The U87 / U67 / U47 Vocal Reference Thread

bossanova
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The U87 / U67 / U47 Vocal Reference Thread Oct 13, 2022 19:37:17 GMT -6 Johnkenn, jcoutu1, and 3 more like this

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Post by bossanova on Oct 13, 2022 19:37:17 GMT -6

Hey everyone. This is something I've put together in my spare time from various books and 1st hand stories and interviews, most confirmed to the best recollection of those who were there. If anyone has anything to add in subsequent posts, especially first-hand knowledge from the source, please do so! I'll start with my U87 list, as that's the most comprehensive one.

U87

1970s
Marvin Gaye - What's Going On (title track, probably album, Bob has suggested it might be an KM86 in the past, but he's also said the vocals were recorded at Golden World if I remember correctly)
Paul McCartney - Uncle Albert/Admiral Halsey
Elton John - Ken Scott Era (this one is questionable because it's a from Ken Scott quote but a couple other times he's been quoted as using 67s on the same sessions, and he preferred a 67 on David Bowie during the same year.)
ELO - General Vocals in the 70s
The Eagles - Hotel California (album, lead vocals on ballads)
Kiss - S/T (based on session photos, could be a 67?)
Heart (Ann Wilson) - Dreamboat Annie (album)
Randy Newman - Sail Away (also 2 87s on Piano)
The Bee Gees - Stayin Alive (Barry's Lead, probably others)
Jackson Brown - all of Self-Titled/Saturate When Using, with no compression (!) (Doctor My Eyes may have been a 67)
James Taylor - 1970s vocals in general, some are 67s
Joe Walsh - "Life's Been Good"
The Who - Who Are You (title track and album)
Karen Carpenter (the "famous" u87 in Omni)
Jimmy Buffet - "Margaritaville", Changes in Attitudes (album)
Dan Fogelberg - 70s vocals with Norbert Putnum
Willie Nelson - albums with Norbert Putnam

Philadelphia International - virtually everybody (Thanks Mike...we miss you)

1980s
AC/DC - Back in Black
George Jones - "He Stopped Loving Her Today"
Bruce Springsteen - "Born in the USA", The River (Album, may have been a 67 on some tracks)
Band Aid - Do They Know It's Christmas (every soloist)
Soft Cell - "Tainted Love"
The Smiths - The Queen is Dead (album)
The Pretenders - "Don't Get Me Wrong"
The Ramones - "Pet Semetary"
Randy Travis - "Forever and Ever Amen" and most vocals from that period on a specifically chosen 87
George Harrison - "I've Got My Mind Set on You"

1990s
Pearl Jam - Ten
Faith No More - general Mike Patton vocals
The Cranberries - "Linger"
Californication (album) - John Fruscianti's vocals
Spiritualized - "Come Together"

2000s/Modern Era
Carly Rae Jepsen - "Call Me Maybe"
La La Land (cast recording)
Lana Del Rey - Norman F*cking Rockwell (album)

Last Edit: Oct 13, 2022 19:55:46 GMT -6 by bossanova

EmRR RGO Senior Member Posts: 5,571	The U87 / U67 / U47 Vocal Reference Thread Oct 13, 2022 19:45:24 GMT -6 svart, chessparov, and 2 more like this Quote Select Post Deselect Post Link to Post Back to Top Post by EmRR on Oct 13, 2022 19:45:24 GMT -6 Tangent of interest, 1987 survey snapshot: www.benmook.com/tech/documents/Schematics%202/Schematics%201/voicings%20on%20vocal%20mikes.pdf
	Last Edit: Oct 13, 2022 19:49:08 GMT -6 by EmRR Doug Williams www.emrrecorders.com

bossanova
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The U87 / U67 / U47 Vocal Reference Thread Oct 13, 2022 19:51:06 GMT -6 chessparov likes this

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Post by bossanova on Oct 13, 2022 19:51:06 GMT -6

Oct 13, 2022 19:45:24 GMT -6 EmRR said:

Tangent of interest:

www.benmook.com/tech/documents/Schematics%202/Schematics%201/voicings%20on%20vocal%20mikes.pdf

That’s a classic. I actually quote that one quite a bit especially when it comes to pointing out that the SM7 was not considered to be or touted as a competitive vocal mic until fairly recently.

sirthought RGO Senior Member Posts: 1,495	The U87 / U67 / U47 Vocal Reference Thread Oct 13, 2022 20:41:58 GMT -6 chessparov likes this Quote Select Post Deselect Post Link to Post Back to Top Post by sirthought on Oct 13, 2022 20:41:58 GMT -6 Put this stuff in the general section, please.

opr Junior Member Posts: 85	The U87 / U67 / U47 Vocal Reference Thread Oct 13, 2022 21:05:32 GMT -6 chessparov likes this Quote Select Post Deselect Post Link to Post Back to Top Post by opr on Oct 13, 2022 21:05:32 GMT -6 To add to the 90's list Chris Cornel's vocals on Soungardens Superunknown album was largely recorded on a U87 apparently he broke a few in the process...
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chessparov RGO Senior Member Posts: 5,784	The U87 / U67 / U47 Vocal Reference Thread Oct 13, 2022 21:28:14 GMT -6 via mobile ab101 likes this Quote Select Post Deselect Post Link to Post Back to Top Post by chessparov on Oct 13, 2022 21:28:14 GMT -6 Per "Wiggy Neve" @ GS... All Bon Scott AC/DC vocals, on a 47 FET. Going through (what else LOL!) Neve. For those about to rock on a 47 FET style, I salute you! (As I hide my 47jr) Chris
	Last Edit: Oct 13, 2022 21:28:43 GMT -6 by chessparov

EmRR
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The U87 / U67 / U47 Vocal Reference Thread Oct 13, 2022 22:52:50 GMT -6 ericn and chessparov like this

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Post by EmRR on Oct 13, 2022 22:52:50 GMT -6

Oct 13, 2022 19:51:06 GMT -6 bossanova said:

Oct 13, 2022 19:45:24 GMT -6 EmRR said:

Tangent of interest:

www.benmook.com/tech/documents/Schematics%202/Schematics%201/voicings%20on%20vocal%20mikes.pdf

That’s a classic. I actually quote that one quite a bit especially when it comes to pointing out that the SM7 was not considered to be or touted as a competitive vocal mic until fairly recently.

I like how high the 414 is, and no one uses them now.

Doug Williams
www.emrrecorders.com

chessparov RGO Senior Member Posts: 5,784	The U87 / U67 / U47 Vocal Reference Thread Oct 13, 2022 23:11:35 GMT -6 via mobile opr and ab101 like this Quote Select Post Deselect Post Link to Post Back to Top Post by chessparov on Oct 13, 2022 23:11:35 GMT -6 More brass capsule 414's back then. Chris

ab101 Super Generous Dude Posts: 1,220	The U87 / U67 / U47 Vocal Reference Thread Oct 13, 2022 23:59:05 GMT -6 chessparov likes this Quote Select Post Deselect Post Link to Post Back to Top Post by ab101 on Oct 13, 2022 23:59:05 GMT -6 Oct 13, 2022 23:11:35 GMT -6 chessparov said: More brass capsule 414's back then. Chris Recording to tape may have helped as well.
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thehightenor
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The U87 / U67 / U47 Vocal Reference Thread Oct 14, 2022 2:21:34 GMT -6 chessparov likes this

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Post by thehightenor on Oct 14, 2022 2:21:34 GMT -6

Oct 13, 2022 22:52:50 GMT -6 EmRR said:

Oct 13, 2022 19:51:06 GMT -6 bossanova said:

That’s a classic. I actually quote that one quite a bit especially when it comes to pointing out that the SM7 was not considered to be or touted as a competitive vocal mic until fairly recently.

I like how high the 414 is, and no one uses them now.

Sting recorded vocals on "Nothing Like the Sun" and "Every Breath You Take" (probably the rest of Synchronicity too) with a 414 - his voice sounds great on those albums.

Stings basic vocal tone is quite dull in colour so he really suits brighter mics like the 414, C800g and BLUE Bottle.

Ward
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The U87 / U67 / U47 Vocal Reference Thread Oct 14, 2022 3:06:32 GMT -6 via mobile chessparov likes this

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Post by Ward on Oct 14, 2022 3:06:32 GMT -6

Oct 13, 2022 19:51:06 GMT -6 bossanova said:

That’s a classic. I actually quote that one quite a bit especially when it comes to pointing out that the SM7 was not considered to be or touted as a competitive vocal mic until fairly recently.

“Competent vocal mic”. LOL

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jeremygillespie
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The U87 / U67 / U47 Vocal Reference Thread Oct 14, 2022 3:18:26 GMT -6 via mobile Ward and chessparov like this

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Post by jeremygillespie on Oct 14, 2022 3:18:26 GMT -6

Oct 13, 2022 21:05:32 GMT -6 opr said:

To add to the 90's list Chris Cornel's vocals on Soungardens Superunknown album was largely recorded on a U87 apparently he broke a few in the process...

Somehow that’s the story that has gotten circulated, but it was actually a FET47.

teejay Senior Member Posts: 930	The U87 / U67 / U47 Vocal Reference Thread Oct 14, 2022 6:52:12 GMT -6 chessparov likes this Quote Select Post Deselect Post Link to Post Back to Top Post by teejay on Oct 14, 2022 6:52:12 GMT -6 Interesting how as the decades progress your list gets shorter.
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bossanova
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The U87 / U67 / U47 Vocal Reference Thread Oct 14, 2022 8:08:25 GMT -6 via mobile chessparov likes this

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Post by bossanova on Oct 14, 2022 8:08:25 GMT -6

Oct 14, 2022 6:52:12 GMT -6 teejay said:

Interesting how as the decades progress your list gets shorter.

Part of that is that there's more information about the older albums out there, part of it is that up into the 80s it seems like they were just way more American/UK/Western recordings using the big 3 U mics because they really were the most dependable and/or best game in town for lead vocals at most studios.

I know that 87s were also used on a lot of golden age hip hop, I just don't have as many specifics there yet.

Last Edit: Oct 14, 2022 8:12:50 GMT -6 by bossanova

chessparov RGO Senior Member Posts: 5,784	The U87 / U67 / U47 Vocal Reference Thread Oct 14, 2022 8:19:49 GMT -6 via mobile ab101 likes this Quote Select Post Deselect Post Link to Post Back to Top Post by chessparov on Oct 14, 2022 8:19:49 GMT -6 I didn't know they had Warblers back then. Chris

ericn
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The U87 / U67 / U47 Vocal Reference Thread Oct 17, 2022 9:05:34 GMT -6 via mobile jcoutu1, 79sg, and 2 more like this

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Post by ericn on Oct 17, 2022 9:05:34 GMT -6

I learned years ago unless you were there or know and absolutely trust the source take it all with a grain of salt, memory fade and all to often the politics of gear, endorsements and other things rears it’s ugly self. Of course this also means that if you these factors effect what was said you keep your mouth shut.

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Bob Olhsson
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The U87 / U67 / U47 Vocal Reference Thread Oct 17, 2022 10:09:24 GMT -6 Johnkenn, Martin John Butler, and 11 more like this

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Post by Bob Olhsson on Oct 17, 2022 10:09:24 GMT -6

"What's Going On" was a KM-86 at Motown's Studio B which was the old Golden World Records studio. I ran the tape machine for Ken Sands on that session because we had nothing booked that night at the old Hitsville "Studio A" where I usually worked.

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Tbone81
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The U87 / U67 / U47 Vocal Reference Thread Oct 17, 2022 11:05:56 GMT -6 via mobile jcoutu1, chessparov, and 1 more like this

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Post by Tbone81 on Oct 17, 2022 11:05:56 GMT -6

Oct 13, 2022 22:52:50 GMT -6 EmRR said:

Oct 13, 2022 19:51:06 GMT -6 bossanova said:

That’s a classic. I actually quote that one quite a bit especially when it comes to pointing out that the SM7 was not considered to be or touted as a competitive vocal mic until fairly recently.

I like how high the 414 is, and no one uses them now.

Its funny, I love 414’s for male rock vocals, especially through a tube preamp. I think it’s underrated in that department. Don’t care for them in much else though, unless it’s an older eb with brass capsule.

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bossanova
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The U87 / U67 / U47 Vocal Reference Thread Oct 17, 2022 15:30:37 GMT -6 chessparov likes this

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Post by bossanova on Oct 17, 2022 15:30:37 GMT -6

Oct 17, 2022 10:09:24 GMT -6 Bob Olhsson said:

"What's Going On" was a KM-86 at Motown's Studio B which was the old Golden World Records studio. I ran the tape machine for Ken Sands on that session because we had nothing booked that night at the old Hitsville "Studio A" where I usually worked.

Thank you Bob! The Sound on Sound article on the title track is usually the one that gets cited as saying it was an 87, but I know you were there and I give your recollection weight over the SOS piece. I know you’ve also said that the KM-86s were used on everything during that period, and it sounds like the use of a U87 would have been an odd deviation from the norm.

Bob Olhsson RGO Senior Member Grand Freaking Poobah Posts: 2,341	The U87 / U67 / U47 Vocal Reference Thread Oct 17, 2022 18:06:24 GMT -6 chessparov likes this Quote Select Post Deselect Post Link to Post Back to Top Post by Bob Olhsson on Oct 17, 2022 18:06:24 GMT -6 I don't think we even had 87s yet. Ken misremembered in one article.
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plinker
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The U87 / U67 / U47 Vocal Reference Thread Oct 17, 2022 20:02:53 GMT -6 EmRR, chessparov, and 2 more like this

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Post by plinker on Oct 17, 2022 20:02:53 GMT -6

Oct 13, 2022 19:45:24 GMT -6 EmRR said:

Tangent of interest, 1987 survey snapshot:

www.benmook.com/tech/documents/Schematics%202/Schematics%201/voicings%20on%20vocal%20mikes.pdf

The comment by Martin Rushent: This is the most ridiculous survey I have ever refused to become involved in!

EmRR
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The U87 / U67 / U47 Vocal Reference Thread Oct 17, 2022 20:04:50 GMT -6 via mobile plinker and chessparov like this

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Post by EmRR on Oct 17, 2022 20:04:50 GMT -6

Oct 17, 2022 20:02:53 GMT -6 plinker said:

Oct 13, 2022 19:45:24 GMT -6 EmRR said:

Tangent of interest, 1987 survey snapshot:

www.benmook.com/tech/documents/Schematics%202/Schematics%201/voicings%20on%20vocal%20mikes.pdf

The comment by Martin Rushent: This is the most ridiculous survey I have ever refused to become involved in!

I second that!

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seawell
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The U87 / U67 / U47 Vocal Reference Thread Oct 17, 2022 20:33:37 GMT -6 ericn, EmRR, and 1 more like this

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Post by seawell on Oct 17, 2022 20:33:37 GMT -6

Oct 13, 2022 19:45:24 GMT -6 EmRR said:

Tangent of interest, 1987 survey snapshot:

www.benmook.com/tech/documents/Schematics%202/Schematics%201/voicings%20on%20vocal%20mikes.pdf

It's hilarious seeing the 87 chosen over the 47 and 67. I wish people would think that way again for a while so I could afford a vintage 47 and 67 😂. I'm guessing the fact that everyone was still recording to tape had a lot to do with it too.

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drbill
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The U87 / U67 / U47 Vocal Reference Thread Oct 17, 2022 21:36:26 GMT -6 EmRR, chessparov, and 2 more like this

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Post by drbill on Oct 17, 2022 21:36:26 GMT -6

For a mic that will "do it all", the 87 is def on my short list. I did dozens of albums where that was my only great mic. Works on virtually everything. We are spoiled in 2022. So many great mics. Back in the day......not so much. Tons of studio's only had 87's, 414 BULS's, and a boatload of dynamics. And I hate BULS's.

chessparov RGO Senior Member Posts: 5,784	The U87 / U67 / U47 Vocal Reference Thread Oct 17, 2022 22:21:23 GMT -6 via mobile Quote Select Post Deselect Post Link to Post Back to Top Post by chessparov on Oct 17, 2022 22:21:23 GMT -6 "boatload of dynamics". Sounds Titanic. I still hope Crille... Does a Motown cover, on his KM86. Chris
	Last Edit: Oct 17, 2022 22:23:20 GMT -6 by chessparov

The U87 / U67 / U47 Vocal Reference Thread

Post by bossanova on Oct 13, 2022 19:37:17 GMT -6

Post by EmRR on Oct 13, 2022 19:45:24 GMT -6

Post by bossanova on Oct 13, 2022 19:51:06 GMT -6

Post by sirthought on Oct 13, 2022 20:41:58 GMT -6

Post by opr on Oct 13, 2022 21:05:32 GMT -6

Post by chessparov on Oct 13, 2022 21:28:14 GMT -6

Post by EmRR on Oct 13, 2022 22:52:50 GMT -6

Post by chessparov on Oct 13, 2022 23:11:35 GMT -6

Post by ab101 on Oct 13, 2022 23:59:05 GMT -6

Post by thehightenor on Oct 14, 2022 2:21:34 GMT -6

Post by Ward on Oct 14, 2022 3:06:32 GMT -6

Post by jeremygillespie on Oct 14, 2022 3:18:26 GMT -6

Post by teejay on Oct 14, 2022 6:52:12 GMT -6

Post by bossanova on Oct 14, 2022 8:08:25 GMT -6

Post by chessparov on Oct 14, 2022 8:19:49 GMT -6

Post by ericn on Oct 17, 2022 9:05:34 GMT -6

Post by Bob Olhsson on Oct 17, 2022 10:09:24 GMT -6

Post by Tbone81 on Oct 17, 2022 11:05:56 GMT -6

Post by bossanova on Oct 17, 2022 15:30:37 GMT -6

Post by Bob Olhsson on Oct 17, 2022 18:06:24 GMT -6

Post by plinker on Oct 17, 2022 20:02:53 GMT -6

Post by EmRR on Oct 17, 2022 20:04:50 GMT -6

Post by seawell on Oct 17, 2022 20:33:37 GMT -6

Post by drbill on Oct 17, 2022 21:36:26 GMT -6

Post by chessparov on Oct 17, 2022 22:21:23 GMT -6