People You May Know: Clare Torry

[Bill Floyd]

Debate surrounds the details: whether her vocals were done in a single take, or pieced together from multiple attempts; how much she was originally paid (likely around 30 quid, the going rate for studio musicians--on a Sunday); the amount of the eventual legal settlement.  None of which matters a damn bit when you hear that voice come gliding in over the humble piano chords.  The band told her that the song was about dying, but she made it about coming, about sex and soul and abandon.  The key to her performance, she later said, was to pretend she was an instrument.  Only obsessive liner-note readers know her name, but nearly every stoned white boy who grew up between '73 -'03 can lip-synch each "ooh" and "aah" and "hey."  She declined the original invite because she had tickets to see Chuck Berry.  

[Stephen Torelli]

In Italy, friends say the weeping is the result of pending doom, a wife responding to an MDs disclosure that her husband's condition will not improve. Yet, Ms Torry made the sound even better... "sex, soul, and abandon." First class, Bill

[Mike Handley]

I tried. Two minutes in, and I'm still waiting for lyrics ... Just couldn't get beyond the screaming. I'm more prone to sing along with Etta and Aretha. As for getting lost in the moody haze, give me Grace Slick and Janis. Nice writing, though.

[Angela]

I am clueless about a lot of things.  The two that embarrass me  most often are the fact that I am not well read, and I know nearly nothing about pop culture.  So, I missed this incredible thing this woman did for decades.  But now I heard it.  What I wouldn't give to sound like that, just once.  Thanks for enlightening me again.

[Teresa]

You're always introducing me to new music.  Thank you for this post.  But listening to (sharing) music makes me feel more bummed that we're not all together this year at HoW.  Kansas will be fine.  It's the rest of us who will feel the hole.

 

Heavy sigh...

[Paul de Denus]

I was into Atom Heart Mother for the longest time (1971??) loved those long pieces that seemed to go on forever... or was it something else that stretched the time out- her vocal on that piece made it- so powerful- always a fan of Gilmour- enjoyable piece Bill

[Judy Thompson]

I totally tuned out of popular music in the 70s, for some reason, and  missed a whole decade of stuff.  Pink Floyd has only ever been a name to me.  Thank you for this.  Im listening to "Loving Friends", and what an amazing voice she had. 

[Gita]

I bought my first copy of this album about a week after it was released in 1973. It was an actual 33 1/3 vinyl record. I wore it out eventually and then some years later bought it on a cassette tape.  That went well for a while. Then I got the album on a CD, which I have in my car. In my opinion, Dark Side of the Moon is recommended listening, start to finish, for anyone who wants to understand the 1970s.

[Jayne Isabel]

Imaginative, original and well-written.

[Bill Floyd]

Listen to Clare Torry kill it here.

I'm out of town for the weekend, but (lots) more people will be dropping in for a visit on Sunday or Monday.