Village People - Y.M.C.A.

LP version (runs 4:46)

The first place this appeared on CD is on Casablanca's Best Of (1994), where it runs 4:46. It sounds great here, with excellent dynamic range, very nice EQ, and nice hissy fadeout with no trace of noise reduction. There are a few discs that use the same analog transfer:

• Rebound's Disco Nights Vol. 4 Greatest Disco Groups (1994; differently EQ'd digital clone; truncated fade)
• Casablanca's Selections From The Casablanca Records Story (1994; differently EQ'd digital clone; fades a few seconds earlier than others)
• Time-Life's 2-CD Seventies Music Explosion Vol. 2 Escape (2005; digitally exactly 0.9 dB louder)

45 edit (runs about 3:42)

The first place the 45 edit appeared on CD is on Rhino's Greatest Hits (1988), where it runs 3:42. It's crystal clear, and clearly from low-generation source tapes, but has even more high-end boost than the usual Rhino discs. The same analog transfer is used for:

• Rhino's Disco Years Vol. 2 (1990; digitally identical)
• Rhino's Billboard Top Hits 1979 (1991; differently EQ'd digital clone)
• Razor & Tie's 2-CD Disco Fever (1991)
• Warner Special Products' 2-CD Disco Collection (1993)
• Time-Life's Sounds Of The Seventies Vol. 47 '70s Dance Party 1979-1981 (1997; digitally exactly 1 dB quieter)
• EMI Australia's 5-CD Seventies Complete Vol. 1 (1997)
• TM Century's GoldDisc 2315
• Wayne's World 2 Soundtrack (includes added compression)

There's one that's not based on the Rhino mastering - Razor & Tie's 2-CD Super '70s (1995). It has a slightly blunted high end, compared to the Rhino disc.

Finally, I discovered that the version on Casablanca Records Greatest Hits (1996) is digitally re-edited from the LP version on Casablanca's Best Of (1994). It's a differently EQ'd digital clone, edited in pieces according to the instructions below. The same analog transfer is also used for PolyGram's Pure Disco (1996; much louder than Casablanca Records GH and clips a bit).

Here are editing instructions, if, for some reason, you want to reproduce the 45 edit:

Segment 1
1 beat long
Extends from 0:00.0 to 0:00.7 of the 45 edit (on Casablanca Records Greatest Hits)
Extends from 0:00.0 to 0:00.7 of the LP version (on Best Of)

Remove the 32 beats from 0:00.7 to 0:16.0 of the LP version (on Best Of).

Segment 2
432 beats long, begins and ends on downbeats
Extends from 0:00.7 to 3:25.2 of the 45 edit (on Casablanca Records Greatest Hits)
Extends from 0:16.0 to 3:40.5 of the LP version (on Best Of)

Remove the 64 beats from 3:40.5 to 4:10.8 of the LP version (on Best Of).

Segment 3
40 beats long, begins and ends on downbeats
Extends from 3:25.2 to 3:44.1 of the 45 edit (on Casablanca Records Greatest Hits)
Extends from 4:10.8 to 4:29.7 of the LP version (on Best Of)

Fade
32 beats long
Extends from 3:29.0 to 3:44.1 of the 45 edit (on Casablanca Records Greatest Hits)
Extends from 4:14.5 to 4:29.7 of the LP version (on Best Of)

Can't Stop The Music LP version (runs 4:46)

This is where things get interesting.

The Village People movie Can't Stop The Music came out in 1980, after the hits dried up. From Wikipedia: "Can't Stop the Music is notorious for being the first winner of the Worst Picture Golden Raspberry Award, for it was a double feature of this and Xanadu that inspired John J.B. Wilson to start the Razzies."

If I'm remembering correctly, Can't Stop The Music was filmed after the original lead singer had left the group, so they rerecorded "Y.M.C.A." with the same backing track and backing vocals as the original, but with new lead vocals from the new lead singer.

This new rerecording appears on what is widely considered to be the first disco various-artist compilation, Silver Eagle/Warner Special Products' 2-CD Dancin' The Night Away (1988), where it has a bass-heavy EQ, but otherwise sounds pretty good. The same analog transfer is used on Priority's Mega-Hits Dance Classics Vol. 3 (1989). I used these two compilations extensively in my DJ work, before I got my hands on the Rhino discs listed above. Oops! So much for authenticity!

It also appears on PolyGram's Dance Fever (1993), with a different analog transfer.

edit of Can't Stop The Music LP version (runs 4:00)

Whoever was responsible for editing the Can't Stop The Music LP version did the same edits as listed above, but didn't fade it early, hence the longer length than the true 45.

This was clearly an attempt to reproduce the 45 edit. Except that the edit uses the rerecorded LP version from Can't Stop the Music, not the proper 1978 LP version. This edit did not exist on vinyl in either 1978 or 1980.

It appears on Time-Life's Sounds Of The Seventies Vol. 19 1979 Take Two (1991) and Rhino's Billboard Top Dance Hits 1978 (1992).

Best Bets

For the LP version, go with Casablanca's Best Of (1994), which is very inexpensive nowadays and sounds great.

For the 45 edit, go with Rhino's Greatest Hits (1988) or any of its digital clones.

Edited by crapfromthepast

crapfromthepast wrote: LP version (runs 4:46) The first place this appeared on CD is on Casablanca's Best Of (1994), where it runs 4:46. It sounds great here, with excellent dynamic range, very nice EQ, and nice hissy fadeout with no trace of noise reduction. There are a few discs that use the same analog transfer: Rebound's Disco Nights Vol. 4 Greatest Disco Groups (1994; differently EQ'd digital clone; truncated fade) Casablanca's Selections From The Casablanca Records Story (1994; differently EQ'd digital clone; fades a few seconds earlier than others) Time-Life's 2-CD Seventies Music Explosion Vol. 2 Escape (2005; digitally exactly 0.9 dB louder) 45 edit (runs about 3:42) The first place the 45 edit appeared on CD is on Rhino's Greatest Hits (1988), where it runs 3:42. It's crystal clear, and clearly from low-generation source tapes, but has even more high-end boost than the usual Rhino discs. The same analog transfer is used for: Rhino's Disco Years Vol. 2 (1990; digitally identical) Rhino's Billboard Top Hits 1979 (1991; differently EQ'd digital clone) Razor & Tie's 2-CD Disco Fever (1991) Warner Special Products' 2-CD Disco Collection (1993) Time-Life's Sounds Of The Seventies Vol. 47 '70s Dance Party 1979-1981 (1997; digitally exactly 1 dB quieter) EMI Australia's 5-CD Seventies Complete Vol. 1 (1997) TM Century's GoldDisc 2315 Wayne's World 2 Soundtrack (includes added compression) There's one that's not based on the Rhino mastering - Razor & Tie's 2-CD Super '70s (1995). It has a slightly blunted high end, compared to the Rhino disc. Finally, I discovered that the version on Casablanca Records Greatest Hits (1996) is digitally re-edited from the LP version on Casablanca's Best Of (1994). It's a differently EQ'd digital clone, edited in pieces according to the instructions below. The same analog transfer is also used for PolyGram's Pure Disco (1996; much louder than Casablanca Records GH and clips a bit). Here are editing instructions, if, for some reason, you want to reproduce the 45 edit: Segment 1 1 beat long Extends from 0:00.0 to 0:00.7 of the 45 edit (on Casablanca Records Greatest Hits) Extends from 0:00.0 to 0:00.7 of the LP version (on Best Of) Remove the 32 beats from 0:00.7 to 0:16.0 of the LP version (on Best Of). Segment 2 432 beats long, begins and ends on downbeats Extends from 0:00.7 to 3:25.2 of the 45 edit (on Casablanca Records Greatest Hits) Extends from 0:16.0 to 3:40.5 of the LP version (on Best Of) Remove the 64 beats from 3:40.5 to 4:10.8 of the LP version (on Best Of). Segment 3 40 beats long, begins and ends on downbeats Extends from 3:25.2 to 3:44.1 of the 45 edit (on Casablanca Records Greatest Hits) Extends from 4:10.8 to 4:29.7 of the LP version (on Best Of) Fade 32 beats long Extends from 3:29.0 to 3:44.1 of the 45 edit (on Casablanca Records Greatest Hits) Extends from 4:14.5 to 4:29.7 of the LP version (on Best Of) Can't Stop The Music LP version (runs 4:46) This is where things get interesting. The Village People movie Can't Stop The Music came out in 1980, after the hits dried up. From Wikipedia: " Can't Stop the Music is notorious for being the first winner of the Worst Picture Golden Raspberry Award, for it was a double feature of this and Xanadu that inspired John J.B. Wilson to start the Razzies." If I'm remembering correctly, Can't Stop The Music was filmed after the original lead singer had left the group, so they rerecorded "Y.M.C.A." with the same backing track and backing vocals as the original, but with new lead vocals from the new lead singer. This new rerecording appears on what is widely considered to be the first disco various-artist compilation, Silver Eagle/Warner Special Products' 2-CD Dancin' The Night Away (1988), where it has a bass-heavy EQ, but otherwise sounds pretty good. The same analog transfer is used on Priority's Mega-Hits Dance Classics Vol. 3 (1989). I used these two compilations extensively in my DJ work, before I got my hands on the Rhino discs listed above. Oops! So much for authenticity! It also appears on PolyGram's Dance Fever (1993), with a different analog transfer. edit of Can't Stop The Music LP version (runs 4:00) Whoever was responsible for editing the Can't Stop The Music LP version did the same edits as listed above, but didn't fade it early, hence the longer length than the true 45. This was clearly an attempt to reproduce the 45 edit. Except that the edit uses the rerecorded LP version from Can't Stop the Music, not the proper 1978 LP version. This edit did not exist on vinyl in either 1978 or 1980. It appears on Time-Life's Sounds Of The Seventies Vol. 19 1979 Take Two (1991) and Rhino's Billboard Top Dance Hits 1978 (1992). Best Bets For the LP version, go with Casablanca's Best Of (1994), which is very inexpensive nowadays and sounds great. For the 45 edit, go with Rhino's Greatest Hits (1988) or any of its digital clones.

Reviving this for a inquiry. I don't see
Polygram/Chronicles' "Casablanca Records - Greatest Hits"
from 1996 mentioned here alongside your wonderfully
detailed analysis. Pretty sure it's the 45 version but do
you know how it compares with the rest, Ron? Thanks!

Ahh, I missed it. Thanks!

Here are some corrections to CFTP's decade-old post:
It seems that whoever recreated the single edit for the Casablanca
Records Greatest Hits compilation didn't get the edit points right, and
ended up using the wrong portion of the final chorus ("Y.M.C.A., you'll find
it at the Y.M.C.A." instead of "Y.M.C.A., and just go to the Y.M.C.A.").
Therefore, the provided instructions can't be used for an accurate
reproduction of the original single edit. This "fake edit" also appears on a
few VP compilations released after the fact, such as 1998's The Very Best
of Village People.

Also, neither of the Ray Simpson versions listed are from the Can't Stop
the Music soundtrack album. The one actually used there seems to be
this shorter, rougher-sounding mix, which features an ad-lib at 2.51 that
isn't in any other version: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2t8WKiTZ514

Welcome to the forum! I believe the database lists the
incorrect edited version as a neither the 45 or LP version
if I'm understanding correctly.

Edited by eriejwg