What's the story with all those artists of the 50's and 60's re-recording their hits?

Discussion in 'Music Corner' started by voicebug, Feb 20, 2004.

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  1. voicebug

    voicebug Senior Member Thread Starter

    Location:
    now in Houston, TX
    You've seen them on labels like Dominion, K-Tel, Madacy-----those dreaded oldies comilations that feature re-recorded versions of hit songs. My question is, what's the story behind this? There are dozens and dozens (hundreds??) of these counterfeit versions floating around on various labels. Thankfully, K-Tel, and some of the other labels identify these frauds with an asterik in small print on the back artwork that says something like 'these are stereo re-recordings and not the original hit versions.'

    Anyone remember the DAK catalog??? This guy sold some pretty decent audio equipment at factory direct prices. I got some awesome sounding DBX Soundfield speakers from this company. Anyway, about 13-14 years ago, he offered a multi-disc CD set of 'all the greatest hits of all time.' He had a whole page essay on how these songs take you back to a great time in history, recreate fabulous memories, etc. etc.

    I paid a pretty penny to get a huge oldies collection and when I received the set, they were about 90% re-recordings. It was hideous. Of course, re-recordings were not mentioned at all in the large sales pitch. I sent them back with my complaint letter, and surprisingly got my money back.

    So where did these come from? Anyone know specifics? Did some enterprising A&R man see dollar signs and call up about 50 of these old artists? Were these recordings done at the same time? At various studios? In various years? It seems like almost all of these 1-5 hit type of groups re-recorded their big hits. Oh well. I'm sure some of you others out there have been burned by buying some of these recordings. :(
     
  2. Steve Hoffman

    Steve Hoffman Your host Your Host

    I can't stand it. They are called "re-records". After an artist leaves a major label, their contract states that they can't re-record their hits for a certain number of years. When the time is up, back they go into the studio. Why? Most likely they didn't get paid anything for the REAL versions, or if they did get paid it was for like a penny a disc or something. They can make a whole lot more with the re-record.

    So, that aspect of it is good; the artist actually makes some real money for a change; but it's bad for us, WAY bad for us...

    By the way, the most famous example of a re-record being BETTER than the original? Buddy Holly recorded "That'll Be The Day" on Decca in 1956. It really stunk. He re-recorded it in 1957 in direct violation of his contract, heh. In order to hide the fact that he did so, Norman Petty came up with the idea of calling the group the Crickets. The ironic thing is that the master was sold to BRUNSWICK, which was actually part of Decca. When Decca found out they were mad, but the song was a smash hit so what could they do? Just sit back and collect the money...
     
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  3. Jamie Tate

    Jamie Tate New Member

    Location:
    Nashville
    I was at Six Flags this summer and the park's music system was playing golden oldies... all re-records.
     
  4. Steve Hoffman

    Steve Hoffman Your host Your Host

    Heck, when I saw the movie "Ghost" for the first time, the fact that it was a re-record of "Unchained Melody" instead of the real deal bugged me...Probably much cheaper to license and who would know the difference anyway? :mad:
     
  5. Sckott

    Sckott Hand Tighten Only.

    Location:
    South Plymouth, Ma
    Sheesh. The DAK catalog. Remember those Chrome cassette tapes he sold in bulk? He sold some wacky electronics too, but as a teenager, I thought a lot of the stuff was neato. Especially the auto-reverse turntables! :eek: Oh well.

    Chubby Checker comes to mind. The remakes, when I hear them, bug me to death.
     
  6. Casino

    Casino Senior Member

    Location:
    BossTown
    Yeah, and their "music director" probably didn't know the difference...

    You know, re-records are done sometimes just to fulfill a demand - not a demand for re-records, of course, but just to make songs available. Chubby Checker, for example, had all his C-P (Abkco-owned) stuff being held in the vaults and finally re-recorded some of them for another label (K-Tel in this case).

    Other times, especially back in the 60's and 70's, the 1950's records we re-done when artists moved to new labels (Everly Bros, Paul Anka, for example). Occasionally, the record jacket would even "boast" that the material was newly-recorded. "Better fidelity," ya know. At that time many just wanted whatever might sound best (and in that glorious "stereo" sound) rather than caring whether they were the original, authentic hit recordings.
     
  7. Anthology123

    Anthology123 Senior Member

    I remember re-records of: Judy in Disguise (John Fred), Hippy Hippy Shake (Swingin Blue Jeans), Love Grows (Edison Lighthouse), Any hit by the Grass Roots, and many more...
    It was so disappointing to buy those LPs only to find the re-records among the real ones.
     
  8. sharedon

    sharedon Forum Zonophone

    Location:
    Boomer OK
    And now there's all sorts of compilation discs you can find not only in supermarkets and discount stores, but perfectly good music places, that you have to read the fine print on (if there is any) to determine that re-recordings are used.
     
  9. jonathan

    jonathan Senior Member

    Location:
    NY
    Every once in a blue moon, the re-recording is better. I like Don McLean's re-recording of "Castles in the Air" better than the original. Also, I like Professor Longhair's 70's re-recordings better than the '50's originals.

    Jonathan
     
  10. RDK

    RDK Active Member

    Location:
    Los Angeles, CA
    Yeah, but if The Beatles re-recorded their entire catalog we'd all buy them. Tell me I'm wrong. I dare ya'...

    :D
     
  11. John Carsell

    John Carsell Forum Resident

    Location:
    Northwest Illinois
    I don't know how many times the wife and I have been out shopping and she sees an oldies collection that has her interested. She say "look at how many songs are on here for only $7.99" (or whatever) and I'll say let me have a look. Sure enough the majority are re-records. Then I tell her you gotta do your homework when buying these.

    The majority of re-records IMO fail to capture the spark and the magic of the originals.

    Anyone ever heard Mungo Jerry's remake of In The Summertime? Yuucch! :hurlleft:
     
  12. Pug

    Pug The Prodigal Snob Returns!

    Location:
    Near Music Direct
    Technically isn't Please Please Me a re-record as the single and LP are different?

    Sean
     
  13. Steve Hoffman

    Steve Hoffman Your host Your Host

  14. John Carsell

    John Carsell Forum Resident

    Location:
    Northwest Illinois
    Just some different editing from different takes.
     
  15. Dave D

    Dave D Done!

    Location:
    Milton, Canada
    Really? Wow, I thought it was the real deal.
     
  16. Steve Hoffman

    Steve Hoffman Your host Your Host

    The Beatles DID re-record "LOVE ME DO" though, and I guess you could say "Help", etc..

    But what we are talking about on this thread is going back in the studio 20 years later and trying to "recapture" the sound of an old hit. It really never works...
     
  17. Pug

    Pug The Prodigal Snob Returns!

    Location:
    Near Music Direct
    I knew something was different. Thanks!

    Sean
     
  18. Dave D

    Dave D Done!

    Location:
    Milton, Canada
    Can you say Give My Regards To Broadstreet!!!!!????
     
  19. Pug

    Pug The Prodigal Snob Returns!

    Location:
    Near Music Direct
    Ack! I try not to! :)

    How about the re-make of Money for Pink Floyd's A Collection of Great Dance Songs? It was re-recorded becuase Capitol had the rights to DSotM.

    Sean
     
  20. Dave D

    Dave D Done!

    Location:
    Milton, Canada
    I thought it was just an alternate version or remix?
     
  21. Pug

    Pug The Prodigal Snob Returns!

    Location:
    Near Music Direct
    I've always read that Dave Gilmour re-recorded it for Columbia records.

    Sean
     
  22. BradOlson

    BradOlson Country/Christian Music Maven

    And then there is Gordon Lightfoot who has a history of re-recording many of his songs for the Gord's Gold packages (highlights of the UA catalog for the first volume) and all of Gord's Gold Vol. 2 except for 4 tracks, which came out in the 1980s.
     
  23. BradOlson

    BradOlson Country/Christian Music Maven

    The re-recording of Unchained Melody that came out during the time "Ghost" came out is on "The Best of The Righteous Brothers" on Curb Records.
     
  24. musicfan37

    musicfan37 Senior Member

    And I understand Dave Gilmore is the only one on it. Please correct me if I'm wrong.
     
  25. bartels76

    bartels76 Forum Hall Of Fame

    Location:
    CT
    I love Sinatra's Sinatra which is all re-records. I think they kill the Capitol/Columbia versions.
    Sorry I know I'm in the minority here.
     
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