Hollies "Bus Stop"

The db entry for Hip-O B00007082-02 should include a notation of "channels reversed" i.e. vocals on left instead of right channel.
Entry for EMI CDP-581128 should include a notation that the instruments and vocals are delayed across both channels, the vocals are not solely in the right channel. Similar production on Jonathan King's "Everyone's Gone To The Moon" or Five Americans "Western Union".

I agree with Pat that a channel reversal is not really worth documenting in
the database. I do however, like to know if a song is a stereo remix. With
"Bus Stop" and a few other Hollies tracks, they were remixed, I believe in
1993 for the 30th Anniversary Collection. It is likely this version to which
Smokin' TomGary refers as being the "vocals are delayed across both
channels" version. Not being a fan of "vocals left and music right stereo" (or
the reverse), I like it when songs are remixed to sound better in stereo, as in
the case with these Hollies tracks (that were not given good stereo mixes in
the '60s). I personally would like to see all remixes indicated as such in the
database (there are many that are already), but I do know that task would
require
much effort.

Edited by davidclark

Smokin, I agree that in today's terms, the word "remix" implies something
different to a song as you state (e.g., the many dance remixes of popular
ballads). When discussing "older" songs, I tend to use the term "version"
when referring to such differences.

In addition, in the past the term "remix" was used to refer to a final
product having been produced (either mono or stereo) from the
multitracks. Case in point, when I listen to the studio talk on many sixties
hits on CD, the word "remix" is spoken. The word also appears on some
CD reissues for songs that simply feature a different stereo mix.

So, suffice it to say that "remix" on its own is too general a term, as its
meaning has changed over time, however we are indeed in agreement that
knowing songs are "mixed different" is beneficial to the database. "Stereo
remix" would be good for these, and I can surely point out a fair number
of them.

JL, the earlier "Bus Stop" thread has the specifics on the mono/stereo differences (no true stereo mix of the 45 version has ever surfaced.)

Back to the stereo "Bus Stop": In the case of the 1993 Ron Furmanek remix (and it is termed a "remix" in the 30th Anniversary Collection liner notes) Allan Clarke's double-tracked lead vocals are split between the two channels. This opens a Pandora's box of its own: on the one hand, it's as if you're being treated to front row seats at a Hollies performance. On the other, the very idea behind double-tracking vocals is to strengthen them, and by splitting them apart, they lose some of that concentrated focus. In a mono listening environment - be it a speaker channel-savvy restaurant, wedding dance or AM radio - those split vocals are docked about 3db compared to most of the backing track. The older 1968 stereo mix doesn't have nearly the same mono compatibility issues.

The stereo mix of the aforementioned "Everyone's Gone To The Moon" is perhaps the poster child of what can go wrong under variable, real-world listening conditions. In stereo, the split-channel, double-tracked vocals nearly overpower the instrumentation. When the stereo mix is played back in mono, Mr. King sounds as if he's already gone to the moon, awash in a sea of earthbound strings. The true mono Bartley CD track was indeed a godsend for that title.      

David, I only have a dub of the mono version of the UK Parlophone Hollies' Greatest LP, so I can't comment on the content of the stereo edition. I was going by MCT1's post in the other "Bus Stop" thread:

MCT1 wrote: I found a page with a detailed UK Hollies discography. I do not see "Bus Stop" on the tracklistings for any albums released around the time it was out as a single. Its first UK LP appearance seems to be in 1968 on the album "The Hollies' Greatest". I'd think it likely that the stereo mix was not done until at least then.    http://www.proweb.co.uk/~rhaywood/records/albums.htm

Unfortunately, that link is no longer active. Perhaps someone who has the stereo UK Parlophone LP can chime in (my lone Imperial LP is the 1967 mono edition of The Hollies' Greatest Hits, and I have no idea what the stereo content would have been on the Capitol of Canada LPs.)