"Brandy (You’re A Fine Girl)"
Printed From: Top 40 Music on CD
Category: Top 40 Music On Compact Disc
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URL: https://top40musiconcd.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=1841
Printed Date: 02 May 2025 at 7:51am
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Topic: "Brandy (You’re A Fine Girl)"
Posted By: sriv94
Subject: "Brandy (You’re A Fine Girl)"
Date Posted: 07 March 2007 at 1:53pm
Here's a question for the more discerning ears. I have both the 45 and LP versions of "Brandy (You're A Fine Girl)" on separate CDs, but I'm having a devil of a time distinguishing them. There's about a nine second difference in run time (at least on those LP versions that run at the correct speed--unlike the LP version found on Rhino's Billboard's Top R&R Hits of 1972), but other than fade I'm really finding it difficult to discern what the difference is.
Forgive me if the answer is obvious and I've just missed it. Thanks.
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Doug
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All of the good signatures have been taken.
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Replies:
Posted By: Tim Lyman
Date Posted: 07 March 2007 at 3:13pm
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The most noticeable difference is during the bridge ("Brandy used to watch his eyes when he told his sailor stories," etc.) The 45 version has prominent bongo drums during this part.
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Posted By: sriv94
Date Posted: 07 March 2007 at 9:23pm
Thanks, Tim. The 45 version is on my iPod; I'll find an LP version to compare it with.
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Doug
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All of the good signatures have been taken.
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Posted By: The Hits Man
Date Posted: 10 March 2007 at 8:09pm
The 45 version is faster. It has added congas, and the horns are lower in volume.
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Posted By: Bob Lovely
Date Posted: 11 March 2007 at 8:45am
In addition to observations made by The Hits Man, the 45 mix is also more "wet" than later re-mixes, the low-end is somewhat "shaved-off" and, it is more compressed. This mix, as originally processed, is on the 3-disc SONY budget comp, "Rock On!" released in 2006.
Bob
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Just give me the hits...
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Posted By: crapfromthepast
Date Posted: 04 March 2010 at 9:23pm
Been trying to untangle what's what on the various compilations I have for this song, so I thought I'd do it chronologically.
The first version to come out on CD was on Rhino's Billboard Top R&R Hits - 1972 (1989). It was the LP mix, played at the original speed of the master, but with a very bass-shy EQ. Probably a high-generation source tape.
Next came the CBS/K-Tel compilation Seems Like Yesterday Vol. 1 (1989). Also the same LP mix, played at the original speed of the master, but with a much more reasonable EQ. Probably a lower-generation source tape than Billboard. Fades a teeny bit earlier, probably to hide tape hiss. A few later CDs used the same analog transfer as SLY, including Razor & Tie's Those Fabulous '70s (1990), Razor & Tie's 2-CD Suddenly '70s (1997; vastly improved EQ on this CD), and Razor & Tie's 1-CD version of Suddenly '70s (2001; digital clone of 2-CD version with level changes).
Next, the version on Rhino's Have A Nice Day Vol. 9 (1990) has the LP mix, but sped up by about 1.7% or 1.8% in an attempt to match the 45 pitch/tempo. This version runs out to the same point as the Billboard CD, but runs about 3 seconds shorter as a result of the pitch/tempo change. Better EQ here than on Billboard.
There's a digitally identical clone of Have A Nice Day on Time-Life's 2-CD Singers And Songwriters - Early '70s (2000).
Finally, the 45 mix appeared on Columbia/Legacy's Rock Artifacts Vol. 2 (1989). It's a different mix, with a lot more panning than the LP mix. The bass is mostly in the left channel on the 45, and is centered on the LP mix. Other differences: the 45 has bongos in the bridge (1:45-2:02 or so), and some of the instruments are brought forward. In particular, listen for the drum fill at 1:29 under the words "The sailor said..." If you can clearly hear the snare that begins the fill, that's the 45. If the snare is pretty well hidden, that's the LP. Plus, the 45 is sped up by about 2.5% over the LP and fades a little earlier in the song.
Other CDs that use the same analog transfer as Rock Artifacts are Time-Life's Sounds Of The Seventies - 1972: Take Two (1991, awfully flat-sounding EQ), Time-Life's Superhits - 1972 (1991, basically same EQ as Rock Artifacts but with L/R channels reversed) and Time-Life's AM Gold - 1972 (1991; digitally identical to Superhits).
(There seems to be an error in the 1996 version of the book. My copy of Superhits - 1972 runs 2:54, just like AM Gold - 1972, and not 2:46 as listed in the book. The two are digitally identical. I'm unaware of any re-releases for Superhits - 1972.)
If I had to pick the best for sound quality, I'd go with Rock Artifacts for the 45 mix, and Suddenly '70s for the LP mix. Both are played at their proper respective pitch/tempos.
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Posted By: 4TrackJack
Date Posted: 05 March 2010 at 7:26am
Great job with the detailed info. It really helps sorting this all out.
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John Mahoney
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Posted By: Brian W.
Date Posted: 11 March 2010 at 2:30pm
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Yes, I always appreciate crap's detailed analysis of the various CD pressings. Very helpful.
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