Lynyrd Skynyrd - Sweet Home Alabama

Can the 3:20 dj 45 version be created using the LP and commercial 45 version? And if so, can anyone provide the edit and/or fade points please?

(Yes, I'm on a D.I.Y. edit mission at the moment as I've blown my music buying budget for the next wee while!)

Several CD's in the database have the DJ edit but
longer. I have an mp3 that runs 3:21. I know there's at
least one edit and perhaps an earlier fade than what's
in the DB.

Jim sent me a copy of Aaron's recreation. It has a subdued cymbal crash at (2:17) leading to the edit. Still not sure you can exactly make the edit from the LP
version without a little trickery (or maybe a little crossfade).

I just checked my file against a dub of the promo 45, and I don't hear any differences in the cymbal crash. It doesn't sound any more subdued on the custom edit and LP version than on the promo 45.

That said, my file is actually one that was custom edited by Todd Ireland. I hadn't done this one myself.

Edited by aaronk

It hit #8 in 1974. Personally, I've have heard it way too many times to enjoy it anymore. But musically, it's a really good record.

LP version including countoff

The oldest CD I have the song on is MCA's Classic Rock Vol. 2 (1988), where it includes the opening countoff and runs 4:43. It sounds quite nice here, with excellent dynamic range, reasonable EQ, no evidence of noise reduction, and a nice, pleasing tape hiss on the fade. MCA released Vols. 1 and 2 in 1988, and Vol. 3 in 1989. All three are worthwhile. Each disc has just ten tracks, but I think all tracks use the same analog transfer as an earlier-released MCA single-artist CD (at least that's what I found for the Steely Dan tracks). That would mean that Classic Rock Vol. 2 uses the same analog transfer as MCA's original release of Second Helping, but I don't have that disc and can't confirm.

There are a few discs that use the same analog transfer as Classic Rock Vol. 2:

• MCA's Skynyrd's Innyrds Their Greatest Hits (1989; differently-EQ'd digital clone)
• Sandstone's Reelin' In The Years Vol. 2 (1991; shortens the tail of the fade)
• Razor & Tie's 2-CD Those Rocking '70s (1991; shortens the tail of the fade)
• Sony's 2-CD 35 Years Of Rock And Roll (1992; shortens the tail of the fade)
• Cema's 2-CD Bell Bottom Rock (1996)

There's a different analog transfer on Priority's Seventies Greatest Rock Hits Vol. 2 The South Rules (1991), which is a bit loud and clips a bit. The same analog transfer is used for Realm's 3-CD Greatest Hits Of The '70s Vol. 2 (2002).

And finally, there's one more analog tranfer on MFSL's gold CD of Second Helping. Avoid; this disc has noise reduction! Egad! Seriously, do an A/B comparison with the lovely hissy Classic Rock Vol. 2, and you'll hear that the MFSL disc has the high end seriously muted. Avoid, or better yet, sell this disc because the audiophiles will pay big $ for anything on MFSL.

LP version without the countoff

The oldest CD I have where the countoff is missing is Time-Life's 2-CD Guitar Rock (1990). It seems to use the same analog transfer as Classic Rock Vol. 2, but omits the countoff. Unfortunately, the left and right channels are out of sync by a sample or two. It screws up the soundstage, and it dims the high end when summed to mono. It's bad. I didn't see this on any of the discs I listed above.

There's a different analog transfer on Time-Life's Sounds Of The Seventies Vol. 7 1974 (1990), which sounds much better than Guitar Rock, until you sum to mono. This has the same problem of the left and right channels being out of sync. The same analog transfer is used for the following CDs, all of which have the left/right sync problem:

• Warner Special Products' 2-CD Rock Revival (1991)
• Warner Special Products' 2-CD Rock Box (1994)
• Madacy's Rock On 1974 (1996)

An outlier, which fades a little earlier than the others: Warner Special Products' 2-CD Rock This Way (1995).

One obscure Canadian CD that omits the countoff and doesn't have a left/right sync problem: Quality Canada's Joey Vendetta Presents 100% Pure Rock (1994).

promo 45 version

The promo 45 runs 3:20. Aaron posted good editing instructions above.

If you want a good approximation, Rhino's Billboard Top R&R Hits 1974 (1988) gets the edits in the right place, but runs out to the end of the LP version without fading early. It's 17 seconds longer than the true promo 45 version.

Varese Sarabande's Dick Bartley On The Radio Vol. 2 (1997) does a homemade reproduction of the edit, and runs about 7 seconds too long, but has a loud mastering that I didn't like.

My recommendation for the LP version, with countoff: MCA's Classic Rock Vol. 2 (1988).

Don't bother with the LP version minus the countoff, because virtually all of those versions have left/right sync problems.

I assume that the commercial 45 is the same as the LP, including the countoff? (Can't confirm.)

My recommendation for the promo 45 version: Rhino's Billboard Top R&R Hits 1974 (1988). You can fade it early if you want, or just leave it as is and designate as 17 seconds longer than the promo 45 edit.

Edited by crapfromthepast