fleetwood come softly to me

my commercial 45 for the fleetwoods song 'come softly to
me' issued as dolphin 1 states the run time on the label as
2:25, but mine actually runs 2:20. the db has a wide range
of run times from 2:15 to 2:24...can someone else time
their 45 to see if mine run time is accurate....there is
quite a bit of surface noise on my vinyl 45 during the fade
so it could actually run longer that 2:20....

Ed, my stock 45 copy of Dolphin 1 luckily plays with a minimum of
surface noise, has a listed time of (2:25), and an actual time of (2:21).
Deadwax is a combo of machine-stamped "DO-45-500", followed by an
exact handwritten duplication of the same info.

Years ago, when I also happened upon a Liberty 55188 45 copy that
appeared to be a 1959 release (as Jono also mentions up thread) during a
PA record excursion, I asked the shop owner (who I'm 90% sure was
veteran Philly-area retail legend Val Shively, who has deep knowledge of
that era. He's eccentric like me, he and I hit it off immediately, and I'll
always think the world of him.)   

The Seattle-based, Dolphin label co-founder Bob Reisdorf had discovered
only after issuing "Come Softly To Me", as Dolphin #1, that NYC's Laurie
label already had a subsidiary label called Dolphin. The 'Net generally
states that the #91 Hot 100 charting instrumental "Straight Flush" by the
Frantics (Dolton 2) was the first 45 reflecting the amended Dolton label
name. And that's true. And although I haven't seen this info confirmed
online, I was told years ago that Laurie was desirous that Reisdorf stop
issuing 45s on Dolphin immediately.

But during all this, the "Come Softly To Me" 45 was just about to peak
nationally, was a prime candidate to become a #1 single (which it did
achieve), was selling like hotcakes, and no one involved with the
record/group wanted to see its success "derailed" due to a label name
mixup. So, looking to appease Laurie/nip any possible legal action in the
bud, while still ensuring 45 copies remained available for purchase in the
short term, 45s from the later part of its chart run were sold as Liberty
55188. (Both the Liberty 55187 & 55189 45s were released in 4/59, the
exact same month "Come Softly..." peaked at #1, so the timing matches
up perfectly.) The Dolphin #1 45 copies had already stated "Distributed by
Liberty Records", so this was the quickest, easiest short-term solution.

To me, a case can be made that both 1959 45 releases qualify as an
original release, although I concur that if one stock # must be chosen, to
go with the first one: Dolphin #1. Like Jono's timing report, my Liberty
55188 stock 45 also has a listed time of (2:25) but an actual time of
(2:22). Deadwax here is a handwritten "45-DO-500" (although not the
same writing from my Dolphin copy), followed by a handwritten "45-DO-
500-1A".

Since this was a #1 hit, I thought I'd go to the extra time and trouble to
document what I'd been told about this rather unusual case of two
legitimate, original 45 releases, albeit on different labels, from someone
who I consider to be a reliable source, and whose statements I've been
able to confirm meet the proper circumstance timeline. You, of course,
are free to either accept or reject my statements above, as you see fit.

Edited by jimct

Pat, the first stereo issue of "Come Softly To Me" appeared on the Liberty 77188 stereo 45 in 1959, prior to the label name change from Dolphin to Dolton (I'd posted a scan of my copy in the "Chipmunks-Alvin's Harmonica" thread nine years ago.) The Liberty stereo 45 does include the bongos.

The flubbed bass line at around 1:10 or 1:12 on the mono mix and the stereo version from the Hit Parade CD is not present on the stereo 45.

Edited by Yah Shure

Pat Downey wrote: Up until several weeks ago when Hit Parade Records released their Hard To Find Jukebox Classics The Fifties: 31 Amazing Stereo Hits, this song in stereo always was released on compact disc with bongos overdubbed.

All versions listed in the database that are in stereo are not the 45 Pat and should be labeled as "not 45 version" since they all don't match the 1959 stereo 45. I did notice you correctly noted that the Hard To Find series is the correct 45 in stereo. Thank you.

Edited by PopArchivist