Marvin Gaye- "What’s Going On"

Ed, I don't hear any "whopp" sound before the beginning of the music on my commercial 45 (a vinyl Columbia Santa Maria pressing, although the lacquer was cut by RCA Custom.)

But there is tape bleed-through just before the song begins (that "pre-echo effect.") It isn't part of the actual session recording; it's a result of the magnetic charges on the tape transferring to the silent portion preceding it (with which it remains in contact, once the tape is wound on the reel.) That "pre-echo" could have been avoided if they'd spliced in some non-magnetic leader tape ahead of the first note when the 45 was cut.

Okay, after listening to the Hitsville box track, I see what you were referring to, Ed (the "whopp" description is what threw me off: I was expecting to hear a percussive noise of some sort before what you termed the "whopp" sound, which is on my 45.) It could be just an untrimmed remnant from a count-off, but it does serve as a neat way to kick off the record.

I don't hear the vinyl 45's tape bleed-through at all on the track from the Hitsville box (which you really should have in your collection, Ed!)

Both the mono and stereo 45 versions start with the music.
The only place I hear the 'right on' is on the LP version.

Are there any real stereo 45 versions (or similar mixes)
out there?

I have one labeled 'very poor stereo separation' from
1995s 'Anthology' but it's slightly rechanneled instead.

Andy

I really can't believe I've missed this all my life. I just went over to youtube and looked for a 45 version. Sure enough, there's a false fade near the end.

This tells me that either all the stations I grew up with didn't play the final tag of this song, or didn't play the 45 version, EVER! I'm familiar with all
the other songs mentioned, but not this one. I guess I'm going to have to look around here and see if I can find one of those Tamala 45's. My local 45 store
is bound to have one for a couple dollars, so I can use it for reference. Also, kind of odd to hear it start without the intro of chatter.

Edited by AdvprosD