Music library

[snowdog88]

Just beware cheap compilation CDs, as they're often full of re-recordings.

Yes. Most anything that says "Made in Canada" or has the Madacy or K-Tel logo on it I avoid like the plague, unless it clearly states "original artists" and "original recordings".

My parents bought this 3 disc box set back in the mid-90s, and even though I wasn't even 10 at the time, I clearly knew something wasn't right. The set mostly consisted of badly re-created modern day recordings from the original performing artists, and that's exactly what they got for the price of a typical studio album on CD at the time. Many years later, my mom almost bought another one of those box sets at Best Buy. When I saw the Madacy logo and the "new stereo recordings" disclaimer on it, I tried to convince her that they were not the original recordings, and that they sound completely different. Her response was "oh, that's probably the way they were transferred from the original source". Eventually I was able to convince her not to buy the box set.

 

[radiofan2023]

Did everybody stop living after high school graduation? Does "Playground in My Mind" pack the dance floor?

You missed the part before that song name, where he said, "When it's time to leave and they want people to get out".

 

[johnbasalla]

Just beware cheap compilation CDs, as they're often full of re-recordings.

Good addition to this discussion. Another "label" to avoid is DOMINION. Often, they'll place, in small print, "All are new stereo recordings unless otherwise noted *. And then you'll find no more than 2 songs out of 12 to 15 that have the * that indicates the track is the original hit recording. Also, many, if not almost all, of these newer re-recordings are done (often listed as such) by "one or more members of the original group". You'll also find inferior Live in-concert recordings of songs on these "hits" compilations which they don't tell you about. Also avoid Original Sound compilations on CD and LP. They may have a fair number of original hit recordings, but the disc is poisoned by the un-acknowledged weak re-recordings.

 

[thenetwork]

Yes. Most anything that says "Made in Canada" or has the Madacy or K-Tel logo on it I avoid like the plague, unless it clearly states "original artists" and "original recordings".

My parents bought this 3 disc box set back in the mid-90s, and even though I wasn't even 10 at the time, I clearly knew something wasn't right. The set mostly consisted of badly re-created modern day recordings from the original performing artists, and that's exactly what they got for the price of a typical studio album on CD at the time. Many years later, my mom almost bought another one of those box sets at Best Buy. When I saw the Madacy logo and the "new stereo recordings" disclaimer on it, I tried to convince her that they were not the original recordings, and that they sound completely different. Her response was "oh, that's probably the way they were transferred from the original source". Eventually I was able to convince her not to buy the box set.

The issue with the K-Tel and Ronco albums were not necessarily re-recordings of the original hits (K-Tel DID venture into that territory a bit n the 80s) is that having 10 songs on each side of a record may be pushing it as far as maximum space needed meant songs had to be "edited down" for time constraints.

This meant that a song like Rocket Man by Elton John would fade out midway in the song, or one or more verses were edited out -- even shorter than your standard Radio Edit singles stations would sometimes play for time issues.

But then most of those Original Hits by the Original Stars albums would include a "dog" track or two from an artist that never charted. K-Tel and Ronco were honest with having "original songs", but still sneaky at the same time.

 

[snowdog88]

Good addition to this discussion. Another "label" to avoid is DOMINION. Often, they'll place, in small print, "All are new stereo recordings unless otherwise noted *. And then you'll find no more than 2 songs out of 12 to 15 that have the * that indicates the track is the original hit recording.

Same goes for the box set that I mentioned in my previous post. All 3 discs state that the selections were courtesy of Dominion Entertainment.

So I take it that Dominion is the supplier of these "Phony-Oldies"?

Also avoid Original Sound compilations on CD and LP. They may have a fair number of original hit recordings, but the disc is poisoned by the un-acknowledged weak re-recordings.

K-Tel.

Modern day K-Tel releases on CD/digital often contain re-recordings. However, their compilation LP's that were sold back in the 70s' mainly contained the original recordings, but at a cost. In order to shoehorn in as many songs onto a LP as possible (almost about 30 minutes per side), songs were often trimmed down and/or faded out early. The other issue was lower than usual volume, in order to pack the grooves in more tightly. That also lead to increase surface nose, louder pops/crackle, and increased tracking sensitivity from minor record damage.

 

[snowdog88]

This meant that a song like Rocket Man by Elton John would fade out midway in the song, or one or more verses were edited out -- even shorter than your standard Radio Edit singles stations would sometimes play for time issues.

Yes. One of my K-Tel records has Rod Steward's Wake Up Maggie, which trims off the beginning, making it start right at the lyrics. Near the end, the instrumental part is drastically trimmed down as well. I can't remember if there's an early fade out as well.

Sammy Davis Jr.'s Candy Man (22 Explosive Hits Vol 2) is another, where it also trims off most of the beginning, starting almost at the lyrics. It also fades out early as well, as do most songs on that album. The B side contains Derek and the Domino's Layla, which fades out well before going completely instrumental, which of course, also cuts out the entire 2nd half of the song.

 

[kevtronics]

The later K-Tel records with only 7 songs per side instead of 10 were good-quality pressings that didn't cut down the songs for time. But a typical compilation LP from them would give you about 25% bona-fide Top 20 hits, 25% lower-ranking hits, and 50% stiffs or album cuts.

 

[snowdog88]

But a typical compilation LP from them would give you about 25% bona-fide Top 20 hits, 25% lower-ranking hits, and 50% stiffs or album cuts.

Yeah, that 22 Explosive Hits Vol 2 album, I played that once for my parents, who would have been in their early 20s at the time of its release, and a lot of the songs were obscure to them, particularly just about everything on side B.

 

[Santa fe]

To add more to the "sound I remember" problem are many digital remixes of the original vinyl records. While most remix producers work from the actual multi track recordings they can't seem to resist tweaking to take advantage of digital's increased range, especially on the bass tracks. Even those remixed by the original producer can take on a different flavor, like a director's cut vs the theatrical movie.
So it doesn't sound exactly like the 45 or lp folks remember.
And many DJ 45s were mixed and equalized to stand out on the mono AM radios of the day and often stations like CKLW further tweaked them, even sped them up, so they sounded different than the consumer records.
For a DJ, just play it loud, they'll like it fine.

 

[K.M. Richards]

Also avoid Original Sound compilations on CD and LP. They may have a fair number of original hit recordings, but the disc is poisoned by the un-acknowledged weak re-recordings.

That was certainly true for the first releases, as the late Art Laboe was unable to get the master recordings licensed, although the labels were willing to let him do needle drops.

However, Art did not do re-recordings, except in a few rare cases where the original label was defunct and he could not locate who had ownership of the masters ... if they still existed.

By the time CD releases were the norm, any new album from Art used master recordings, digitized.

I knew Art and he told me all of this himself back around 2010.

 

[johnbasalla]

That was certainly true for the first releases, as the late Art Laboe was unable to get the master recordings licensed, although the labels were willing to let him do needle drops.

However, Art did not do re-recordings, except in a few rare cases where the original label was defunct and he could not locate who had ownership of the masters ... if they still existed.

By the time CD releases were the norm, any new album from Art used master recordings, digitized.

I knew Art and he told me all of this himself back around 2010.

Thanks for the update. However, I have a number of the Original Sound LPs that have a few of what seems like re-recordings on them.
Maybe they were rejected takes of a hit? I have one or two Original Sound CDs that have one or two songs that are, clearly, not the hit recording.

 

[K.M. Richards]

Thanks for the update. However, I have a number of the Original Sound LPs that have a few of what seems like re-recordings on them.
Maybe they were rejected takes of a hit? I have one or two Original Sound CDs that have one or two songs that are, clearly, not the hit recording.

Unfortunately, since Art passed away a little over three years ago, I can't ask him.

 

[johnbasalla]

Same goes for the box set that I mentioned in my previous post. All 3 discs state that the selections were courtesy of Dominion Entertainment.

So I take it that Dominion is the supplier of these "Phony-Oldies"?

Dominion is one of the suppliers of "Phony-Oldies". Whenever I see an Oldies collection, the first thing I look for is if the wretched name "Dominion" is on it. Then, I look for the main label. If it's not a major label, it makes me wonder. If it is a major label, but there are artists/songs on it that were not part of that label, I wonder about those particular selections. You might get live versions. As an example a 2-CD set of everything Neil Diamond on Columbia (CBS) has live tracks for most, if not all, of his Bang Records, and maybe even some from UNI. Unless it's a CD officially labeled "Original Master Recordings", trust that it's not. The excellent Legacy series has access to multiple major labels output, due to ownership changes, and I've never been disappointed by them.

 

[K.M. Richards]

I should point out that there are some consumers out there who actually don't mind the re-records, or live versions of songs.

We are the true nitpickers.

 

[thenetwork]

I should point out that there are some consumers out there who actually don't mind the re-records, or live versions of songs.

We are the true nitpickers.

Every once in a while, I come across one or two oldie songs on a terrestrial or internet station that play a re-recorded or remix version of a familiar song. I cringe when I hear them.

My first real gig was at an oldies station and we had several songs that fit that bill -- all on carts. If I had a copy of the original version at home, I'd sneak it into the production room, bulk the faux version, and put the REAL version of the song on the cart.

Nobody ever complained, and I never got caught!

 

[amos1001]

We are the true nitpickers.

i know you're right about us being nitpickers. but if you're playing the wrong version some of your audience will know something's not right. they might not be able to put their finger on it, but they'll know. no song you're not playing can hurt you. and vice versa.
take the bruce springsteen christmas song "santa claus is coming to town." there must be dozens of live recording of that cut. but if you don't play the one where he asks clarence if santa's gonna bring him a new saxaphone, it's the wrong one. "has everybody out there been good, or what?"

 

[johnbasalla]

I should point out that there are some consumers out there who actually don't mind the re-records, or live versions of songs.

We are the true nitpickers.

I don't mind live versions on live CD releases. But, when live, in concert, versions just pop up, unannounced, when my ears were waiting for the studio hit as I remember it, I'll be disappointed and maybe even upset.

 

[K.M. Richards]

i know you're right about us being nitpickers. but if you're playing the wrong version some of your audience will know something's not right. they might not be able to put their finger on it, but they'll know. no song you're not playing can hurt you. and vice versa.
take the bruce springsteen christmas song "santa claus is coming to town." there must be dozens of live recording of that cut. but if you don't play the one where he asks clarence if santa's gonna bring him a new saxaphone, it's the wrong one. "has everybody out there been good, or what?"

True, but I have made my own share of substitutions and have been congratulated for it. For example, the single release of "We Belong" by Pat Benatar with the cold intro has been replaced at the vast majority of stations by the album version, which is the only version that was released on CD.

But I knew where to find it, and that's the one I play.

 

[amos1001]

True, but I have made my own share of substitutions..

Which version of ZZ Top "Legs" do you play? The single/radio edit was quite different, especially the intro. Much hotter. But the album version is probably better known now. Is that a song you'd play? I'm leaning towards the single.

 

[K.M. Richards]

Which version of ZZ Top "Legs" do you play? The single/radio edit was quite different, especially the intro. Much hotter. But the album version is probably better known now. Is that a song you'd play? I'm leaning towards the single.

You know, now I don't remember ...