"Gold Dust Woman" - 8-Track Version?

mikebise · #1 01-24-2011, 06:55 PM

When I was first getting into Stevie in Early 1982, a friend gave me her copy of Rumours on 8-track which I could play in my Blazer. Loved, loved, LOVED "Gold Dust Woman"!!! Well, a year and more later in May 1983, I bought the cassette of Rumours to play in my new car. Imagine my surprise at then hearing a significantly shorter "Gold Dust Woman" compared to the 8-track version I was used to!!!

Has anyone else heard the 8-track version of "Gold Dust Woman"? It has the slow fade intro that some of the other mixes do, but the ending is the killer. There is NO fade at all, Stevie has all her wails, the chimes are chinking, the "wolf" is howling... As the instruments stop playing in a natural ending, and the clanking stops and one final "wolf howl", there is a finality to the song: one long bass roll. It's still VERY clear in my head: Bum, bum bum bum bum BUM...

It ENDS. No fade or even kinda fades.

Now, I've heard many other mixes that almost get there, but not quite. None ever make it to that bass roll ending the song.

Has anyone else heard this and does anyone have it?

Nikolaj · #2 01-24-2011, 07:04 PM

Mike, I can't remember which song it was- but I thought it was GDW- on the 8 track, how part of the song was on one track, and then had to click to the next track for it to finish. I recall (incorrectly, maybe) that the songs were not in the same sequence as on the LP and cassette.
I do remember clearly, though, GDW blaring, as I lay in the back of "a van" of my older cousin, and a girl in the van saying "I'm scared!" as the song finished.
GDW did sound great on 8 track!
I just "flashed" on all the custom airbrush artwork on the outside of vans back in the 70s.
Airbrushed art on autos was very intricate and beautiful back then. Whatever happened to it?

Travis · #3 01-24-2011, 07:30 PM

Interesting - I'd love to hear this. Maybe somebody has or someone will buy a copy on eBay and rip it - if that's even possible.

Funny you mention this because, I'm 100% certain that there is also a difference between the "Straight Back" that is on the album and the "Straight Back" that is on the cassette. I can't recall which is which but I know one of them did NOT have the extra vocals that are in parentheses on the lyric sheet, while the other one DID have them.

AnthonyMI · #4 01-24-2011, 07:39 PM

If anyone still have an 8 track player with the RCA (the white and red plugs) on the back they SHOULD be able to use the same methods they use to rip LPs. Since most the modern record players are Preamp built in like a 8 track or cassette player there really is no difference.

The other way is to simple use a iPod to RCA (or headphone to RCA)cord and patch the 8 Track player directly into a computer and use whatever recording program you happen to have. I recommend something that can sample at or above 44K and in at LEAST 128bit if not 160 or HIGHER. The closer to lossless the better. The 8 track will already have HISS on it. Then from there there might be a hiss filter (remember Dolby B?) and from there we should have a decent quality "rip" of this version of Gold Dust woman.

I will look to see if i still even HAVE my Rumours on 8 track

mikebise · #5 01-24-2011, 07:42 PM

You're right: The vinyl album of Mirage that was available on release date in June 1982 did not have the extra Stevie overdubs. There is also a different guitar mixed in there at the end. The cassette has the extra Stevie vocals (as shown in the lyrics sheet), as does the CD.

Nik, that "Gold Dust Woman" seemed so much scarier, yeah!!!!

Oh, and the 8-track version of "Crystal" from Fleetwood Mac (1975) is much longer than on vinyl or cassette (or CD), those instruments going on and on and on. I guess trying to fill up the space of that part of the 8-track. there was little dead air on an 8-track!

AnthonyMI · #6 01-24-2011, 07:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mikebise

You're right: The vinyl album of Mirage that was available on release date in June 1982 did not have the extra Stevie overdubs. There is also a different guitar mixed in there at the end. The cassette has the extra Stevie vocals (as shown in the lyrics sheet), as does the CD.

Nik, that "Gold Dust Woman" seemed so much scarier, yeah!!!!

Oh, and the 8-track version of "Crystal" from Fleetwood Mac (1975) is much longer than on vinyl or cassette (or CD), those instruments going on and on and on. I guess trying to fill up the space of that part of the 8-track. there was little dead air on an 8-track!

I THINK the version of Rumours WITH White Album on it that was on cassette (it was a rare combo cassette) had the same extra long crystal.

mikebise · #7 01-24-2011, 07:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AnthonyMI

If anyone still have an 8 track player with the RCA (the white and red plugs) on the back they SHOULD be able to use the same methods they use to rip LPs. Since most the modern record players are Preamp built in like a 8 track or cassette player there really is no difference.

The other way is to simple use a iPod to RCA (or headphone to RCA)cord and patch the 8 Track player directly into a computer and use whatever recording program you happen to have. I recommend something that can sample at or above 44K and in at LEAST 128bit if not 160 or HIGHER. The closer to lossless the better. The 8 track will already have HISS on it. Then from there there might be a hiss filter (remember Dolby B?) and from there we should have a decent quality "rip" of this version of Gold Dust woman.

I will look to see if i still even HAVE my Rumours on 8 track

Wow, that's exciting!!!

cristochango · #8 01-24-2011, 07:51 PM

If we're speaking about subtle differences in songs, has anyone ever heard a different version of Say You Love Me? Almost everytime that I hear it on the radio it has extra guitar parts over it that I have never heard on any of the versions I have. Just curious :P

mikebise · #9 01-24-2011, 07:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AnthonyMI

I THINK the version of Rumours WITH White Album on it that was on cassette (it was a rare combo cassette) had the same extra long crystal.

I had that combo cassette as well, but I didn't listen to it as much as I did the 8-track back then, so that's how I remembered "Crystal" going on and on and on and on...

I even remember the packaging that combo cassette came in!

vivfox · #10 01-24-2011, 07:53 PM

In 1979 I remember visiting my cousins in Maryland. Russ had the best stereo system with the loudest speakers I had ever heard. I played his Rumours 8 track tape a million times that weekend even though I had the album at home. His 8 track sounded a million times better than my LP but I figured that was due to his expensive speakers. I don't remember anything different.

It was on this same trip that his sister Lois told me she saw Fleetwood Mac in 1978(she was at the Largo show) and she said Stevie Nicks "spooked" her. I never forgot that. I figured Stevie did her job well.

CADreaming · #11 01-24-2011, 09:00 PM

All these '70's stories are cracking me up!!

Travis · #12 01-24-2011, 10:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cristochango

If we're speaking about subtle differences in songs, has anyone ever heard a different version of Say You Love Me? Almost everytime that I hear it on the radio it has extra guitar parts over it that I have never heard on any of the versions I have. Just curious :P

I think you're just hearing the single remix which can be found on the re-issue of the White Album as well as the 2002 Very Best Of FM CD. Not that hard to obtain ;-)

#13 01-25-2011, 05:15 AM

I heard this 8-track version as well long time ago. It was at a friend's house about '86 or so. Her mother had the 8-track and we listened to it. I remember being amazed because I had never heard that version of GDW before. Glad you posted this because I thought I was out of my mind how that version ended. But I guess I was right all along. I only heard it once and that was it. Have never heard it since.

I have an 8-track someone gave me years ago as a gift but no player.

Travis · #14 01-25-2011, 05:48 AM

This conversation inspired me to hunt down the 8 track - there was a brand new sealed copy on eBay yesterday and I won it. Now, just need to find a way to rip it once I get it.

mikebise · #15 01-25-2011, 08:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by joe

I heard this 8-track version as well long time ago. It was at a friend's house about '86 or so. Her mother had the 8-track and we listened to it. I remember being amazed because I had never heard that version of GDW before. Glad you posted this because I thought I was out of my mind how that version ended. But I guess I was right all along. I only heard it once and that was it. Have never heard it since.

I have an 8-track someone gave me years ago as a gift but no player.

Thank you, Joe!!! I knew I wasn't crazy! The ENDING!!!