Sound-alike
Encyclopedia
A sound-alike is a recording intended to imitate the sound of a popular record, the style of a popular recording artist, or a current musical trend; the term also refers to the artists who perform on such recordings. In the voice-over
world, it may also refer to those who recreate the voice and vocal mannerisms of a given celebrity's vocal performance.
Sound-alikes are usually made as budget copies or "knockoffs" of popular recordings, since the cost of covering
a popular song is usually cheaper than that of licensing the original recording, or to make listeners believe a particular artist is performing a given song, to spare the expense of engaging that artist. Royalties must nonetheless still be paid to the songwriters.
Sound-alike recordings have been used in movie soundtrack
s and radio and television commercials since their origin, while sound-alike artists have long recorded jingle
s and other musical material for commercial use. In the 1980s, singer Bette Midler
sued over a sound-alike version of her recording of "Do You Wanna Dance" being used in a commercial which sounded too close to the original. In the 1990s, guitarist Carlos Santana
sued over a commercial music bed that closely imitated his playing and arranging style.
Sound-alike album
s have also long been issued by small record companies, to cash in on the popularity of artists, movies or show tunes from hit plays. Lou Reed
began his recording career working for one such company, Pickwick Records
, but years later became a star in his own right, as an original performer. Other such companies were Hit Records
of Nashville, Tennessee
and Embassy Records
of the United Kingdom
. Bell Records
of New York City
also issued sound-alike budget records in the 1950s. Madacy Entertainment
also releases sound-alike albums under the title The Countdown Singers
; Drew's Entertainment currently releases sound-alikes through the name "The Hit Crew."
In 1971, the sound-alike album Top of the Pops, Volume 18
hit No. 1 on the UK album charts.
Voice-over
Voice-over is a production technique where a voice which is not part of the narrative is used in a radio, television production, filmmaking, theatre, or other presentations...
world, it may also refer to those who recreate the voice and vocal mannerisms of a given celebrity's vocal performance.
Sound-alikes are usually made as budget copies or "knockoffs" of popular recordings, since the cost of covering
Cover version
In popular music, a cover version or cover song, or simply cover, is a new performance or recording of a contemporary or previously recorded, commercially released song or popular song...
a popular song is usually cheaper than that of licensing the original recording, or to make listeners believe a particular artist is performing a given song, to spare the expense of engaging that artist. Royalties must nonetheless still be paid to the songwriters.
Sound-alike recordings have been used in movie soundtrack
Soundtrack
A soundtrack can be recorded music accompanying and synchronized to the images of a motion picture, book, television program or video game; a commercially released soundtrack album of music as featured in the soundtrack of a film or TV show; or the physical area of a film that contains the...
s and radio and television commercials since their origin, while sound-alike artists have long recorded jingle
Jingle
A jingle is a short tune used in advertising and for other commercial uses. The jingle contains one or more hooks and lyrics that explicitly promote the product being advertised, usually through the use of one or more advertising slogans. Ad buyers use jingles in radio and television...
s and other musical material for commercial use. In the 1980s, singer Bette Midler
Bette Midler
Bette Midler is an American singer, actress, and comedian, also known by her informal stage name, The Divine Miss M. She became famous as a cabaret and concert headliner, and went on to star in successful and acclaimed films such as The Rose, Ruthless People, Beaches, and For The Boys...
sued over a sound-alike version of her recording of "Do You Wanna Dance" being used in a commercial which sounded too close to the original. In the 1990s, guitarist Carlos Santana
Carlos Santana
Carlos Augusto Alves Santana is a Mexican rock guitarist. Santana became famous in the late 1960s and early 1970s with his band, Santana, which pioneered rock, salsa and jazz fusion...
sued over a commercial music bed that closely imitated his playing and arranging style.
Sound-alike album
Album
An album is a collection of recordings, released as a single package on gramophone record, cassette, compact disc, or via digital distribution. The word derives from the Latin word for list .Vinyl LP records have two sides, each comprising one half of the album...
s have also long been issued by small record companies, to cash in on the popularity of artists, movies or show tunes from hit plays. Lou Reed
Lou Reed
Lewis Allan "Lou" Reed is an American rock musician, songwriter, and photographer. He is best known as guitarist, vocalist, and principal songwriter of The Velvet Underground, and for his successful solo career, which has spanned several decades...
began his recording career working for one such company, Pickwick Records
Pickwick Records
Pickwick Records was an American record label and distributor known for its budget album releases of sound-alike recordings, bargain bin reissues and repackagings under the brands Design, Bravo , Hurrah, Grand Prix, and children's records on the Cricket and Happy Time labels.The label is also...
, but years later became a star in his own right, as an original performer. Other such companies were Hit Records
Hit Records
Hit Records was a record company based in Nashville, Tennessee which specialized in sound-alike cover versions of hit records.Founded in 1962 by Bill Beasley, Hit Records were sold in dime stores for 39¢ , less than half the price of the hit recordings they were covering...
of Nashville, Tennessee
Nashville, Tennessee
Nashville is the capital of the U.S. state of Tennessee and the county seat of Davidson County. It is located on the Cumberland River in Davidson County, in the north-central part of the state. The city is a center for the health care, publishing, banking and transportation industries, and is home...
and Embassy Records
Embassy Records
Embassy Records was originally a UK budget record label that produced cover versions of current hit songs that were sold exclusively in Woolworths shops at a cheaper price than the original recordings. As such, Embassy can be seen as the UK equivalent of U.S. labels such as Hit and Bell Records...
of the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
. Bell Records
Bell Records
Bell Records was an American record label founded in 1952 by Arthur Shimkin in New York, the owner of children's record label Golden Records, and initially a unit of Pocket Books, after the rights to the name were acquired from Benny Bell who used the Bell name to issue risque novelty records. A...
of New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
also issued sound-alike budget records in the 1950s. Madacy Entertainment
Madacy Entertainment
Madacy Entertainment is a company based in Mount Royal, Quebec that publishes DVDs, CDs, and formerly VHS tapes. Most of the products are frequently seen in Walmart, Best Buy and other discount stores in the United States and Canada, often at low retail prices, as compared to releases by major labels...
also releases sound-alike albums under the title The Countdown Singers
The Countdown Singers
The Countdown Singers is a name given to Madacy Entertainment's revolving group of studio musicians, used since 1994. They perform sound-alike cover versions of well-known songs. Their albums have mostly been panned by critics...
; Drew's Entertainment currently releases sound-alikes through the name "The Hit Crew."
In 1971, the sound-alike album Top of the Pops, Volume 18
Top of the Pops, Volume 18
Top of the Pops, Volume 18 is an album released in 1971 of the Top of the Pops album series. This album reached No. 1 on the UK album charts, much to the shock of the British music press. The album consisted of sound-alike covers of popular hits of the day, and is now widely regarded as a "Classic"...
hit No. 1 on the UK album charts.