Gary Wright - Love Is Alive

The LP version runs 3:49 and sounds fine on the '80s-era Warner Bros. full-length CD The Dream Weaver (copyright 1975). Good source tapes, nice dynamic range, no hint of noise reduction. The song was originally recorded with a live drummer playing over an early rhythm-box drum machine, which you can hear in headphones if you listen in some of the softer instrumental passages. On this CD, the song runs 98.4 BPM throughout, with no tempo drift from beginning to end. The same analog transfer is used on:

• Simitar's Love Rocks 3 Love Time (1998)
• Time-Life's 2-CD Singers And Songwriters Vol. 8 Mid-'70s (2001; digitally identical)

The 45 is just an early fade of the LP version, running 3:24 with a 28-beat fade from 3:07 to 3:24.

The oldest CD I have with the 45 length is Time-Life's Sounds Of The Seventies Vol. 18 1976 Take Two (1991). It's EQ'd with a little more high end than The Dream Weaver, which brings out the hi-hat and the rhythm box very nicely. Also great dynamic range and no evidence of noise reduction. On this CD, it runs at 97.9 BPM throughout. The same analog transfer is used for:

• JCI's Only Rock 'N Roll #1 Radio Hits 1975-1979 (1996)
• Madacy's Rock On 1976 (original 1996 release)
• Warner Special Products' 2-CD Seventies Party Mix (1996)
• Madacy's Rock On 1976 (2004 reissue; diffrently EQ'd digital clone of original 1996 release)
• Time-Life's 2-CD Classic Soft Rock Vol. 11 Sweet Freedom (2007; digitally exactly 1.9 dB louder)

All of the above sound about the same, and all sound very nice. But if I have to make a recommendation, then I'll choose the full-length CD The Dream Weaver or Singers And Songwriters Vol. 8 Mid-'70s for the LP version, and Sounds Of The Seventies Vol. 18 1976 Take Two for the 45 length.

Edited by crapfromthepast