Seals & Crofts
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Category: Top 40 Music On Compact Disc
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URL: https://top40musiconcd.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=2268
Printed Date: 13 May 2025 at 6:13pm
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Topic: Seals & Crofts
Posted By: EdisonLite
Subject: Seals & Crofts
Date Posted: 29 June 2007 at 9:12am
| I see that Rhino is releasing a "Seals & Crofts" Greatest Hits CD on July 17th, but there's no track listing on Rhino.com or amazon. Maybe this will finally have "You're the Love" and "My Fair Share" on a S&C comp. If anyone finds out the track listing, please report here. I see, however, that it's the same cover as the original Greatest Hits album, which isn't all that promising. But that doesn't mean that Rhino hasn't added additional songs to the album, the way Capitol used to do in the '80s with "CD Xtra Trax" like Natalie Cole, Dr. Hook and Helen Reddy. That said, though, ever since WB let most of Rhino's staff go, it seems like they just re-hash CDs that are already out, doing nothing more than adding a new cardboard cover outside the jewel box. Personally, I'd rather have someone with a brain add a few extra songs than to rebuy a CD just because it has cardboard. |
Replies:
Posted By: 80smusicfreak
Date Posted: 29 June 2007 at 12:13pm
On another thread, you also wrote on 22 June:
You're not alone, EdisonLite - I, too, have been LONG awaiting an updated/complete/remastered S&C hits collection, preferably a 2-CD set. (Sounds like a perfect candidate for Rhino's current "Definitive Pop Collection" series, if you ask me!) But just for the record, although it's never been issued on CD, there was one other S&C compilation released here in the U.S., which was far superior to 1975's 10-track "Greatest Hits" on Warner Bros., and does include all three of the later hits you mention: The 16-track "Seals & Crofts Collection" from 1979 on K-tel, of all labels! In fact, I happen to own it in all three formats that it was released on: LP, 8-track, and cassette... :-) I was admittedly unaware of this (hopefully) new collection from Rhino supposedly coming out on July 17, until I read your post. You're right - at this point, it doesn't sound very hopeful, but I'd also like to know the track listing for it, and will keep checking back here as well... In the meantime, I just dug up this bit of info from the FAQ page over at the fan site www.sealsandcrofts.com, which partially answers our questions: 2. What music is available? There is [2004's] Traces [CD]. Sadly, Warner Brothers/Time Warner holds the masters for the old albums and they have only directly issued the Greatest Hits and Summer Breeze albums. Rhino Records, the prolific licensee of the Warners Brothers catalog, basically ignored the Seals & Crofts masters for many years. Plans to issue a multi-disc anthology were scaled back to a single disc, extended hits package that mirrored the old K-Tel Seals and Crofts Collection lp, with the addition of "Unborn Child," "Wisdom" and "First Love." The liner notes were fully prepared. But Rhino abandoned even this modest project. A box set was never even considered. Part of the problem was timing. By the time Rhino got around to a serious release a few years ago, Traces was in the works. There was a perception that the anthology release would compete on the market, and hurt the sales of Traces. In February of 2005, Rhino's cut-rate Flashback division suddenly released the Diamond Girl album. The timing was peculiar and totally unexpected. Evidently, there was little concern over competition from Traces after all. It was certainly welcome despite the lack of remastering or bonus tracks. But there was no promotion and even the Flashback website neglected to list it in its own catalog! One cannot expect more S&C releases from Flashback. The division looks pretty dormant, not having released anything at all since November of 2005. Perhaps the best prospect is Rhino's newer Homemade division. Fans are encouraged to petition their website to get more S&C albums released. . . or put up the license fee for the masters and go make the cds yourself! Rhino did put out a pointless set of five hits called "Hi Five." There is, incidentally, a rare overseas rendition of the Year of Sunday album on cd. It appears on ebay.com periodically and has been known to go for about $100. Moreover, mp3 versions of the the Get Closer album can be found at a few websites, such as this one. Caveat emptor. The propriety of these offerings is unknown. |
EdisonLite wrote:Posted By: gnj1958@sbcglob
Date Posted: 29 June 2007 at 1:40pm
| "You're The Love" (the only S&C 45 I ever bought) is on the comp "Rock On 1978 Hot Blooded" which is selling for between $47 and $80 on Amazon. Damn! I only paid $7 when I bought it a couple of years ago and that included postage. It also has what I assume is the 45 version of Hot Blooded. It's certainly a lot shorter than the version on "Records". |
Posted By: JMD1961
Date Posted: 29 June 2007 at 5:18pm
|
According to CD Universe, it's just a reissue of the same 10-track CD:
http://www.cduniverse.com/productinfo.asp?pid=7457145&BAB=M |
Posted By: eriejwg
Date Posted: 29 June 2007 at 5:57pm
|
Let's just imagine, hypothetically, in chronological order, the PERFECT Seals & Crofts Greatest Hits. Hey, we can dream, can't we??
1. Summer Breeze 2. Diamond Girl (45 version) 3. Hummingbird 4. We May Never Pass This Way (Again) 4. King Of Nothing 5. I'll Play For You 6. Get Closer 7. My Fair Share 8. You're The Love 9. First Love |
Posted By: EdisonLite
Date Posted: 29 June 2007 at 6:28pm
|
Interesting info, 80smusicfreak.
And typical to learn that Rhino's S&C comp is just a rehash of the 10-song comp that's been out nearly 20 years. Rhino also put out a Laura Branigan comp last month -- which is just the comp that's been out for 13 years. And she has some early Atlantic singles, never released on CD, that would have been a nice bonus for a new comp. What I don't understand about Rhino re-re-reissuing the S&C and Branigan compilations is this: you figure that 99% of the fans of these 2 artists have already gotten around to buying these Greatest Hits CDs over the last 15-20 years -- So Rhino is reissuing the CDs to get the other 1% to buy them?!?!? Why not add 2 or 3 bonuses and re-sell to the 99% of the fans that already bought the CDs!?? |
Posted By: JMD1961
Date Posted: 30 June 2007 at 11:48am
| I haven't been overly happy with Rhino releases of late. Sad, because they used to be my favorite label. I wasn't aware of the shake-up you mentioned in the opening post, but I'd say it answered a lot of my questions. |
Posted By: EdisonLite
Date Posted: 30 June 2007 at 2:28pm
| Yes, ever since Rhino (or actually, Warner Brothers head honchos) let the Best Rhino staffers go, they went way downhill. They're trying to save on money. IMO, I see no evidence of anyone left who's putting any effort into creating new compilations of artists that differ from previous releases. They're just re-releasing comps they've put out before but this time with cardboard covers. What a shame .. and a waste of a record label. |
Posted By: The Hits Man
Date Posted: 30 June 2007 at 3:14pm
------------- |
Posted By: edtop40
Date Posted: 30 June 2007 at 4:20pm
|
gentlemen...i have both of the lesser know and often thought of as never been on cd tracks by seals & crofts.....
my fair share---45 states a run time of 2:42 and the cd version i have runs 2:42 and is identical to the vinyl 45 version you're the love---45 states a run time of 3:17 and the cd version i have also runs 3:17 and is identical to the vinyl 45 version.....if anyone who like a copy, please send me a private message and i can send it......edtop40 ------------- edtop40 |
Posted By: rnell
Date Posted: 01 July 2007 at 7:05pm
|
My fair share is available in an import CD from 2002 (I believe from Hong Kong): Timeless classics Volume 4.
By the way, a friend of mine sent a message to Rhino this week about the S&C new compilation. He received a reply back stating the new compilation will add 3 o 4 tracks to the old Greatest hits, although final track listing was not finished yet. |
Posted By: EdisonLite
Date Posted: 02 July 2007 at 2:01am
|
<although final track listing was not finished yet. >
Considering the CD will be in stores in 2 weeks (according to Rhino's own website), you'd think they'll finalize the track listing pretty soon! |
Posted By: eriejwg
Date Posted: 02 July 2007 at 6:52am
| I think it's a case of one hand doesn't know what the other is doing at Rhino. Damn shame too. |
Posted By: EdisonLite
Date Posted: 02 July 2007 at 9:28am
| Well, if someone's already seen a track listing for this CD on the net and it has no bonus cuts, my gut feeling is that the Rhino employee who made this comment simply doesn't know what's on the CD. |
Posted By: EdisonLite
Date Posted: 10 July 2007 at 1:49pm
|
OK - I've gotten to the bottom of this. I called up someone at Rhino Records who told me that the upcoming "Greatest Hits" CD is the same as the previous one and has NO EXTRA songs, nor will there ever be a definitive collection that has all the hits. He said that Seals & Crofts are extremely difficult to work with, and that's why there's never been any compilation of theirs released in the US - other than the '75 Greatest Hits LP being released on CD. Rhino wanted to do a 2-CD compilation on S&C and just couldn't get it to happen with all the problems! It's not that they've been overlooked or forgotten - Rhino's tried very hard to make it happen but due to the 2 gentlemen in the duo, it just hasn't happened and won't.
He did say that Rhino/Flashback will be putting out the "Get Closer" LP on CD and that another label (I think he said Collectors' Choice) will be putting out the remaining Seals & Crofts albums that haven't been on CD. |
Posted By: Todd Ireland
Date Posted: 10 July 2007 at 2:37pm
| Thanks for getting the scoop, Gordon. I'll definitely be saving my money and passing on the upcoming Greatest Hits CD. At least with Rhino/Flashback and Collectors' Choice planning to reissue the later Seals & Crofts albums on CD, we'll hopefully see "My Fair Share" finally make it's long-awaited digital debut in the U.S. and "You're the One" on a domestic CD title for the first time since the Time-Life Body Talk - Heart to Heart disc (Time-Life R834-17) went out-of-print. |
Posted By: rnell
Date Posted: 11 July 2007 at 12:38pm
| S & C fan page posted the information about all remaining CDs to be issued through Wounded bird label on Sept 18th with the exception of Get closer. |
Posted By: sealsncroftsguy
Date Posted: 11 July 2007 at 7:38pm
|
At the behest of 80smusicfreak, I thought I'd join in here, as the owner/operator of my fan-based site, sealsandcrofts.com. Looks like everyone has it mostly figured out. Woundedbird.com is committed to releasing the albums individually in September. I'm not sure how a relatively little label like Wounded Bird was able to release them, and Rhino did not. On the subject of Rhino, I can tell you that WB/Sony has had absolute rights to the master tapes, and that Rhino's engineer was ready to go in and do a one or disc anthology 8 years ago. The Rhino insider thinking that S&C were too difficult is, in my opinion, wrong. I have the one page contract from back then, and it's no great shakes. Fact is, Rhino has been releasing some things since then anyway. Now that the WB catalog is mostly converted to DAT, it's relatively easy to release stuff (though, less rewarding, because you don't consider great alternate takes and unreleased tunes you get from the old analog masters). Thus, we have the utterly pointless "Hi Five" digital download, and the utter pointless GH reissue (same as the old) coming up on July 17. There are so many of the previous GH cds out there - you can get one at ebay for like 49 cents.
But I say let bygones be bygones. We are grateful for woundedbird.com. Serious fans like me have had vinyl transfers (from legitimately purchased and well-maintained lps from the 70's) for years anyway. I no longer want some shoehorned expanded GH disc that leaves off "Windflowers," "Unborn Child" or "Ridin' Thumb." I want the entire catalog for posterity. There are too many great non-hits to consider. There is, incidentally, a lot of real cool ephemera that you may never hear, like the "First Year" theme for the short-lived law school drama, an entire album from 1984, Jimmy's 4 singles as a solo artist from the mid 1960's, etc. And you haven't lived until you've heard Jimmy quietly do "Hummingbird" just him and solo guitar. The chord changes alone are cosmic. But maybe everyone doesn't think these guys were head and shoulders above 90% of the 70's acts like I do. So be it! |
Posted By: EdisonLite
Date Posted: 11 July 2007 at 9:30pm
|
That doesn't surprise me that Wounded Bird managed to pull this off when Rhino didn't. Wounded Bird has also released the entire Melissa Manchester Arista catalog from Sony/BMG and other great releases like almost all the Bread and England Dan/John Ford Coley albums on CD. I don't know how they can afford to do the releases if the majors insist on paying for a high number of guaranteed minimums sold, but I guess they make money for both the licensor and licensee.
And btw, my Rhino contact definitely did not mention Wounded Bird to me as W Bird is my favorite reissue label now. I definitely would have remembered. He said Collector's Music Choice, or perhaps Collectables. But I'm glad it's on Wounded Bird! |
Posted By: aaronk
Date Posted: 11 July 2007 at 11:19pm
Oh, man. They're actually mastering stuff to DAT tape? I've worked with those things in radio for the past six or seven years, and they are a nightmare. I sure hope they don't toss out the analog tapes. I've had plenty of DATs not work for me any longer. |
Posted By: 80smusicfreak
Date Posted: 19 July 2007 at 11:15am
"Behest" might be a bit too strong of a word here, lol, but yes, I personally e-mailed sealsncroftsguy to let him know about our recent postings here on S&C. I encouraged him to visit our little corner of the 'net, and to perhaps directly share some of his extensive knowledge of the duo. (Thanks for checking us out and coming aboard!) :-) So, I guess one question remains unanswered (at least for me, anyway) about this new version of "Greatest Hits" that arrived in stores earlier this week: Okay, we now know it's the same collection w/ the same cover art & track listing, but is it at least remastered??? Or is it just the same lousy-sounding version w/ nothing but a new cardboard slipcover added (as EdisonLite bemoaned it might be)??? While I, too, certainly applaud Wounded Bird for stepping forward and re-issuing most of the S&C catalog on CD later this summer, I already own all of the duo's 1969-80 albums on original cassettes, and therefore don't really have any desire to fork over another $125+ just to get most or all of their hits on CD (top 40 or otherwise). And since sealsncroftsguy & EdisonLite have both investigated and let us know that no new one- or two-disc S&C collection is apparently in the works from Rhino/WB, even though this week's re-issue of "GH" is just a re-hash of the old version, if it's indeed remastered, I'd be willing to pick it up (especially since I've always resisted buying the old version, knowing it sounded inferior!). So any additional info appreciated here - thanks! |
Posted By: 80smusicfreak
Date Posted: 19 July 2007 at 12:41pm
I share your frustration on that last point, EdisonLite! I've also long-owned 1995's "The Best of Branigan" on both CD & cassette, and at just 13 tracks, always felt it was way too skimpy! I've been a long-time fan of Laura's (even have the elusive "Hold Me" album on CD), and was fortunate enough to see her perform twice before she left us way too early in August of 2004; the first time was in the late '80s, and then again in the late '90s. (I tried meeting her after that second show, but alas, she ducked away from us waiting fans that night!) Here's some additional news that you may not be aware of, which only adds to our annoyance w/ Rhino: While the label apparently felt it was only necessary to re-hash the same "Best of Branigan" CD to us American fans in April, last July their U.K. division treated British fans to the excellent (and new!) 18-track "The Platinum Collection". Ironically, I only accidentally discovered that one three months ago, while browsing Amazon's LB listings trying to research the new version of "Best of Branigan". After reading the track listing, I immediately special-ordered "The Platinum Collection" through a local indie store, and had it within two or three days, and at a very reasonable midline price to boot! Trust me, this is by far the best LB hits CD to date - in fact, the only U.S. chart hit that it's missing is "Hold Me" (and those early non-LP singles you mention, which I do have promo 12" vinyl singles of). Be sure to pick this one up; label & no. is Rhino/Warner Platinum 8122-70851-2. So Rhino treats the Brits, but not us Yanks?!? Oh, and after opening the new LB CD, it seems Rhino felt the need to advertise some additional titles in their U.K. "Warner Platinum" series on the back insert, including another new "Platinum Collection" for Chaka Khan, which also caught my attention - and I ultimately picked up as well... |
Posted By: EdisonLite
Date Posted: 19 July 2007 at 12:49pm
|
I, too, have Laura's "Hold Me" album on CD and do know of that great "Platinum Collection" that recently came out. I just didn't get it because I had all the songs but it's the best compilation so far; I just wish they had included all or some of the rare early singles. So 80s music freak, do you have "Tell Him" and "A Fool's Affair" on 12"??
(Sorry - I know this S&C post is turning into an LB post, but this seemed like the more obvious place to respond to the above post.) |
Posted By: cmmmbase
Date Posted: 19 July 2007 at 1:03pm
| I've got 45s of Fool's Affair, Looking Out For Number One (a stock copy) and Tell Him... |
Posted By: 80smusicfreak
Date Posted: 19 July 2007 at 1:05pm
I know I have at least one, if not both of those titles; I found a stash of her early 12" vinyl singles at a used record store about 10 years ago, and knowing they weren't on any of her albums, I decided to buy 'em (again, never been a huge fan of vinyl, so I only collect select songs/artists in that format). Unfortunately, most of the vinyl that I've owned for 5+ years - including those LB 12"ers - is currently packed away, but I'll be sure to post a definitive answer here if I stumble across them in the near future... |
Posted By: EdisonLite
Date Posted: 20 July 2007 at 9:51am
| Being that "A Fool's Affair" is a slow ballad, I'd tend to think that's not what you have on 12". And if "Tell Him" IS definitely on 12", please let me know when you can, because I'd like to seek that out. |
Posted By: Todd Ireland
Date Posted: 29 August 2007 at 9:10pm
| Looks like the Wounded Bird label has nine Seals & Crofts CD reissues officially scheduled to hit retail on September 18! I'm particularly excited to pick up the duo's One on One movie soundtrack CD, which will finally add their elusive Top 40 hit "My Fair Share" to my digital library! |
Posted By: smvceo
Date Posted: 30 August 2007 at 5:38am
| There's a DRAMATIC difference in pitch between the LP and 45 issues of "My Fair Share." The LP is MUCH slower than the 45, at least 2 semitones lower. Hopefully, if Rhino releases "My Fair Share," they master it at the 45's pitch. The 45 is NOT edited, though. |
Posted By: Todd Ireland
Date Posted: 30 August 2007 at 7:52am
|
smvceo:
I believe Wounded Bird uses LP master tapes for all their CD reissues, so it looks like we'll probably get "My Fair Share" at the slower LP speed. For anyone with the benefit of digital audio editing software, I would assume the song's pitch can be easily adjusted to match the 45 speed. (How did I ever get through life before buying Adobe Audition?) :-) |
Posted By: The Hits Man
Date Posted: 03 September 2007 at 1:20am
|
My 45 of "My Fair Share" times out to exactly 2:42:18 seconds. ------------- |
Posted By: Santi Paradoa
Date Posted: 19 March 2017 at 4:24pm
|
BTW, Wounded Bird has a double CD set scheduled for release on May 2nd titled The Singles A's & B's - 1970-1976. It has a total of 31 tracks. None of the singles released between 1977-1980, but still a nice collection. Time will tell if they actually get all of the single edits right. ------------- Santi Paradoa Miami, Florida |
Posted By: The Hits Man
Date Posted: 20 March 2017 at 3:14am
|
That title sounds suspiciously similar to the one Real
Gone used for their recent Rascals' "Complete Singles A's and B's". ------------- |
Posted By: Santi Paradoa
Date Posted: 27 May 2017 at 5:52pm
|
Just as a follow up to the recent double disc Wounded Bird release wanted to let everyone know they used the same incorrect edit for "Diamond Girl" that has appeared on many CDs before. They also included the LP version of "I'll Play For You." Another missed opportunity. ------------- Santi Paradoa Miami, Florida |