Bette Davis Eyes - Kim Carnes

Really? How does the 45 intro differ, Chuck?

Are you sure it's not just EQ'd differently on the 45? That can make things sound really different.

I remember Steve Hoffman on his website saying there was some album he did for DCC that he spent hours re-EQing to sound like the vinyl LP. "The master tape sounds nothing like the album," he said, even though it was the exact same MIX.

Brian:

Do you think the differences are enough to warrant a 45/LP mix distinction in the database?

The actual commercial 45 run time of Kim Carnes' "Bette Davis Eyes" is 3:46, not 3:47 as stated on the record label. (These timings are courtesy of our good friend Jim from Connecticut.) I only post this info because the song's CD run times in the database range from 3:40-3:47.

I can't figure out how to tell a coherent story with the 24 CDs, so...

My favorites of the bunch are:

• EMI's Gypsy Honeymoon The Best Of (1993)
• Rhino's Radio Daze Vol. 5 (1995)

Both of these seem to use different analog transfers of the same low generation source tape. If I had to pick one, I'd go with the Rhino disc because the tail of the fade extends a second or two longer.

Rhino's Billboard Top Pop Hits 1981 (1992) seems to use the same source tape as the above two, but it's EQ'd with too much high end. There are a few discs that use the same analog transfer as Billboard Top Pop Hits 1981:

• Time-Life's Sounds Of The Eighties Vol. 8 1981 (1995; differently EQ'd digital clone that adds compression/limiting - avoid)
• Time-Life's Sounds Of The Eighties Essential '80s (1998; differently EQ'd digital clone that adds compression - avoid)
• Time-Life's 2-CD Singers And Songwriters Vol. 7 1980-1982 (2000; differently EQ'd digital clone that adds compression - avoid)
• Rhino's 7-CD Like Omigod (2002)

There was a decent analog transfer done for Warner Special Products' 2-CD Good Times (1991), and reused for:

• JCI's Only Rock 'N Roll 1980-1984 (1994)
• Madacy's Rock On 1981 Bette Davis Eyes (1998)

The version on Priority's Eighties Greatest Rock Hits Vol. 2 Leather And Lace (1992) is a little loud, but not much worse than the Rhino discs. Same analog transfer is used for:

• Warner Special Products' 2-CD Rockin' USA (1994)
• Razor & Tie's 2-CD Everything '80s (1995)

There was a decent analog transfer done for Cema's EW Presents Rock Archives Vol. 2 (1990), and a digital clone done for EMI's Rock 'N Roll Relix 1980-1981 (1998; digitally exactly 1.9 dB louder). It sounds OK on Capitol/Silver Eagle's 3-CD Formula 45 (1988).

Others:

The version on swaitek's promo 50-CD The A List Disc 9 (1994) has noise reduction - avoid.

The version on EMI Australia's 5-CD Eighties Complete Vol. 1 (1997) has a screwed-up soundstage, with the left and right channels being slightly de-synched. It sounds severely muffled when you mono it out. Avoid at all costs.

The version on PolyTel Canada's Rock With The '80s (1990) is EQ'd terribly, with hardly any bass. Avoid.

There are a few more European CDs that include the song, which you're not likely to encounter in the US.

Yup, pretty incoherent.

Bottom line: Stick to Gypsy Honeymoon The Best Of (1993) or Rhino's Radio Daze Vol. 5 (1995), and you can't go wrong.

Edited by crapfromthepast