Eric Burdon & The Animals-"Sky Pilot"

My copy is identical to Hykker's with short and long versions in stereo with the designation "saturation sound". Wikipedia reports that "The US single, released in 1968, was the first to be pressed in stereo on MGM Records." I noticed in the database that some of he cd versions are an edit of the lp version in an unsuccessful attempt to recreate the 45 version. My promo short version is simply a fade of the long version, 3:01 in length. Does anyone know if the "Part 1" is indeed an edit of the lp version or a fade? Bill's comment that the Varese CD used a promo 45 needledrop because the stereo master couldn't be found is interesting. I wonder if this is another case of destroyed or lost stereo or multitrack master tapes.

We played the long single version of Sky Pilot at
KRIZ/Phoenix by dubbing it to tape cartridge since it
could easily be scratched. Then we learned that Eric
Burdon was really unhappy with the 45 mix which,
apparently, was done without his knowledge or permission.
From then on we played the LP track. That's probably why
the stereo single mix tape disappeared.

Anyway, the full unedited stereo 45 can be re-created by
editing the two together and adjusting the fade
down/fade/up levels (finding a clean 45 is much more
difficult!) I prefer that mix over the LP for the added
compression and special EQ made it sound much more
exciting.

GM

I have finally acquired a "Sky Pilot" long/short promo 45, which is 100%
similar looking as Steve's 2008 label scan, posted earlier in this thread.
My copy is in fantastic condition. To me, the long version side is in
perfect, wide stereo. I just can't believe how full and sensational it
sounded with my headphones on, considering its length/small 45 grooves
and all.

The song has long been a personal fave of mine, and a CD dub of the LP
version has been in my iPod's "high rotation" for years now. As such, I am
extremely familiar with that version.

Besides the appearances of the three early, psychedelic, reverb/echo sfx
after Burdon's "how high can you *fly*", which is unique to the
stock/promo 45 versions, I noticed another clear difference between the
long version promo 45 and the LP version. The LP version fades after the
fifth, near-identical repeat sing of the "you never reach the sky" lyric. But
the long version on my promo 45 only has three repeats of that line, then
totally fades out Burdon's vocal, and then adds about a :10 second, horn-
bagpipe only music segment, until the very end of the fade. This ending
can be clearly heard at the end, and is unique audio to the promo 45's
long version/Part 2 ending of the stock 45.

Steve, whenever time allows, could you please go back and re-listen to
the ending of your long side "Sky Pilot" promo 45, then quickly compare it
to the ending of the LP version? After doing so, I believe the two different
long version endings will then jump right out at you.

Edited by jimct