"Abracadabra" - The Steve Miller Band
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Topic: "Abracadabra" - The Steve Miller Band
Posted By: Todd Ireland
Subject: "Abracadabra" - The Steve Miller Band
Date Posted: 28 July 2008 at 9:18am
| The actual commercial 45 run time of the Steve Miller Band's "Abracadabra" is 3:37, not 3:34 as stated on the record label. (This timing info is courtesy of abagon.) |
Replies:
Posted By: NightAire
Date Posted: 10 October 2014 at 12:01am
OK, can somebody tell me, is this just Wikipedia B.S.?
...Really? Because I've NEVER heard this before. As far as I knew, the single version was simply an early fade of the LP version, and the database reflects the same belief. Anybody able to prove or disprove this? Here's the link if you want to read it yourself: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abracadabra_(Steve_Miller_Ba nd_song) ------------- Gene Savage http://www.BlackLightRadio.com - http://www.BlackLightRadio.com http://www.facebook.com/TulsaSavage - http://www.facebook.com/TulsaSavage Tulsa, Oklahoma USA |
Capitol issued an alternative version on a
Posted By: jimct
Date Posted: 10 October 2014 at 1:16am
|
Gene, happy to help. I both own and have just pulled my copy of Capitol
SPRO-9797. It is a promo 12" single, with the same, listed (4:37), actual (4:35) version of "Abracadabra" included on both sides. Pat does include a notation for this promo 12" single's listed/actual timings with the song's master db listing. But, to my eyes, Pat makes no other specific claims as to exactly what is and isn't included on the 12" promo single version. It is obviously a unique mix, because it's longer than the 45 version and shorter than the LP version. I just gave the promo 12" single a close listen. The Wiki allegation that the verses are in a different order on SPRO-9797 is 100% false. The verses on it begin with: -I heat up, I can't cool down -You make me hot -I feel the magic in your caress -Every time you call my name (instrumental segment) -I heat up, I can't cool down (repeated three times) This is exactly the same verse order I have found to be present on both the 45 and LP versions. The only difference I detected between SPRO-9797 and the LP version is an edit during the approx. 85 seconds after the 45 version faded out. An early portion of this end segment was removed, with the later portion of the end segment left intact. SPRO-9797 ends the exact same way as the LP version does. I noticed neither a slower tempo, nor a refrain vocal lacking the extra inflection at the end of the word "Abracadabra", on SPRO-9797. Bottom line: While the SPRO-9797 promo 12" version is unique, due to the late edit, and is not currently available anywhere on a domestic CD, I've confident that none of your quoted Wiki statements are true. Still, just to be a million % sure, I'll forward this mix to Aaron, for him to do an A/B comparison, at his convenience. I would also like to be able to exactly note the edit point(s), a la Ron, for anyone interested in digitally recreating the unique SPRO-9797 edit of the LP version. |
Posted By: sriv94
Date Posted: 10 October 2014 at 5:30am
|
There is one verse and one chorus removed from the 12" (on the 45
and LP there are two verses that start "every time you call my name", while the 12" only has one--and the chorus that follows is also snipped from the 12"). WLS/Chicago played this version. A lot. ------------- Doug --------------- All of the good signatures have been taken. |
Posted By: Hykker
Date Posted: 10 October 2014 at 6:42am
|
Are you sure the version you heard on WLS wasn't a house
edit? |
Posted By: aaronk
Date Posted: 10 October 2014 at 11:23am
|
Doug is correct. There is a dub of the US promo 12" on YouTube, and it edits out the section from approximately 0:31.5 to 1:02.2 of the LP version. It runs slightly slower than the LP version from the "Abracadabra" CD, and it also fades slightly earlier. ------------- Aaron Kannowski http://www.uptownsound.com" rel="nofollow - Uptown Sound http://www.919thepeak.com" rel="nofollow - 91.9 The Peak - Classic Hip Hop |
Posted By: jimct
Date Posted: 10 October 2014 at 1:25pm
|
Remind me to never again postpone sleep when dead tired, go digging for
a promo 12", and start researching a song at 3 o'clock in the morning! In the early 80's, there were two hit songs that drove me absolutely *nuts* whenever I heard the "slow" version: "For Your Eyes Only" and "Abracadabra". Finger nails on the chalk board. How I was able to play PRO-9797 last night and not hear that, even when I was listening for slower, makes me wonder if I should continue to cook my own meals! (sigh....) In my earlier post, I didn't happen to make a note of the initial "every time I call your name" verse when listening to the LP version, as it sounded to me at the time as just a line within a verse. Of course, that's where the 12" edit was done. My apologies to all for the faulty analysis. My best effort was pretty bad last night. Thanks to YouTube poster "Pie Ness", for posting the promo 12" version that Aaron was able to hear/base his reply on, and to old pal Doug for his impeccable 1982 WLS memories of the 12" version. I aspire to be like you guys when I grow up! :) |
Posted By: crapfromthepast
Date Posted: 10 October 2014 at 1:46pm
|
I'm still a little unclear on speeds.
Do the 45 and the LP run at the same speed, with this promo 12" running slower than the 45 and LP? Or does the promo 12" run the same as the LP, with the 45 being sped up? Or none of the above? I'll be happy to do the comparisons, if you want to send me files of the various versions. ------------- There's a lot of crap on the radio, but there's only one http://www.crapfromthepast.com" rel="nofollow - Crap From The Past . |
Posted By: aaronk
Date Posted: 10 October 2014 at 9:29pm
|
Ron, the 12" copy on YouTube runs at the exact same speed as the LP
version on your European compilation Hits On CD. The US Abracadabra CD runs slightly faster than the European comp and YouTube 12" dub. Without the actual vinyl LP to compare, I'm not 100% sure which is the correct speed. ------------- Aaron Kannowski http://www.uptownsound.com" rel="nofollow - Uptown Sound http://www.919thepeak.com" rel="nofollow - 91.9 The Peak - Classic Hip Hop |
Posted By: sriv94
Date Posted: 11 October 2014 at 10:37am
I haven't grown up yet, either. :) Since we're giving credit, I wouldn't have even known that what WLS played was a promo if it weren't for Andy Chouffi telling me in a thread five years ago. I had thought all those years what Steve suspected--that the version WLS played was in-house. Here's the thread: http://www.top40musiconcd.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=4475&PN=0&TPN=2 - Flashback to 2009 ------------- Doug --------------- All of the good signatures have been taken. |
Posted By: davidclark
Date Posted: 29 July 2023 at 8:28am
|
Another recent find (by me...). Wiki also claims that the UK 45 was a unique
edit. Doubting this, I turned to YouTube and lo and behold, there IS a UK 45 playing there, and it IS a unique edit! Not sure if it is actually pitched/sped up like the dub, but it's there! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z08lXkcEUVg ------------- dc1 |
Posted By: music4life75
Date Posted: 29 June 2024 at 6:29pm
| Has the UK version been released on CD? |
Posted By: aaronk
Date Posted: 29 June 2024 at 10:07pm
|
The uploader has manipulated the pitch digitally. The key of the UK dub is higher but the speed is actually a tiny bit slower than the US 7" found on VH1 The Big 80s. ------------- Aaron Kannowski http://www.uptownsound.com" rel="nofollow - Uptown Sound http://www.919thepeak.com" rel="nofollow - 91.9 The Peak - Classic Hip Hop |