Gorgeous string arrangements

Message Bookmarked

Bookmark Removed

I've recently become intoxicated with the swirling strings on Serge Gainsbourg's 'Histoire de Melody Nelson' (and other Serge tracks, naturally), and those on the Arthur Verocai album (a post-Tropicalia Brazilian crooner, for those who haven't discovered him yet). Other string arrangements that provoke similar reactions, off the top of my head:

Aim - The Girl Who Fell Through The Ice
Francoiz Breut - Si Tu Disais....

More to follow - in the meantime, has anyone got any more string-drenched gems to add?

― baboon2004 (baboon2004), Saturday, 18 February 2006 19:56 (twenty years ago)

love-forever changes

― drakeeee, Saturday, 18 February 2006 20:29 (twenty years ago)

early Scott Walker solo albums

Nick Drake's first 2 albums

T.Rex - "Cosmic Dancer" (reminiscent of "River Man" in album sequencing)

Bert Jansch - "Woe Is Love My Dear" (ditto - did this kick off a trend of strings on track 2 - or is there an earlier? don't Zeppelin tap similar placement?) & others on Nicola

― Paul (scifisoul), Saturday, 18 February 2006 20:48 (twenty years ago)

XTC - 1000 umbrellas

― why, Saturday, 18 February 2006 21:00 (twenty years ago)

Lambchop to thread, esp. How I Quit Smoking and Nixon.

― pixel farmer (Rock Hardy), Saturday, 18 February 2006 21:43 (twenty years ago)

Can - Mary, So Contrary
Nico - Frozen Warnings

― lol_yeah, Saturday, 18 February 2006 22:07 (twenty years ago)

Also Nico's Abschied, thankyou herr Cale

― lol_yeah, Saturday, 18 February 2006 22:08 (twenty years ago)

"It's too late" by The Streets, simple but very heartfelt.

― Herr Fahrstuhl, Saturday, 18 February 2006 23:09 (twenty years ago)

Bjork - Hunter
Rufus Wainwright - Dinner at Eight

― The Brainwasher (Twilight), Saturday, 18 February 2006 23:21 (twenty years ago)

"White Jazz" by Jack, and "Joga" by Bjork.

Much of the first Sigur Ros album, though I haven't really been paying attention to them recently so I don't know about the other two.

"Ocean Rain" by Echo and the Bunnymen is stuffed to the gills with gorgeous/bizarre string arrangement.

― owen moorhead (i heart daniel miller), Sunday, 19 February 2006 00:50 (twenty years ago)

This may get me in trouble around ILM, but I think the string arrangements on Beck's Sea Change are gorgeous.

Others:
- Telefon Tel Aviv, Map of What is Effortless
- lots of Divine Comedy (not so much Regeneration, which has more of a stripped-down band sound)
- XTC, Apple Venus
- Prefab Sprout, "Hey Manhattan"
- Annie Lennox, Medusa

― Paul in Santa Cruz (Paul in Santa Cruz), Sunday, 19 February 2006 01:25 (twenty years ago)

d. axelrod's songs of innocence

― oops (Oops), Sunday, 19 February 2006 02:28 (twenty years ago)

I cite this song in a lot of threads, but:

Bran Van 3000 f/ Curtis Mayfield, "Astounded"

― Joseph McCombs (Joseph McCombs), Sunday, 19 February 2006 02:52 (twenty years ago)

If you like the arrangement on "The Girl Who Fell" (and you SHOULD, because it's spine-tingling), you should seek out the first track on Delays' new album, called "Cavalry."

― brittle-lemon (brittle-lemon), Sunday, 19 February 2006 03:05 (twenty years ago)

This Mortal Coil - Another Day

― Brooker Buckingham (Brooker B), Sunday, 19 February 2006 03:38 (twenty years ago)

Badfinger - "We're For The Dark"

― Paul (scifisoul), Sunday, 19 February 2006 04:16 (twenty years ago)

very few of these match what judee sill does with "heart food."

― anvsbl, Sunday, 19 February 2006 04:38 (twenty years ago)

Aimee Mann - "It's Not"

― joseph cotten (joseph cotten), Sunday, 19 February 2006 05:39 (twenty years ago)

Randy Newman - Sail Away
Eleanor Rigby

seconding "1000 Umbrellas"

― Dominique (dleone), Sunday, 19 February 2006 06:38 (twenty years ago)

I second "Eleanor Rigy" (what about "I Am The Walrus" though?) and Deodato's arrangements for Björk in general ("You've Been Flirting Again," "Isobel," & "Bachelorette" haven't been mentioned).

Radiohead's "Dollars & Cents" has beautiful strings. And of course so does "Pyramid Song."

― Turangalila (Salvador), Sunday, 19 February 2006 06:42 (twenty years ago)

String arrangements are fabulous things, why don't more U.S. acts have them? Gotta look to the Brits every time...

― And you best believe Daft Punk is playing in my house (Bimble...), Sunday, 19 February 2006 07:05 (twenty years ago)

Jake Holmes, "So Close"

Train, "Drops of Jupiter" (Shaddup!)

Procol Harum, "Conquistador" (the live version with the Edmonton Sympthony Orchestra)

Smiths, "There Is a Light That Never Goes Out"

― Joseph McCombs (Joseph McCombs), Sunday, 19 February 2006 07:27 (twenty years ago)

many many mayfield songs

― oops (Oops), Sunday, 19 February 2006 08:30 (twenty years ago)

Al De Lory, much Glen Campbell
David Angel, "Forever Changes"

― Rickey Wright (Rrrickey), Sunday, 19 February 2006 09:26 (twenty years ago)

les baxter - que mango!

― gear (gear), Sunday, 19 February 2006 09:27 (twenty years ago)

Blur - Universal

― Navek Rednam (Navek Rednam), Sunday, 19 February 2006 09:35 (twenty years ago)

Sean O'Hagan hereby declares ownership of this thread.

― Geir Hongro (GeirHong), Sunday, 19 February 2006 09:36 (twenty years ago)

So he can doodle it into infinity.

― Rickey Wright (Rrrickey), Sunday, 19 February 2006 11:27 (twenty years ago)

And my apologies to drakeeee at thread-top for the first mention of Love. And all mentions of "1000 Umbrellas" and all Curtis Mayfield records seconded or fifthed . . .

― Rickey Wright (Rrrickey), Sunday, 19 February 2006 11:30 (twenty years ago)

I guess it goes without saying we've forgotten HDH on the Four Tops' "Reach Out I'll Be There."

― Rickey Wright (Rrrickey), Sunday, 19 February 2006 11:32 (twenty years ago)

[Sigh] Heads to bed, then remembers Etta James' "At Last," "My Dearest Darling," Kanye West/Jon Brion's "Gone" . . .

― Rickey Wright (Rrrickey), Sunday, 19 February 2006 11:35 (twenty years ago)

Brook Benton's "Kiddio" . . .

― Rickey Wright (Rrrickey), Sunday, 19 February 2006 11:36 (twenty years ago)

Francoiz Breut - 'Si Tu Disais' seconded.

Also
Stereolab - Cybele's Reverie
Super Furry Animals - The Turning Tide (both Sean O'Hagan)
Tindersticks - Nectar, City Sickness

― zeus (zeus), Sunday, 19 February 2006 11:45 (twenty years ago)

Oh, Axelrod just called and mentioned
ihttp://www.songlyricscollection.com/lyrics/f/frank-sinatra/in-the-iwee-small-hours/in-the-wee-small-hours.jpg
http://images.amazon.com/images/P/B000006OHF.01._AA240_SCLZZZZZZZ_.jpg
http://www.songlyricscollection.com/lyrics/f/frank-sinatra/sinatra-jobim/sinatra-jobim.jpg

― Rickey Wright (Rrrickey), Sunday, 19 February 2006 11:49 (twenty years ago)

Riverman, Chime Of A City Clock

Send In The Clowns

― john clarkson, Sunday, 19 February 2006 11:59 (twenty years ago)

Patrick Adams was the master of disco strings, try Never by Center Stage. Also the Chic Strings were on much Chic up until the Real People album. I want your love is pretty ace.

― pupo wrang, Sunday, 19 February 2006 13:04 (twenty years ago)

Rickey OTM about those Sinatra/Riddle albums.

― Geir Hongro (GeirHong), Sunday, 19 February 2006 14:43 (twenty years ago)

Tindersticks - Nectar, City Sickness

Ooh thanks for reminding me that

Tindersticks - "Don't Look Down"

needs to be listed, too.

― Turangalila (Salvador), Sunday, 19 February 2006 16:29 (twenty years ago)

sounds silly, but the soundtrack to 2042 is pretty moving. if you're into that sort of thing. and i'm usually not.

― marshall watson (Professor), Sunday, 19 February 2006 16:32 (twenty years ago)

erm...that's 2046

― marshall watson (Professor), Sunday, 19 February 2006 16:32 (twenty years ago)

Well, yeah. It has Xavier Cugat's "Perfidia" on it, which I've always loved. Cheesy lounge-y gorgeousness.

― Turangalila (Salvador), Sunday, 19 February 2006 16:36 (twenty years ago)

Lou Reed - Berlin (sure it's the textbook example for "bombastic" but when played at the right time it can't be beat.)

― StanM (StanM), Sunday, 19 February 2006 22:36 (twenty years ago)

A Silver Mt. Zion!

― Tokyo Ghost Stories (Tokyo Ghost Stories), Sunday, 19 February 2006 23:32 (twenty years ago)

i think it's worth it to mention a) john paul jones' string arrangements, and b)Oneida's "The Wedding"

― trees (treesessplode), Monday, 20 February 2006 00:23 (twenty years ago)

Jefferson Starship, "Miracles" - a subtle arrangement that brings out all the right spots in the refrain.

― Joseph McCombs (Joseph McCombs), Monday, 20 February 2006 05:06 (twenty years ago)

All of the Hounds of Love album but especially Cloudbusting and Hellor Earth

― dr x o'skeleton, Monday, 20 February 2006 11:08 (twenty years ago)

"don't talk put your head on my shoulder"-beach boys (especially the instrumental on "pet sounds sessions"... amazing...).

― AleXTC (AleXTC), Monday, 20 February 2006 13:12 (twenty years ago)

Lee Hazlewood - Some Velvet Morning
Isaac Hayes - Walk on Bye

And Richard Evans.

― Mestema (davidcorp), Monday, 20 February 2006 13:58 (twenty years ago)

Both at least partly fake, so probably shouldn't count, but Sinead "Troy" and Mercury Rev "Holes."

― Mark (MarkR), Monday, 20 February 2006 13:59 (twenty years ago)

my absolute favourite has to be in The Way Young Lovers Do from Astral Weeks, it seems to go against the grain of the prevailing rhythm and live in the spaces

― dr x o'skeleton, Monday, 20 February 2006 14:23 (twenty years ago)

Marvin Gaye's What's Going On album, especially "Inner City Blues" and "Mercy Mercy Me."

― Joseph McCombs (Joseph McCombs), Monday, 20 February 2006 17:39 (twenty years ago)

Among ELO songs, I always liked the strings on "Evil Woman."

"I Never," off the latest Rilo Kiley, has good strings in a very 1975-AM-radio way.

― phil d. (Phil D.), Monday, 20 February 2006 17:43 (twenty years ago)

The late Jack Nitzsche did lots & lots of course.
Just one of the (perhaps) less obvious amongst the myriad, yet really fine is The James Gang's "Ashes, The Rain & I", e.g.

― t\'\'t (t\'\'t), Monday, 20 February 2006 17:49 (twenty years ago)

Stereolab's "Puncture in the Radax Permutation" is good, too.

― jaymc (jaymc), Monday, 20 February 2006 17:54 (twenty years ago)

"This may get me in trouble around ILM, but I think the string arrangements on Beck's Sea Change are gorgeous."

Fair enough. Problem with that album is that it's the string arrangements that hold the songs up all too often. Beck's dad David Campbell is a superb arranger - very versatile and not soupy at all. Paper Tiger is a "homage" to, ok, total rip off of Gainsbourg though...

Rogerio Duprat's arrangements for Caetano Veloso - Tropicalia, Supercabana etc.

John Cale is a brilliant, brilliant arranger.

Sean O'Hagan and Jim O'Rourke too...

― stew!, Monday, 20 February 2006 18:47 (twenty years ago)

Thanks for all the recommendations...

Any more Brazilian candidates aside from Caetono Veloso as in the last answer?

House-wise, there's also Silicone Soul - Right On, sampled from Curtis Mayfield.

― baboon2004 (baboon2004), Monday, 20 February 2006 20:03 (twenty years ago)

godz "squeak" obv!

― Special Agent Gene Krupa (orion), Monday, 20 February 2006 20:10 (twenty years ago)

Mott the Hoople, "Sea Diver". The Thorns had s couple great arrangements on their one album, and the High Llamas on a couple of theirs as well.

― matt the queeg, Monday, 20 February 2006 20:21 (twenty years ago)

Jobim himself (and his drummer too, I think) is on that Sinatra sings Jobim album.

Lou Reed - Berlin
"Street Hassle," people!

― Redd Harvest (Ken L), Monday, 20 February 2006 20:38 (twenty years ago)

Bryan Ferry's "When She Walks in the Room" from The Bride Stripped Bare

― Teagan, Monday, 20 February 2006 20:43 (twenty years ago)

John Cale - Paris 1919

― Paul (scifisoul), Monday, 20 February 2006 20:57 (twenty years ago)

fire engines - candyskin

― rio natsume, Monday, 20 February 2006 20:58 (twenty years ago)

Dusty Springfield - "In The Land Of Make Believe"

― Paul (scifisoul), Monday, 20 February 2006 21:05 (twenty years ago)

ole blue eyes - It was a very good year
the stones - ruby tuesday

― The Velvet Overlord (The Velvet Overlord), Tuesday, 21 February 2006 06:59 (twenty years ago)

The Beta Band - Simple

― zeus (zeus), Tuesday, 21 February 2006 08:34 (twenty years ago)

A totally unhip choice I'll wager, but I've always loved the Moody Blues' Days Of Future Passed. Kinda an anomaly in their catalog - all successive albums replaced the strings with Mellotron.

― Myonga Von Bontee (Myonga Von Bontee), Tuesday, 21 February 2006 08:46 (twenty years ago)

Well, yeah. It has Xavier Cugat's "Perfidia" on it, which I've always loved. Cheesy lounge-y gorgeousness.

-- Turangalila (sonorousvessel...), February 19th, 2006 4:36 PM.

Turangalia, do you (or anyone else) know which Xavier Cugat album the 2046 version of "Perfidia" is originally from? It's uch a beautiful song, and I would love to hear an entire album done in a similar vein.

― A. Lingbert (A. Lingbert), Saturday, 4 March 2006 07:44 (twenty years ago)

You must be logged in to post. Please either login here, or if you are not registered, you may register here.