Re: CD different from vinyl

New thread ... or at least one I haven't seen here before:

What CDs are out there that are different from the original vinyl releases? I'm not talking about CDs that include extra "bonus" tracks, or "hidden" tracks appended. I'm talking about CDs that include the same songs, but in significantly different mixes.

The recent "fade out teases" thread made me think of this, since Reno mentioned the different ending for "Marquee Moon" on the CD.

The CD of *Everywhere at Once* by The Plimsouls misses the low rumble that occurred on vinyl between the first two tracks ("Shaky City" and "Magic Touch"). Maybe that was something the band chose to "correct" on the CD release. I know there are plenty of other examples out there.

Frank Zappa altered many of his albums (particularly the mid-to-late 70's LPs) when he reissued them on CD. Some songs that had previously been instrumentals had new vocals added, and even some of the earlier albums ("Crusin' with Rubin and the Jets" and the original "We're Only in It for the Money" CD) had entire rhythm sections rerecorded by new musicians. Lots of little parts added here and removed there, other portions remixed, etc.

There's a pretty cool website that documents the differences:

[www.lukpac.org]

The vinyl-vs.-CD FAQ section is maniacally obsessive. Definitely has helped me know the score on those reissues.

Other than that, I'd have to think about it. The Minutemen had three tracks from "Double Nickels on the Dime" deleted on the CD version (due to time constraints, I guess).

There is a different version of "The Man Who Invented HImself" on the Rhino cd reissue of Robyn Hitchcock's "Black Snake Diamond Role" than the original vinyl. I much prefer the original vinyl version.

Wasn't there a big controversy when "Physical Graffiti" was first issued on CD because they deleted that coughing bit at the end of "In My Time Of Dying"? Dunno if that's been rectified on later versions....

Yeah, quite a few fans raised a stink about that error on the first CD issue of *Physical Graffiti*. Probably the mistake of a remastering engineer who didn't really have a clue about Led Zeppelin, and just assumed it was an "error" of some kind when he heard it on the master tape. I can just picture him thinking, "Sheesh, who left this on there?" After all, what band in their right mind would spend 11 minutes conjuring up this incredibly intense, wicked, dark, sinister atmosphere, and then dismiss it with a cough and some silly guitar lick at the end? Never mind that the best rock & roll is seldom created by anyone who's 100 percent in their "right mind."

The mistake was rectified on the LZ box set, and on later CD issues of *Physical Graffiti*.

The CD of Duran Duran's *Rio* has three tracks that appear in significantly different mixes from those on the LP. I don't know why; perhaps the CD follows the UK version, not my American LP.

Didn't know about the different version of "The Man Who Invented Himself" on the Rhino reissue of Robyn Hitchcock's album. I have an earlier CD of that album, on Relativity (I think), that uses the original vinyl version.

Those Rhino pressings (save for *I Often Dream of Trains*) evidently are out of print ... I'm guessing that this one song isn't the only deviation in the batch.

This doesn't quite fit the thread, but I'm gonna throw it out there anyway : the US vinyl version of "Rubber Soul" doesn't exist on cd. It's a disgrace. That version , to me is far superior to the UK version that is the only one ever released on cd (as far as I know?). It's absurd.....and I don't care if the UK version is "the way they intended" it. It existed for 20+ years in that US version.

I think the cd of "Blank Generation" has a different version of "Down at the Rock and Roll Club". I am not sure since I never upgraded this to cd from my vinyl copy (not yet anyway), but that's what I had heard.....

actually the versions and mixes are different on the Blank Generation CD than the vinyl. The CD mix and versions really lack the punch the vinyl versions have.

Mats, none of the CD issues of the Beatles albums, from the first album through *Rubber Soul*, match the original American LPs. (That may also be true of *Revolver*, but I'm not sure.)

The original vinyl issues of the Beatles' albums were different on opposite sides of the Atlantic, right up till *Sgt. Pepper* was released. When EMI and Capitol made plans to issue the albums on CD, they opted to make the CDs match the British versions.

On the original cd issue of the first Undertones album, there was a significantly different version of "True Confessions" than had been on the US vinyl version (I have a feeling that maybe the first cd version used the original UK vinyl version?) I think the latest cd reissue has both versions on it.

The CD reissue of The History of the Bonzo Dog Band didn't have the punchline on several of the songs, which completely ruined it, which is a shame since it was the best Bonzo Dog compliation. As for the Beatles, I read in a Boston paper several months ago that the survivors & estates were suing EMI for back royalties, so I get the feeling that it's going to be some time before we'll see either the remaining US albums or the remastered UK versions see the light of day.

Since that 2004 Beatles box set of the first four US-version LPs had "Vol. 1" in the title, Capitol will probably eventually release a second volume that has all the other re-adjusted early American Beatles records on CD too, including the US "Rubber Soul."

I have to admit that it's pretty odd that Capitol's focused on remastering the alternate US Beatles albums. It definitely should be available for those who want it, but those reverted "British version" CDs really need to be sonically upgraded.

Clash - Black Market Clash 10" vs. CD
are mostly different mixes

Grateful Dead - many of their releases diifer on CD

Roxy Music - Manifesto (though it sucks in both versions)

the new Funkadelic reissues shortened all of the 9 minute songs with slam dunk Eddie Hazel guitar solos in favor of blander 4 minute versions without the solos. why would anyone want this?

i noticed a lot of new LP's have the bonus tracks now, and the cd's are left short-changed. hmmm, reverse LPsychology?

Speaking of misguided studio tinkering on the way to CD, how about the 1987 ZZ Top box set Six Pack?

They took the first six ZZ Top records (recorded mostly in the 70's as a blues rock power trio) and grafted electronic drums and phased guitars on them in order to bring them in line with the then contemporary band sound of Legs, Sharp Dressed Man, etc.

WTF?



Post Edited (02-21-06 13:43)

The mis-titled "Greatest Punk Rock Album...Ever!" (or whatever it was called) featured a re-recording of Jilted John. I was so disappointed. Where's the original, on some bazillion-dollar eBay vinyl rarity?

The only place I've heard that one is on a CD from Rhino's "DIY" series, *Teenage Kicks: UK Pop volume I (1976-79)*. That one's out of print.

Amazon has a CD of JJ's album *True Love Stories*. That song appears twice on the CD -- in both the album recording and the single version. It's an import, but not terribly pricey.

Cor blimey, the entire album? Bless you Delvin, you made my day.

Hmmm, that's twice in the past year or so that I've been able to bring the attention of someone on this board to an available CD, just by checking on Amazon.

I think this calls for a new thread ...

And for heaven's sakes, where are my manners? You're welcome, Fab.