Patches - Clarence Carter

Jim asked in another thread about the difference between the 45 version and the LP version of Patches by Clarence Carter. There is a horn overdub at 2:07 on the LP version that is not found on the 45 version (at least on the dj copy that I have).

Aha! I've always wondered what the difference was too. Thanks, Pat.

Stereo LP version (3:11)

If you have the song on an Atlantic, Time-Life, or Ripete collection, it's the stereo LP version.

Of the compilations I have this on, I found just two different analog transfers.

The first is on Atlantic's 7-CD Atlantic Rhythm And Blues 1947-1974 Vol. 7 1969-1974 (1985). It sounds pretty nice here, with reasonable EQ, nice dynamic range, nice hiss on the fade, and no evidence of extra noise reduction. The same analog transfer is used on:

• Time-Life's Superhits Vol. 4 1970 (1990) - shortens the tail of the fade
• Time-Life's AM Gold Vol. 2 1970 (1990) - this disc is identical to Superhits Vol. 4 1970, so this also shortens the tail of the fade
• Atlantic's Atlantic Rhythm And Blues 1947-1974 Vol. 8 1970-1974 (1991) - differently-EQ'd digital clone
• Time-Life's Solid Gold Soul Vol. 5 1970 (1996) - shortens tail of fade even more than Superhits
• Reader's Digest's 4-CD American Pie (1998) - also shortens tail of fade
• Time-Life's 2-CD Singers And Songwriters Vol. 16 1969-1972 (2001) - digitally exactly 2.99 dB louder than Superhits Vol. 4 1970, so this also shortens the tail of the fade

There's a new analog transfer on Rhino's Didn't It Blow Your Mind Vol. 16 (1995), which is a slight improvement over the Atlantic disc. It extends out just a little farther than the Atlantic mastering, and also has great sound. There's a digitally identical clone on Rhino's Billboard Hot Soul Hits 1970 (1995).

Mono 45 version (3:11)

It's a dedicated mix, not a fold-down. It's really close to a fold-down, but not quite. At 2:02, after the word "fields", the LP version has a little accent horn in the left channel, which is not in the 45 version. There's another one at 2:08, at the end of the word "family", and a third at 2:14, on the word "lord". Plus, the fade point starts in the same place as the LP version, but the fade starts much more gradually than the LP version.

The mono 45 version isn't on CD.

UK 45 version (2:59) (Edit: I'd previously labeled this as "Non-hit stereo remix". Mark M recently discovered that this is the UK 45 version, as per a post below.)

Based on listings in the database and their copyright dates, this remix appears to have originated (Edit: on CD) on a Rhino compilation called The Muscle Shoals Sound (1993). The liner notes are pretty detailed, giving credit to the writers, producers, and all the musicians on every track, but they don't say anything about remixes. (Edit: That's because it's not a remix.)

Regardless, this remix sure does sound sparkly clean. (The original mix sounded just fine to my ears, so I'm not sure why this even exists.) The instrument placement in the soundstage and the reverb match the original mix very nicely.

Compared to the original mix, there's an instrument missing here and there in the mix. For example, at 0:28, over the line "little money from the crops he raised", there are background singers in the stereo LP and mono 45 versions, but no background singers in this remix. Also, the tonality of the keyboard is a little different in this remix, compared to the stereo LP and mono 45 versions.

This remix is missing the little horn accents at 2:02, 2:08, and 2:14, so maybe it's an attempt to create a stereo mix that is mixed like the 45. I have no idea why it fades so early, though.

The Muscle Shoals Sound isn't cheap nowadays, so I'd recommend more affordable options. The 2:59 remix shows up on a few budget Rhino and Flashback collections from 1997 and 1998, almost certainly with mastering based on The Muscle Shoals Sound.

Edited by crapfromthepast

The mono version should be on Kent's The Fame Singles
Volume 2 1970-73.

https://www.discogs.com/Clarence-Carter-The-Fame-
Singles-Volume-2-1970-73/release/5094232

AutumnAarilyn, AFAIK, it is stereo on that Kent CD.