a bell per se but a bell like sound

Kevin Smith wrote: That other noise restricted to the area of the track specified sounds like synthesised drums to produce a sound similar to a large piece of metallic being whacked. A bell would give a clang of some decription, regardless of how deep the tone is and there is no clang present.

Well, I guess I need to listen again with these comments in mind. But thanks for your input, Kevin.

I voted a yes for you Patrick, albeit more of a vote of confidence in your poll-posting techniques. You're doing just great.

I guess it's a synthetic bell sound, nothing that's likely to put a hunchback out of a job.

:\pimp3:

What are you trying to say?

Same as Shug. At work hearing the bells from the downloaded copy.

depthcharge wrote: I voted a yes for you Patrick, albeit more of a vote of confidence in your poll-posting techniques. You're doing just great.

I guess it's a synthetic bell sound, nothing that's likely to put a hunchback out of a job.

:\pimp3:

Thank you, DC. I considered saying that an additional reason for doing this poll was to demonstrate to you that I had the technical capability. Since I wasn't entirely sure I did, I refrained from saying this sooner.

Ally3000 wrote: I may be in the minority here but I simply don't hear "bells" as in the ones that feature on Krafty. To me the notes played at that time interval of Who's Joe? sound like they're played on a electric guitar high up the fretboard (picked with plectrum) Maybe it's a combination of a guitar and a subtle keyboard line? But I'm convinced a guitar is in there somewhere for that melody line.

I have no idea if that's right but the gigs will clear this one up pretty quickly I would imagine.

Ally.

Thanks for your input, Ally.

NObabe wrote: Same as Shug. At work hearing the bells from the downloaded copy.

Thank you, M.

Although it appears the votes don't quite add up.

Oops! Sorry! Done! ;)

NObabe wrote: Oops! Sorry! Done! ;)

A very big thank you to my favorite female NOOLer. :D

You're welcome, P! 5:1 for bells now. :)

Are you guys talking about the main melody that's being played, starting at 0:15?

If so, that instrument is a Rhodes electric piano, or a synthesized version of one.

Chicken, I've never heard no Fender Rhodes which sounded like a distressed metallic bell!? ... are you smoking nettles or something?

charles wrote: Are you guys talking about the main melody that's being played, starting at 0:15?

If so, that instrument is a Rhodes electric piano, or a synthesized version of one.

Just to be clear, we are talking about the main melody during that section. At least I am.

i've definitely heard Rhodes pianos sound like that before. in my computer synth software, there are Rhodes patches that sound exactly like that.

the attack of the instrument in question is too clean to be a plucked guitar. sounds like a Rhodes, on a high octave, with a bit of a chorus effect with a tiny touch of vibrato. possibly a touch of distortion or gain to make it chime a little more.