Bette Davis Eyes

A place to ask the basic questions, a place for students, newbies, and everyone else.

Moderators: rick, Mark Bassett

Bette Davis Eyes

Postby Futureman » Fri Nov 13, 2009 10:10 am

ok, this is real random..

I wonder if anyone out there can settle this one.

In the song, "Bette Davis Eyes" by Kim Carnes, do you think the main riff is played with a Synth or a Guitar?

I always thought it was a synth (Sure the underlying deep pads are) but recently listening to it, I started to think it's a guitar with a fair amount of chorus.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ifDycyRNpcI

Help me settle this lame debate with some friends.
Mike de Vrees

Purveyor of old stuff
User avatar
Futureman
Frequent Contributor
Frequent Contributor
 
Posts: 991
Joined: Wed Mar 19, 2008 4:47 pm
Location: Sydney

Postby Chinagraf » Fri Nov 13, 2009 11:02 am

Guitar with chorus I say. I know it was all cut live with no overdubs, so I think the synth player was too busy doing the other parts.
User avatar
Chinagraf
Valued Contributor
Valued Contributor
 
Posts: 1608
Joined: Wed Jun 22, 2005 1:09 am
Location: Melbourne

Postby TimS » Fri Nov 13, 2009 11:02 am

both - I think Waddy Watchell was her guitar player from memory (dont quote me)
Tim Spencer
Pressurepoint Studios
User avatar
TimS
Valued Contributor
Valued Contributor
 
Posts: 1734
Joined: Tue May 15, 2007 3:11 pm
Location: Sydney

Postby TimS » Fri Nov 13, 2009 11:02 am

TimS wrote:both - I think Waddy Wachtel was her guitar player from memory (dont quote me)
Tim Spencer
Pressurepoint Studios
User avatar
TimS
Valued Contributor
Valued Contributor
 
Posts: 1734
Joined: Tue May 15, 2007 3:11 pm
Location: Sydney

Postby TimS » Fri Nov 13, 2009 11:03 am

[edit] Personnel
Bill Burks – Art Direction & Design
Bill Cuomo – Prophet, Arranger (1,3)
Brian Garofalo – Bass, Background Vocal
Craig Krampf – Drums, Background Vocal
Craig Hull – Electric & Slide Guitars, Background Vocal
Daniel Moore – Background Vocal, Harmony Vocal (2;4;8;10)
Danny Kortchmar – Acoustic Guitar (4;7)
Dave Ellingson – Background Vocal, Harmony Vocal (2;3;7;8)
David Alexander – Photo
Don Francisco – Percussion (6;9)
Doug Sax – Mastered
Jerry Peterson – Saxohone
Josh Leo – Electric Guitars, Mandolin, Acoustic Guitar, Background Vocal
Julia Tillman Waters – Harmony Vocal (4)
Kim Carnes – Vocals, Piano (10)
M.L. Benoit – Percussion
Maxine Willard Waters – Harmony Vocal (4)
Michael Brokaw – Management (Kragen & Co.), Direction
Mike Reese – Mastered
Niko Bolas – Engineering Assistance
Paul Roberts – Cover Inspired by
Steve Goldstein – Keyboards
Val Garay – Producer, Recorder
Waddy Wachtel – Electric Guitar (1), Acoustic Guitar (2), Background Vocal, Harmony Vocal (6)
Wendy Waldman – Harmony Vocal (7)
Tim Spencer
Pressurepoint Studios
User avatar
TimS
Valued Contributor
Valued Contributor
 
Posts: 1734
Joined: Tue May 15, 2007 3:11 pm
Location: Sydney

Postby wez » Fri Nov 13, 2009 1:54 pm

the articulation and the chords in the chorus give it away (as being a guitar).

in 1981 you weren't allowed to have guitars in pop music (unless you were U2)... hence the cunning synth disguise ;-)
wez prictor
composure music
http://www.composuremusic.com.au/

Australian importer of Crumar Mojo keyboards & accessories. Vintage keyboard fetishist.
User avatar
wez
Valued Contributor
Valued Contributor
 
Posts: 1259
Joined: Fri May 06, 2005 10:38 pm
Location: Slightly to the left.

Postby Gian » Fri Nov 13, 2009 3:29 pm

wez wrote:the articulation and the chords in the chorus give it away (as being a guitar).

in 1981 you weren't allowed to have guitars in pop music (unless you were U2)... hence the cunning synth disguise ;-)


That's why I don't like much 80s (radio) music, even thought I was in a guitar band in the 80s.
Gian Parodi
It's the first watt that counts
Gian
Frequent Contributor
Frequent Contributor
 
Posts: 516
Joined: Tue Nov 18, 2008 9:38 pm
Location: Sydney, Australia

Postby Ben M » Fri Nov 13, 2009 7:11 pm

One of those MIDI synth guitars or Keytar?
User avatar
Ben M
Valued Contributor
Valued Contributor
 
Posts: 1920
Joined: Fri Jul 04, 2008 11:54 am
Location: Sydney and Kangaroo Valley, NSW

Postby Mac » Fri Nov 13, 2009 7:39 pm

intro could be either....chorus is guitar.......
Cameron Milne

______Vault Audio Sunshine Coast_________
User avatar
Mac
Registered User
Registered User
 
Posts: 82
Joined: Mon Jun 22, 2009 5:24 pm

Postby Futureman » Sun Nov 15, 2009 6:36 pm

wez wrote:the articulation and the chords in the chorus give it away (as being a guitar).


It was recently, when I heard the chorus with the slow strum that made me think 'tis guitar'

Cheers for your input people.

Regards
Mike
Mike de Vrees

Purveyor of old stuff
User avatar
Futureman
Frequent Contributor
Frequent Contributor
 
Posts: 991
Joined: Wed Mar 19, 2008 4:47 pm
Location: Sydney

Postby rick » Sun Nov 15, 2009 7:15 pm

useless information
when it came out people were really upset because the chorus is sung
as "Betty davis eyes "

she was only EVER known as Bette apparently !
Last edited by rick on Mon Nov 16, 2009 2:40 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Rick O'Neil
I think we went to different schools together
turtlerockmastering.com
we listen
User avatar
rick
Moderator
Moderator
 
Posts: 3486
Joined: Fri May 06, 2005 8:02 pm
Location: Sydney

Postby Futureman » Sun Nov 15, 2009 11:41 pm

My brother thought it was "Betty davis thighs" !
Mike de Vrees

Purveyor of old stuff
User avatar
Futureman
Frequent Contributor
Frequent Contributor
 
Posts: 991
Joined: Wed Mar 19, 2008 4:47 pm
Location: Sydney

Postby Ben M » Mon Nov 16, 2009 12:26 pm

Great, now I can't get the song out of my head. Thanks Mike

"she's got .............
User avatar
Ben M
Valued Contributor
Valued Contributor
 
Posts: 1920
Joined: Fri Jul 04, 2008 11:54 am
Location: Sydney and Kangaroo Valley, NSW

Postby astrovic » Mon Nov 23, 2009 4:04 pm

I much prefer the Buckwheat version myself
Chris L
User avatar
astrovic
Regular Contributor
Regular Contributor
 
Posts: 280
Joined: Sat Jun 24, 2006 12:57 am
Location: Geelong


Return to You've gotta start somewhere.

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 3 guests


cron