Originally Posted by
kenneth
All very good points. I think for me there are two things at play. One is that when I know that the vocals were recorded separately, it is much harder for the singers to sound like they've got any synergy or a true collaborative artistic process going on as I am a more critical listener. The second is that if I assume they were together, or have no idea going in, they can still sound like they don't blend well somehow.
As an example of the first problem, I have a hard time listening to the Sinatra duet albums because I know they were all recorded individually. But even if I didn't, somehow to me they come off as too sterile, not organic [[not musical terms, I know).
As an example of the second, the Tony Bennett duets and his album with Lady Gaga to me seem full of great touches that sound like they are spontaneous. So I'd be surprised if they weren't recorded simultaneously, though I really don't know. On the other hand, I hated the old Summer/Streisand "Enough is Enough." Again, I have no idea if they recorded together but their voices don't blend at all and they sound like they're fighting with each other somehow.
And to touch on one of your points, what Marvin and Tammi had was pure magic, however it was created! I do like some of his songs with Diana as well. But clearly, what male singer ever had so much success with so many different partners [[Wells, Terrell, Weston, Ross, and even the ones we didn't know about back then such as Simpson, Page [[or was it Heard? I always forget). I don't think Gaye gets nearly as much credit as he should for how adaptable and flexible he was to his singing partners.
I'm sure all these things are different for each listener.
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