rhythm heritage "theme from swat"

Aha! So the extended version that's on a couple CDs was actually the 45 version on some pressings. Ed, you are amazing!

Whoa, just discovered that I have BOTH the short and long 45's and indeed the longer version has "RE-1" on the label! For what it's worth, I remember only hearing the shorter version on Top 40 radio back in 1976.

edtop40 wrote: yes, indeed.....my 45 issued as abc 12135 does state in the run-out groove "re-1".........maybe, then, this is a re-issued 45...........does anyone have the 2:49 run time 45 without the "re-1" inscription???

Just to avoid confusion, don't you mean the 4:09 run time 45 without the "re-1" inscription?

There is a CD in the database that has the short version in mono. But on the commercial 45, the short version was stereo, correct?

Pat had already noted in his db the existence of a short/long ABC 12135
promo 45, so I hadn't previously added to this thread. None of the posts
have ever brought it up specifically, so just in case some forum folks
aren't db members, I may as well provide that promo 45's particulars, as
well as two other promo 45 configurations that Pat hasn't yet made
mention of..

The most common of the three is the one Pat does have documented: the
both sides stereo, short/long promo 45. The stereo short version side has
a listed time of (2:47), an actual time of (2:48), with handwritten deadwax
of "16845-S", followed by a circled "1". The stereo long version side has a
listed time of (4:07), an actual time of (4:06), and handwritten deadwax of
"16845-RE-1-S-", again followed by a circled "1". (There is also a
crossed-out "SPDJ-25", followed by a not-crossed-out-but-likely-
should've-been "-B-S circled 1".) That last detail will soon prove to be a
helpful piece of this song's puzzle.

But when I just re-read Brian's 2011 post, about a CD containing the short
version in mono, it got me thinking about where that mono version
could've originated from. I had a hunch. So I just did some research.       

Bingo! Although there is currently no scan posted for it on
Discogs/45cat/anywhere else on-line, I did happen upon some
information that said that a mono/stereo (2:47) ABC 12135 promo was
indeed issued back then. So I looked around. No luck at first, but my go-
to MusicStack seller did just happen to have one for sale, and it's now on
its way to me. If anything noteworthy becomes apparent when I get it, I'll
post it.

I'm nearly positive that this was the first of the three promo 45s released
for the song, and here's why. In addition to the long/short promo 45,
Discogs also includes a listed (4:07), identical-on-both-sides "stereo
special discotheque release" promo 45, with a catalog # of "SPDJ-25".
Sound familiar? Well, that was the part of my stereo long version promo
45's deadwax that was crossed out, and re-numbered!       

So I'd bet dollars to doughnuts that both listed (4:07) versions are
identical. Luckily, I was able to track down a copy of this promo as well
this evening. My conclusion is that this was the second of the 3 promo
45's issued, and was intended for Disco DJs only. Again, if anything
surprising is observed when that promo 45 comes in, I'll post it.

As the song was gaining Top 40 airplay/momentum in very late '75, I
guess someone at ABC thought they should "expand" distribution of the
"discotheque" release, and give Top 40 radio the option to play either
length version; hence the release of what I'm now quite sure was the 3rd
and final promo 45 for "...S.W.A.T." - the most common of the 3, the
stereo long/short promo 45.

My only hope is that i clarified things more than I confused them!
Crossing my fingers on that....

Edited by jimct