Moody Blues-"Nights In White Satin"

Jim:

I'm intrigued by the last part of your post when you say that your 4:28 promo 45 copy of "Nights in White Satin" can legitimately run :02 longer than your two commercial 45 copies due to the different deadwax numbers. By this, do you mean that the 4:28 promo version was produced and mastered at a different time than the commercial 45, thus explaining the slight discrepencies in run times? I was wondering if you wouldn't mind elaborating on this a little bit more because I've often wondered why a song's respective run times on a commercial 45 and promo 45 sometimes differ by a second or two.

Edited by Todd Ireland

UK's Uncut magazine ran a nice piece of the making of the song. Sound On Sound ran a more technical article. Both are worthwhile reads.

LP version (about 7:38)

The oldest CD I have with the LP version is Threshold/Polydor's Moody Blues collection Greatest Hits (1989), where it runs 7:38. It sounds pretty nice here - good dynamic range (or at least good in the quieter parts of the song), reasonable EQ, and no hint of noise reduction. The same analog transfer is used on:

• Priority's Seventies Greatest Rock Hits Vol. 13 Request Line (1992)
• Polydor's Time Traveller (I think)

Non-hit 1978 remixed LP version (about 7:23)

From the liner notes to the 2017 CD/DVD deluxe version of Days Of Future Passed: "This 2CD/DVD deluxe set includes the full original 1967 stereo mix, which is being released on CD here for the first time. Due to a damaged master tape of the original mix, the album had been remixed in stereo in 1972 and since then it is this later mix, which has been used on all CD reissues." The LP versions I listed above sound like the original 1967-era mix to me, but I don't have the 1967 vinyl to compare. In any case, this "1978" mix is clearly a different mix.

I have the 1978 mix on Cema/Sandstone's Reelin' In The Years Vol. 4 (1991). A different analog transfer of the same source tape is used on Time-Life's 2-CD Singers And Songwriters Vol. 1 1972-1973 (2000) and Time-Life's Legends Crank It Up (2003; digitally exactly 2.3 dB louder than S&S; they did indeed crank it up, and as a result, it clips a bit - avoid). Reelin' and S&S both sound fine.

Early fades of the LP version

All of these are currently listed as "neither the 45 nor LP version" in the database.

There's a version running 5:37 on Sessions/Warner Special Products' 3-CD Secret Love (1987).

There's a version running 5:50 on Rhino's Billboard Top R&R Hits 1972 (1989). The same analog transfer is used on:

• Time-Life's Sounds Of The Seventies Vol. 3 1972 (1989) - digitally identical
• Sony's 2-CD 35 Years Of Rock And Roll (1992)

There's a version running 4:31 on Cema/Mystic Music's 2-CD Mellow Gold (1991), possibly with added noise reduction.

Avoid all of these; they didn't exist when the song was a US hit in 1972.

45 version (about 4:26)

The 1972 hit 45 version was in mono. It's unclear when the 45 mix was replicated in stereo, but most of the CD versions of the 45 are in stereo.

The oldest CD I have with the stereo 45 version is Threshold's Moody Blues collection Voices In The Sky (1985). The same analog transfer is used on:

• Time-Life's Superhits Vol. 11 1972 (1991) - left/right channels are reversed, which is the case for all the tracks on this CD
• Time-Life's AM Gold Vol. 7 1972 (1991) - this is just the Superhits disc with different packaging; L/R channels are reversed
• Reader's Digest's 4-CD American Pie (1998) - L/R channels are reversed
• Reader's Digest's 4-CD Time In A Bottle (2006) - L/R channels are reversed

I have the 45 version in mono on Rhino's British Invasion Vol. 8 (1991).

Promo 45 version (3:13)

I don't know if this was on the 1967 UK 45, the 1968 US promo 45, the 1968 US commercial 45, or whatever was released in 1972. It doesn't exist on CD.

Spanish version ("Noches De Seda") (about 4:17)

I think this was recorded specifically for the 1995 CD Stars In Spanish multi-artist CD, but can't confirm. It's clearly a modern recording of the song.

My recommendations

For the LP version, go with Greatest Hits (1989).
For the 1978 remixed LP version, go with Time-Life's Singers And Songwriters Vol. 1 1972-1973 (2000).
For the 45 version in stereo, go with Voices In The Sky The Best Of (1985).
For the 45 version in mono, go with Rhino's British Invasion Vol. 8 (1991).
For the song in Spanish, go with Stars In Spanish (1995).

Edited by crapfromthepast

Are there specific differences I can listen for to identify one mix or the other of the LP length?

Exactly what I needed, Ron. I had a mix that sounded like the tape was a bit beat up, but the higher quality version sounded a bit "dead." Thanks for your help!!