Canned Heat-"Going Up The Country"

Pat: The version of this song on "Uncanned-Best Of", and most of the other CDs (as I recall, the correct 45v is on my deeply-buried JCI "Rockin' 60's" CD) is the LP version of the song. The OBVIOUS tip-off on the version difference is the 3rd flute note at the beginning and end of the song. This note is sustained for a FULL second on the 45 version, but the LP version features three VERY quick opening and closing sequence flute notes. I believe the 45 and LP version could, in fact, be entirely different takes. For sure, the 45/LP version difference is a no doubter here, Mr. Downey.

after folding the correct 45 version from stereo to mono it
clearly is a different mix than the stereo version....the
flute and strings are MUCH more prominent on the actual
vinyl 45 than on my fold down....but....mark was kind
enough to send me his re-creation and it matches
perfectly....THANKS mark!!

To David:

The 45 and LP versions are definitely different mixes,
and the beginning and endings are different takes.

However, the bulk of the song flanges when played
simultaneously, indicating to me it's predominately the
same take...

It's all a matter of semantics and pedantic.

I just tend to think when somebody says "different
recording" it means the group went back into the studio
and recut the entire song from scratch, or the producer
decided to release a different master take than the one
originally released (oftentimes a band back then would
record a few takes of the basics of a song in a studio
and then chose what they think is the best performance).

Andy

Stereo LP version

I believe that this first appeared on CD on EMI-Manhattan's The Best Of Canned Heat (1987). The same analog transfer is used on:

Time-Life's Classic Rock Vol. 12 1969 The Beat Goes On (1989, both original release and RE-1 reissue)
• Mystic Music/CEMA's 2-CD Bell Bottom Rock (1996)
• Time-Life's Spirit Of The '60s Groovy Hits (2006)
• TM Century track no. 00001291 - no tape hiss on fade; added noise reduction?

Of the CDs I have, I found only one other analog transfer, on Silver Eagle Records' mail-order 2-CD set Woodstock Rock (1989). The same analog transfer is used on:

• Varese's Totally Oldies Vol. 8 Classic Rock (2005)

I actually prefer the Woodstock Rock mastering here, just because the lead vocals seem centered a little better than on Best Of. It's a a minor point.

Stereo 45 version

On the intro of the LP version, the flute ascends to a very short high note. On the intro of the 45, it sounds like there are additional flutes, and that high note is held much longer than on the LP.

You have exactly two US CDs to choose from for the stereo 45 version:

• Sessions' mail-order 2-CD Freedom Rock (1987) - yes, the "turn it up" Freedom Rock from the TV commercials
• JCI's Rockin' '60s (1988)

I prefer the mastering for Freedom Rock, which has a slightly longer fade, has a little more tape hiss on the fade, and has better centering of the lead vocals.

I believe that the actual commercial 45 was mono. I'm not sure if it's a fold-down of the stereo 45 version that appears on CD.

Non-hit 1994 remix

Ron Furmanek and Kevin Reeves remixed "Going Up The Country" (and most of the other songs) on EMI's Uncanned! The Best Of Canned Heat (1994), as part of the EMI Legends Of Rock N' Roll Series.

In the 1994 remix, the hi-hat is remarkably crisp. If you're looking for one concrete difference between the mixes: In the 1994 remix, the very last note is an organ hit with essentially no flute behind it. In the original 1969 mix, the flute extends right through the organ hit.

The same analog transfer as Uncanned is used on:

• Ace UK's Chartbusters USA Vol. 3 (2003)
• Madacy's Rock On 1969 (2004)
• Time-Life's 2-CD Flower Power Time Of The Season (2007)

My preferences

For the stereo LP version, I prefer Silver Eagle Records' Woodstock Rock (1989).
For the stereo 45 version, I prefer Sessions' Freedom Rock (1987).
For the non-hit 1994 remix, may as well go with EMI's Uncanned! The Best Of Canned Heat (1994).

Yay, mail-order CDs! Please allow four to six weeks for delivery. Operators are standing by.

I had a nagging feeling that I could do better, so I revisited EMI-Manhattan's The Best Of Canned Heat (1987).

If you raise the right channel by 3 dB, you center the lead vocals pretty well (at least as well as on Woodstock Rock).

I'm changing my recommendation to EMI-Manhattan's The Best Of Canned Heat (1987), but you'll have to raise the right channel by 3 dB.