Shout it from the stands
July 27, 2023 4:05 AM Subscribe
I'm looking for recordings featuring musicians shouting call-and-response backing vocals across the studio. Two perfect examples are "Call it off!" in Harry Connick Jr.'s version of "Let's Call the Whole Thing Off" and "Jump!" in Paul Anka's cover of Van Halen's Jump. Do you know any others?
These two are both jazz (one small combo and one big band). I think jazz and jazz-adjacent genres are what I'm most interested in, but I'm open to examples from other genres. I think, for instance, "Tequila" by the Champs just barely counts because of the very last "Tequila!", which they all shout together, but it's a stretch, since the first two "Tequila!"s are solo lead vocal into a mic, and it's only really a call-and-response if you consider the sax line as the call.
Here's a full list of criteria:
- Multiple voices
- Shouting (unpitched), not singing
- Slightly muffled or distant - i.e. picked up from a stand mic for an instrument, or a room mic across the studio
- As the response of a call-and-response ("let's ... / call it off!" "might as well jump ... / jump!")
Related question: both of my before-the-fold examples are sort of slightly knowing latter-day jazz - Paul Anka is more tongue-in-cheek, but Harry's definitely drawing from nostalgic inspirations. Are these both taking specific inspiration from Rat Pack or other classic big band arrangements? What's the earliest example of this kind of thing?
For anyone that's interested, here's a Spotify playlist, currently very sparse, that I will continue to add to. Thanks for your help!
These two are both jazz (one small combo and one big band). I think jazz and jazz-adjacent genres are what I'm most interested in, but I'm open to examples from other genres. I think, for instance, "Tequila" by the Champs just barely counts because of the very last "Tequila!", which they all shout together, but it's a stretch, since the first two "Tequila!"s are solo lead vocal into a mic, and it's only really a call-and-response if you consider the sax line as the call.
Here's a full list of criteria:
- Multiple voices
- Shouting (unpitched), not singing
- Slightly muffled or distant - i.e. picked up from a stand mic for an instrument, or a room mic across the studio
- As the response of a call-and-response ("let's ... / call it off!" "might as well jump ... / jump!")
Related question: both of my before-the-fold examples are sort of slightly knowing latter-day jazz - Paul Anka is more tongue-in-cheek, but Harry's definitely drawing from nostalgic inspirations. Are these both taking specific inspiration from Rat Pack or other classic big band arrangements? What's the earliest example of this kind of thing?
For anyone that's interested, here's a Spotify playlist, currently very sparse, that I will continue to add to. Thanks for your help!
Best answer: Dooley Wilson, Knock On Wood
posted by yankeefog at 5:08 AM on July 27, 2023 [1 favorite]
posted by yankeefog at 5:08 AM on July 27, 2023 [1 favorite]
Chuck berry my dingaling
posted by chasles at 5:20 AM on July 27, 2023 [1 favorite]
posted by chasles at 5:20 AM on July 27, 2023 [1 favorite]
The Isley Brothers, Shout Pts 1 & 2, perhaps.
posted by gauche at 5:21 AM on July 27, 2023 [2 favorites]
posted by gauche at 5:21 AM on July 27, 2023 [2 favorites]
Best answer: Louis Prima & Keely Smith, Just a Gigolo / I Ain't Got Nobody.
David Lee Roth also did a cover but I'd stick to the original.
posted by JoeZydeco at 5:22 AM on July 27, 2023 [2 favorites]
David Lee Roth also did a cover but I'd stick to the original.
posted by JoeZydeco at 5:22 AM on July 27, 2023 [2 favorites]
Came to say Louis Prima. His peak era with Keely Smith, Sam Butera, and the Witnesses has this on a number of songs.
(It's also some of the most enjoyable, energetic pop music in the American canon.)
posted by DirtyOldTown at 6:46 AM on July 27, 2023 [6 favorites]
(It's also some of the most enjoyable, energetic pop music in the American canon.)
posted by DirtyOldTown at 6:46 AM on July 27, 2023 [6 favorites]
Another from Cab Calloway: Jumpin' Jive
A cover of Shout by Otis Day & the Knights from Animal House
posted by falsedmitri at 6:56 AM on July 27, 2023 [1 favorite]
A cover of Shout by Otis Day & the Knights from Animal House
posted by falsedmitri at 6:56 AM on July 27, 2023 [1 favorite]
Oh yeah, Queen/Freddie Mercury at Live Aid
posted by falsedmitri at 7:26 AM on July 27, 2023 [1 favorite]
posted by falsedmitri at 7:26 AM on July 27, 2023 [1 favorite]
Best answer: It seems a common Cab Calloway technique! Here's Are You Hep To The Jive
posted by TimHare at 10:02 AM on July 27, 2023 [1 favorite]
posted by TimHare at 10:02 AM on July 27, 2023 [1 favorite]
Unchained, Van Halen, which contains one of the most delightfully Louis Prima-esque breaks by David Lee Roth before he went solo and could totally inhabit that spirit.
posted by Ardnamurchan at 12:47 PM on July 27, 2023 [2 favorites]
posted by Ardnamurchan at 12:47 PM on July 27, 2023 [2 favorites]
Best answer: Pennsylvania 6-500
Donald Fagen: Walk Between Raindrops
Curious George theme song!
posted by Clustercuss at 12:55 PM on July 27, 2023 [2 favorites]
Donald Fagen: Walk Between Raindrops
Curious George theme song!
posted by Clustercuss at 12:55 PM on July 27, 2023 [2 favorites]
Best answer: Maybe Beware by Louis Jordan? ("Should I tell 'em about th- " - "Tell 'em EVERYthing!")
posted by kristi at 5:53 PM on July 27, 2023
posted by kristi at 5:53 PM on July 27, 2023
Violent Femmes - Kiss Off
and in honor of this hot hot summer — “Leaving in July” by Notel Motel
posted by credulous at 10:38 PM on July 27, 2023
and in honor of this hot hot summer — “Leaving in July” by Notel Motel
posted by credulous at 10:38 PM on July 27, 2023
Best answer: Another occurrence in a Harry Connick Jr. cover: It's Alright With Me.
posted by jocelmeow at 11:32 AM on July 28, 2023
posted by jocelmeow at 11:32 AM on July 28, 2023
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posted by Sweetie Darling at 4:16 AM on July 27, 2023 [6 favorites]