Page 57 of 76
Re: UNPOPULAR PEARL JAM OPINIONS
Posted: Fri July 12, 2019 4:04 pm
by Kevin Davis
I became acquainted with "Crazy Mary" by way of the 2000 bootlegs, and as a result the studio take has always felt really off-center to me in a bad way. Eddie sounds really weird and unnatural on it -- there are parts where he sounds like he's trying to pull off a kind of Springsteen drawl, and other parts where he sounds like he's got a clothespin on his nose ("could meet you halfway"). I'm not a fan of the backing vocals either. Overall I think it's kind of a hokey-sounding performance.
It's a wonderful song, though. To me the 2000 versions are still tops, though the 2003 versions where they first introduced the Mike/Boom duet takes me back to a happy place too. That was pretty fun when it was new, though it's less so fifteen years later.
Re: UNPOPULAR PEARL JAM OPINIONS
Posted: Fri July 12, 2019 4:11 pm
by tragabigzanda
Re: UNPOPULAR PEARL JAM OPINIONS
Posted: Fri July 12, 2019 4:17 pm
by Iholdthepain
Kevin Davis wrote:I became acquainted with "Crazy Mary" by way of the 2000 bootlegs, and as a result the studio take has always felt really off-center to me in a bad way. Eddie sounds really weird and unnatural on it -- there are parts where he sounds like he's trying to pull off a kind of Springsteen drawl, and other parts where he sounds like he's got a clothespin on his nose ("could meet you halfway"). I'm not a fan of the backing vocals either. Overall I think it's kind of a hokey-sounding performance.
It's a wonderful song, though. To me the 2000 versions are still tops, though the 2003 versions where they first introduced the Mike/Boom duet takes me back to a happy place too. That was pretty fun when it was new, though it's less so fifteen years later.
The backing vocals are from the original singer/songwriter, Victoria Williams...
I believe the benefit album it was recorded for was in her honor, Sweet Relief, to raise awareness and $ for the fight against MS.
It came out just before Vs, and I loved it! Still do, because it's easy to play on guitar. I even get the hokey, chlothes-pinned nose sound going when I sing it

Re: UNPOPULAR PEARL JAM OPINIONS
Posted: Fri July 12, 2019 4:58 pm
by Leatherhead
I agree with KD. I've only listened to the studio version a few times, and that was all I needed.
Re: UNPOPULAR PEARL JAM OPINIONS
Posted: Fri July 12, 2019 5:02 pm
by Iholdthepain
Damn... I wonder if that's the consensus here. I think it's one of the coolest recordings they've done, and I typically prefer it to the live versions post-2000.
Re: UNPOPULAR PEARL JAM OPINIONS
Posted: Fri July 12, 2019 5:02 pm
by tragabigzanda
Re: UNPOPULAR PEARL JAM OPINIONS
Posted: Fri July 12, 2019 5:06 pm
by Iholdthepain
tragabigzanda wrote:This is some bullshit
go on...
Re: UNPOPULAR PEARL JAM OPINIONS
Posted: Fri July 12, 2019 5:07 pm
by tragabigzanda
Re: UNPOPULAR PEARL JAM OPINIONS
Posted: Fri July 12, 2019 5:07 pm
by Iholdthepain
tragabigzanda wrote:That recording is beautiful

Re: UNPOPULAR PEARL JAM OPINIONS
Posted: Fri July 12, 2019 5:15 pm
by LetMeSleep
I concur guys. The studio cut stands tall.
Re: UNPOPULAR PEARL JAM OPINIONS
Posted: Fri July 12, 2019 5:24 pm
by Leatherhead
Maybe it's just because I heard the live versions long before the studio and became accustomed to the live version.
Re: UNPOPULAR PEARL JAM OPINIONS
Posted: Fri July 12, 2019 6:46 pm
by epilogue
tragabigzanda wrote:That recording is beautiful
Blah blah blah
Midsommar?
Re: UNPOPULAR PEARL JAM OPINIONS
Posted: Fri July 12, 2019 6:50 pm
by kreng
the studio recording is vocally a bit odd, i don't think he sounds like that on any other recording, but i like it.
live 2000/2003 were great. it's also, surprisingly, the first song i ever saw PJ perform live in person.
Re: UNPOPULAR PEARL JAM OPINIONS
Posted: Fri July 12, 2019 6:52 pm
by epilogue
To be clear, I don't mind Ed's vocals on the studio take, only the more recent live versions.
Re: UNPOPULAR PEARL JAM OPINIONS
Posted: Fri July 12, 2019 6:53 pm
by epilogue
*double post*
Re: UNPOPULAR PEARL JAM OPINIONS
Posted: Fri July 12, 2019 7:18 pm
by Monkey_Driven
You've now made it very clear.
Re: UNPOPULAR PEARL JAM OPINIONS
Posted: Fri July 12, 2019 7:19 pm
by LetMeSleep
Monkey_Driven wrote:You've now made it very clear.
Double glazing clear.
Re: UNPOPULAR PEARL JAM OPINIONS
Posted: Fri July 12, 2019 8:00 pm
by E.H. Ruddock
I just hate when boom comes in every time with that. "Bah bah BAAAH, bah bah bah, bah BAAAH"
Re: UNPOPULAR PEARL JAM OPINIONS
Posted: Fri July 12, 2019 8:35 pm
by epilogue
Monkey_Driven wrote:You've now made it very clear.

Re: UNPOPULAR PEARL JAM OPINIONS
Posted: Fri July 12, 2019 8:35 pm
by epilogue
LetMeSleep wrote:Monkey_Driven wrote:You've now made it very clear.
Double glazing clear.
wat