Instruments used in Alice's Music

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Alicehunter2000
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Instruments used in Alice's Music

Post by Alicehunter2000 » Tue Jun 17, 2008 2:26 am

It occured to me in listening to Stolen Prayer the other day that Alice really attempts to incorporate a wide variety of musical instruments in his music. I would like to start a list of every instrument he or the group has ever used on his albums. Please cut and paste the prior posts addition and add your additions to make one long list. I will start it.

Lead guitar
Bass guitar
Drums
Mandolin? <----spelling
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Post by NotSoPerfect » Tue Jun 17, 2008 2:45 am

Wow.....that would encompass a LARGE variety of instruments.

Lead guitar
Bass guitar
Drums
Mandolin
Flute
Clarinet
Harmonica
Keyboards/Piano
Saxophone
Trumpets
(other brass, I'm sure)
Maracas
Castinets

Just thinking quickly of what I've heard.
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Post by Master Shake » Tue Jun 17, 2008 9:27 am

Its probably easier going the other way round with what hasnt he used!
There is other brass to, in Steven at least (nevermind the whole friggin' orchestra in that one)

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Post by Swinger » Tue Jun 17, 2008 9:50 am

Besides those already mentioned:
Percussion
Accordion
Organ
Theremin
Synths/Moog
Strings
Banjo
CMI Fairlight computer (may not count as an instrument)

Most of the instruments are listed on the albums anyway.
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Post by steven_crayn » Tue Jun 17, 2008 12:11 pm

I love the Mellotron on Hello Hooray

This from an online article about it:

"Producer Bob Ezrin (a bit of a Mellotron fan on the quiet) got a bit of 'Tron in on a couple of tracks, with strings and a bit of flute on opener Hello Hooray, and some strings and choir on Unfinished Sweet (ha ha). Both good songs, and some really nice 'Tron work, but I'm not sure the album's really worth it for the Mellotron fan. Damn' good record, whatever."

Source:

http://www.planetmellotron.com/revc5.htm#alice
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Post by Alicehunter2000 » Tue Jun 17, 2008 2:11 pm

Lead guitar
Bass guitar
Drums
Mandolin
Flute
Clarinet
Harmonica
Keyboards/Piano
Saxophone
Trumpets
(other brass, I'm sure)
Maracas
Castinets Percussion
Accordion
Organ
Theremin
Synths/Moog
Strings
Banjo
CMI Fairlight computer (may not count as an instrument)
Mellotron
Kazoo (This House is Haunted)
Mouth Harp (Unfinished Sweet)
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Post by Shoesalesman » Tue Jun 17, 2008 3:39 pm

The piano work in Crazy Little Child is flawless to me. I believe it was Alice who indicated he uses a piano when writing the lyrics/music to the songs. Now I know I've gotten the quote wrong, but I think it speaks of the spirit of song and its foundational melody.
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Post by Maurice » Tue Jun 17, 2008 3:46 pm

Swinger wrote:Besides those already mentioned:
............
............
............
Accordion
............
..............

Most of the instruments are listed on the albums anyway.
Which album was THAT on!!??
This just reminded me...........

........didn't Alice once say something to the effect
that an accordion is so "un-Rock'n'Roll" ? :grin:
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Post by Shoesalesman » Tue Jun 17, 2008 4:05 pm

The Song That Didn't Rhyme has a bit of accordion in it. Given the nature of the song, maybe it's his poke at accordion music. ;)

But maybe not. :blush:
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Post by Swinger » Tue Jun 17, 2008 4:22 pm

Teddy Zig Zag is credited with playing the accordion on Eyes (I was checking the liner notes when I listed instruments).
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Post by steven_crayn » Tue Jun 17, 2008 4:43 pm

Shoesalesman wrote:The piano work in Crazy Little Child is flawless to me. I believe it was Alice who indicated he uses a piano when writing the lyrics/music to the songs. Now I know I've gotten the quote wrong, but I think it speaks of the spirit of song and its foundational melody.
I would have thought Michael Bruce was instrumental on this one as co writer, let us not forget as well as a great songwriter and guitarist, he had featured on piano on every Alice album prior to this.

I notice on the inner sleeve on Muscle Of Love it just says guitar for Michael Bruce and that Bob Dolin was on keyboards, in the past as well as Michael some keyboards had been played by Bob Ezrin and David Briggs.
Si has Michael Bruce on Piano for this album too so I guess the inner sleeve was incomplete.

This girl I used to know did a pretty good job of the piano part!
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Post by Shoesalesman » Wed Jun 18, 2008 12:56 am

Michael Bruce is a great musician indeed. :rock:

Some Folks, as well, had some great piano parts. When it comes to piano work, Alice/ACG sure treat it well.

Great vid too of Crazy Little Child. :grin:
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Post by Maurice » Wed Jun 18, 2008 7:13 am

Shoesalesman wrote:The Song That Didn't Rhyme has a bit of accordion in it. Given the nature of the song, maybe it's his poke at accordion music. ;)

But maybe not. :blush:
I think you could be right there Shoey.
i don't recall the exact time or place where he said it (about the accordion) but it seems about right to me.


And thanks for the info Swinger! I shall listen to that with 'new ears' on, ta!
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Post by nimsowner » Wed Jun 18, 2008 3:04 pm

The sound at the beginning of Elected, is that a mouth harp or something else?

AKA Jew's harp, jaw harp, or marranzano (and many others)
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Post by sparkinthedark » Wed Jun 18, 2008 8:49 pm

Master Shake wrote:Its probably easier going the other way round with what hasnt he used!
There is other brass to, in Steven at least (nevermind the whole friggin' orchestra in that one)
I eargerly await the use of bagpipes. :laugh:

Actually, wait.. no I don't.
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Post by Alicehunter2000 » Thu Jun 19, 2008 2:06 am

Lead guitar
Bass guitar
Drums
Mandolin
Flute
Clarinet
Harmonica
Keyboards/Piano
Saxophone
Trumpet
Tuba (end of My Stars)
Maracas
Castinets Percussion
Accordion
Organ
Theremin
Synths/Moog
a. Stabbing a watermelon sound (Tag You're It)
Strings
Banjo
CMI Fairlight computer
Mellotron
Kazoo (This House is Haunted)
Mouth Harp (Unfinished Sweet)
Accordian
Violin
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Post by Alicehunter2000 » Thu Jun 19, 2008 2:08 am

When was a Banjo used?

BTW.....I think he could use more Cowbell :evil:
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Post by Maurice » Thu Jun 19, 2008 7:10 am

sparkinthedark wrote:

I eargerly await the use of bagpipes. :laugh:

Actually, wait.. no I don't.
As my History teacher used to say (years ago);-

"There is no sound in the world, as good as the sound of bagpipes, marching over the hills, 500 bl**dy miles away!"

Slightly off topic; but I have seen and heard the bagpipes played live, several times at a rock gig.

Played each time by Master 'Multi-Musician' Roy Wood, who actually worked them into one or two of his singles.
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Post by killer wolf » Thu Jun 19, 2008 8:41 am

believe he's used harpsichords on Gail etc, unless it's just the synthy things mentioned. beautiful, somewhat eerie sound totally fitting the song, whatever it is.

there's wads of brass stuff etc on Blue Turk & Crazy Little Child but i'm not too well up on instrument names.
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Post by Swinger » Thu Jun 19, 2008 11:20 am

Alicehunter2000 wrote:When was a Banjo used?
Banjo is used on crazy little child.
killer wolf wrote:believe he's used harpsichords on Gail etc, unless it's just the synthy things mentioned.
I think it's just keyboards sounding like harpsichord on Gail (Kip Winger is credited with playing keyboards on that song)


Personally I must say I don't hear any kazoo on This House is Haunted.
Oh and Alicehunter, you put accordion twice on your list.
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