Bobby Goldsboro-"Watching Scotty Grow"

Just a general question to all as jimct is clocking several different songs. I see people giving 2, 3, 4 second discrepencies between what is listed on the record and what they are actually timing the record at. Is there a specific way to time a record and why are there so many discrepencies?

-Fetta

Fetta, just a little background as to why I'm taking all of the many hours of time and effort to do all this: There is a segment of folks on this Board that want to make sure they own the EXACTLY CORRECT 45 version of all "Top 40" songs. However, most of them do not own the original 45s. Being an extremely sick puppy, I do. Because of this, I feel it is my obligation to time my 45s, checking the "listed" times against the "actual" times. If I detect a difference of :03 seconds or more between the two, I post my findings. I also check my actual timings against Pat's current database CD timings. Often this will explain why CD versions all run, for instance, (3:20), when the 45 states a time of (2:59). The (2:59) time happens to be wrong. Info like this can help folks on the Board. Now they know they do, in fact, have the actual 45 version on CD, even though reference books may list the (2:59) time. Without owning/timing the 45, how else can you find out if the CD versions are :21 seconds longer than the 45 or not? And if my time findings raise other questions, Pat and others on the Board will almost always perform additional research, often comparing it with the original LP, or closely listen for possible differences between the 45 and its CD counterpart. I feel it is my responsibility to do this work, for the good of all involved here. I hope it saves those concerned, who don't own the original 45s, MUCH time and effort, in their never-ending quest for "authentic 45 versions." Many here on the Board have an amazing ear for detail. Once I bring up a song, I'll often get requests to shoot out an mp3 dub of my 45 to them, for them to "fine-tooth-comb" compare against their CD versions. At that point, I feel I've done my part, and I leave further analysis to the many other experts on this Board. We've been able to bring to Pat's attention a fair amount of database revisions. It certainly helps that Pat is also a TOTAL stickler for such details, and most times my findings have already been noted in his database. But no one can have, or know, everything. So, I try to: 1) Clarify actual 45 timing differences, and 2) Perhaps discover the "tip of an iceberg", if my timings don't match up with those currently in the database. There is a method to my madness, I hope!

Thanks jimct for the explanation. All I can say is "WOW" for having all these 45's and for the time and patience in timing them.