# Loving Spoonful Song: Weird Audio Problem

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/loving-spoonful-song-weird-audio-problem/111179>\
**Category:** Cafe Society\
**Created:** [May 28, 2002, 1:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/loving-spoonful-song-weird-audio-problem/111179 "2002-05-28T13:44:48Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Carnac\_the\_Magnificent](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ccd318/32.png) [@Carnac\_the\_Magnificent](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Carnac_the_Magnificent)\
**Post date:** [May 28, 2002, 1:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/loving-spoonful-song-weird-audio-problem/111179/1 "2002-05-28T13:44:48Z")

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What’s the deal with the Lovin’ Spoonfuls’ “Did You Every Have to Make Up Your Mind”?

The male vocalist (Sebastian?) can barely be heard above the music, as though it was recorded in mono rather than in stereo.

Explanations?

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**Author:** ![whitetho](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/whitetho/32/1059_2.png) [@whitetho](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/whitetho)\
**Post date:** [May 28, 2002, 6:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/loving-spoonful-song-weird-audio-problem/111179/2 "2002-05-28T18:14:19Z")

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I assume you are listening to this song over the radio, so the problem is actually particular to the specific station you are listening to. I don’t claim to understand the technical issues involved, but I have seen explanations that in some cases there is a problem with “phasing” on the station’s audio link, which causes one channel on some songs to sound very weak over the air. But the original recording is fine, and the same recording sounds fine on most stations.

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**Author:** ![waits](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/df788c/32.png) [@waits](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/waits)\
**Post date:** [May 28, 2002, 6:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/loving-spoonful-song-weird-audio-problem/111179/3 "2002-05-28T18:46:00Z")

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“You Didn’t Have to Be So Nice” on the other hand is probably one of the worst mixed records ever released. At the beginning of the second verse, the level on Sebastian’s vocal drops and he’s overwhelmed by the background vocals. It happens on every vinyl, tape, CD and radio version I’ve ever heard.

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**Author:** ![Carnac\_the\_Magnificent](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ccd318/32.png) [@Carnac\_the\_Magnificent](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Carnac_the_Magnificent)\
**Post date:** [May 29, 2002, 1:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/loving-spoonful-song-weird-audio-problem/111179/4 "2002-05-29T13:16:37Z")

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> [@](#):
>
> \*Originally posted by waits \*  
> \*\*“You Didn’t Have to Be So Nice” on the other hand is probably one of the worst mixed records ever released. At the beginning of the second verse, the level on Sebastian’s vocal drops and he’s overwhelmed by the background vocals. It happens on every vinyl, tape, CD and radio version I’ve ever heard. \*\*

Whoops! “You Didn’t Have to Be So Nice” IS the song I’m referring to, not the other one. The vocals are barely audible. I’m amazed that the studio was so sloppy and released it as is.