Telefunken 251

Records it appears on · 15

• Ordinary

  Alex Warren · You'll Be Alright, Kid, 2025

  • Choir / gang vocals · MicrophoneVerifiedOne of three microphones used to capture the choir vocals.
• Total Eclipse of the Heart

  Bonnie Tyler · Faster Than the Speed of Night, 1983

  • Lead vocal · MicrophoneReportedEngineer thinks the live lead vocal was probably sung into a Telefunken 251, with a U67 as the alternative.
• If I Could Turn Back Time

  Cher · Heart of Stone, 1989

  • Drum kit · MicrophoneVerifiedWolf says Schnee's dented Telefunken 251s were used as tom microphones, as it was the only place such damaged mics could be used on drums.
  • Drum kit · MicrophoneReportedWolf cannot remember the overhead mics but believes they were tube mics, either another pair of 251s or possibly Neumann U 67s.
• A Head Full of Dreams

  Coldplay · Album, 2016

  • Drum kit · MicrophoneInferredUsed as a pair of drum overheads in Simpson's usual drum-mic setup.
• Hymn for the Weekend

  Coldplay · A Head Full of Dreams, 2016

  • Lead vocal · MicrophoneReportedA lead vocal double is marked 251, which Simpson takes to indicate that Martin also used that mic. (recalled with uncertainty)
  • Beyoncé vocal · MicrophoneInferredUsual practice, not stated for this record: Simpson says Beyoncé favours this mic.
  • Drums and percussion · MicrophoneVerifiedPair used as overheads in Simpson's drum mic setup for the album sessions.
• Dookie

  Green Day · Album, 1994

  • Drums · MicrophoneVerifiedOverhead microphones on the drum kit during the Dookie tracking sessions.Position: Overheads
• Right Time of the Night

  Jennifer Warnes · Jennifer Warnes, 1977

  • Lead vocal · MicrophoneReportedThe engineer believes the lead vocal was recorded on either this Telefunken or a Neumann U269, and is not certain which.
• Bette Davis Eyes

  Kim Carnes · Mistaken Identity, 1981

  • Drum kit and percussion · MicrophoneReportedMicrophones on the toms and used as overheads.Position: On the toms and overhead
• You're No Good

  Linda Ronstadt · Heart Like a Wheel, 1974

  • Drums · MicrophoneReportedTube microphones used on the toms and as overheads for Gold's drumming.
• It Won't Be Soon Before Long

  Maroon 5 · Album, 2007

  • Drum kit · MicrophoneVerifiedStent says 251s were set around the room for room sound and then compressed very hard.
• Paramore

  Paramore · Album, 2014

  • Lead vocal · MicrophoneReportedMicrophone used for Hayley Williams' lead vocals during the overdub sessions at Dangerbird.
• Purple Rain

  Prince and The Revolution · Purple Rain, 1984

  • String quartet · MicrophoneReportedA pair of them captured the violins in the string quartet at Sunset Sound.
• Being with You

  Smokey Robinson · Being with You, 1981

  • Lead vocal · MicrophoneVerifiedMicrophone for Smokey Robinson's final vocals, recorded after the band tracks; nothing else was tried once it was in use.
• Oh Sherrie

  Steve Perry · Street Talk, 1984

  • Drum kit · MicrophoneReportedDrum overhead microphones.
• Crimson and Clover

  Tommy James and the Shondells · Crimson & Clover, 1968

  • Lead vocal (tremolo section) · MicrophoneReportedMicrophone on James's voice for the tremolo-treated vocal near the end of the song.

Sources for each use are on the record’s own page.

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