by RayL » 14 Nov 2011, 09:42
The stereo mix of Rebel Walk offers an interesting insight into Lee Hazlewood's producing technique in those early days (November 21st 1959) of pop stereo.
Duane's Danelectro 6-string bass is in the conventional centre spot, but Al Casey's bass is nudged to the left, along with Jim Horn's tenor sax. Larry Knechtel's piano is panned right, but listen to Jimmy Troxel's drums - the snare is panned right along with the kick drum, but the snare's echo return is panned left, where it joins the hi-hat, the ride and the floor tom. No attempt at presenting the drums as a cohesive kit with a bit of spread - this is stereo for those wanting value from buying their two speakers! The other guitars (Donny Owens and Corki Casey) are adding little touches over on the left which (like the Trambone mix from the same album) are low in the mix but you'd miss 'em if they weren't there.The early Shadows stereo tracks have similarly unusual ways of placement across the stereo stage. A facinating little time-capsule.
Ray