Boz Scaggs "Lowdown"

Buried in another thread is a comment by Hitsman regarding Lowdown by Boz Scaggs and how he has found the correct 45 edit on only 1 compilation cd. So what is the one compilation that has the correct 45 edit? Since this song has appeared in a number of compilations that are listed in the database as "45 version", I am curious as to what you have found that makes all of the other edits incorrect edits?

Looks like there are four, two of which are the Sony Soundtrack of a Century comps. The version I have seen on most CDs is either just an early fade of the LP version or the LP version. I see there are two Life-Time CDs with it.

As you know, this version, sadly, does not appear on any of Boz Scaggs' own comps.



Edited by The Hits Man

I don't think I've had the opportunity to sample the "45" version of this personal classic. I'm listening through a collection of 70s songs with only a handful being the edited versions.
The version on the current disc is 5:16 and I don't see where edits could do justice to this song. In fact, I don't think I even own an edited or 45 version. If I do, I'm sure I buried
it deep in a forgotten box somewhere. I suppose I can again head over to youtube and look for the 45 version. Even STL radio didn't play a 45 version to the best of my knowledge.

Pat Downey wrote: Just to clarify, all 4 of the listings in the database that state "45 version" are really the 45 version. There are many listings that run around (4:24) that are not an attempt to recreate the 45 version at all.

Since 2008 when Pat again asked what a real 45 version is, there have been a number of other entries in the database for Lowdown. (Yes Pat, I actually used the database finally!)
I've been subscribed for several months now, yet haven't spent much time using it for research purposes. (There may be 8 or 9 listings by now.)

I tried to look at a few of the hard CD copies I have on the shelf and discovered that I actually had more than I expected. Unlike the exhaustive methods that a few
members here seem to have endless patience for, I'll just list a few of my findings and maybe someone can pick up where I leave off.

Right off the bat, I knew I had the Sony Music 100 Years set on the shelf. Since I really need to rip this to files, I looked and found this clocks at 3:18. I'm going to
have to visit that famous record store and see if they have an actual 45 to compare. Even then, I don't have the keenest ear to find the differences on short notice. So,
at first glance, I'd say the clock time is about right, or within a few seconds worth. The box set has a number JXK 65750 and apparently a limited production number too.

One odd thing about this Sony collection is I think they grabbed a few greatest hits collections and crammed them into one box set. In the post above, Garye references a
set called Pop Music: The Modern Era - 1976. In the binder for the Sony CDs the cover lists it as "Pop Music: The Modern Era 1976 - 1999" Also, over on Discogs, there is
an entry that follows as, (Columbia – J2K 65794, Epic – J2K 65794, Legacy – J2K 65794, BMG Direct Marketing, Inc. – D 232664), with the same artwork as the Sony page in
the book binder. So, I guess this particular pair of discs had a number of releases among different labels. Maybe someone could help me figure that part out.

Another one in the database is Casey Kasem Presents America's Top 10, The Singer Songwriters. On this back cover, Lowdown is listed as 3:20, but the PC tells me it's 3:19.
I didn't put a timer to the actual length so it could be 3:18 as well. (Like the Sony version above.)

I think I have the Time-Life Classic Soft Rock collection around here somewhere, so if I find it I will edit this and let y'all know what I find.

The long and short of this is I'm planning to figure out what the differences are between the 45 version and what some of the listings say are simply edited versions
of the LP version as The Hits Man noted. I haven't yet found one at Pat's time of 4:24 yet but suspect that might be the early fade of the LP version.

And so my quest begins! Hands-Down, this is one of my all-time favorites from those days of teenage years.

Edited by AdvprosD

crapfromthepast wrote: Dave - Summarizing a bit to save you some effort: Versions running 5:12 to 5:16 are the LP version. Versions running 4:24 or 4:25 are a non-hit edit of the LP version, which originally appeared on the 1980 Boz Scaggs best-of called Hits. The Hits edit seems to be found on some Columbia/Sony compilations and some Collectables compilations. Versions running 3:15 are the 45 version, which is also an edit of the LP version. There are no early-fade-of-the-LP versions.

Thanks Ron! I knew I'd get the help I needed from you guys!