lborsato@watdcsu.UUCP (L. Borsato - DCSU) (03/27/85)
I think that the recording of backwards messages, or 'backward masking' as
it is known in the recording industry, started out merely as a gimmick.
A few albums initially used the technique. One that comes to mind is the
album 'Face The Music' by the Electric Light Orchestra. The song 'Fire
On High' contains some music that is identical whether it is played forward
or in reverse. At the beginning of the song there is a message recorded
backwards. It says (quite clearly) 'The music is reversible, but time isn't.
Turn back ! Turn back !'.
Even earlier than this an album by the Strawbs (Hero and Heroine ?) had
a song called 'Shine On Silver Sun' in which both the vocals and the music
could be played in either direction with reasonable clarity.
As well, in the late seventies a band called Klaatu (no they were not the
Beatles !) released an album called 'Sir Army Suit'. There was a song on
the album called 'Silly Boys' which was in essence a song from their first
album (titled 'Anus From Uranus') played backwards. As such the lyrics
were very hard to understand when it is played forward.
These examples are but a few of the cases I have heard of, and they are
all clear and easy to understand. I believe that the concept of Satan
speaking to us through our turntables ranks with the concept of an audio
section at K-Mart selling Hafler pre-amps.
--
A memo from the desk of :
Larry W. Borsato
Just one step away from total mental collapse ... but fine otherwise.
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