Edwin Hawkins Singers - Oh Happy Day

Pat Downey wrote: The version found on Rhino 70781 is the same version as my 45 but that is definitely a fade with a piano note being held for about 4 seconds after the last words of the song which are "oh happy day" while slowly fading out.

   We may be getting our terms misunderstood. What you call a fade is what some others are calling a cold ending. Hmmm...sounds like a COLD FADE to me!

Edited by Grant

To answer Eric_a,

The Dick Clark 20 Years/20 Hits compilation 2 LP set on
Buddah contained the full length version.
MM

While this song appeared in the U.S. on the Buddah subsidiary label
Pavilion, this 45 was the group's only release on it. All subsequent 45
releases (none were hits, excepting their supporting role on Melanie's "Lay
Down") were on Buddah itself. "Oh Happy Day" 45s were issued on Buddah
for the rest of the world.

I know that we normally don't discuss non-U.S. 45 releases on here. But
there has long been curiosity about a possible/actual "legitimate" shorter
version existing. We already know that all U.S. 45s have a listed time
(4:59), and an actual time of (5:08).   

I recently happened to spot a UK stock 45, with a listed time of (3:55) on
eBay. I was curious as to its contents, so I bought it. Here are the
particulars: Listed and actual time (3:55). Like the U.S. 45, this 45 is also
in stereo. (With machine-stamped deadwax of "201048   A//1   420"). The
song's ending is faded out earlier than the U.S. 45, but a more careful
examination will be needed to see if any other edits are present.

This UK 45 clearly doesn't match up with the lone, (3:05) "edited" version
database CD. My conclusion is that Buddah UK created this edited version
themselves, in much the same way U.S. labels would sometimes "tinker"
with singles done by UK artists, especially during the 60's, trying to
increase its hit potential over here.

So, while it's debatable whether or not this import 45's length qualifies as
an "official, label-created" version or not (I tend to think no), I thought my
findings were at least interesting enough to generate a new post for.



Edited by jimct

jimct wrote: Unlike the U.S. 45, this 45 is in stereo.

Jim, are you sure about that? My U.S. stock 45 is in "dual 45" stereo.

Hykker wrote: Back in my jocking days, we usually referred to that as a "cool" ending.

In Minnesota this time of year, everything ends cold. ;)


Edited by Yah Shure

jimct wrote: I recently happened to spot a UK stock 45, with a listed time of (3:55) on eBay. I was curious as to its contents, so I bought it. Here are the particulars: Listed and actual time (3:55). Like the U.S. 45, this 45 is also in stereo. (With machine-stamped deadwax of "201048   A//1   420"). The song's ending is faded out earlier than the U.S. 45, but a more careful examination will be needed to see if any other edits are present.

For those wondering, the UK 45 is exactly as Jim described: faded early. There are no additional edits. I also have a mono reprint/reissue 45 dubbed to my hard drive. Assuming this matches the original stock 45, it sounds to me like the mono version is folded down from the stereo.