"Good Time Charlie’s Got the Blues"

There is a 5th version which is the 45 version remixed that appears on several cd's such as Billboard's Top Soft Rock Hits - 1972 (Rhino 72738).

garye,

You likely have the 1970 "Danny OKeefe" LP version.

Just to add another layer of intrigue (but not confusion) to this one, the
song was first recorded by O'Keefe c. 1967, but not released. That version
was first issued on 1977 LP "The Seattle Tapes". And good ole YouTube has
a rip of that LP, so you can hear that version too!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Laz_WDNSLok

Finally, it was first issued by The Bards as "Goodtime Charlies Got The
Blues" and released in 1969 as the b-side to "Tunesmith" on Jerden 907
(January) then on Parrot 337 (March).

I'll try and summarize:

Non-hit version from 1970 Danny O'Keefe LP on Cotillion Records

This version has a flute instead of a harmonica. Runs 2:38.

According to the database, it's found on four CDs, none of which I own:

• JCI's Mellow Seventies
• Coyote's Rock The Planet - Mellow 70's
• Reader's Digest's Blowin' In The Wind (Box Set)
• GSC Music's Rock The Planet Vol. 3 - 34 All-Time Favorites (Box Set)

I'd bet a shiny new nickel that the later three discs are based on the mastering from the JCI disc, but can't confirm.

Non-hit version from 1972 O'Keefe LP on Signpost Records

The opening three beats of the song are just a single acoustic guitar. The line from 0:18 to 0:22 is "I believe this time they're gonna stay." Runs 2:58.

I have this version on just one CD: Sound Exchange/Warner Special Products 2-CD Seventies Feelings (1995)

Hit version from 1972 45 on Signpost Records

The opening three beats of the song include the acoustic guitar, but with additional bongos, a soft hi-hat in the left channel, and a harmonica. The line from 0:18 to 0:22 is "Said they're moving to L.A." Runs 2:58.

My oldest CD with this version is Time-Life's Superhits Vol. 11 1972 (1991), where it sounds a little muddy, and has its left and right channels reversed. (All tracks on this disc have their left and right channels reversed.) There are digitally identical clones on:

• Time-Life's AM Gold Vol. 7 1972 (1991)
• Time-Life's AM Gold Vol. 7 1972 RE-1 reissue (1991)
• Time-Life's 2-CD Singers And Songwriters Vol. 9 Early '70s (2000)

Two years after Superhits came out, Bill Inglot did a far better analog transfer (same version; not a remix) on Rhino's Have A Nice Day Vol. 17 (1993), which has the correct left and right channels. There's a digitally identical clone on:

• Rhino's Billboard Top Soft Rock Hits 1972 (1997)

Radio version from 1972 promo 45 on Signpost Records

Based on the commercial (hit) 45 version, but cuts out the verse that includes the line "pills to ease the pain." Runs about 2:38. I don't have editing instructions.

Not available on CD.

Based on all of the above info, I think the database may need to be updated.

Edited by crapfromthepast

davidclark wrote: I believe the Reader's Digest version I mentioned is actually the version found on his Cotillion Records 1970 LP "O'Keefe". So, not an alternate take.

From what I'm picking up here, your Readers Digest version is the same as the JCI Mellow Seventies, and was taken from the 1970 LP version. It's interesting because
I picked up a handful of these JCI discs in an ebay lot the other day. I was sure surprised to hear the changes in the song I'm so familiar with. I think this
disc may be the first time I've heard it arranged this way. I just assumed it was a later take, only to read here that it was actually an earlier one. It sure seems
peculiar that I missed this one. I only had 52 +/- years to figure it out.

crapfromthepast wrote: Radio version from 1972 promo 45 on Signpost Records Based on the commercial (hit) 45 version, but cuts out the verse that includes the line "pills to ease the pain." Runs about 2:38.

Only some promos were this way, maybe a reservice after some stations complained about the line? My promo is mono/stereo of the 3:02
version, and I'm 99% sure that's what we played where I worked in the autumn of '72.