OK, after the bit of discussion with Disco Funk yesterday in this thread: http://www.discomusic.com/forums/dis...d-song-cd.html I did some more research last light, which basically involved a stopwatch, some note-taking and way more repeated listenings of "Love To Love You Baby" than any non-disco afficianado would be able to stand.
I have a couple of corrections to my posts from yesterday, and a bunch of other info which may be helpful or interesting to folks (hence the new thread).
First, while my 7" vinyl is stored somewhere in a box right now, I do also have it recorded on a cassette that's handy. I broke out the tape and a stopwatch and timed the song. I had thought that it was about 3:45, but it turns out it clocks in at 3:22. Keep that number in mind.
Second, I was mistaken regarding the length of the version on the Time-Life Sounds of the Seventies - 1976 CD. I had stated that it was 3:22, but it's actually 4:53, and contains part of the "new" material that's included in the 16:48 album version.
In addition to the Love To Love You Baby album on CD, I also have the song "Love To Love You Baby" on several other CDs.
On Endless Summer, the track length is 3:21
On The Journey, the track length is 3:22
On The Millenium Collection, the track length is 3:21
All three of these are the same recording, but they are different from the vinyl 7" that I have. More on that in a bit.
As mentioned, the Time-Life Sounds of the Seventies - 1976 version is 4:53, and is a very different version of the song.
On On The Radio, the track length is 4:07, and the song is similar in structure to the Sounds of the Seventies version. Also, the end of the song segues into "Try Me We Can Make It".
Now, as to the 16:48 album version, it is essentially two full run-throughs of the 3:22 single format - one at the beginning and one at the end - with different, less structured material for the roughly 9 1/2 minute middle section.
I believe the singles (both my vinyl copy and the 3:22 version on the above compilations) are at a very slightly faster tempo than the album version. On the album version, it took 3:30 or so to get to the same ending spot as the 3:22 versions, even though the structure of the song is identical. The "single" at the end of the album version also runs 3:30 to the same spot, but then continues for another :15 to the fade out.
The vocal track on both the beginning "single" and ending "single" of the album version sounds identical, like they just used the same recording twice (even down to all the moans, sighs and ad-libs!) However, the music is different. It's the same music, but the synth parts are different. On the first "single" part, there is less synth used for "shading" (I guess you might call it that) throughout the song. Also, the synth part at the bridge (about 1/3 into the song) is thinner and reedier sounding. It definitely sounds like a single synth line, whereas on the "single" at the end of the song, the bridge sounds more like a couple violins and a cello. The "end single" has a fuller sound to the music than the "beginning single".
Now, my vinyl 7" is identical to the "end single" from the album version, except that it doesn't have the extra 15 seconds at the end and it's slightly faster to squeeze it down to 3:22 (from 3:30). Also, it has the inhale before Donna first sings, "Iiiiiiiiii.... love to love you baby....", which of course is not on the "end single" portion of the album version; it's only at the beginning of the song.
The 3:22 single version that's on the CD compilations has music that sounds like the "beginning single" of the album version, with a couple of small added synth strokes, but with a DIFFERENT vocal track, one that I find kind of annoying. It sounds more forced, and the opening, "Iiiiiiiii.... love to love you baby"s sound sort of whiney.
I know there are at least a couple more Donna Summer compilations out there which I don't have. From what I have now, though, to get a CD copy of my vinyl 7", I would just record the "end single" off the album version of the song (starting at 13:03-1/2). It would have a 15 second longer fade-out and would be missing the inhale at the beginning, but otherwise it's the correct version.
The other option would be to use the "beginning single" of the album version and fade it out at 3:30. You would then get basically the same music as the compilation versions (as well as the inhale), but would get the (in my opinion) better vocal track of the album version(s).
Brian
*****
Great job Brian !!!! :icon_biggrin: :icon_biggrin: :icon_biggrin:
I love s*#t like this !!! :icon_mrgreen: :icon_cool: :icon_cool: :icon_cool:
You've answered some questions for me .....because lately I have fallen head first in love with this song all over again .... the LP version, and I have asked myself ..... what's this weird little abbreviated version tacked on the end all about???
Now I know : ... its the original 45 version ! ... minus the inhale ..... (right?? )
Which begins at 3:07 in this youtube posting ( 6:45 - 3:07 = 3:39 )
LOVE TO LOVE YOU BABY Donna Summer (pt.2 of lp version)
I have to say my new found fondness has more to do with the 9.5 mid-section part found on the LP ...
and.... ( & I can't believe that such turns out to be the case) --- especially where it seems Donna has already left the studio for the night : the Donna- less parts :icon_eek: :icon_eek: ... and of that, especially the crescendo-ing, up an octave, choral climax ending !! Just love the fuller vocal sound of those multiple angelic voices playing off that trumpet :icon_cool: )
{That delicious part occurs at 1:43 on the youtube post}
Then immediately following that segment, the brief dialogue between the cello/violin and piano is a delight too.
Great song though no matter how and where you slice and dice it !!! :icon_biggrin::icon_cool::icon_mrgreen:
******
Last edited by remicks; January 15th, 2009 at 12:00 AM.
you'd still be waiting for me at the airport
while my ship was coming in
The 4:53 version is the original 7" B-side. This is the version featured on the double lp "On the radio" (minus the ending).
On recent compilations the song is slightly remixed to appear less sexual ("Could it be magic" is in the same case). I think that began in the 90's with "Anthology" and "Endless summer".
There is also a different version of "Love To Love You Baby" on one of the volumes of the Disco Nights series. From what I recall, it was quite choppy. It started out with the beginning "synth" version on the album, then when it reached that climatic crescendo (which would then cut to the 3:22-3:30 album 7" version on the LP), it resumes after the break and then runs its course to the end. I can't explain it like some of you guys, but I guess you would have to listen to the version to find out.
"Everyone knows the real reason why you got that part it was the time you spent on that casting couch"--Antoine Merriwether
"Excuse me, Miss Thing, but both of us spent time on that couch"--Blaine Edwards
I forget where I read it, but apparently this song received different edit treatments by the radio stations. Because of the LP version's length, radio stations were doing their own edits until a 'proper' 45 was released. That can't be right, unless the original 45 mix was put out in Europe first, and then the US had the 45 re-edit release AFTER the LP was released?
Disco Funk
What I've read, though I'm not sure if it is true or not, is that the song was first issued on 7" in Europe. When Neil Bogart signed Giorgio and Donna, the song was remixed/re-recorded at Neil's request into the side-long version that we all know and love. The various compilation and single versions are all edits of the album version, except the original European version. I've never heard this original version (if it exists) so I can't be sure.
Can anyone confirm or refute this?
The 3:20 version is the new 7" version edited from the lp version (same mix). The original version, the one heard at the Bogart party, was never commercially available. Personnally, I've never heard it.
Thanks! I'm glad that I'm not the only one who gets all OCD analyzing songs. :icon_lol:
I **think** so, but I could be wrong. That end portion of the YouTube (starting at 3:07) is what my vinyl 7" sounds like. The "violins" come in behind the "Do it to me again and again / Put me in such an awful spin..." verse (at 3:55), and the bridge following that verse (4:05-4:24) sounds more like violins and cello than it does on the 3:22 compilation cd versions. It's not as obvious on the YouTube post, but it's very clear on the album/cd (Love To Love You Baby).
I remember LTLYB being played on the radio back in late '75/early '76, but, really, probably 20 or so years passed between then and when I finally picked up that vinyl single. I remember the basic sound of the song from when I was younger, but I honestly couldn't tell you if what I have is the original single or a later version. I just know that I like the sound of it better - it sounds fuller and more like a *single* (as opposed to an album cut).
Yeah, I totally love the song - single or album version. I'm not usually one for songs that go on forever, but I have no problem listening to the album version of this one. And yeah, with or without Donna (sorry), I just love the music.
As I was listening to it again (a few times) last night, I was thinking that a 6 or 7 minute version could be edited together to incorporate some of the middle-section material to stretch out the "single" a bit but not be a 17 minute oddessy that stops several times. If I can get some music editing software at some point, maybe I'll play with that.
I think so! :icon_mrgreen:
Funny this should come up - I've jsut finished a disco mix and used just the middle part of the song as the last track on the mix - from the (brilliant) bassline break at about 3.22 to the orchestra finish at around 13.00 before the 'song comes back. Genius song.
Yes... To make a long story, short...
"Love To Love You" was released as a single on Groovy/Basart Records - Holland. (In this version Donna, unmistakably, starts singing in a higher key.) It was not available on any LP, until the OASIS collection, "The Sound of Munich", was released on Star 7/Durium Records, Italy. NOTE: The other incarnations of similar OASIS compilations do not use the original version.
The song was re-recorded, with new vocals, additional bv's and orchestration added, and re-released as "Love To Love You Baby".
ALL subsequent releases are edited versions of the 2nd recording. There are no other remixes from the original multi-track masters.
Also, the only completely-intact release of the "Love To Love You Baby" LP, is the German release, on Atlantic Records.
Personally, I feel the best version is the approximately 8 minute edit, from the 1977 Greatest Hits LP, on GTO Records, UK.
"MUSIC IS AN EMOTION, SEARCHING FOR IT'S VOICE"
...come with me, "BACK TO MUSIC", on DISCOTERIA
Thurs 9am Vancouver, 12pm Montreal, Sat 12pm LA, 3pm NY, Mon 3pm SFO, 6pm FTL
http://www.live365.com/stations/cdnbob2
LOL! Mention something with the slightest reference to a Casablanca abnormality, and the heads just SNAP! right back to it.:icon_lol::icon_lol::icon_lol:
1st Release - Germany
Side B:
Lady Of The Night***
Pandora's Box
Need-A-Man-Blues
The Hostage***
2nd Release - France
Side B:
Lady Of The Night***
Pandora's Box
Need-A-Man-Blues
Whispering Waves
3rd Release - US
Side B:
Full Of Emptiness
Need-A-Man-Blues
Whispering Waves
Pandora's Box
Full Of Emptiness (Reprise)
"MUSIC IS AN EMOTION, SEARCHING FOR IT'S VOICE"
...come with me, "BACK TO MUSIC", on DISCOTERIA
Thurs 9am Vancouver, 12pm Montreal, Sat 12pm LA, 3pm NY, Mon 3pm SFO, 6pm FTL
http://www.live365.com/stations/cdnbob2
I have those two:
4th Release - France [Atlantic/WEA Filipacchi]
Side B:
Full Of Emptiness
Need-A-Man-Blues
Whispering Waves
Pandora's Box
Full Of Emptiness (Reprise)
The Hostage***
Donna Summer - Love to Love You Baby Donna Summer, Love to Love You Baby : disques vinyles d'occasion, album 33T, maxi et single 45T, CD, vinyland
(you can see a big picture of the B-side and on the back cover that "The hostage" was added at the last moment).
5th Release - France [Casablanca/Polygram]
Side B:
Virgin Mary
Need-A-Man-Blues
Whispering Waves
Pandora's Box
Full Of Emptiness
On the label the year is wrong (1978).
Donna Summer - Love To Love You Baby (LP) at Discogs
Last edited by PierreConstantin; January 25th, 2009 at 03:45 AM.
You're right about the "Start" name (now I see that the graphic is a racing flag. DUH!) But mine is definitely the original recording, because I also have a couple copies of the Groovy/Basart 7" single. And it's the same version. Albeit with much better sound quality.
Have you checked it against the US Oasis recording yet? The dead-giveaway is the opening, accapella vocal... "Aaaaahhh, Love To Love You Baby"
"MUSIC IS AN EMOTION, SEARCHING FOR IT'S VOICE"
...come with me, "BACK TO MUSIC", on DISCOTERIA
Thurs 9am Vancouver, 12pm Montreal, Sat 12pm LA, 3pm NY, Mon 3pm SFO, 6pm FTL
http://www.live365.com/stations/cdnbob2
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