Freddie’s Dead

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   Not sure if this is already in the book, but I learned something last night.  I just picked up the deluxe Rhino 2-CD reissue of Curtis Mayfield's SUPERFLY soundrack.  

I was excited that it came with the single edits of "Superfly" and "Freddie's Dead", but listening to them last night, I realized that they were truly 45 mixes, in MONO!  So I set about cutting the stereo album versions to match the single for airplay.  

"Superfly" is easy, you just fade around 3:10.  

The cuts for "Freddie's Dead" are surprisingly challenging, actually starting in the middle of the record, so I figured I'd pass along my notes.  Using the ~5:25 album cut, piece together these five segments to make the ~3:10 version.  

2:42-2:58

0:30-0:46

1:07-2:05

2:15-3:24

4:06-4:44 (fade at end)

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eric_a Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Music Fan Joined: 29 June 2005 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 0	Post Options Post Reply Quote eric_a Thanks(0) Quote Reply Topic: Freddie’s Dead Posted: 06 April 2006 at 10:01am
	Not sure if this is already in the book, but I learned something last night. I just picked up the deluxe Rhino 2-CD reissue of Curtis Mayfield's SUPERFLY soundrack. I was excited that it came with the single edits of "Superfly" and "Freddie's Dead", but listening to them last night, I realized that they were truly 45 mixes, in MONO! So I set about cutting the stereo album versions to match the single for airplay. "Superfly" is easy, you just fade around 3:10. The cuts for "Freddie's Dead" are surprisingly challenging, actually starting in the middle of the record, so I figured I'd pass along my notes. Using the ~5:25 album cut, piece together these five segments to make the ~3:10 version. 2:42-2:58 0:30-0:46 1:07-2:05 2:15-3:24 4:06-4:44 (fade at end)

sriv94 Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Music Fan Joined: 16 September 2005 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 4	Post Options Post Reply Quote sriv94 Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 06 April 2006 at 10:07am
	FYI, the stereo 45 fade of "Superfly" is available on one of the Rhino Soul Hits of the 70s CDs. Thanks for the tip on creating a stereo 45 version of "Freddie's Dead." I'm assuming there never was a stereo 45 of that--would that be correct?
	Doug --------------- All of the good signatures have been taken.

jimct Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Music Fan Joined: 07 April 2006 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 0	Post Options Post Reply Quote jimct Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 07 April 2006 at 1:18am
	The 1972 Promo 45 of "Freddie's Dead" has the stereo version of the 45 mix. Don't think Rhino knows this, or they might've looked around for it before settling for the mono v. My copy was stolen, along with 100 other rarities, from my radio station lockup in 1986. It has been my #1 want to re-obtain ever since, and has proven incredibly elusive - I've re-acquired ALL 99 of the others. Good luck with the re-creation - they can sound spectacular when done correctly.
	jimct

Grant Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Music Fan Joined: 12 October 2004 Status: Offline Points: 0	Post Options Post Reply Quote Grant Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 07 April 2006 at 8:48am
	As usual, what probably happened in 1972 is that there were more than one 45 master. One was sent to one pressing plant, another master to another plant. Or, one was supposed to be a promo issue.

Gary Mack Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Music Fan Joined: 06 February 2006 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 0	Post Options Post Reply Quote Gary Mack Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 07 April 2006 at 8:07pm
	I have the stereo/mono promo 45 and the stereo mix runs exactly 3:15. It was mastered at Bell Sound, which means the single mix tape may be in the dumpster. Sorry, Jimct, keep looking - other copies must be out there somewhere. GM

eric_a Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Music Fan Joined: 29 June 2005 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 0	Post Options Post Reply Quote eric_a Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 08 April 2006 at 10:07pm
	Not to toot my own horn, but my version came out pretty seamless. I can send the mp3 if you want. Send me a private message here and i'll email it- EA

eriejwg Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Music Fan Joined: 10 June 2007 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 84	Post Options Post Reply Quote eriejwg Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 22 December 2008 at 5:18pm
	Reviving an old one, just got in a stereo/mono promo 45 for this. Listed and actual time is 3:15, as Gary Mack mentioned. Deadwax is CRS 1975 A. Thanks for the heads up, everyone, on where I could find the stereo 45 mix of this song.

AndrewChouffi Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Music Fan Joined: 24 September 2005 Status: Offline Points: 31	Post Options Post Reply Quote AndrewChouffi Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 22 December 2008 at 10:21pm
	Is the stereo promo 45 a different MIX than the album mix? (I know it's an out-of-sequence edit.) Andy

eriejwg Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Music Fan Joined: 10 June 2007 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 84	Post Options Post Reply Quote eriejwg Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 22 December 2008 at 10:38pm
	Andy: I thought I read on the Steve Hoffman forum it was a different mix. I could be wrong, though. I'll let you listen for yourself...

joliom Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Music Fan Joined: 07 August 2007 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 0	Post Options Post Reply Quote joliom Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 17 August 2013 at 12:33am
	Discogs has a listing for a "Superfly/Freddie's Dead" 45 (Curtom 88-003) that has a runtime of 3:43 for "Freddie's Dead". Anyone know anything about this 45 release? If it's really from 1972 then that means the 'neither' version is actually a longer 45 version.