"Fly Like An Eagle" China?

[noahJT]

Anyone know what the china in the intro to "Fly Like An Eagle" is?

He hits it a few times in this song, and you can hear the same china (or at least one that sounds pretty dang similar) on other songs. I'm thinking a 22" Formula 602 or 2002? Didn't sound anything like my since sold Sound Creation 22" so I ruled that out, but I guess I could be wrong...

I need/want a china like that! Low pitched, no harsh overtones.

 

[stickinthemud]

I have a Sabian XS20 18" Chinese that has a similar "tah" sound (not like the "pang" that lots of other chinas seam to have), but not the sustain that I'm hearing in that song. Good luck on your quest!

BTW, that is a song that belongs in the thread about lyrics that make no sense.

 

[3outta4]

That is a very cracked and busted up old china that gary mallaber insisted on using. The engineer was not crazy about it, but it was the right sound.

 

[noahJT]

That is a very cracked and busted up old china that gary mallaber insisted on using. The engineer was not crazy about it, but it was the right sound.

outta nowhere, the new member with the answer!

Thanks, and welcome to DFO!

I guess I just need to find a cracked old china on ebay...

 

[John DeChristopher]

It's definitely a cracked cymbal, but I don't think it's a china... I believe it's a cracked crash cymbal, thin in weight. It's the same cymbal he uses all over the "Fly Like An Eagle" and "Book Of Dreams" albums i.e. Rock 'N Me, Take The Money and Run, Jungle Love, Swingtown, etc. If you listen closely, you'll also hear it on Eddie Money's "Two Tickets To Paradise." I'll ask Gary and let you know.

 

[noahJT]

It's definitely a cracked cymbal, but I don't think it's a china... I believe it's a cracked crash cymbal, thin in weight. It's the same cymbal he uses all over the "Fly Like An Eagle" and "Book Of Dreams" albums i.e. Rock 'N Me, Take The Money and Run, Jungle Love, Swingtown, etc. If you listen closely, you'll also hear it on Eddie Money's "Two Tickets To Paradise." I'll ask Gary and let you know.

Thanks, you're awesome! And, welcome to the forum!

 

[cornelius]

That is a great cymbal sound to hear on top 10 pop singles.
it was a cracked Pang - it had a chip out of it that rattled against the edges...

 

[3outta4]

That is a great cymbal sound to hear on top 10 pop singles.
it was a cracked Pang - it had a chip out of it that rattled against the edges...

I couldn't recall if he had said china or pang or swish or what. I do recall him telling me it was an old (insert china type cymbal name here) that was cracked and broken and drove the engineer crazy.

 

[Jim Hodgson]

Didn't sound anything like my since sold Sound Creation 22"

Why anyone would sell a 22" SC Dark China is by far the bigger mystery here! (Just kiddin' ya, bro...)

 

[bonzoleum]

I kind of remember an article where Mallaber says he found the cymbal at the studio in the hall or at a rehearsal or something and liked it and used it on the recordings.

 

[noahJT]

Didn't sound anything like my since sold Sound Creation 22"

Why anyone would sell a 22" SC Dark China is by far the bigger mystery here! (Just kiddin' ya, bro...)

most over-rated china sound of all time!

The sound I really like right now is the 602 Modern Essentials 22" but I don't feel like putting down $500 for a china!

 

[cornelius]

That is a great cymbal sound to hear on top 10 pop singles.
it was a cracked Pang - it had a chip out of it that rattled against the edges...

I couldn't recall if he had said china or pang or swish or what. I do recall him telling me it was an old (insert china type cymbal name here) that was cracked and broken and drove the engineer crazy.

Right - Swish, China, Pang - who knows... If it was a Zildjian it was a Swish or Pang, Paiste, it would be a China-Type.

 

[madchops82]

I always loved the drumming on Steve Miller's tunes. Dig that bell beat.

 

[TheBeachBoy]

I read an interview or a letter by Gary Mallebar in which he said one of those trashy cymbals was a China pang that had a huge split in it and he also used a regular crash that had been cracked and they cut nearly in half, like a protractor.

 

[JoshCorken]

I'm not gonna lie. I like the sound of a cracked cymbal if used at the right time. It's good to know that even some of the greats agree.

 

[noahJT]

My other favorite recorded china sound is probably from Squeeze on "Is That Love," "Tempted," and a few others. Different than the Mallaber sound for sure, but just as good.

 

[John DeChristopher]

Hi guys, I heard back from Gary and it turns out I was half right... here's his reply below.

On "Rockin Me" (Miller band),........that intro and entire song was the 22" Zildjian China,......split at the edge curve,................almost all the way around,..............NEXT (also Miller band) ,...the song ,.."Take the Money & Run",....that was a 16" crash,......split so badly,......I cut the rest out,...around the bell,.. and it looked like a mechanical drawing Protractor,...1/2 circle with bell attached,......and I still have it!
Love,...
Gary Mallaber

So it doesn't answer the question specifically about the song "Fly Like An Eagle" but suffice to say it's one of those two cymbals... I hope this helps and it's nice to be here.

 

[dmacc]

Hi guys, I heard back from Gary and it turns out I was half right... here's his reply below.

On "Rockin Me" (Miller band),........that intro and entire song was the 22" Zildjian China,......split at the edge curve,................almost all the way around,..............NEXT (also Miller band) ,...the song ,.."Take the Money & Run",....that was a 16" crash,......split so badly,......I cut the rest out,...around the bell,.. and it looked like a mechanical drawing Protractor,...1/2 circle with bell attached,......and I still have it!
Love,...
Gary Mallaber

So it doesn't answer the question specifically about the song "Fly Like An Eagle" but suffice to say it's one of those two cymbals... I hope this helps and it's nice to be here.

I just took a look at your blog. It's an honor to be on the same forum as you. Wow....

 

[lovethemGretsch]

I visited a childhood friend that moved to Chicago in the 70's and he turned me on to Steve Miller band ... life was never the same !
Love their sound !!!

 

[noahJT]

Thanks for the info! I checked out your blog as well, good to have you on the forum!