Wayne Newton- Years

crapfromthepast wrote: There's a series of 6 CDs called "Dynasty Collection" that may be of interest to Wayne Newton collectors. I found the full series used once, and bought one of the discs that included the song "The Letter", just so I'd have a copy of this notorious song. The discs are odd, with no copyright date at all. Years/dp/B000FEVY1U">Here's a link on Amazon to one of the discs that purports to include the song "Years". I can't vouch for these, but if you're really intent on finding "Years" on CD, there's one listed at the link for dirt cheap.

I couldn’t resist the temptation and ordered this CD. Unfortunately, the
version of “Years” is the same version as on the Curb CD. Until Aaron
pointed it out, I hadn’t noticed that the two versions were made from the
same basic recording.

The versions of Newton’s three other Top 40 hits on this CD are all the
hit versions, although “Daddy Don’t You Walk So Fast” has the
channels reversed. The two Capitol hits are licensed from Capitol and
are in good sound with the channels reversed compared to the Capitol
Collectors Series CD.

aaronk wrote: OK, I finally had a chance to do an A/B comparison of "Years" from the Curb "Best Of" CD. I think it would classify more as a remix rather than a re-recording, although there is one line where the vocal differs. Here are the main differences: - Curb version has an acoustic guitar overdub - Curb version has more reverb on lead vocal - Curb version has the strings brought up much louder in the mix, especially on the intro and verses - Curb version has an alternate vocal on the line "you feel so near" at 28 seconds into the song All the other instrumentation and vocals are the same between the two. I wonder if this "remix" was done at the time the song was recorded rather than specifically for the Curb CD. It's not necessarily more modern sounding, just different.

Is it possible that this mix is just an LP mix rather
than the 45 mix?

LunarLaugh wrote: Is it possible that this mix is just an LP mix rather than the 45 mix?

I wouldn't waste your time getting the Curb version like I did...I would not even classify it as an LP mix or 45 mix. My understanding is that it was rerecorded because the original rights to the original recording could not be obtained.

Edited by PopArchivist

LunarLaugh check your PM for an analysis of the versions.

I gave Aaron the Curb recording from The Best of CD a long time ago. I listened to that and the 45 and "matching up to a certain point" with "alternate lead vocals" is why I don't consider it a 45 mix or an LP mix. A true 45 mix in my opinion would not add a vocal that was never there, change a lot of the instrumentation (strings, reverb etc.) The entire feel of the song for me is off in comparison to the 45 version. I'm not an expert, I am just sharing with you why I don't label it as a 45 mix. To each their own.

Like I said earlier, the Curb version exists because the original rights to the original recording could not be obtained by Curb. A good portion of The Best of has been rerecorded, most likely including Years. Aaron labeled it a "remix" and I would probably say that is correct.

Aries II records originally put out a lot of Wayne Newton stuff in 1979-1980. Often times when an artist switched labels, the label would have them record a new version. Kenny Rogers did it all the time, as did other artists of the time period.



Edited by PopArchivist