Noises Off: Unintended/Unexpected Sounds of Jazz Recordings

[nemo7]

the police radio intercept during all the way live keystone korner jimmy smith eddie harris

Edited June 19, 2011 by nemo7

[gmonahan]

Someone told me there's a Billy Holliday recording at an open air festival where a plane can be heard flying over - a turboprop, he said! I've never heard this one though.

Don't know about that recording, but it definitely happens on Woody Herman's Herd at Monterey recording. I think the plane can actually be heard a couple of times, once during Victor Feldman's vibes solo IIRC (obviously a relatively low volume spot in the program).

Tom 1960 is right about the background sounds on Shelly's Black Hawk recordings. But they all seem approriate to the venue.

Twilight zone moment--I was listening to this recording when I read this post, John! Happens on track two, "Like Some Blues Man" while the band is in full flight as well as during the vibes solo. Very strange sound!

gregmo

Edited June 19, 2011 by Greg M.

[Chuck Nessa]

A baby can be heard crying in the background during Quartet No. 2 on Roscoe Mitchell's Old/Quartet.

[king ubu]

There's a plane taking off somewhere during Don Ellis' live album from Monterey (during an announcement, I think).

[brownie]

Someone told me there's a Billy Holliday recording at an open air festival where a plane can be heard flying over - a turboprop, he said! I've never heard this one though.

That's the Billie Holiday at Monterey 1958 album (on Blackhawk).

[.:.impossible]

Who's baby was it Chuck?

[Chuck Nessa]

Who's baby was it Chuck?

Phillip Wilson's.

[mikeweil]

There's a plane taking off somewhere during Don Ellis' live album from Monterey (during an announcement, I think).

... and another on Woody Herman's Atlantic live album.

[Chuck Nessa]

Maybe we should have a thread listing recordings from Monterey without airplanes.

[chewy-chew-chew-bean-benitez]

One of Grant Green's Blue Notes has a bottle rolling across the floor. There's a Gil Evans (on RCA) where a police siren can be heard.

lolz, which GG is that?

[Rosco]

I've always enjoyed the snippet of audience chatter at the start of Albert Ayler's Prophecy (ESP). Before the trio launch into Ghosts (First Variation) you can hear a woman's voice say:

"...over, rolled up on the couch I was sitting in and I looked down at him and he- everything was fine, but his feet were those of a... a four year old boy. Little booties... that's all..."

Would love to have heard the rest of that conversation...

[AndrewHill]

I like the club atmosphere and all, but some couple is especially loud on the fist half of Sun Ra's Music for Tomorrow's World, where this chick in particular is yelling ''what time is it?", "play it Sun Ra! yeah!" and "go baby! yeah!" and if it isn't that, then she's laughing, clapping, grunting, shouting and on and on. Great cd nonetheless.

[GA Russell]

The first Buddy Rich PJ album has an enthusiastic audience member shouting "Buddy Buddy Buddy!" and otherwise making himself a part of the recording.

[JohnS]

One of Grant Green's Blue Notes has a bottle rolling across the floor. There's a Gil Evans (on RCA) where a police siren can be heard.

lolz, which GG is that?

Sorry chewy, can't recall this offhand. If I come across it I'll let you know. Most likely one of the quartets with Sonny Clarke.

Edited June 24, 2011 by JohnS

[Chas]

One of Grant Green's Blue Notes has a bottle rolling across the floor.

lolz, which GG is that?

Sorry chewy, can't recall this offhand. If I come across it I'll let you know. Most likely one of the quartets with Sonny Clarke.

It's on God Bless The Child from the Sunday Mornin' album (the bottle is knocked over at 5:33).

There's a Gil Evans (on RCA) where a police siren can be heard.

Not familiar with that one, but on George Russell's RCA, the alternate take of Ballad Of Hix Blewitt has a siren in the background.

[JohnS]

One of Grant Green's Blue Notes has a bottle rolling across the floor.

lolz, which GG is that?

Sorry chewy, can't recall this offhand. If I come across it I'll let you know. Most likely one of the quartets with Sonny Clarke.

It's on God Bless The Child from the Sunday Mornin' album (the bottle is knocked over at 5:33).

There's a Gil Evans (on RCA) where a police siren can be heard.

Not familiar with that one, but on George Russell's RCA, the alternate take of Ballad Of Hix Blewitt has a siren in the background.

Thanks Chas. You are probably right, it's the Russell disc. My memory could well be faulty. At least I got the label right!

[DMP]

Another Monterey airplane - Charles Lloyd's "Forrest Flower." The noises on the Manne "Blackhawk" albums include a ringing phone. And what's that screeching sound on parts of George Benson's "Beyond the Blue horizon?"

[mikeweil]

Screeching Hi-Hats were part of many a recording - don't remember what it sounds like on the Benson, however. I remember Art Taylor's screeching on some Blue Note session - engineers should keep an oil bottle within reach.

Another curious example was some clicking noise at the beginning of Thelonious Monk's last session for Black Lion in London - it can be heard on the first takes. The engineers couldn't locate the source - Nellie saved the session by cutting her husband's fingernails ...

Edited June 25, 2011 by mikeweil

[crispi]

Another curious example was some clicking noise at the beginning of Thelonious Monk's last session for Black Lion in London - it can be heard on the first takes. The engineers couldn't locate the source - Nellie saved the session by cutting her husband's fingernails ...

[Rosco]

You can often hear Charlie Haden's fingers clicking back into his palm, presumably when he plays his low E string. More noticeable on quieter duo sessions.

[Swinging Swede]

One of the weirdest cases is Modern Jazz Quartet's Odds Against Tomorrow on United Artists, on which a microphone is picking up a radio station. This is even mentioned on the Blue Note CD reissue.

[AndrewHill]

There's a cash register ringing at the beginning of Lee Morgan's intro on Live at the Lighthouse, disc one.

[randyhersom]

An uncredited dog joins in on Serendipity by Walt Dickerson, recorded live at the Players Palace in Philly.

[T.D.]

I'll have to review this when I get home, but I could swear that Hampton Hawes's All Night Session! 1 has a section where the engineers (I assume) are having a conversation (about football iirc). I'll try and confirm...I've heard it more than once, but it could possibly be disc #3; I don't own #2.

OT, but there's an old EMI classical recording of Wanda Landowska playing a Scarlatti sonata on harpsichord, recorded in Paris during World War II, in which bombs or artillery fire can be heard in the background.

Edited August 5, 2011 by T.D.

[BillF]

I'll have to review this when I get home, but I could swear that Hampton Hawes's All Night Session! 1 has a section where the engineers (I assume) are having a conversation (about football iirc). I'll try and confirm...I've heard it more than once, but it could possibly be disc #3; I don't own #2.

IIRC there's something on Vol3 - probably on the bonus track, "Blues of a Sort".

OT, but there's an old EMI classical recording of Wanda Landowska playing a Scarlatti sonata on harpsichord, recorded in Paris during World War II, in which bombs or artillery fire can be heard in the background.

Wow!