Chat Board Archives: June, 1998

Chat Board Archives: June, 1998

This page contains all the messages put onto the BSN Stereo Chat Board during June, 1998. They are in chronological order from first to last. To search for specific topics, use the "find" utility on your browser. For a search of the complete archives, please go to the Stereo Chat Board Archives Main Page.

Name: Bill Buster
From: American Hits/Eric Records
Time: 1998-06-01 05:35:27
Comments: To Steve Baird: I have mint copies of the vinyl singles you want by Senator Bobby, The Rays, and Joe Barry, among tens of thousands of others. Just call me at 800-563-4487 after 6PM Pacific Time or e-mail me your phone number.

Name: Paul Stoddard
From: Boston, MA
Time: 1998-06-01 11:30:15
Comments: From all of the reports that I've read recently and what I've been seeing in the stores of the bigger music chains, the music industry may be headed toward a meltdown! Reports in Billboard (U.S.) and Music Week (U.K.) are concerned with mediocre sales figures, even on new front-line "product". A local one-stop claims the same. Prices are up all over. Tower is now selling CDs ABOVE list price, joining the mall chains in gouging their customers. It seems, though, that the music industry's "prime demographic group" just isn't buying. This could bode well for collectors, since, when this has happened in the past, the labels suddenly rediscover their catalog. The current focus by collectors on high-quality reissues may help them focus on doing the job the right way. If the labels are going to demand $17.99 for a CD, then, if they want my money, they're going to have to prove to me that the CD is worth it: original master transfers, stereo tracks, original label replications on the CD, and, in the case of compilations, inclusive of ALL of the artist's hits.

Name: Steve Baird
From: Baton Rouge, LA
Time: 1998-06-01 12:21:18
Comments: Thanx to all of the enthusiasts who have helped with my various questions, and so, just one more for now: Does anyone know anything about the Ronettes CD on Sequel? Does it have enough stereo on it (at least "Be My Baby") to seek it out if one already has the Spector Back To Mono Box?

Name: Randy Price
From: New York
Time: 1998-06-01 22:28:28
Comments: Steve, the Sequel Ronettes' CD contains only tracks originally issued by Colpix and Buddah; it does not contain any of their Philles hits.

Name: Bob Olivia
From: Burbank, Ca.
Time: 1998-06-02 03:39:15
Comments: I Hope Phil Spector reads your message board. After listening to all the Back to Mono crap he put out on CD, I don't think he is much of a genius anymore. The sound is very poor compared to the vinyl put out on in past years. First of all, they should have been in stereo. But since he is a mono freak, he could have put out a decent sound, the background instruments are very muffled. It's a shame that these great songs were not given to the reissue experts in the business. We all know who they are. Does anyone know if the new Six Teens CD release has "Arrow of Love" on it?

Name: Bernard Smith
From: Leicester, England
Time: 1998-06-02 13:42:12
Comments: With regard to Steve's queries on stereo Ronettes, may I recommend The Ultimate Collection released (unlicensed, I presume) by Marginal Records in Belgium. This contains most of the Philles single hits in stereo; also included in mono are tracks from the Sequel CD and three tracks from the Xmas album. Although presumably mastered from vinyl, they've made quite a good job of it, much better than the "official" versions. The title is available in the US from both Discollector and Rock Classics, and in England from Finbarr International, Folkestone, Kent CT20 2QQ.

Name: Randy Vest
From: new york city
Time: 1998-06-02 15:21:09
Comments: Re: the Ronettes on Marginal: has anyone noticed that many of the tracks, esp. "Be My Baby" and "Baby I Love You," sound speeded up? I did a timing check against the Abkco CD a while back and there are indeed major differences (don't have access to my notes at this moment though). To me, Ronnie sounds like an Alvin the Chipmunk clone here, and that is an annoyance, especially since this bootleg has lots of awesome, clean stereo.

Name: Bob Fink
From: CONN
Time: 1998-06-02 19:05:11
Comments: Hey all... Re: Stereo Ronettes stuff. A label called "Spectacular Sound" put out a couple of CDs in 1990 that were pretty decent.... Obvious boots, but with decent sound quality, and stereo where available.... The first disc (#SS100) contains all the biggies in decent stereo, plus a few oddball things like "Soldier Baby" and "Chapel Of Love." The second disc (#SS400) has the fairly common Colpix/Buddah stuff as well as the criminally underrated "You Came, You Saw, You Conquered" which was an A&M single. Most, if not all, of the stereo stuff on the first CD, I believe, stems from the Euro-vinyl issues of Phil Spector Wall of Sound series from the mid-'70's. I have several from the series, one each from the Ronettes and the Crystals (sorry, no stereo in sight on the Crystals), as well as a couple of odd-ball ones with Bobb B. Soxx, etc., all in good to excellent quality. Worth hunting down if you can find 'em.... An interesting thing about Phil and his Monomania: several years ago, I received a copy of a studio mixdown session for the Ronettes and Crystals, and damn if 'ole Phil ain't playing with stereo placement, etc. on that tape!! Some tracks have over-kill on hard-pan vocal/inst. left/right. Perhaps he just did this to better isolate things during mixdowns and overdubs... who knows... after all, it is P.S we're talkin' about!! Thanks for the space... Bob.

Name: boppin' Brian
From: surf city
Time: 1998-06-02 19:49:36
Comments: T.Ruth Teller? Mike Raphone?? Well, whatever, folks... as long as the info you're passing on is good, who cares what your friends or your mama calls you?!! Got Sam Cooke's Greatest Hits (w/"Another Saturday Night") & Finally! - a clean, reverbless "You Send Me". Now, has anyone any leads on clean, non-reverbed, non-edited Dubs "Don't Ask Me To Be Lonely;" Drifters "Money Honey" (check your Sequel reissue for me folks?) + so many more.... Seems so easy for reissue producers/compilers to say an artist didn't want stereo mixes as part of their "artistic vision" or other such hoo-haw w/o ever conferring with the original producers or artists themselves. I guess we all know where people like George Martin & Phil Spector stand on this issue. What irks me is how much easier it is for mono-maniac reissuers to say "no stereo was intended by the artist" after they're no longer around to speak for themselves. Case in point Sonny & the Sundazed stuff. Who knows, maybe in later yearss after Spector's mono-fever set in, Sonny followed suit or changed his tune. But why did the stereo LPs come out back then in the first place?!?! Was it a greedy record company ploy from the beginning (as the stereo LPs listed at a buck more than the monos)? "Stereo mixes were sloppily slapped together as an afterthought w/o much or no artists' input," mono-maniacs are bound to say. Personally, I'll take anything Bill Porter or Tommy Dowd mixed on an "off" day over many of today's reissue guys' best work ! I mean, what kind of vision & mentality or "artistic integrity" does it take to claim "mono versions were chosen over stereo, frankly, because they rock" or "kick butt"!?!?!... OK, cut to the chase...

Here's the dope: Glen, Kinks "Remastered" 3 CD, Castle ESB CD 268: sound is clean, with a lot of turf covered, but thinly on later years ('64-'70). Among notable exclusions: "Something Better Beginning," "Got My Feet On The Ground," "Nothin In The World Can Stop Me Worryin 'Bout That Girl," "So Long," "Wait Til Summer Comes Along," "Such A Shame," "Sitting On My Sofa," "Wonder Boy," "Days," "Plastic Man," "Victoria," + more.... As for stereo stuff, we get the following (mostly earliest stuff) in STEREO: "So Mystifying," Stop Your Sobbing; "Got Love If You Want It," "Too Much Monkey Business," "Revenge," "Long Tall Shorty," "I'm A Lover Not A Fighter," "I've Been Drivin' On Bald Mountain," "Just Can't Go To Sleep," "Bald Head. Woman," Beautiful Delilah," "Cadillac," "Till The End Of The Day" & "You Really Got Me" (these last two LIVE at Kelvin Hall), "Apeman," and we get a mono "Lola" ("cherry cola" version)....

The Story of Them: 2 CD (Deram/Polygram)? A&M? (which is it, guys ?!) 42284 4833-2. Unfortunatlely, another blown opportunity to rectify past errors. We get 10 "fake" stereo tracks, 5 of which are the infamous "overdubbed with 'shakers' (maracas?) & tambourines" versions from the '72 2-LP Parrot reissue, despite what the "producer's note" may say. (When it says that certain tracks "only seem to exist in Elecronic Stereo", just how hard is this to fix & present in mono - perhaps echo-y mono, but wouldn't it be easy enough to do? Well, I could go on & on in the U.K. stuff (any news on stereo Stones, Yardbirds, Sandie Shaw, Hollies [orig. mixes], Pretty Things, Small Faces, Animals, etc. etc.???)....

Meanwhile, back in the USA: Del Shannon's 2-CD Complete Career Anthology '61-'90 [Raven RVCD-51]. No discography/session dates/orig. record release info is included - anyone got any leads?? Perhaps a "fan" - type website?? I do believe I grabbed this one for the "rare stereo version" notations on the track list for disc 1... Here's what we get in stereo on CD 1 : "Runaway," "Hats Off To Larry," Hey Little Girl," "Jody," "Little Town Flirt," "Two Kinds Of Teardrops," "Stranger In Town," "Why Don't You Tell Him?," "I Go To Pieces," "Under My Thumb," "Show Me," "The Letter," "Runaway '67," "Cut And Come Again," "Friendly With You" (not too wide), "Led Along," "Mind Over Matter," and "Thinkin' It Over." Disc 2 is all stereo EXCEPT the following: "Sister Isabelle," "Distant Ghost," "And The Music Plays On," "Oh How Happy," and the Pepsi spot. While I do complain about the lack of discographical details, I can say Raven gives the usual bang for the buck, maximizing playing time. Where many companies' reissues are 14, 16, or 18 cuts per disc, it seems Raven, Ace, Bear Family and a few others are the ones that really are the champs in all the important areas: notes & pix, value (25-30 cuts per disc) & sound/STEREO.... It really takes a collector mentality to get it right, and these folks do. Speaking of Bear Family, the Johnny Preston "Stereo" CD Charming Billy sounds interesting. One post here said, "a bargain at less than $12 online" WHERE?!?! Names, please! And "www" "page" info/addresses, etc.!! BYE for now !!

Name: Luke Pacholski
Website: LukPac.org
From: Racine, WI
Time: 1998-06-02 20:39:38
Comments: Brian, re: George Martin: I really don't think he is "pro-mono" per se, just whatever he feels like at the time... While George was certainly an outstanding producer, in the past few years his memory has been failing him, and he never seems to say the same thing twice... Anyway, he is not the one in charge of the Beatles' issues anymore - the Beatles themselves have complete control.... Animals: For the early stuff (i.e., "House of the Rising Sun"), nothing was recorded on multitrack tape - everything was dubbed from one mono machine to another. While it is possible to make stereo mixes (through synching up tapes, etc), I doubt it will happen.... Stones: I doubt anything will happen till Allen Klein dies, if even then. For now, seek out the London CD issues, as they have many stereo tracks.... Bob Irwin/Sonny & Cher - While I don't really know much about the S&C catalog, nor have heard the stereo mixes, Bob Irwin usually has a good reason for what he does. Both his Byrds and Simon & Garfunkel work is excellent, very true to the originals. I don't doubt his decisions.

Name: Christopher
From: Hurricane, WV/USA
Time: 1998-06-03 11:00:24
Comments: Having re-read *all* of Mike's published remarks in BSN Book & Newsletters about the various collections of the Temptations' Motown Greatest Hits from 63-72, I am discouraged. I want a comprehensive collection of their hits, preferably in *clean stereo* but find that most of the grades given to their available compilations are "D" and "C" at best! Can anyone out there recommend to me *the best sounding* Temptations' comprehensive hits (63-72) collection? Thanks for your help. I'll check back in a couple of days.... RE: Bobby Vee singles. Some years ago, when the Bobby Vee Legendary Masters collection was released in the US by EMI, I got the chance to speak with Bobby and ask him about the possibility of seeing his mid-60s minor hits issued on a CD (songs like "She's Sorry," and "Stranger In Your Arms" were among my favorites back then). He replied very frankly that no such release was being contemplated...ever. He felt that those songs were too weak to sustain a CD collection, and their exclusion from the EMI collection was wholly warrented. Phooey! But, I doubt we'll get to see anything other than reissued *big* hits any time soon!

Name: Dave Daugherty
From: Dublin, OH.
Time: 1998-06-03 14:22:10
Comments: To Christopher: Check out the newly remastered Temptations Greatest Hits on Motown. These are CD re-issues of the LP hits packages, but they have been totally 20 bit remastered from the original tapes by Kevin Reeves and the sound is outstanding. All tracks but one are stereo, very clean (for the age of the recordings) and much louder than previous re-issues. These are the best sounding versions of the Temps hits I've heard. Don't mistake these for the older CD re-issues......these have a sticker on the front and Kevin Reeves is listed on the back as the remastering engineer.

Name: Marty Blaise
From: Texas
Time: 1998-06-03 19:13:47
Comments: Has anyone heard anything on the Merilee Rush & the Turnabouts stereo information as of late for "Angel Of The Morning" (Angel In The Morning)? (What's with these titles?) "Sound of Silence" or "Sounds of Silence?" "Reach Out Of the Darkness" or "Reach Out In The Darkness?" and of course, don't forget the famous McCartney line "IN this ever changing world in which we live IN" A little humor amongst the mono madness. When I get time, I will try to see if I can find any true stereo information regarding Bobby Blue Bland in Houston, Texas. If anyone has any leads let me know.

Name: Steve Baird
From: Baton Rouge, LA
Time: 1998-06-04 11:20:13
Comments: Dear BSN enthusiasts: Long before I knew of Mike Callahan's excellent efforts to chronicle the advent of Oldies on CD, I had begun contributing articles to a small, nationally-published magazine called The Sensible Sound. The primary reason for the existence of this publication has been to review modestly-priced audio equipment in the hope that its readers and subscribers (mostly audiophiles on a budget) could benefit from the experiences of its contributors. In its earlier days, comparatively little attention had been given to music -- which is, of course, the only justifiable reason for owning quality audio equipment. In recent years, the magazine has allocated much more space for recordings of all types, but mostly jazz and classical. More than ten years ago, I contributed an article titled "Rock Classics: Searching Out the Oldies on CD." The thrust of that article was to caution readers against ersatz releases (remakes), and to make recommendations for those CDs I found that were sonically superior to the others. At that time -- and even today -- I made no mention of the fact that often some CDs had stereo versions of a song while others had mono ones. Over the years, I have evolved this original article into a somewhat regular column called "Reissue Roundup." The articles have not been confined to Oldies, but require that the release on CD be of music from the past. Recent contributions have included discussions of London's Classic Sound series of classical music, an article discussing the history of Bossa Nova, and a very short biographical sketch of Charlie Parker coupled to a review of Rhino's Yardbird Suite (sorry, no stereo there, but a great CD nonetheless). I am presently working on an article, the title of which has been stolen from one of Ace's reissue series, The Golden Age of American Rock and Roll. The intent of this 5000 word article is to present a little bit of the history -- both social and musical -- that preceded the earth-shaking event of July 9, 1955, and to make a few recommendations of CDs that best represent the music of the early rock era. I would like to poll BSN enthusiasts on three questions. 1.) What do you think is the greatest rock song of all time? 2.) What artist has contributed more to the success of the Rock and Roll music genre than any other? And 3.) Do you agree with Don McLean that Rock music died on February 3, 1959, or do you feel that current music is still Rock and Roll? Rather than clog up Mike's chat site with your contributions, please e-mail your thoughts directly to me at dosnazi@iamerica.net (friends don't let friends use Windows). I am setting a deadline of July 15, 1998 for this, and will post the results some time in early August.

Name: Bob Fink
From: CONN.
Time: 1998-06-04 17:47:29
Comments: Hi. Found the Phil Spector Wall of Sound, Vol. 1 Euro-Polygram L.P. after a search through my collection.... The sound is damn good and most, if not all, of the tracks are true stereo.... The label is "Phil Spector International", marketed by Polydor LTD. Release # is 2307-003.... Happy hunting!!

Name: Bob Olivia
From: Burbank, Ca.To Boppin
Time: 1998-06-05 03:31:46
Comments: To Boppin Brian: "Don't Ask Me To Be Lonely" by the Dubs is crystal clear on Battle Of The Groups,Vols. 1&2, put out by Sequel. It also has "Jump Children" by the Flamingos, the movie version from the film Go Johnny Go.

Name: David Clark
From: Ottawa
Time: 1998-06-05 16:28:41
Comments: I recently found a VA CD called A Time To Remember - 1970, part of a series on the EMI label from the UK, that contains "A Song Of Joy (Himmo A La Alegria)" by Miguel Rios. It's the first CD appearance to my knowledge - haven't read about it being on CD either, and it sounds great (stereo, of course). Hey, it was a #14 hit record, and I remember hearing it on AM radio!

Name: J.R.
Website: John Rollason Home Page
From: Arizona
Time: 1998-06-07 16:25:31
Comments: I have Meet The Beatles and The Beatles Second Album on CD in stereo. They are Japanese, I believe, and are as good as it gets. I was offered Something New but didn't have another $50 to spare. Can other Beatles albums be found on disc in stereo anymore? Also, can a stereo copy of "Because" by the DC5 be found anywhere on CD? I've heard it on radio. Stereo, the only way to go. Nice site, by the way. Thanks, John

[ -- "Because" is in stereo only on... ahem... shall we say, "non-major labels that don't have addresses on the CDs." Same with the Beatles US LPs. Whether those who control the rights to this material will ever release it on CD legitimately is anyone's guess at this point. -- MC]

Name: Vic
From: PA
Time: 1998-06-08 14:00:46
Comments: I need some help and it appears this board has a lot of experts who really know their stuff! What are the best CDs as far as getting Steve Lawrence/Eydie Gorme ORIGINAL hits both solo and together? Is there a CD that has the Ivy League's "Our Love is Slipping Away"? Does the true nicely separated stereo version of "Let's Hang On" appear on any CD or do I have to stick with the Erizone D'Oro LP? Also, does "On Broadway Tonight" appear on a Seasons CD? I bought a CD that said on the cover that it had the track and then it wasn't on the CD.

Name: Marty Natchez
Time: 1998-06-08 21:41:09
Comments: Vic, Ace Records' superior reissue CDs of the Four Seasons' Vee Jay and Philips albums include "On Broadway Tonight" on its "Dawn/Rag Doll" two-fer (CDCHD 554) and the rare stereo mix of "Let's Hang On" on its re-release of Edizione D'Oro (CDCHD 642). Stereo is an exception on the latter disc, however, as only the alternate mixes and previously unissued stereo cuts found on the original double LP are reprised. For variety, Ace substituted the mono mixes of the rest of the group's golden hits, purposely avoiding stereo duplication for consumers on the comprehensive series.

Name: Steve Baird
From: Baton Rouge, LA
Time: 1998-06-09 13:14:45
Comments: With regard to "Let's Hang On" in stereo, it also appeared on Super Hits - The Mid-Sixties [Time-Life SUD-12]. I don't know if this series is still available, but believe that it was superceded by the AM Gold series. From my own experience, Super Hits was among the best of the T-L subscription series from the sound quality point of view. You might try contacting Collector's Choice -- http://www.ccmusic.com -- on the net to see if it's still available. Incidentally, 21 of the 22 tracks on SUD-12 are in STEREO, including an excellent transfer of Millie Small's "My Boy Lollipop."

[ AM Gold and Super Hits are exactly the same series, just renamed. Also, the stereo designations you gave are a bit off; see note below. MC]

Name: Mike Hartman
From: Vernon Hills, IL
Time: 1998-06-09 13:26:13
Comments: Steve: The Time Life Super Hits - The Mid 60's does NOT have "Let's Hang On" in stereo on my issue. You said 21 of 22 in stereo. My mono tracks or (E) are as follows: "My Boy Lollipop," "Let's Hang On," "Dawn (Go Away)," "Last Kiss" & "Five O'Clock World." I also can't believe "My Boy Lollipop" is in stereo on yours. Better put your headphones on.

Name: Steve Baird aka the Gaffer
From: Baton Rouge, LA
Time: 1998-06-09 18:49:47
Comments: Of course, Mike H is 100% correct about "Let's Hang On" and the four other Mono tracks on SUD-12. My humblest apologies for the error. I must say upon relistening, though that the Four Seasons Track has the widest mono image I've heard in a while -- and it's not E, but M. One other note, AM Gold is indeed the replacement for Super Hits. Just did a spot check, and the series seems to be an exact copy of content and album title.

Name: Bernard Smith
From: Leicester, England
Time: 1998-06-10 16:16:48
Comments: In answer to Vic's queries: the Ivy League's "Our Love Is Slipping Away" is to be found on the recent English Sequel release Major League - no stereo I'm afraid. This title is offered for sale in the USA by Discollector; with regard to Steve and Eydie, the Belgian label, Marginal, had a release on its winter '97 schedule which I think includes all the Columbia stuff, but the only dealer on whose list I've seen it featured is Adrian's Records (e-mail: adrian@cableinet.co.uk.)

Name: Dave Mack
Website: Dave Mack's Home Page...
From: Salem MA
Time: 1998-06-11 22:06:18
Comments: ***WARNING, WARNING WARNING: This a MONO alert! I just got burned! I bought the two disc Anthology of Smokey Robinson & the Miracles. I should have seen that Inglot had a hand in it . Except for "We've Come To Far To End It Now" The entire two disc set is in MONO!!! Beware!!! Be forewarned....Avoid it!! This stuff was almost ALL cut in stereo! This is a complete waste and disgrace. I now have myself a coaster or set of mini frisbees! I am going to try to find someone who is foolish enough to buy it off me... I have to keep my vinyl. Thank God I still have it. The stereo versions are there! Bill Inglot's name MUST be added to the "AVOID" list of places and people with mono-itis. END OF WARNING***

Name: Bob Olivia
From: Burbank, Ca.
Time: 1998-06-13 03:11:21
Comments: If anybody would like the first 4 Beatles Albums in stereo, they are available on a Japanese CD collection called The Beatles Perfect Collection, 9 volumes for all their stuff, but Vols. 1 thru 4 are the ones you want. It also has the singles on them. Hard to find, you can check Aron Records in Hollywood on Highland Ave, they carry all Japanese Beatles collections. Request: My all time favorite oldies is "Whispering Bells" by the Dell Vikings. Has there ever been an alternate take of this song? I have an early take of "Come Go With Me" by them from the Audition CD that was released a while back. Still waiting for a decent Linda Scott CD with all her hits from Stereo Masters. I have the Stardust CD and only 4 were Stereo, the rest were copy of scatchy vinyl. -- I agree with the comments on Bill Inglot, I've stated before here how's he's jumped on the Mono Bandwagon. One more comment: have you listened to your favorite oldies station lately? They seem to be locked into a Mid 60's time warp. K-EARTH in Los Angeles is a good example; same songs over and over. That's all for now. Bob.

Name: Paul
From: Fla
Time: 1998-06-13 17:10:22
Comments: Anybody remember a song by The Hollies that sounded very similar to "Long Cool Woman?" Very similar guitar riff. Been looking for it, but no one remembers it!

Name: Marty Natchez
Time: 1998-06-13 18:05:21
Comments: Paul, I know exactly which Hollies song you are referring to. It's "The Day That Curly Billy Shot Down Crazy Sam McGhee" (1973). The single release here (Epic 11051) did not chart, but the Polydor 45 in Britain was a Top 25 hit. With that information, you should be able to locate it on any number of available Hollies import CDs. Good luck!

Name: Larry Davis
From: Longview, Washington
Time: 1998-06-14 19:43:30
Comments: For fans of Peggy Lee, the new EMI-Capitol 4 CD box set Miss Peggy Lee is a treasure. Remixed and digitally remastered by Bob Norberg, it has "Fever", recorded May 19, 1958, in "sparkling stereo" as the liner notes say. "Hallelujah, I Love Him So" was newly remixed to stereo, so it is not exactly the same stereo mix for anyone who has the 1959 experimental stereo single. "I Feel It" (which made the easy listening charts in 1967), appears for the first time in stereo. The set is about evenly divided between 1945 to 1959 material and those singles and album tracks from 1960 to 1972. As was noted here on "stereo chat" regarding the Nat King Cole early tracks, and was commented on by Hank Thompson in the book for the Bear Family 8 CD box set of Hank's Capitol recordings, the Capitol masters have so much more clarity and presence then do many of those made by the other labels from around the same time; i.e. 1940s to 1950s. It would be interesting to know why this is so. Although few might buy it for just the rare stereo, if you have any appreciation at all for the artistry of Peggy Lee. Buy It! You'll enjoy it a lot.

Name: Don Duffey
From: Buffalo
Time: 1998-06-14 22:31:07
Comments: Just picked up an interesting CD called Bring Back Those Doo-Wops...30 Original Golden Oldies [Mr. Maestro 1004], with 30 tracks of hard to find oldies/doo-wop stuff, but the stereo cuts are the prize here. They include "Nag" by the Halos, "Because of You" by the Dreamers, "Smoke Gets In Your Eyes" by Richard Barrett, "I've Had It" by the Bell-Notes, "All That Glitters Isn't Gold" by Lou Christie, "Smoky Places" by the Corsairs, "Morse Code of Love" by the Capris, "Mister Lonely" by the Videls, and "Barbara" by the Temptations. According to the rumor mill, I heard that Rhino is reissuing the original Nuggets: Original Artyfacts From The First Psychedelic Era 1965-1968, a 2-LP set on CD. This was first put out on Elektra around 1972... Also, does anyone have any inside information on the Rhino Deep Purple box set coming out? Thanx ...D.D.

Name: Bill Buster
From: Eric Records
Time: 1998-06-15 05:28:21
Comments: In reference to the "stereo" Don Duffey says is on Mr. Maestro #1004: This is (to put it politely) a grey-market label which masters from other CDs and vinyl sources. While I haven't heard this particular Volume, it's predecessors in the series were mainly distinguished by their hard-to-find song content, not their newly discovered sources. I especially question that these are true stereo (even from vinyl): The Halos, The Corsairs, The Bell-Notes, and the Videls. If so, this CD is a major find. I think readers of this site would love to have confirmation that this material is true stereo and not just rechanneled. Does anyone know of ANY source for these four songs in true stereo?

[ -- They're true stereo, except for the Bell-Notes, which is at best narrow stereo and sounds pretty much like E. I reviewed this CD in issue #47, which was mailed out last week. -- MC]

Name: John Adkins
From: Phoenix
Time: 1998-06-15 09:43:56
Comments: Bob Olivia's comment on oldies stations is right on target. They seem to play the same 80 oldies over and over again. KOOL/Phoenix and KWFM/Tucson are as guilty as any other. I'd be quite happy if I didn't hear "Do Wah Diddy Diddy" and "Wooly Bully" again for six months! Would like to know if other BSN readers feel the same way about the oldies station(s) in their market. Phoenix now has an "R&B Classics and Today's Hits" format station (KHOT/Paradise Valley) that I've been listening to much more often than KOOL--they play a lot of late '60s thru early '80s R&B, including (horrors!) some disco-leaning stuff. But it's a nice change. However. And the big however is that they also have a limited playlist --especially the songs in power rotation--that may cause me to get burned out on them in another few months! Maybe KHOT PD Lindsey Cipcic will see this posting and take note. Bob, BTW--how did Phoenix-based Charlie Van Dyke ("the Voice") do in his one-week trial on KRTH June 1-5?

Name: Eliot Goshman
Website: click here for TARAGON RECORDS NEW RELEASES at WARP SPEED!!
Time: 1998-06-15 12:18:38
Comments: For those that are interested, Taragon Records new release info has been posted on our website. Our June 30 releases feature The Tokens (all the chart hits including "Portrait Of My Love"), Lou Christie, Kokomo, The Ames Brothers (lots of new stereo), and Jigsaw (a great band...these 70's tracks should have been much bigger hits than they were...check it out!).

Name: Tom Daly
Website: Skyline
From: Metro Boston
Time: 1998-06-15 12:30:12
Comments: Regarding oldies station playlists: I must also grouse about the "limited" selections played on WODS-FM (CBS) in Boston, as well as on WEGQ-FM (ARS). The former plays the same 25 Motown records at a rate of one in every music sweep (5 per hour), no '50s hits at all (how can they call themselves "oldies" if they don't play the roots of rock n' roll?), and play pop hits of the early 70s. The latter plays mid-late 70s pop, with spatterings of disco throw in. WROR (Greater Media) plays a cross between the two, still with no '50s hits. Obviously, this upstart is going to have to obtain a program director's chair at some Boston area station to teach these morons what real "oldies" are. And as for the research companies, everyone knows you can't take one of those reports seriously, since, if a P.D. orders the report, it's going to be skewed whatever way he wants it skewed, since he authorizes payment for it. Besides, even if the reports weren't skewed, you can't accurately program for baby boomers when your research company is polling Generation-X! The reality is that when you cut through all the B.S., it's all politics.

Name: Steve Baird
From: Baton Rouge, LA
Time: 1998-06-15 12:36:13
Comments: I just recently bought the new Jimmy Dean's Greatest Hits -- Columbia CK 65256 -- and want to get my facts straight. In referring back to 1/e of Mike's book, I notice that he has "E" for "The Farmer and the Lord" on the earlier issue of the CD (CK 9285) On the new CD it sounds to me as if this is true stereo -- as do all of the 12 tracks. Also, does anyone know if "Dear Ivan" (which did not appear on the earlier release) has previously appeared in stereo on CD at all? A sticker on the jewel case would have you believe that this is in stereo on CD for the first time. For those of you who have an interest in Jimmy Dean, I can tell you that this is one fine-sounding CD. Tracks are as follows, and all appear to be true stereo. Big Bad John/The Cajun Queen/Harvest of Sunshine/Little Black Book/Steel Men/The First Thing Ev'ry Morning/Sam Hill/P.T. 109/To A Sleeping Beauty/The Farmer & The Lord/I Won't Go Huntin' With You Jake/Dear Ivan.

Name: Larry Naramore
From: Sun Valley, Ca.
Time: 1998-06-15 13:25:30
Comments: Steve, I have Bear Family's Jimmy Dean - Big Bad John CD [BCD 15 723 AH], and to my ears "Dear Ivan" is mono. Thanks for the info.

Name: John
From: PA
Time: 1998-06-15 13:26:10
Comments: A note about oldies stations: not only do they program the same stuff until you're sick of it, most also program one type of song: it must be uptempo because they position themselves as "Good times, great oldies." In other words, no Dylan, even if it did make the Top 10. The most intelligently programmed oldies station I've ever heard is WCBS-FM in New York (101.1). If you can't get within range of their signal, bribe somebody to make tapes for you! First, they use the DJs who were on the radio in NY during the Top 40 era: Harry Harrison, Dan Daniel, Dan Ingram and Cousin Brucie (Ron Lundy just retired last fall). They also play a wider range of music: they have more '50s content than most oldies stations (NYC loves that group harmony sound) and they play stuff that goes as deep as the '80s. They have special weekend programming -- old Top 20 countdowns on Saturday and Sunday evenings and the long-standing Doo Wop Shop on Sunday. The other jocks (Bill Brown, Bobby Jay, Don K. Reed) also have long track records in NY radio. Afternoon guy Bob Shannon is a BSN kind of guy who deals in rarities and stereo mixes. I've heard him play the rare stereo mix of "Catch Us If You Can" and he had the new-found stereo of "Chapel of Love" when I listened in April. Too bad they're not 'Netcasting. Seek out tapes, though. It's the antidote to every generic oldies station you've heard.

Name: curt lundgren
Time: 1998-06-15 14:31:56
Comments: More on oldies broadcasting. In 1984, I had the pleasure of consulting on an AM oldies startup in Duluth, Minnesota, K-BEST. We did it right, remembering that Top 40 (as a format) was very broad in scope. So we were true to the form, programming the music actually PLAYED on T40 stations of the '55-'69 period. You got Andy Williams followed by Jackie Wilson, which was the way it was in those days. In our first "book", we went from a dead stick (not on-air) to #1 in 25-54 adults. I still have a tearfully glad letter written by a listener who heard "Don't Just Stand There" by Patty Duke for the first time in nearly 20 years. The problem today? The format is run by people too young to remember the music! There! Off my bitch box. Now, if Mike will permit me, please visit http://www.reelradio.com and sample the real thing, digitally preserved.

Name: Christopher Dolmetsch
From: Hurricane, WV/USA
Time: 1998-06-15 16:17:38
Comments: Thanks, Mike, for the reviews of some of the recent Motown hits reissues. The two Greatest Hits volumes by the Temptations are definitely the *best* versions on the market right now but, as my buddy in Columbus, Ohio, rightly warned me: beware the competing versions (old and new) on the market just now. The new versions have a bar code beginning with the numbers 31. The older versions have bar codes beginning with 37. Now, where can I find excellent stereo collections by other Motown artists? I'd especially like a Smokey Robinson and the Miracles collection. I understand that the recent Ultimate Collection Motown reissues are *all* MONO, despite having been remastered. The currently available 2-disc Anthologies by many Motown performers are also disappointing in their heavy use of MONO. Any suggestions for the *best* stereo Motown would be appreciated.

Name: Steve Baird
From: Baton Rouge, LA
Time: 1998-06-15 20:27:25
Comments: Kudos to all on the info about Oldies radio stations -- especially Curt Lundgren, who has hit the nail on the head. I wish I would win the Powerball so that I could start my own oldies radio station. I can assure you that you would hear The Rays, Senator Bobby and Bunker Hill among the many others that my listeners requested. The station would have to be located somewhere else though, as this city will not support a station with the oldies format (the one we had changed to country). They ought to make some kind of policy that says you have to have someone on staff who actually heard the music when it was new. I can still remember the first time I ever heard Buchanan and Goodman's "Flying Saucer." My Dad, a career military man, had been ordered to Fort Gordon, GA for training in his new assignment at NATO just outside of Paris. We had been driving south from Pennsylvania, and had just entered Baltimore. Being a kid of twelve, I thought the "we interrupt this program" was for real, and lowered the window of our '56 Olds to see if I could see those Flying Saucers. I have been hooked on rock music ever since.

Name: Tom Daly
Website: Skyline
From: Metro Boston
Time: 1998-06-15 21:08:44
Comments: Great issue #47! Just got it today! A few comments: Pete Bryan mentioned a recording of "The Wanderer" by some orchestra. I don't recall "The Wanderer," but I do recall a cover of "Runaway" by (of all people) Lawrence Welk (Dot 16336). Perhaps that is the record to which Pete referred. The version of "Hey, Paula" on the Animal House soundtrack is the hit 45 version, albeit (E) with balance changes and "Mercury-type rechannelling" with reverb added to the weaker channel. After all, the common issue WAS on Philips, distributed by Mercury Record Corp. Perhaps MCA just used an old Philips album master... Heaven knows, the used noisy old vinyl disc dubs for the Hairspray soundtrack!

Name: joe fornarotto
From: new jersey
Time: 1998-06-15 22:47:57
Comments: I just saw a new Standells collection on MCA,s new Hip-O Records label. Its a best of collection and it's first and last cuts on the CD are versions of "Dirty Water" The last version is listed as a "Stereo Remix" Has anyone heard this yet?

Name: Tom Kennedy
From: San Ramon, Ca. (S.F.)
Time: 1998-06-16 00:00:48
Comments: Hi Guys (and Gals??), More on oldies stations. Our oldie station here in S.F. Bay Area is KFRC. They DO play a lot of stereo but it seems like the same playlist over and over. I could even stand "The Little Blue Man" if they'd play it once in a while. Anyway, at home I have DSS (USSB-Direct TV). They have about 30 music channels. Their oldie channel plays a lot of varied tunes from the '50s and '60s including album cuts. Even I'm stumped sometimes and I have to look a up a song. (Never happens on KFRC). They also play a lot of stereo. Check it out! One more thing on mono/stereo. On DSS, the newer music seems to have a lot of mono! (or very narrow stereo) i.e. Dance hits, rap, reggae. I was surprised. Can anyone comment? STEREO 4EVER ! Tom Kennedy

Name: Bob Fink
From: Conn.
Time: 1998-06-16 00:12:20
Comments: Heyall.. Re Joe's previous post.."Dirty Water" in this stereo remix is something to sit up and take notice of. Tom Moulton's "ear" on the mix is both logical and obvious to this observer...something I've come to notice and respect of his work is that, given multi-tracks of previously "not available in true stereo" material, he plays it back on the proper "period equipment", and faces the playback speakers with an eye as to placement of musicians and vocalists as they would sound if the listener were standing facing the band on stage!!..(ie. lead vocal and backup center and slight left/right, not "hard panned", like they were in different rooms!). Sorry for the long wind, but with all the recent hype about "getting it right", Tom's work should be the blueprint of at least one great way of getting it done..P.S. Check out his stereo remix of an alternate version of "Whiter Shade Of Pale" on the Procol Harum box set.. Breathtaking!! Thanks for listenin' BF>

Name: Jay Fink
From: Albany, NY
Time: 1998-06-16 00:50:35
Comments: My $.02 on oldies radio - and a thank you to MC for allowing me to perpetuate this semi off-topic thread. I programmed my own oldies show back in Connecticut for eight years, from '89 to '97. Got respectable numbers for being a weekend jock. I played just about anything from '55 to 74 - rock, pop, doo-wop, MOR and R&B (the real stuff) and actually made it sound good. Even with the "core" "Pretty Womans" and "Do Wah Diddys" of the world it sounded fresh enough to hold almost anyone. Thankfully I had a General Manager who loved oldies radio, understood its heritage and most of all, trusted my knowledge and instincts. Given sufficient time to develop an audience (time being the key word), I believe a "broad list" oldies format can work, with a dedicated and talented staff and the management to back them up. A well executed format of this type *can* attract and hold the casual listener. In the instant gratification 90's, however, Good Times, Great Oldies is a plug n' play, happy, familiar oldies format that attracts a broad demographic. For today's talent-starved stations, it's a short term money maker.

Name: Bob Oliva
From: Burbank, Ca.
Time: 1998-06-16 04:12:26
Comments: It looks like I opened up a can of worms on my comments about so called "Oldies Radio". I glad I'm not alone. I mostly listen to my own custom tapes from the beginning of rock and roll up to 1964. Most of the tapes I've made from CD's I've purchased thru the years and from info from this great site. Could it be they won't play the 50's music because all those great artists aren't getting paid any royalties? It's a food for thought. Most of the stuff they play mid 60's is put out by Rhino, Any connection? Anyway I'm happy you guys feel the same way I do. By the way Huggy Boy is playing 50's on his morning show on KRLA 1110 AM in LA. He is an original. Bye for now Bob.

Name: Christopher Dolmetsch
From: Hurricane, WV/USA
Time: 1998-06-16 13:34:31
Comments: NOT A COMPENSATED ENDORSEMENT! Thanks to Mike's invaluable comments in issue 47 of BSN, I narrowly avoided obtaining the *newer* issue of Sam Cooke's Greatest Hits with 21-tracks in favor of the original 22-track version (after all, why buy an ice cream sundae and not get the nuts on top?). For those wishing to buy the original version, while supplies last, it is available from Disc Collector in Parker, Colorado (303) 841-3000. The always friendly, polite and helpful couple who runs the shop (gee, I wish I knew their names!), assure me that they have an ample stash of this disc right now. If you're thinking of getting it, however, I wouldn't wait too long !

Name: Mike Arcidiacono
From: nyc
Time: 1998-06-16 15:07:24
Comments: Re: Tom Moulton I'm glad to see such nice comments about Tom's work. Tom is probably the best oldies remixer in the business today. Tom worked on some of my group (The Supertones) material and the results were quite simply, amazing. One of the things Tom does, is to use some of the old tricks of Mono mixing to achieve a solid bottom end that adds the "power" we used to feel from a correctly done mono radio mix. Tom transfers these the stereo which is one reason why his stuff sounds so much better than others who try and do the same thing. I think my biggest oldies wish would be that Tom be given the entire Cameo Parkway Multitrack library and remix it with his ear for stereo. It would be the greatest oldies remix in history. Should we all write to Al Klein? Tom, thanks for all the great stereo, especially (for me) The Chancellor Story, and Rare Surf 1,2, and 3. Mikey

Name: curt lundgren
Time: 1998-06-16 16:52:06
Comments: Forgive me if questions on the UK label "Music Club" have already been addressed. I note a couple of Ace items in their catalog at CD Now, Jimmy Clanton and Frankie Ford "best of's". My local Best Buy has the Clanton title for $9.99. Should I?

[ Music Club now owns the Ace (US) label, so the reissues are from the original, or at least, the surviving masters. MC]

Name: Marty Natchez
Time: 1998-06-16 21:06:08
Comments: Music Club International's marketing of the Ace catalog gives American collectors the choice between domestic, 18-track CDs on the budget Music Club label and full-priced, expanded imports on the Westside label. Sound wise, both divisions use the identical master tapes and sources, yet none of the rare stereo mixes that Scotti Records previously issued by Jimmy Clanton and Frankie Ford have been re-released by either label, to date. For Frankie Ford, Westside's Ooh Wee Baby! collection debuts Take 1 of "Sea Cruise" and reissues the novelty "Morgus the Magnificient" he made under the name Morgus and The Three Ghouls. Neither is included on the Music Club best-of. Eight additional songs on Westside's Go Jimmy Go collection -- including his duet single "Down the Aisle" with Mary Ann Mobley -- do give the edge over Music Club's This is...Jimmy Clanton. The latter, though, piles the hits more affordably. And it may be important to note that the first-ever reissue of the original "Sea Cruise" sailed here on Music Club's This is...Huey "Piano" Smith, but missed Westside's more complete Having a Good Time retrospective. Was all that easy to follow? By the way, I did not accept any payola to plug either label.

Name: Richard G. Sanderson III
From: Alabama
Time: 1998-06-16 21:36:07
Comments: I have been looking at this list for the past few months, waiting for someone to say something that interests me, finally I found it! OLDIES RADIO...it's horribly great! They never play any real good music, they repeat their rotations fifteen billion times a day, yet I love it. I don't know what I would do if I didn't have WGRE Oldies 98.7 to tap my toes to while driving to work in the morning. (I try not to tap the toe on the gas pedal). The other day they played this version of "HIt the Road Jack" I didn't recognize, I thought it was only Ray Charles that sang it, I was wrong! I looked it up and believe it or not the Chipmunks did a version in LIVE STEREO! So, if anyone can tell me who else sang the song, I would really appreciate it.

Name: Luke Pacholski
Website: LukPac.org
Referred by: Just Surfed On In
From: Racine, WI
Time: 1998-06-16 22:01:13
Comments: I had a question on the Smokey Robinson & the Miracles Ultimate Collection CD - is it all mono? If it is, it sure seems strange, as it was remastered by Kevin Reeves, who did the Temptations sets... And it is not as if the tracks are that rare in stereo - "Tracks" and "Second that Emotion" were in stereo on the Big Chill soundtrack CD.

Name: Dan Asvitt
From: Pleasant Hill (SF), CA
Time: 1998-06-16 22:34:26
Comments: Actually, oldies radio is a relevant topic because it is (or should be) a source for hearing stereo versions of songs. Like Bob Olivia, I prefer to listen to my own custom made tapes, but I also like to hear what the radio stations are playing. For example, KFRC will play the stereo versions of the Ronettes and Dave Clark Five, but will sometimes play mono Beatles and other times stereo. As Tom Kennedy notes, their playlist is tight, but it does broaden on weekends and late night. One Saturday morning caller asked the DJ to play a song, noting that the weekday DJ had refused to play it but had told him to call on Saturday morning when it would be played. I used to enjoy taping Candi Chamberlain's midnight show to play back later, where I would be able to hear more obscure songs and things like the stereo version of the Jive Five's "My True Story".

Name: Larry Davis
From: Longview, Washington
Time: 1998-06-16 22:41:47
Comments: Last August, when there was no other Jimmy Clanton available on CD except for the seven Clanton tracks on Best Of Ace Records, The Pop Hits Vol. 1, I bought Just A Dream on Black Tulip 2638694. I know Black Tulip has a reputation for being "non-official" shall we say. But it has 30 tracks and the sound isn't too bad at all. Anyone know anything about the sources or stereo content of this release? Even with 30 tracks, "What Am I Gonna Do" was still omitted. That one showed up a few months ago on the Hey! Look What I Found series, which by the way is up to nine volumes now. Mike has reviewed the first six. Does anyone have any information on the contents or quality of the last three volumes?

Name: Randy Price
From: New York
Time: 1998-06-16 23:46:35
Comments: To Richard re "Hit the Road Jack": The Stampeders did a top-40 version of this song in 1976 (Quality 501).

Name: Bernard Smith
From: Leicester, England
Time: 1998-06-17 08:17:43
Comments: Does anyone have any info on the contents of Sunshine Days, Vols. 4 & 5, scheduled for release by Varese Vintage in mid-July, according to Ice magazine? Likewise for Barry Scott's 45's, scheduled for release at the end of July?

Name: Marty Blaise
Time: 1998-06-17 10:16:08
Comments: 1. I enjoyed the latest issue of the Both Sides Now newsletter. I found something interesting that somehow slipped past me. The Loretta Lynn CD reviewed lists "Blue Kentucky Girl" as being in stereo. In one of the old Osborne country music record collecting guides, the article about stereo in the front of the book notes this song is rechanneled. When did it come out in stereo? Also, I'm trying to remember when "Ruby Ann" by Marty Robbins finally came out in stereo. Maybe I can stir up some interest in country music stereo? I'd be interested to know what of those other songs listed in the Osborne country music price guide have become available in stereo. Thanks. 2. Has anyone experimented with something called DART Pro? Here is the website: http://www.tracertek.com/dartpro32.htm. Part of the site shows these "Nifty New Features:" Speed, speed, speed, 2X faster then DART Pro / Record a 78 RPM record on a 33 turntable / Converts Mono to Stereo and vice-versa / Resample & Adjust sample rate conversions / Instant playback speed adjustment / Trim length function / CD Format-converts any file to 16 bit, 44.1 kHz with one click --- I am curious to what they mean by converting MONO TO STEREO.

Name: David R. Modny
Time: 1998-06-17 16:32:01
Comments: Regarding DART PRO - I use DART PRO quite a bit when doing home transfers. The noise reductiion, while certainly not in the upper tier, is actually one of the better "low end" ones. The mono to stereo conversion they describe is actually just "pseudo-stereo". You can reverse the phase of either the right or left channel.

Name: Tom Daly
Website: Skyline
From: Metro Boston
Time: 1998-06-17 18:10:34
Comments: I must grouse about a Sony Music disc, The Magic of Doris Day. The sound is uneven, as most of the tracks are crisp, but "The Deadwood Stage," from Calamity Jane (same source as the bogus "Secret Love" from vinyl discs on other CDs) is muddy and has no highs. I don't understand this at all, because the vinyl wasn't like this... even the electronic stereo copies! The only stereo track on this disc is "Pillow Talk," which sounds fine. "Teacher's Pet" has since turned up in stereo somewhere... I think in a Bear Family box, but that's mono here. I'd give this disc a low "C" for lack of effort and lousy sound.

Name: Ray Matthews
Website:
From: Georgia
Time: 1998-06-17 20:46:26
Comments: Like many of you, I get tired of the oldies radio stations with their short playlists of the same tired songs. Some of the best music is never played. In order for people to hear some of this overlooked music, we have a couple of web shows that you might like. I do Forgotten Favorites of the 60's and my friend, Ken Rogers does the Shake, Rattle & Roll--50's on www.discjockey.com. We concentrate on the music that we feel that the Oldies stations won't play. Try it...and feel free to give us your comments and suggestions.

Name: Luke Pacholski
From: Racine, WI
Time: 1998-06-17 22:12:15
Comments: I've talked to a net friend of mine who has done work for Motown (one of the older Temptations discs), and he says that the multitrack tapes (8 track for post 1965) still exist and do not exhibit the overload and distortion of the mono and stereo mixdown tapes... I guess he knows 'the important people' and will keep me posted if anything happens...

Name: Steve Massie
Time: 1998-06-18 10:47:15
Comments: Here are the tracks for the upcoming Sunshine Days packages from Varese:

Volume 4: 59th. St. Bridge Song-Harper's Bizarre/ Sweet Blindness-5th. Dimension/ I Could Be So Good To You-Don and The Goodtimes/ The Joker Went Wild-Brian Hyland/ Pleasant Valley Sunday-The Monkees/ Sweet Pea-Tommy Roe/ Neon Rainbow-Box Tops (original mono single)/ Sugar Town-Nancy Sinatra/ Hello, Hello-Sopwith Camel/ I Couldn't Live Without Your Love-Petula Clark/ She Lets Her Hair Down-The Tokens/ I Can Make It With You-Pozo-Seco Singers/ I'll Hold Out My Hand-The Clique/ Bowling Green-Everly Brothers/ Happy-Blades Of Grass/ Make Your Own Kind Of Music-Mama Cass

Volume 5: Windy-The Association (original mono single)/ Elenore-Turtles (original mono single)/ Pretty Ballerina- Left Banke/ Hey Baby-The Buckinghams/ And Suddenly-Cherry People/ You Didn't Have To Be So Nice- Lovin' Spoonful]/ Back On The Street Again-Sunshine Company/ The Magic Garden-5th. Dimension/ Melody For You-Grass Roots/ Look Through My Window-Mama's and Papa's/ Before And After-Chad and Jeremy/ Things I'd Like To Say-New Colony Six/ Suspicion-Sidekicks/ Angel Of The Morning- Merrilee Rush and Turnabouts/ Someday Man-The Monkees/ See You In September-The Happenings

Some of these will be mono, because the mono single mixes were considerably different from the stereo mixes.

Name: Mike Hartman
From: Vernon Hills, IL
Time: 1998-06-18 12:05:01
Comments: Can anyone tell me what the difference is on the the mono 45 version of "Windy" & "Elenore"? Also, Mike in the latest BSN you mentioned you purchased a song thru the internet that you heard once on the radio 35 years ago. I gotta know, what was that song!?

[ -- The song was "Congratulations Tom Dewey" by the Characters, on an album called Smash Flops. (Aren't you glad you asked?) If I could find that one, everything's available out there. -- MC]

Name: Chris Kissel
From: East Islip, NY
Time: 1998-06-19 22:04:09
Comments: In reference to Mike Callahan's comments regarding "I've Had It" by the Bell-Notes on Mr. Maestro 1004, this is definitely a synch job. You can clearly hear the phasing going out of synch quite a bit towards the end of the song. Otherwise it is definitely stereo and yes, somewhat narrow at that. Let me also add to the accolades for Tom Moulton's stereo mix of "Dirty Water". This mix is a winner all around. Even the mono-maniacs can't fault this one! Lets all hope that more of Tom's work ends up being released soon.

Name: Tom Daly
Website: Skyline
From: Metro Boston
Time: 1998-06-19 22:22:57
Comments: So with the current disease the labels seem to have contracted, hereafter known as "monoitis," when can we have a CD with the mono single mixes of the Mamas and Papas material? Granted, they may not have sounded better than the stereo mixes, but they WERE different. This seems to have been the case with a lot of the Dunhill releases. It certainly was with Steppenwolf, Three Dog Night and Mamas & Papas. The former were produced by Gabriel Mekler, the latter by Lou Adler. I can't determine whether it was the label or the producers who were responsible, but nonetheless the facts are that the singles were different mixes from what was issued on the stereo LPs. Didn't we go through this with Atlantic, too?

Name: Larry Naramore
From: Sun Valley, Ca.
Time: 1998-06-20 03:48:52
Comments: Any comments on the Jefferson Airplane's Surrealistic Pillow Gold-disc? I picked up Dreaming my Dreams by Waylon Jennings, mastered by Steve Hoffman, and about half the disc is hissy. I'll listen again; maybe I'm having a bad ear day. Charlie McCoys' Harping the Blues is a great sounding CD, as is Patsy Cline/Loretta Lynns' gospel album. It's labeled ADD and I believe it. A while back in BSNs' newsletter I thought I seen something about Razor and Tie but can't remember what was said. I have several of thier discs and find them quite good sounding. Picked up the Doors first album on Gold-disc but haven't had time to listen to it. Any feedback on Dylans' Blonde on Blonde Gold-disc would be appreciated. Thanks and later.

Name: David R. Modny
Time: 1998-06-20 10:06:30
Comments: Regarding Surrealistic Pillow mono/stereo gold disc - You have to remember that the original two-track recording was no great shakes to begin with. Recorded at the infamous RCA studios. If one album ever needed a multi-track re-mix (sans the reverb) this would be it. As far as the disc goes, it is about as good as it's going to get as it stands now. The mono mix was somewhat of a disappointment to me. Even though it's missing a lot of the echo, it sounds like it was lifted from an inferior source (maybe a commercial reel to reel copy ??). It sounds like the head is out of whack with the tape at some points. Not bad considering, just don't expect the last word in hi-fi.

Name: Steve Baird
From: Baton Rouge, LA
Time: 1998-06-20 10:15:56
Comments: Larry's request for info on gold CDs would indicate that he has not had a chance to view Mike's comments on the making of CDs at this website. Let me add a variation to the conclusion one comes to by reading Mike's thoughtfully written essay. We all know (or at least we should) that the Gold CD is a contemporary version of The Emporer's New Clothes. That these CDs CAN sound better than the original aluminum ones has nothing at all to do with the choice of metals, but everything to do with the way that the program was handled. Yes, Dunhill's Gold CD version of Dylan's Highway 61 Revisited IS vastly superior to the Columbia one, but only because Steve Hoffman used the original tapes AND processed them using tube tape recorders similar to the one on which the original tape was made. In a SENSIBLE SOUND article published more than five years ago, I summed up Columbia's Gold CDs this way, but keep in mind, too, that Columbia withdrew its Mastersound Gold CDs from the market about a year ago -- It's almost certain that other companies will enter the gold disk market now that Mobile Fidelity and Dunhill have shown that consumers are willing to pay a higher price for perceived better quality. I hope that Columbia will listen to the reactions its special customers will have to these new products. If it does not, I suspect that Columbia will not share in the audiophile market as prosperously as its two existing competitors. Moreover it shouldn't: Since Columbia is not involved in special licenses for these re-releases (as its competitors are), I see no reason why the consumer should not expect all major label CDs to sound as good as they possibly can at regular prices.

Name: Charles G. Hill
Website: Chez Chaz
From: Dustbury, Oklahoma
Time: 1998-06-20 14:54:36
Comments: A spot check of record stores here in deepest Oklahoma indicates the truncated post-Abkco version of Sam Cooke's Greatest Hits still hasn't arrived, which suits me fine. On another front, Al Quaglieri is apparently redoing the Blood, Sweat & Tears GH set for Sony/Legacy. On vinyl, this set contained the 45 versions, but the CD edition went back to the LP cuts. Al Q. says the Legacy release will feature the single versions once more. I'm not quite sure what I think of this, although having had the original LPs all these years ought to affect my thinking one way or another. Finally, should we be happy or horrified that Universal/MCA and Polygram are being sloshed together in that big Seagram bottle? I'm not quite sure what I think of this, either.

Name: Larry Davis
From: Longview, Washington
Time: 1998-06-20 17:44:17
Comments: It's hard to see what difference another takeover would make. The important labels like Decca, Mercury, Dot, etc. ceased to exist years ago, and almost all of the reissue decisions have been made by bean counters with no interest in the music itself or by junior executives with no knowledge OR memory of the music. Just as BMG is slowly retiring the RCA logo and Sony is phasing out Columbia, both in favor of their own names, I suppose we can look forward to Seagrams CDs soon. The most important thing seems to be whether real music people like Ron and Bob Furmanek, Bill Levenson, and Bob Irwin are given freedom to make thoughtfully produced reissues or if that power is placed in the hands of hacks like Greg Geller. From the collector's viewpoint, our best bet is to encourage and support the reissue specialist such as Taragon, Bear Family, Ace, Razor & Tie, and yes, even Rhino, As long as those companies devoted to quality sound and interesting reissue projects can survive, it doesn't matter much who currently owns the originals.

Name: David R. Modny
Time: 1998-06-20 18:52:34
Comments: Regarding the Emporer's New Clothes : ) - Steve is right on the money with the "gold" plating scam!!!. Meticulous mastering ( i.e. using original multi's or 1st generation mixdowns, lovingly mastered through original playback equipment and electronics when available, ) is where the "magic" lies. I feel it's a total tragedy that I have to pay thirty dollars for the luxury of quality work. I wouldn't mind paying a two or three dollar premium to offset the tape research and mastering costs that the indies have to incur. But, unfortunately the whole major label gold disc farce is nothing more than a marketing ploy .

Name: Steve Massie
Time: 1998-06-20 18:53:26
Comments: Just a note regarding the issue of Mama's and Papa's single mixes and ABC/Dunhill product...At one point when ABC records changed owners, in order to save space, they decided to save one copy of all of the masters they had and get rid of all the rest. Obviously the copy that generally got saved was an album master and almost always a stereo album master. Therefore single masters (i.e. single mixes) just don't exist at MCA. Bill Inglot lucked into finding the single mix of "I Saw Her Again" that was used on one of the last Dick Bartley CDs on Varese. Therefore, if packages are going to include any of those single mixes chances are they will come from a vinyl source. One other note; someone mentioned the Dean Martin CD that Capitol just released. I don't know if anyone else noticed but, for one, "Return to Me" is the stereo re-recording not the original single. And as for the remixes on his Reprise hits, all Lee Herschberg did was place the entire instrumental track on one side, Dean's dry vocal track in the middle, and the background singers in the other channel. With the exception of "Everybody Loves Somebody", which obviously was recorded live in the studio, all the other Reprise remixes suck the life right out of the songs. It sounds like a real rush job with no real effort made to make the best stereo mix they could. But that is pretty typical in today's market, unfortunately.

Name: Larry Naramore
From: Sun Valley, Ca.
Time: 1998-06-20 20:04:35
Comments: To David, thanks for the info on Airplanes' Pillow. Still haven't made a decision on it. Is it "less hissy" than its aluminum counterpart? Thanks also to Steve for your comments and e-mail, they were both informative, etc. but my question wasn't on the merits of gold vs aluminum. What I'm interested in is sound quality, i.e. tape quality, source etc. Simply put, is the sound quality on the Doors, Airplane and Dylan gold discs superior enough to soothe my conscience as I foolishly see how fast I can spend my kids' inheritance? Sheesh, just cracked open Mikes' Oldies on CD and checked out his comments on the Doors! Does anyone remember a "West Coast" band from the late 60's named Clear Light? They had 2 drummers and did a version of "Mr Blue". Picked up a copy of "Duets with Louis Armstong and friends" on the Blue Moon label from Spain and was surprised at the quality of sound and liner notes.

Name: Marty Natchez
Time: 1998-06-20 22:29:38
Comments: One of our esteemed and reputable contributors, who prefers to remain nameless, privately e-mailed me months ago that, sometime in the late '60s, a disgruntled employee deep-sixed Dunhill Records' multi-tracks and single-master tapes off the coast of California. I urged him to share this "reliable" information with the forum, but he never did. No one in the music business, to my knowledge, has ever confirmed this seemingly absurd claim by "Mr. BSN Anonymous." But if Charlie the Tuna has these tapes, they're probably easier to get than anything from ABKCO.

Name: Mike Raphone
From: Toledo, Ohio
Time: 1998-06-21 10:16:37
Comments: 1. There's a well known, west coast engineer with a passion for master tapes...and a house full of record-company-owned multi-tracks and other masters of 60's and 70's gems...he was caught red handed some years ago, but they didn't get everything back...he had all the tracks neatly cut off the master reels and placed on fresh reels that he kept... (He was also caught in a deal fairly recently to sell metal parts stolen from the company)... Maybe he has the Mama's And Papa's tapes...and where will all these tapes go when this guy dies? Right into the dumpster....It's a very big tragedy and there are others like him out there (I've met quite a few) who think they are bigger than the music they steal... 2. It's nice to see some people aren't caught up in the "gold CD" scam...anyone who buys a gold CD release because he thinks it'll sound better because it's gold, should see a shrink...A gold CD just carries data the same way a silver CD, a floppy disk or any other storage media does...and yes , the record companies can master any CD with the care they seem to take only on the gold CDs...it's amazing how they can charge $30 for this rip-off and not have any government agency chase them...maybe if the idiots that buy them would stop, they'd have to release quality CDs at normal pricing...

Name: Tom Daly
Website: Skyline
Referred by: Just Surfed On In
From: Metro Boston
Time: 1998-06-21 10:54:31
Comments: Does anyone know of a true stereo issue of Luther Ingram's "(If Loving You is Wrong) I Don't Want to Be Right?" I obtained the use of a Koko (Stax) promo 45 marked "stereo" on both sides, but both sides are flat mono, the same as the commercial issues. All known CD issues of the track are also mono.

[ -- It was originally stereo on a SECOND PRESSING of the Koko album. This was used as a source for a CD on Ripete (see newsletters). -- MC]

Name: Charles G. Hill
Website: Chez Chaz
From: Dustbury, Oklahoma
Time: 1998-06-21 11:09:54
Comments: To Larry Davis: Mercury is still active in the contemporary and country markets, but your point is well-taken. My concern over the Universal/Polygram deal stems from my belief that in recent years MCA's reissue guys have been doing a better job than Polygram's, and that vaunted "economies of scale" too often mean catering to the lowest common denominator. Out here in Stereoland, we're generally better served by the reissue specialists than by the Big Five (formerly Big Six). It would be wonderful if Bob Hyde at Capitol-EMI (is he still there?) could set up something sort-of-permanent like Sony's Legacy series for the EMI labels, but after the disappearance of all those Legendary Masters discs, I'm not holding my breath.

Name: Larry Davis
From: Longview, Washington
Time: 1998-06-21 20:40:02
Comments: Sometime in the last 200 messages or so (I scanned back into May but couldn't find it), someone asked about acquiring the first four volumes of Rhino's series British Invasion - History of British Rock. Well, I just got a flyer in the mail from American Pie (they have a web site www.tzd.com/pie) and they are advertising that series (under the title of British Rock Vol. 1, etc. The picture of the CD confirms that it is the Rhino series and the tracks listing coincides with the volumes in my collection. The price, $15.99, is about what Rhino was selling them for. Oddly, they only have eight of the volumes; they are missing Vol. 5 both in their catalog and on their web site. This is funny little mail order catalog company that seems to specialize in Special Products compilations, some imports, and LOTS of Rhino CDs. They also advertise 45's. They never give label information and they catagorize their music oddly "pre-rock pop", "rock era vocal", "decades", etc. I've not ordered from them yet, but they seem quite reputable. Hope this helps someone.

Name: Don Duffey
From: Buffalo
Time: 1998-06-21 22:54:38
Comments: Help! I found a real bizzaro CD that I need professional opinions on. It's called Dinner With Zach by John Zacherley [that's how it's spelled] on Transylvanna 6-5000. It's basically a "best" of CD with the only hit being "Dinner With Drac". It says "Mfg. in Romania" [I'm not making this up]. It has the copyright threats around the inside ring, but they say if you copy the disc you will have your testicles removed. [Maybe Mr. Klein IS involved] but anyway the title track "Dinner With Drac" sounds similar to the original but some of the verses are changed almost like a censored version, or ol' John is dancing around the copyright infringement."Dinner" is mono, but things like "The pool was redder than oughtter," is now "colder than oughtter," and there's no heavy breathing at the intro, but the music bed sounds the same & the vocals sound the same. Has anyone ever heard of this disc? Is it a re- recording/alternate take???? D.D......an interesting web site to go to is www.lyrics.ch this contains the lyrics to 75,000 tunes try it D.D.

Name: Mark Mathews
From: LI, New York
Time: 1998-06-21 23:22:25
Comments: Hello All! For Tom Daly: The stereo version of "If Loving You Is Wrong" - Luther Ingram appears on a Ripete CD called Soul Patrol - 24 Southern Soul Classics on Ripete/Cema Special Markets.(#2198) I believe it's a high quality disc dub from the original Koko LP. Sounds good. If it's not in your store, call ripete @ (803)428-3358. Ripete is not often mentioned here, but they are an excellent source for rare soul and hard to find stereo soul hits. They released "Tell It Like It Is" by Aaron Neville in stereo long before the Dick Bartley CD, and the sound is a little clearer, better disc dub. Someone there really cares what they are doing and goes out their way to find good stereo, if no tape, then they'll find the best original disc they can. Hope that helps. BTW, a long time ago, someone posted a good web-radio site to hear stereo oldies on the web. Could anyone post again where I can find one? All I keep getting are stations that stream in mono. Thanks! -MDM

Name: Larry Naramore
From: Sun Valley, Ca.
Time: 1998-06-22 02:44:20
Comments: Heres an interesting link to different record labels I found on Ace's web pages-http://www.acerecords.co.uk/hotlinks/hotlinks.html#labels. Does anyone have a phone # or e-mail address for Demon/Edsels' label?

Name: Mike Raphone
From: Toledo, Ohio
Time: 1998-06-22 09:31:03
Comments: 1. Demon/Edsel Records doesn't have their own website, although they own a mail order company that does (www.blackmail.co.uk)...2. IMHO, Ripete Records has been involved with bootlegs and illegal recordings for a long time.... Some of the stuff on Ripete is re-recordings (that they may have rights to), and the original hits (which apparently, in at least some cases they don't have rights to) are mostly from disc dubs or illegal CD copies...buyer beware...

Name: Larry Davis
From: Longview, Washington
Time: 1998-06-22 15:22:47
Comments: For Mark: The site I bookmarked is www.on-air.com/ I don't know if I got the reference from this forum or somewhere else. They do advertise stereo.

Name: J T Anderton
Website: Duncan's American Radio
From: Cincinnati, OH
Time: 1998-06-22 19:07:48
Comments: This may have been in BSN, but I must have missed it. What is the Beach Boys Stack-O-Tracks CD? Is it session extracts like the last disc on the Beach Boys box set? Does it give us more Beach Boys stereo, or is the Pet Sounds box our best bet here? How did I miss one which would seem to be so obvious? On another note, Mike, you were absolutely right on Simon & Garfunkles' Old Friends. What a sonic knockout! And thanks for the tip on Klein's latest antics on the RCA Sam Cooke CD. I rushed right out and found one of the 22-cut discs. Thanks for the heads-up. Without BSN, I would have been Kleined out of "Another Saturday Night." Thanks again. Anyone have any thoughts on what disc would give me the best Rascals stereo without popping for the box thing? I met Rascals guitarist Gene Cornish on a plane last week, and asked him what he thought on the Atlantic/Rhino stereo vs. mono question. He said he and the other group members feel strongly that the mono mix comes a lot closer to how they wanted the songs to sound. Not the answer I really wanted to hear, but, hey, it's their music! J T Anderton, Cincinnati

Name: Marty Natchez
Time: 1998-06-22 19:30:53
Comments: Are there more Zacherle fans like Don Duffey in out midst? The first track on the Dinner With Zach CD is actually the "gorier" original recording of the hit that Dick Clark suggested The Cool Ghoul re-record for airplay. Because that alternate take was only issued as the B-side of the original 1958 single (Cameo 130), only novelty collectors are truly familiar with the different lyrics. It's more collectible than the hit, Don, so dig it! And though copies of "Dinner With Zach" have quickly become scarce, I thought I heard some pretty convincing "stereo" on some tracks that probably debuted on the budget Wyncote label's stereo re-release of Zach's Monster Mash LP (Parkway. 7018). In some cases, the music tracks are the same ones used on the original Cameo/Parkway hits. And if my ears haven't completely deceived me, I think I heard some kind of "spatial" stereo on "Pistol Stomp," for instance, which may have been done with others at the stereo-equipped Sigma Sound studio in Philly. By the way, there's also a new Zacherle CD out that I haven't heard titled Monster Mash Party. Anybody with track info and sound judgement, chug-a-lug a slug of formaldehyde and pass along a critique before ABKCO makes mummies of us all.

Name: Larry Naramore
From: Sun Valley, Ca.
Time: 1998-06-22 19:54:53
Comments: Just found a couple of interesting items- a 45 demo of The Beatles' "Hello Little Girl" and "Three Cool Cats" PYE Records Copyright 1962 (PYE 106-B), both sides mono, and "Democrat Blues" by Bobo Jenkins on an old Chess 78. 45 is in mint condition but 78 looks like somebody really got into it way back then. Now all I have to do is get my turntable fixed.

Name: David R. Modny
Time: 1998-06-22 23:26:07
Comments: Regarding a couple of things - The "demo" 45 of the Beatles "Hello Little Girl" / "Three Cool Cats" is actually a bootleg - taken from the Jan. 1, 1962 Decca sessions. The Beach Boys Stack-O-Tracks, released in August of 1968, is just that - the original backing instrumental tracks to many of the group's songs. The collection, assembled by Carl Wilson, was notable because it did feature many of the tracks in stereo - where they had been previously only been available in their respective record's mono mix ( i.e. "Let Him Run Wild", "You're So Good To Me", the Pet Sounds tracks ). When it was first reissued on CD as part of the Beach Boys two-fer series, it contained three bonus tracks ( now deleted on the currently available disc ).

Name: Mike Arcidiacono
From: NYC
Time: 1998-06-22 23:37:35
Comments: For all the closet Ventures fans out there : In 1964, The Ventures recorded a surf version of the theme "Strangers In Paradise". Its always been one of their best "lost" recordings, as it was never issued here in the US. In Japan, the song became a big hit, but was only issued in mono. Now, One Way Records releases the Ventures 2-fer Joy/Latin Album that has this fantastic track in TRUE STEREO!! Plus, they give you another rarity, "Candy Apple Racer" in great sounding stereo. And these are the bonus tracks! Not a bad deal for $10.98. Note: On this CD, the "Strangers In Paradise" track is called "10 Seconds To Heaven," which was the Japanese title. Mikey

Name: Jim Clarke
From: So Cal
Time: 1998-06-23 00:48:22
Comments: A note on the new Standells CD - "Sometimes Good Guys Don't Wear White" is listed as stereo but is in crappy "E". The song is better on Rhino's Nuggets series. This is the only screw up on this CD and they do deserve credit for the new stereo mix of "Dirty Water," which is great.

Name: Bill Nunan
From: San Francisco
Time: 1998-06-23 01:57:43
Comments: To Larry Naramore: I have the Doors' first album on DCC gold and I think it is a big improvement over the aluminum version. Also, Highway 61 Revisited on DCC Gold is fabulous! "Like a Rolling Stone" has great detail. Surrealistic Pillow by the Airplane on RCA is only a slight improvement over the standard issue, but worth it because it is such a classic album. Generally, I think DCC Gold discs, mastered by Steve Hoffman are worth the money if you really love the album. The first Doors album and Highway 61 Revisited are two of my all-time favorites.

Name: Marty Blaise
Time: 1998-06-23 13:34:16
Comments: I guess I haven't been paying attention. The deleted track, "Another Saturday Night," by Sam Cooke - is it mono, stereo or rechanneled? Thanks.

[ It's stereo. MC]

Name: Mike Hartman
From: Vernon Hills, IL
Time: 1998-06-23 15:14:30
Comments: Not only is "Another Saturday Night" in great sounding wide-stereo...but it also runs on longer!!! That's something that Mike didn't mention in BSN latest issue. I DJ for The Chicago Windy City Jitterbug Club and played it this past Saturday night. I was ready to talk at the end but it just kept going!!! By the way, the song is a great Cha-Cha if anyone was wondering how they danced to it.

Name: Larry Naramore
From: Sun Valley, Ca.
Time: 1998-06-23 20:07:56
Comments: David wrote, "The 'demo' 45 of the Beatles "Hello Little Girl" / "Three Cool Cats" is actually a bootleg - taken from the Jan. 1, 1962 Decca sessions." Great. There goes my vision of a down payment on a Ferrari.

Name: Dean Zemaitaitis
From: Calgary ,Canada
Time: 1998-06-23 20:34:20
Comments: Does anyone know what the stereo content is to the new Kingsmen CD released by Varese recently? I understand that it has new stereo included on it. I wonder if that includes "Louie Louie," though I doubt it. If nothing else I hope they remixed "Jolly Green Giant" since the stereo version of this has always been horribly distorted. Also, what is the best CD to get when it comes to Dean Martin's Greatest Hits (on Reprise). There are a lot of versions out there that appear to be mastered off of vinyl and are of dubious parentage (read Bootlegs). Are there any off of master tapes (in stereo of course). Did "Manhattan Spiritual" by Reg Owen ever come out in true stereo? I understand there was a stereo 45 issued in the late '50s, but I am unsure if it was in true stereo or rechanneled. Lastly, does anyone one have a copy of Paul Anka's "Lonely Boy" in stereo? I am pretty sure that this was issued in true stereo in 1959 on a stereo 45 and am hoping to find a copy (tape dub, etc.) for my collection. Thanks

Name: Randy Price
From: New York
Time: 1998-06-24 00:48:54
Comments: To Dean Z: All tracks on the Varese Kingsmen CD are stereo, except "Louie Louie" and its B-side "Haunted Castle." However, only three of the stereo tracks are full-track stereo: "Killer Joe," "Shake a Tail Feather" and "Little Sally Tease." All others are two-track, although almost all of these have instrumentation on both tracks, and many have vocals on both sides. The sound quality overall is comparable to the stereo Sundazed CDs and better than anything else I've heard. As for the Reprise hits of Dean Martin, Collector's Choice has an imminent release of this material, which I believe will be from master tapes.

Name: Martin T. Boratyn
From: Oxnard, California
Time: 1998-06-24 21:11:42
Comments: For Dean Zemaitaitis : This is what information I can provide : Everyone so inclined should have considered purchasing the Dean Martin Charley (UK) 4CD set when it was still available if you wanted all his Reprise material in stereo. It is my understanding the release was pulled last year when the sale of the set was legally challenged. Although expensive, I am pleased with my set. Secondly, the "Manhattan Spiritual" chart single appears in true stereo on Reg Owen's Palette album of which I have a copy. Lastly, ABC-Paramount did indeed commercially issue a stereo 45 of Paul Anka's "Lonely Boy". I am lucky to also own a copy of the stereo single. I hope I have been of assistance.

Name: Randy Price
From: New York
Time: 1998-06-24 22:56:02
Comments: Discollector in Parker, CO, is still offering the Charly Dean Martin box ($56.99): (303) 841-3000. I have the single-disk hits CD on Charly; most songs are stereo and sound quality is generally good. I suspect the Collector's Choice release will be of even better quality, however, and should include all the hits.

Name: Luke Pacholski
Website: LukPac.org
From: Racine, WI
Time: 1998-06-24 23:32:40
Comments: I don't know if this has ever been asked before, but is Bob Seger's "Ramblin' Gamblin' Man" available in stereo anywhere? I always either hear it in mono or fake stereo on the radio...

[ It's never been issued in true stereo. MC]

Name: Joel Goldenberg
From: Montreal
Time: 1998-06-25 13:34:20
Comments: Hi, all. I've loved Goldmine magazine for years, but what exactly is going wrong there? As you can probably guess, the reissue section is my favourite, but it's also jinxed. Many times, the table of contents directs me to the wrong page, and I have to conduct an extensive search. The section frequently does not continue where indicated. Recently, a Gene Pitney CD on LaserLight was reviewed three times. A couple of years ago, a Pitney guide to stereo/mono on CD was repeated twice. I repeat, what is going wrong?

Name: David Clark
From: Ottawa
Time: 1998-06-25 19:50:43
Comments: This is a response to Martin, who posted the "Manhattan Spiritual" and "Lonely Boy" info. You're very fortunate to have those two tunes (I'm envious!). I've only heard them on the radio, ages ago. Do you know if the version of "Manhattan Spiritual" is the same as the mono 45, or an alternate? thanks. dc1

Name: Bill Buster
From: Eric Records
Time: 1998-06-25 20:58:18
Comments: I'm also very interested in the true (??) stereo vinyl sources Martin Boratyn mentioned for "Manhattan Spiritual" and "Lonely Boy". With appropriate noise processing can these be used for mastering? I am planning on including one or both of these in upcoming CD releases of more Hard-to-Find Single compilations. Martin--please send me your e-mail address by clicking on my name above or call toll-free 1-800-563-4487 (leave a message if necessary). You could do the stereophile community a real service!

Name: Larry Naramore
Time: 1998-06-25 22:25:04
Comments: Anybody know of a CD release of "Day for Decision" by Johnny Sea?

Name: Dave Mack
Website: Dave Mack's Home Page..
From: Salem (The Witch City) Ma.
Time: 1998-06-25 23:09:57
Comments: Does anyone here have a copy of the 45 of "Simple Song of Freedom" by Bobby Darin? It was on Motown in 1970 or 1971. It was a fair hit here in the Boston market. The only version I have located is the LIVE version on Bobby Darin - Splish Splash on Atco. If anyone has a 45 could you please let me know? Thanks.... Dave

Name: Paul Bigelow
From: Austin, TX
Time: 1998-06-26 09:30:20
Comments: Joel, you noticed the problem too. There appears to be some sort of "shakeup" as far as the Goldmine is concerned. Jeff Tamarkin and Cub Koda both moved to the competitor, Discoveries. There also seems to be a shift at Goldmine towards newer artists. I guess these things happen with a new editor. Perhaps the feeling is that Discoveries should service traditional collectors of "roots rock" whereas Goldmine can service the newer collector. The lines are blurred, of course, but that's how I'm beginning to see it. Has any word surfaced on the new Bruce and Terry by Sundazed? I expect a LOT of stereo content.

Name: Randy Vest
From: New York City
Time: 1998-06-26 12:27:01
Comments: Fascinated to read a lengthy account in today's New York Times of the Phil Spector vs. Ronnie Spector Greenfield trial that's taking place in NY State Supreme Court right now (Ronnie and the Ronettes are suing him for $10 million in back royalties). Unfortunately, the subject of Phil withholding the legal release of his stereo masters all these years hasn't come up! ;>)

Name: Vic
From: PA
Time: 1998-06-26 16:09:21
Comments: Where can I find a stereo mix of the short (45) version of the Doors' "Light My Fire"?

Name: Dave Daugherty
From: Dublin, Ohio
Time: 1998-06-26 16:31:59
Comments: Does anyone know why the sound on Chicago II (their second album) is so miserable? Their first album sounded great and so did the third album. What happened to number 2? Most of it sounds like it was recorded on a cassette over the phone. Were the master tapes lost? Is this a safety copy? Are the multi-tracks available for remixing? There are some parts of the album that sound decent ("Color My World"), but what happened to the rest? Any ideas?

Name: Paul Bigelow
From: Austin, TX
Time: 1998-06-26 16:58:09
Comments: As I understand it, the "classic" Chicago multitracks were lost in a fire at one of the bandmember's home. C'est la vie.

Name: barry margolis
From: minneapolis, mn
Time: 1998-06-27 14:41:33
Comments: Mike; Here's some details on an album in your Strand discography: Sl/sls-1004 Marv Meredith And His Orchestra Strings (all all that) Jazz, totally true stereo: I've been lookin' for this album for years, because of Marv Meredith's wonderful (and obscure) instrumental "Salvation Rock" 45. tracks: Ruby, My Dear/Django/Angel Eyes/Violets For Her Furs/Midnight Sun/Sunburst Suite/'Round About Midnight/Invitation/Misty/Early Autumn. Sound is great; pressing is not.

Name: Mike Arcidiacono
From: NYC
Time: 1998-06-27 17:53:22
Comments: Anybody know if Sandy Nelson's 1969 remake of "Let There Be Drums (and Horns)" is available in stereo on any CD? this is a great version of his 1960 hit with a big band. Any help is appreciated. Mikey

Name: Joe Fornarotto
From: New Jersey
Time: 1998-06-27 18:33:31
Comments: The 45 edit of "Light My Fire" by The Doors in Stereo is available on one of Elektra's cdBACKtrax singles. I don't know if these are still avalable. These are the cd-5 singles in the generic brown cardboard sleeves. Catalog # 45051-2 The Doors "Light My Fire" 3:04/"Love Me Two Times" 3:15 Happy Hunting--Hope it helped.

Name: John Mahoney
From: Central Valley, NY
Time: 1998-06-28 12:02:10
Comments: Charles G. Hill recently reported: "On another front, Al Quaglieri is apparently redoing the Blood, Sweat & Tears GH set for Sony/Legacy. On vinyl, this set contained the 45 versions, but the CD edition went back to the LP cuts. Al Q. says the Legacy release will feature the single versions once more." And from the rec.music.rock-pop-r+b.1970s newsgroup comes this 6/25/98 post from Al Quaglieri himself: " OK...the company is running this by Bobby Colomby for approval, but it looks as if the final listing will be:

You've Made Me So Very Happy (3:32)/I Can't Quit Her (3:40)/Go Down Gamblin' (2:48)/Hi-De-Ho (3:58)/Sometimes In Winter (3:07)/And When I Die (3:26)/Spinning Wheel (2:41)/Lisa, Listen To Me (2:59)/I Love You More Than You'll Ever Know (5:57)/Lucretia MacEvil (3:05)/God Bless the Child (5:52)/So Long Dixie (4:27)/More and More (2:40).

So in all, we've gained two tracks, restored the album to its original vinyl configuration, and made a quantum leap in fi. Despite all that, this is not intended as an addition to the BS&T titles in print; it is intended to upgrade and replace the Greatest Hits (CK 31170) that's been out there forever. Many thanks to you all for your thoughtful and interesting suggestions, most of which I couldn't implement within the resultant confines of this release. I am not allowed to publicly speculate on Legacy release dates, but - barring major complications (which are frequent), I might suggest you enjoy this set sometime after a hard Day of Labor..... Al Q."

A reply by DJ Bob Radil stated: Al, were you able to obtain the original single versions of "You've Made Me So Very Happy", "And When I Die", and "Spinning Wheel" in stereo? If not, maybe I can help. Also, since this is based mostly on singles, may I suggest chronological order?

Looks like we have a small voice in this after all. - John.

Name: Paul Stoddard
From: Boston, MA
Time: 1998-06-28 15:49:17
Comments: I'd like to add some info to the discussion of "Manhattan Spiritual" by Reg Owen. A fellow stereo collector sent me a DAT containing the stereo version of the song. He warned me that it wasn't the best sound quality, but, with a little cleanup, it's more than passable. However, last night, I compared this version with the single version that appears on the Ace Records U.K. package entitled Teen Beat Volume 2, and found that the stereo version is an alternate take. It's not hugely different, but if you were intimately familiar with the original 45, you'd know the difference immediately. Be that as it may, I'm still looking for a clean copy of the stereo version. If you have one and would be willing to provide me with a DAT copy, you'll be richly rewarded. The same goes for a copy of "The In Crowd" by Dobie Gray.

Name: Marty Natchez
Time: 1998-06-28 23:08:23
Comments: Collectible Spectorian-like stereo is found on The Paris Sisters: The Ultimate Collection CD (Marginal). Hearing this Belgium import was a real surprise, as stereo tracks from the girl group's only Reprise album, Everything Under the Sun (1967), appear to be culled from widely separated master tapes. Although none of the Reprise singles from that album hit the charts, anyone already familiar with the rare Presenting the Fabulous Ronettes LP will notice a striking similarity in the stereo mixes. There are more than 25 songs on the Paris Sisters compilation, including the hits "I Love How You Love Me," "He Knows I Love Him Too Much" and "Dream Lover" (all mono), and the overall quality rates a strong "B." It will not disappoint your ears or your wallet.

Name: Steve Baird
From: Baton Rouge
Time: 1998-06-29 00:10:17

Name: Larry Naramore
From: Sun Valley, Ca.
Time: 1998-06-28 23:42:04
Comments: Any feedback (sound quality) on Janis Joplin and Big Brother and the Holding Co. new release Live at Winterland, remastered by Bob Irwin? Are their first albums available? Any news on a Sly and the Family Stone's Greatest Hits remaster?

Name: Larry Naramore
Time: 1998-06-29 02:36:41
Comments: In answer to my last questions I found this on Big Brothers' website (http://www.bbhc.com/BigBrother.htm). Sony Legacy is releasing a 14 track Big Brother concert disk recorded on April 12 and 13, 1968 titled Janis Joplin with Big Brother & The Holding Company Live at Winterland '68. Sound quality should be first-rate on the new live disc because it was re-mixed from the original 8 track master by Legacy engineer Vic Anesini. Also found that Columbia Legacy is to release a 12-track version of their first Mainstream LP Big Brother and the Holding Company.

Name: Steve Baird
From: Baton Rouge
Time: 1998-06-29 12:53:14
Comments: If you're still looking for the 22 track version of the RCA Sam Cooke hit package, it may be too late. Just ordered three copies each from MusicBlvd and Tower, and the version with only 21 tracks arrived. Oh well, that's what I get for speculating on future returns. To Paul -- I found my Charger LP of Dobie Gray, and it is mono...Sorry.

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