Ozark Mountain Daredevils - Jackie Blue

LP version (about 4:07, plus or minus a second or two)

The LP version is plentiful on single-artist Ozark Mountain Daredevils collections, but relatively uncommon on the compilation CDs that I have.

The oldest compilation CD with the LP version is probably Priority's Seventies Greatest Rock Hits Vol. 4 Southern Comfort (1991), which has noise reduction, sounds a little compressed/limited, and clips on the bottom half of the waveform around -4 dB in the right channel. Avoid.

Infinitely better is Time-Life's 2-CD Singers And Songwriters Vol. 17 1973-1975 (2002), which sounds just fine and runs 4:07. Hissy fade, no evidence of noise reduction, nice EQ, and great dynamic range.

I don't have the LP version anywhere else.

45 version (3:14)

The 45 makes one edit and fades early. Here are editing instructions, using Singers And Songwriters Vol. 17 1973-1975 as the source:

Segment 1
Extends from 0:00.0 to 2:25.4 of the LP version and the 45 edit
Ends between beats on the first guitar note of the repeated three-note guitar riff

Remove the 64 beats from 2:25.4 to 3:00.9 of the LP version.

Segment 2
Begins between beats on the first guitar note of the repeated three-note guitar riff
Extends from 3:00.9 to 3:50.4 of the LP version
Extends from 2:25.4 to 3:14.9 of the 45 edit

Fade
Extends from 3:40 to 3:50.4 of the LP version
Extends from 3:05 to 3:14.9 of the 45 edit

You mixdown will run about 3:15, with an edit at 2:25.4.

The 45 version doesn't exist on CD.

However, if you ignore the early fade and let the song run out to the LP version's natural ending, you get the version on Rhino's Have A Nice Day Vol. 14 (1990). Here, it sounds great and runs 3:34 (18 seconds longer than the 45 version). The same analog transfer is used on:

• Rhino's Billboard Top Hits 1975 (1991; digitally identical)
• Razor & Tie's More Fabulous '70s (1991; differently-EQ'd digital clone)
• Time-Life's AM Gold Vol. 22 1975 (1996; digitally identical)
• Time-Life's 2-CD Seventies Music Explosion Vol. 2 Escape (2005; digitally exactly 0.34 dB louder)
• Time-Life's 2-CD Classic Soft Rock Vol. 10 Heat Of The Moment (2007; digitally exactly 0.56 dB quieter)

Time-Life's Sounds Of The Seventies Vol. 8 1975 (1990) has the same edit point as the Rhino disc, but isn't based on the Rhino mastering. The levels drop a dB or two in the last minute of the song. The Rhino disc sounds better than this one.

My recommendation:

For the LP version, go with Time-Life's 2-CD Singers And Songwriters Vol. 17 1973-1975 (2002).
For the 45 version but 18 seconds longer, go with Rhino's Have A Nice Day Vol. 14 (1990).
If you want the true 45, fade the version on Have A Nice Day Vol. 14 from 3:05.2 to 3:14.9.