Time-Life’s Superhits and AM Gold 1972

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   The Time-Life compilation Superhits Vol. 11 1972 (1991) was later repackaged as AM Gold Vol. 7 1972 (1991).  The disc contents are identical in every way, but the packaging and liner notes are different.  There was later a reissue of AM Gold Vol. 7 1972 with a "RE-1" in the matrix number.  The reissue swapped out one song, and used identical digital clones for the remaining tracks.

Unfortunately, due to a mastering error, the left and right channels are swapped on all 21 tracks on Superhits Vol. 11 1972 and the original (non-RE-1) release of AM Gold Vol. 7 1972.  The left/right channel swaps have propagated into downstream masterings, annoying purists like me.  The source of all these left/right problems is Superhits Vol. 11 1972 and AM Gold Vol. 7 1972.  Avoid Superhits Vol. 11 1972 (1991) and AM Gold Vol. 7 1972 (1991), if you can.

I've listed all the downstream discs that I have; there may be more.  

1. BLACK AND WHITE - Three Dog NightUses the same analog transfer as Rhino's Billboard Top R&R Hits 1972 (1989) and Time-Life's Sounds Of The Seventies Vol. 3 1972 (1989; digitally identical to BB), which have correct left and right channels
2. YOU DON'T MESS AROUND WITH JIM - Jim CroceUses the same analog transfer as Time-Life's Sounds Of The Seventies Vol. 13 1972 Take Two (1991), which has correct left and right channels
3. I CAN SEE CLEARLY NOW - Johnny NashUses the same analog transfer as Rhino's Billboard Top R&R Hits 1972 (1989) and Time-Life's Sounds Of The Seventies Vol. 3 1972 (1989; digitally identical to BB), which have correct left and right channels
EMI Australia's 5-CD Seventies Complete Vol. 1 (1997) uses the same analog transfer as AM Gold and therefore has its left and right channels swapped
Time-Life's 2-CD Singers And Songwriters Vol. 1 1972-1973 (2000) is digitally identical to AM Gold and therefore has its left and right channels swapped
4. I'M STILL IN LOVE WITH YOU - Al GreenUses the same analog transfer as Time-Life's 4-CD Great Love Songs Of The 70's And 80's Vol. 4 Endless Love (1991) and Time-Life's Sounds Of The Seventies Vol. 13 1972 Take Two (1991; digitally identical to Great Love Songs), which have correct left and right channels
5. ALONE AGAIN (NATURALLY) - Gilbert O'SullivanUses the same analog transfer as Rhino's Have A Nice Day Vol. 8 (1990), which has correct left and right channels
Reader's Digest's 4-CD American Pie (1998) uses the same analog transfer as AM Gold and therefore has its left and right channels swapped
Time-Life's 2-CD Singers And Songwriters Vol. 9 Early '70s (2000) is digitally identical to AM Gold and therefore has its left and right channels swapped
Time-Life's 2-CD Seventies Music Explosion Vol. 4 Magic (2005) is digitally exactly 1.42 dB louder than AM Gold and therefore has its left and right channels swapped
6. (LAST NIGHT) I DIDN'T GET TO SLEEP AT ALL - Fifth DimensionUses the same analog transfer as Arista's 5th Dimension collection Greatest Hits On Earth (copyright 1972), which has correct left and right channels
Razor & Tie/Warner Special Products' 2-CD Easy '70s (1993) uses the same analog transfer as AM Gold and therefore has its left and right channels swapped
7. NICE TO BE WITH YOU - Gallery (only on Superhits and original pressings of AM Gold)Uses the same analog transfer as Rhino's Have A Nice Day Vol. 8 (1990), which has correct left and right channels
Warner Special Products' 2-CD 40 Summer Fun Hits (1993) uses the same analog transfer as AM Gold and therefore has its left and right channels swapped
7. LONG COOL WOMAN (IN A BLACK DRESS) - Hollies (only on RE-1 rerelease of AM Gold)Has the correct left/right channels; no left/right reversal on this track on the RE-1 rerelease; the other 20 tracks on the RE-1 rerelease do have their left and right channels swapped
Digitally exactly 0.97 dB quieter than Rhino's Billboard Top R&R Hits 1972 (1989)
8. GARDEN PARTY - Rick NelsonUses the same analog transfer as Time-Life's Rock 'N' Roll Era Vol. 31 Ricky Nelson 1957-1972 (1990), which has correct left and right channels
Time-Life's 2-CD Singers And Songwriters Vol. 9 Early '70s (2000) is digitally exactly 0.439 dB louder than AM Gold and therefore has its left and right channels swapped
9. SUMMER BREEZE - Seals And CroftsUses the same analog transfer as Time-Life's Sounds Of The Seventies Vol. 13 1972 Take Two (1991), which has correct left and right channels
Time-Life's 2-CD Singers And Songwriters Vol. 1 1972-1973 (2000) is a differently-EQ digital clone of AM Gold and therefore has its left and right channels swapped
10. I'D LOVE YOU TO WANT ME - LoboUses the same analog transfer as Rhino's Have A Nice Day Vol. 9 (1990), which has correct left and right channels
Warner Special Products' 2-CD Night Songs (1994) uses the same analog transfer as AM Gold and therefore has its left and right channels swapped
JCI's Only Love 1970-1974 (1995) uses the same analog transfer as AM Gold and therefore has its left and right channels swapped
Time-Life's 2-CD Singers And Songwriters Vol. 9 Early '70s (2000) is digitally identical to AM Gold and therefore has its left and right channels swapped
Time-Life's Ultimate Love Songs Collection Love Is You (2004) is digitally exactly 0.58 dB quieter than AM Gold and therefore has its left and right channels swapped
Time-Life's 2-CD Seventies Music Explosion Vol. 1 Sunshine (2005) is digitally exactly 0.4 dB louder than AM Gold and therefore has its left and right channels swapped
11. PRECIOUS AND FEW - ClimaxUses the same analog transfer as Rhino's Have A Nice Day Vol. 7 (1990), which has correct left and right channels
Razor & Tie/Warner Special Products' 2-CD Easy '70s (1993) uses the same analog transfer as AM Gold and therefore has its left and right channels swapped
Time-Life's 2-CD Singers And Songwriters Vol. 16 1969-1972 (2001) is digitally identical to AM Gold and therefore has its left and right channels swapped
12. A HORSE WITH NO NAME - AmericaUses the same analog transfer as Rhino's Billboard Top R&R Hits 1972 (1989) and Time-Life's Sounds Of The Seventies Vol. 3 1972 (1989; digitally identical to BB), which have correct left and right channels
Time-Life's 2-CD Singers And Songwriters Vol. 1 1972-1973 (2000) is digitally identical to AM Gold and therefore has its left and right channels swapped
13. BRANDY (YOU'RE A FINE GIRL) - Looking GlassUses the same analog transfer as Sony's Rock Artifacts Vol. 2 (1991), which has correct left and right channels
Warner Special Products' 2-CD 40 Summer Fun Hits (1993) uses the same analog transfer as AM Gold and therefore has its left and right channels swapped
Reader's Digest's 4-CD American Pie (1998) uses the same analog transfer as AM Gold and therefore has its left and right channels swapped
Time-Life's 2-CD Seventies Music Explosion Vol. 3 Miracles (2005) is digitally exactly 0.9 dB louder than AM Gold and therefore has its left and right channels swapped
14. EVERYBODY PLAYS THE FOOL - Main IngredientUses the same analog transfer as RCA's Nipper's Greatest Hits The '70s (1989), which has correct left and right channels
Time-Life's 2-CD Seventies Music Explosion Vol. 3 Miracles (2005) is digitally exactly 0.4 db louder than AM Gold and therefore has its left and right channels swapped
15. SYLVIA'S MOTHER - Dr. Hook And The Medicine ShowUses the same analog transfer as Rhino's Have A Nice Day Vol. 8 (1990), which has correct left and right channels
16. OH GIRL - Chi-LitesUses the same analog transfer as Rhino's Billboard Top R&B Hits 1972 (1990), which has correct left and right channels
17. GOOD TIME CHARLIE'S GOT THE BLUES - Danny O'KeefeI don't know the source of the mastering for AM Gold, but the left and right channels are swapped compared to Rhino's Have A Nice Day Vol. 17 (1993)
Time-Life's 2-CD Singers And Songwriters Vol. 9 Early '70s (2000) is digitally identical to AM Gold and therefore has its left and right channels swapped
18. ME AND MRS. JONES - Billy PaulUses the same analog transfer as Rhino's Billboard Top R&B Hits 1972 (1990), which has correct left and right channels
JCI's Only Soul 1970-1974 (1996) uses the same analog transfer as AM Gold and therefore has its left and right channels swapped
19. BABY DON'T GET HOOKED ON ME - Mac DavisUses the same analog transfer as Time-Life's 2-CD Echoes Of Love (1991), which has correct left and right channels
Time-Life's 2-CD Singers And Songwriters Vol. 16 1969-1972 (2001) is digitally identical to AM Gold and therefore has its left and right channels swapped
Time-Life's 2-CD Seventies Music Explosion Vol. 3 Miracles (2005) is digitally exactly 1.9 dB louder than AM Gold and therefore has its left and right channels swapped
20. WITHOUT YOU - NilssonUses the same analog transfer as Time-Life's Sounds Of The Seventies Vol. 3 1972 (1989), which has correct left and right channels
Waner Special Products' 2-CD Seventies Party Mix (1996) uses the same analog transfer as AM Gold and therefore has its left and right channels swapped
Time-Life's 2-CD Singers And Songwriters Vol. 1 1972-1973 (2000) is digitally identical to AM Gold and therefore has its left and right channels swapped
Time-Life's 2-CD Classic Soft Rock Vol. 4 More Than A Feeling (2006) uses the same analog transfer as AM Gold and therefore has its left and right channels swapped
21. NIGHTS IN WHITE SATIN - Moody BluesUses the same analog transfer as the Moody Blues collection Voices In The Sky (1984)
Reader's Digest's 4-CD American Pie (1998) uses the same analog transfer as AM Gold and therefore has its left and right channels swapped
Reader's Digest's 4-CD Time In A Bottle (2006) uses the same analog transfer as AM Gold and therefore has its left and right channels swapped

Edited by crapfromthepast

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crapfromthepast Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Music Fan Joined: 14 September 2006 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 163	Post Options Post Reply Quote crapfromthepast Thanks(0) Quote Reply Topic: Time-Life’s Superhits and AM Gold 1972 Posted: 25 April 2018 at 6:59am
	The Time-Life compilation Superhits Vol. 11 1972 (1991) was later repackaged as AM Gold Vol. 7 1972 (1991). The disc contents are identical in every way, but the packaging and liner notes are different. There was later a reissue of AM Gold Vol. 7 1972 with a "RE-1" in the matrix number. The reissue swapped out one song, and used identical digital clones for the remaining tracks. Unfortunately, due to a mastering error, the left and right channels are swapped on all 21 tracks on Superhits Vol. 11 1972 and the original (non-RE-1) release of AM Gold Vol. 7 1972. The left/right channel swaps have propagated into downstream masterings, annoying purists like me. The source of all these left/right problems is Superhits Vol. 11 1972 and AM Gold Vol. 7 1972. Avoid Superhits Vol. 11 1972 (1991) and AM Gold Vol. 7 1972 (1991), if you can. I've listed all the downstream discs that I have; there may be more. 1. BLACK AND WHITE - Three Dog Night Uses the same analog transfer as Rhino's Billboard Top R&R Hits 1972 (1989) and Time-Life's Sounds Of The Seventies Vol. 3 1972 (1989; digitally identical to BB), which have correct left and right channels 2. YOU DON'T MESS AROUND WITH JIM - Jim Croce Uses the same analog transfer as Time-Life's Sounds Of The Seventies Vol. 13 1972 Take Two (1991), which has correct left and right channels 3. I CAN SEE CLEARLY NOW - Johnny Nash Uses the same analog transfer as Rhino's Billboard Top R&R Hits 1972 (1989) and Time-Life's Sounds Of The Seventies Vol. 3 1972 (1989; digitally identical to BB), which have correct left and right channels EMI Australia's 5-CD Seventies Complete Vol. 1 (1997) uses the same analog transfer as AM Gold and therefore has its left and right channels swapped Time-Life's 2-CD Singers And Songwriters Vol. 1 1972-1973 (2000) is digitally identical to AM Gold and therefore has its left and right channels swapped 4. I'M STILL IN LOVE WITH YOU - Al Green Uses the same analog transfer as Time-Life's 4-CD Great Love Songs Of The 70's And 80's Vol. 4 Endless Love (1991) and Time-Life's Sounds Of The Seventies Vol. 13 1972 Take Two (1991; digitally identical to Great Love Songs), which have correct left and right channels 5. ALONE AGAIN (NATURALLY) - Gilbert O'Sullivan Uses the same analog transfer as Rhino's Have A Nice Day Vol. 8 (1990), which has correct left and right channels Reader's Digest's 4-CD American Pie (1998) uses the same analog transfer as AM Gold and therefore has its left and right channels swapped Time-Life's 2-CD Singers And Songwriters Vol. 9 Early '70s (2000) is digitally identical to AM Gold and therefore has its left and right channels swapped Time-Life's 2-CD Seventies Music Explosion Vol. 4 Magic (2005) is digitally exactly 1.42 dB louder than AM Gold and therefore has its left and right channels swapped 6. (LAST NIGHT) I DIDN'T GET TO SLEEP AT ALL - Fifth Dimension Uses the same analog transfer as Arista's 5th Dimension collection Greatest Hits On Earth (copyright 1972), which has correct left and right channels Razor & Tie/Warner Special Products' 2-CD Easy '70s (1993) uses the same analog transfer as AM Gold and therefore has its left and right channels swapped *7. NICE TO BE WITH YOU - Gallery (only on Superhits* and original pressings of AM Gold)** Uses the same analog transfer as Rhino's Have A Nice Day Vol. 8 (1990), which has correct left and right channels Warner Special Products' 2-CD 40 Summer Fun Hits (1993) uses the same analog transfer as AM Gold and therefore has its left and right channels swapped *7. LONG COOL WOMAN (IN A BLACK DRESS) - Hollies (only on RE-1 rerelease of AM Gold)* Has the correct left/right channels; no left/right reversal on this track on the RE-1 rerelease; the other 20 tracks on the RE-1 rerelease do have their left and right channels swapped Digitally exactly 0.97 dB quieter than Rhino's Billboard Top R&R Hits 1972 (1989) 8. GARDEN PARTY - Rick Nelson Uses the same analog transfer as Time-Life's Rock 'N' Roll Era Vol. 31 Ricky Nelson 1957-1972 (1990), which has correct left and right channels Time-Life's 2-CD Singers And Songwriters Vol. 9 Early '70s (2000) is digitally exactly 0.439 dB louder than AM Gold and therefore has its left and right channels swapped 9. SUMMER BREEZE - Seals And Crofts Uses the same analog transfer as Time-Life's Sounds Of The Seventies Vol. 13 1972 Take Two (1991), which has correct left and right channels Time-Life's 2-CD Singers And Songwriters Vol. 1 1972-1973 (2000) is a differently-EQ digital clone of AM Gold and therefore has its left and right channels swapped 10. I'D LOVE YOU TO WANT ME - Lobo Uses the same analog transfer as Rhino's Have A Nice Day Vol. 9 (1990), which has correct left and right channels Warner Special Products' 2-CD Night Songs (1994) uses the same analog transfer as AM Gold and therefore has its left and right channels swapped JCI's Only Love 1970-1974 (1995) uses the same analog transfer as AM Gold and therefore has its left and right channels swapped Time-Life's 2-CD Singers And Songwriters Vol. 9 Early '70s (2000) is digitally identical to AM Gold and therefore has its left and right channels swapped Time-Life's Ultimate Love Songs Collection Love Is You (2004) is digitally exactly 0.58 dB quieter than AM Gold and therefore has its left and right channels swapped Time-Life's 2-CD Seventies Music Explosion Vol. 1 Sunshine (2005) is digitally exactly 0.4 dB louder than AM Gold and therefore has its left and right channels swapped 11. PRECIOUS AND FEW - Climax Uses the same analog transfer as Rhino's Have A Nice Day Vol. 7 (1990), which has correct left and right channels Razor & Tie/Warner Special Products' 2-CD Easy '70s (1993) uses the same analog transfer as AM Gold and therefore has its left and right channels swapped Time-Life's 2-CD Singers And Songwriters Vol. 16 1969-1972 (2001) is digitally identical to AM Gold and therefore has its left and right channels swapped 12. A HORSE WITH NO NAME - America Uses the same analog transfer as Rhino's Billboard Top R&R Hits 1972 (1989) and Time-Life's Sounds Of The Seventies Vol. 3 1972 (1989; digitally identical to BB), which have correct left and right channels Time-Life's 2-CD Singers And Songwriters Vol. 1 1972-1973 (2000) is digitally identical to AM Gold and therefore has its left and right channels swapped 13. BRANDY (YOU'RE A FINE GIRL) - Looking Glass Uses the same analog transfer as Sony's Rock Artifacts Vol. 2 (1991), which has correct left and right channels Warner Special Products' 2-CD 40 Summer Fun Hits (1993) uses the same analog transfer as AM Gold and therefore has its left and right channels swapped Reader's Digest's 4-CD American Pie (1998) uses the same analog transfer as AM Gold and therefore has its left and right channels swapped Time-Life's 2-CD Seventies Music Explosion Vol. 3 Miracles (2005) is digitally exactly 0.9 dB louder than AM Gold and therefore has its left and right channels swapped 14. EVERYBODY PLAYS THE FOOL - Main Ingredient Uses the same analog transfer as RCA's Nipper's Greatest Hits The '70s (1989), which has correct left and right channels Time-Life's 2-CD Seventies Music Explosion Vol. 3 Miracles (2005) is digitally exactly 0.4 db louder than AM Gold and therefore has its left and right channels swapped 15. SYLVIA'S MOTHER - Dr. Hook And The Medicine Show Uses the same analog transfer as Rhino's Have A Nice Day Vol. 8 (1990), which has correct left and right channels 16. OH GIRL - Chi-Lites Uses the same analog transfer as Rhino's Billboard Top R&B Hits 1972 (1990), which has correct left and right channels 17. GOOD TIME CHARLIE'S GOT THE BLUES - Danny O'Keefe I don't know the source of the mastering for AM Gold, but the left and right channels are swapped compared to Rhino's Have A Nice Day Vol. 17 (1993) Time-Life's 2-CD Singers And Songwriters Vol. 9 Early '70s (2000) is digitally identical to AM Gold and therefore has its left and right channels swapped 18. ME AND MRS. JONES - Billy Paul Uses the same analog transfer as Rhino's Billboard Top R&B Hits 1972 (1990), which has correct left and right channels JCI's Only Soul 1970-1974 (1996) uses the same analog transfer as AM Gold and therefore has its left and right channels swapped 19. BABY DON'T GET HOOKED ON ME - Mac Davis Uses the same analog transfer as Time-Life's 2-CD Echoes Of Love (1991), which has correct left and right channels Time-Life's 2-CD Singers And Songwriters Vol. 16 1969-1972 (2001) is digitally identical to AM Gold and therefore has its left and right channels swapped Time-Life's 2-CD Seventies Music Explosion Vol. 3 Miracles (2005) is digitally exactly 1.9 dB louder than AM Gold and therefore has its left and right channels swapped 20. WITHOUT YOU - Nilsson Uses the same analog transfer as Time-Life's Sounds Of The Seventies Vol. 3 1972 (1989), which has correct left and right channels Waner Special Products' 2-CD Seventies Party Mix (1996) uses the same analog transfer as AM Gold and therefore has its left and right channels swapped Time-Life's 2-CD Singers And Songwriters Vol. 1 1972-1973 (2000) is digitally identical to AM Gold and therefore has its left and right channels swapped Time-Life's 2-CD Classic Soft Rock Vol. 4 More Than A Feeling (2006) uses the same analog transfer as AM Gold and therefore has its left and right channels swapped 21. NIGHTS IN WHITE SATIN - Moody Blues Uses the same analog transfer as the Moody Blues collection Voices In The Sky (1984) Reader's Digest's 4-CD American Pie (1998) uses the same analog transfer as AM Gold and therefore has its left and right channels swapped Reader's Digest's 4-CD Time In A Bottle (2006) uses the same analog transfer as AM Gold and therefore has its left and right channels swapped Edited by crapfromthepast
	There's a lot of crap on the radio, but there's only one Crap From The Past.

eriejwg Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Music Fan Joined: 10 June 2007 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 122	Post Options Post Reply Quote eriejwg Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 25 April 2018 at 10:23am
	I've always wondered, how does an entire series of discs, in this case AM Gold, have the channels switched throughout the entire series? Was it an in studio masdtering error or did they receive the masters elsewhere?
	John Gallagher Erie, PA Celebrating 28 years as a full-time wedding & special event DJ!

crapfromthepast Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Music Fan Joined: 14 September 2006 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 163	Post Options Post Reply Quote crapfromthepast Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 25 April 2018 at 10:57am
	I'd bet that the problem could probably be traced back to one particular mixing room, where a left channel output of a tape deck was mistakenly plugged into a right channel input on a mixing board, and vice versa. The Superhits/AM Gold discs with the left/right problem were released in the 1990-1992 time frame, so it's possible that no one touched the equipment wiring in that time, and no one noticed. For the batch of AM Gold discs released from 1996 onward, the left and right channels are correct. Those 1996-and-later discs seem to be all digital clones of earlier CDs, usually with a level change but no EQ adjustment. They sound great.
	There's a lot of crap on the radio, but there's only one Crap From The Past.

AdvprosD Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Music Fan Joined: 12 June 2020 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 5	Post Options Post Reply Quote AdvprosD Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 09 August 2020 at 7:36pm
	This sounds like fun! I'm going to have to check this out. Back in the DJ crates is a set of Superhits from a time when I wasn't able to order a whole collection at once. I'm glad Time-Life fixed that marketing strategy. Or, maybe they were still laying down masters for the issues at that time and getting a whole set wasn't actually possible? I did find a seller on ebay a few years back that sold me the whole set AM Gold discs, (At least the ones that were originally Superhits.) I think when they changed the name over they started expanding the series to about double the size of the original set. All the more reason for me to get this stuff out of the crates and onto shelves proper! My wife actually made the point to me one day by saying something to the effect of: "What's the point in having all these CDs if you can't display them" It was pretty much the same statement for my Star Trek memorabilia which got priority for "Display."
	<Dave> Someone please tell I-Heart Radio that St. Louis is not known as The Loo!