How did this guy manage to sound like a bleating, psychotic sheep when he sang?

I was completely perplexed when I first heard Mental Notes, I love it now...

Did he run his voice through an organ speaker or something, or is this all natural? Certainly... unique, either way

Thanks

He sounds much better on the Second Thoughts album - check out 'Sweet Dreams'.

Well I like his vocals on Mental Notes, I think his version of Spellbound walks all over the version on Beginning of the Enz. Yes, I'm almost positive it's done naturally.

What amazes me is how limited his range is on both Mental Notes and Second Thoughts, then when you listen to the home demos of So This Is Love and Incognito In California, his vocals are so high, leading into an enormous range on The Swingers LP. Must have found confidence in his voice. I have heard live versions of Another Great Divide that have some fairly insane high falsetto on the last chorus, I've always presumed this was Phil as well.

I like the angry sheep on the Mental Notes version of Titus. Bit too much on True Colours (though he's also fairly off key).

Dat's Mr Chunn on the falsetto, methinks.

Totally agree. I think the best I have heard of PJs vocals are on the demos he put out from Novelty Act. Some brilliant stuff there combining the experimental angle of early enz, a bit of the cockney Swingers bits and some new twists.

I really dislike the way he sang on Mental Notes. It just sounded silly/contrived and still does. Second Thoughts was a great improvement - he sings Sweet Dreams beautifully.

Its not fair. Arrrggghhhh!

Mr Chunn? Would that be he on the high backing vocals on live versions of Amy then?

'Under The Wheel' from Oddz And Enz kicks some serious ass. Check out that primal scream: "IT'S NOT FAIR!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!" Absolutely terrifying!!!

Phil's "sheepish" vocals seemed to start early and not leave until around the time of 'Sweet Dreams'. Maybe he was suffering from the same nervousness that Tim had on hisMental Notes vocal takes.

PHIL'S ENZ VOCALS
(officially released stuff only)
For You (with Tim)
Split Ends (with Tim)
Home Sweet Home (with Tim)
Spellbound
Under The Wheel
Maybe (with Tim)
Titus (with Tim)
Spellbound
Mental Notes (with himself?)
Sweet Dreams
True Colours (Let's Rock) (with Tim)
Nightmare Stampede (with Tim)

Actually, Home Sweet Home is sung in a perfectly normal tone, more like the Second Thoughts Phil.

Hmm, just referring to my memory bank, I believe you're right, Joe.

quote:

Originally posted by Semi-Detached:
[qb] 'Under The Wheel' from Oddz And Enz kicks some serious ass. Check out that primal scream: "IT'S NOT FAIR!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!" Absolutely terrifying!!! [/qb]

That scream scared the crap out of me when I first heard it. Still does, to be honest.

Hi, there! Listen, I may be missing the point:
now [B][/B] The Enz
(the first years) were far from conventional
in all terms; lots of brilliant ideas boiling
and then why can't Phil's vocals be a part of
the overall chemistry? Come on, let the music
flow and don't be put off by personal taste...
Bye.

don't worry too much Zodiac DDM,
I think most members here can appreciate Phil's importance regarding early Split Enz.
Without Phil and Tim's friendship it just wouldn't have happened.

Going by the mans own words though, he's not a singer...he just did(recorded)whatever he felt like at the time.

Yeah, well said Mishima! At the end of the day
an artist should flatly do (record, in this case)
what his feelings suggest in that exact moment...
and only an our later he may feel different and
the rendering of the vocal delivery may change substantially as a consequence. I play bass and
sing in a (noisy) band and the audience notices
changes in my singing gig to gig, and I know for
sure that this has nothing to do with the mics,
nor the sound engineers but my own being in the
thing in a certain way (aggressive, depressed, annoyed, etc.). I wouldn't like anyone to go on
doing on stage (or when recording) exactly what
is "expected", forcing himself to the picture of
him, not the authentic him...
Bye.

remember they were kicking against the walls, and the "bleeting" was something to do with that. I don't make my man listen to any early Enz for this reason. It is a grown-on aquired taste, that usually stems from some memory.
I was just listening to my old crackly vinyl of "The Beginning of the Enz" last night... still holds up. Love it. Don't mind the bleeting.