I have a friend who skips "Imagine" when listening to John Lennon's "Imagine" album. As far as he is concerned that album begins with the second track, "Crippled Inside."
Back when I was a Facebook member, I had a contentious discussion with a somewhat famous musician and singer, a real arrogant jerk we'll call Mike, about the Rolling Stones' "Their Satanic Majesties Request," which he thought was a hot mess, but which I thought and still think, is a fine record that just needed some tweaking. Imagine how much better it would be if we removed "Sing This All Together," "In Another Land" and "Gomper" and replaced them with "Dandelion," "Child Of The Moon" and "We Love You."
I make edits all the time. It makes for a better listening experience. I recently made a personal edit of Fleetwood Mac's "Rumours." This is an album I thought I'd never need to hear again. I love it, but enough is enough. But then, I got rid of "Don't Stop," "Oh Daddy" and "Gold Dust Woman" and added the brilliant b-side "Silver Springs." "Rumours" sounded fresh again.
Do you know how much more manageable Springsteen's "The River" is without ""You Can Look," "Cadillac Ranch," I'm A Rocker" and "Ramrod," which are essentially the same song anyway?
I think my "Quadrophenia" edit makes a better record.
The Real Me
Cut My Hair
The Punk & the Godfather
I'm One
The Dirty Jobs
Helpless Dancer
Is It In My Head
5:15
Sea & Sand
Drowned
Bell Boy
Love Reign O'er Me
"Blood On The Tracks" is my favorite Dylan record, but I never want to hear "Lily, Rosemary & The Jack Of Hearts." We are all going to die soon. I need that 8:50.
I listened to Elvis Costello's "Trust" yesterday and was having a blast until it was time for "Shot With His Own Gun" and "Big Sister's Clothes." I don't mind "Fish 'N' Chip Paper," but I sacrifice it not to hear the other two. My "Trust" edit closes out Side Two with "Clean Money" and "Hoover Factory."
Our friend Michael Giltz offered up replacing "Fixing A Hole" and "Good Morning, Good Morning" with "Penny Lane" and "Strawberry Fields Forever." Yes, the latter two songs are better than the former. But I love "Fixing A Hole" and "Good Morning, Good Morning," so that wouldn't work for me. Maybe I'd remove "Within You, Without You" and "Lovely Rita" instead.
How about "Paperback Writer" and "Rain" on "Revolver" instead of "Yellow Submarine" and "Got To Get You Into My Life?"
Is it blasphemy?
I may have done a similar post years ago, but I couldn't find it after a solid 14 second search.
So...what are your edits, if you have any?
45 comments:
Hey, now. No downplaying Imagine in this house. My late father-in-law was a violinist on that track. My wife used to get royalty checks for it. But, you can delete No. 9 from the White Album and you will not hear a peep from me.
"but it sounds more fun to me than reconstructing flawed records."
Gee. I thought this was kinda fun.
Sal, my friends and I have had this discussion about multiple albums. You actually nailed The River, and "your" album there is even better than The Ties That Bind. Not sure about removing those songs from Revolver but it sure is interesting that arguably the two best songs from those sessions are only a 45 single. As per Rumours, the single of Silver Springs doesn't hold a candle to that 1997 reunion concert!
They had so much in the can for "More Of The Monkees", that why they chose "The Day We Fall In Love" and "Laugh" over the first versions of "Valleri" or "I Don't Think You Know Me", I don't know. But, hey, it sold millions so who am I to second guess?
Disagree on Trust and Quad -- those are start to finish for me. But I often start Beggars Banquet at No Expectations and skip Stairway just because of how many times I've heard those songs. (Kinda the same way on Can't Buy Me Love.)
I spent a lot of time in the car this past weekend and listened to The River all the way through as well as the single disc version, The Ties That Bind. (Side note: at this point, I realized I strongly prefer the full double album). In no way would I eliminate the 4 rockers you mentioned. Three of them come from sides 3 & 4 and if you remove them, the entire second half of the album is ballads. Good/great ballads for sure, but ballads nonetheless. Yeah, they're all the same song, but so what? They're fun. Anyway, that's just my opinion.
Your Rumors edit is interesting and Silver Springs is easily my favorite from the whole set of songs.
+1 on your edit of my favorite EC album. I would also listen to your Quadrophenia edit.
Not changing Revolver.
Probably not changing Sgt Peppers, especially not removing Fixing or Good Morning. Great potential substitutions, but I'm fine to leave them where they are.
I guess I've never really thought about editing any of my favorite albums like this, other than to drop a dud song or two. The only one I can think of is how to merge Human Touch and Lucky Town into a single, really good album. Good topic today, fun to think about.
Your personal edit of Blue Moves a few years ago was a gateway into learning to love that album. But, that is an example of editing ‘flawed records’ - trimming the fat. The confidence to attempt an improvement to one of the greatest albums ever well, sir, now you have my attention. LOL! But, I found your edit of Rumours to be an enjoyable listening experience. I think it benefits from the leanness.
https://music.apple.com/us/playlist/fleetwood-mac-rumours-bw-edit/pl.u-qxylrmxspxXEo
In I hope a similar spirit of brazen audacity(foolishness?), I’ve edited Abbey Road by removing ‘Maxwell’s Silver Hammer’, ‘Octopus’ Garden’, ‘Sun King’, ‘Mean Mr. Mustard’, and ‘Polythene Pam’.
https://music.apple.com/us/playlist/the-beatles-abbey-road-personal-edit/pl.u-06oxRbaua5XKk
And less audaciously, Thriller, removing ‘Baby Be Mine’ and ‘The Girl Is Mine’.
https://music.apple.com/us/playlist/michael-jackson-thriller-personal-edit/pl.u-XkD02JJFGL45M
Finally, for those at home: The suggested edit of Their Satanic Majesties Request, sequenced in order of release:
https://music.apple.com/us/playlist/the-rolling-stones-their-satanic-majesties-request-bw-edit/pl.u-zPyLkv5Il2M3V
And, I find this great fun! :)
Wow, I like "Sing This All Together" (The first one) and "Big Sister's Clothes"
I prefer many, probably most come to think of it, double albums once I edit them down. Much of sides 3 & 4 of The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway for example. I like condensing the White Album, The Wall, Tommy, and at times even Exile.
Can't remove anything from London Calling though
I agree with Sal's removal of Lily, Rosemary and the Jack of Hearts from Blood on the Tracks. It just goes on and on. I have two more edits. Replace You're a Big Girl Now with the sublime version from Biograph. And tack on Up to Me as the closer.
ELO's Out of the Blue should not have been a double album. I can easily cut that one in half.
Exile is better without Ventilator Blues. The Velvet Underground is better without The Murder Mystery.
- Paul in DK
I'd happily drop Sloop John B from Pet Sounds
I'd love to see your single LP "Out of The Blue," if you're up for it.
My single LP of ELO's Out of the Blue:
Turn to Stone
It's Over
Sweet Talkin' Woman
Night in the City
Starlight
Standin' in the Rain
Big Wheels
Mr. Blue Sky
Sweet Is the Night
Thanks! I'm going in, with one addition. I've added "Summer & Lightning," which I love too much to exclude. Record still comes in at 46 minutes.
I'm sure someone could come up with an excellent edit of Sandanista!, but I love the whole baggy mess.
The strings and choirs aside, I think Phil Spector did a great edit on the various Glyn Johns versions of "Get Back."
Bruce H.
BBJ created a 2 LP "Sandinista."
https://burnwoodtonite.blogspot.com/search?q=sandinista
Not sure I can get on board with your Trust edits, Sal. Big Sister's Clothes is a wonky curve ball at the end of the album that seems appropriate, and Shot With His Own Gun is one of my favorites and seems to fit the Trust mood just right.
One Elvis edit I do frequently is skip Button My Lip on The Delivery Man. That song annoys me. And though it's not on the original album, I edit out Dear God from Skylarking when I play it on Spotify. It's one of those Andy Partridge flying mallet lyrics that I just don't need in my life (see also Here Comes President Kill Again).
My Skylarking album (US release) doesn’t include Dear God. I think the record company swapped out Mermaid Smiled for Dear God after the original release. It flows better with Mermaid Smiled so I get where you’re coming from.
Now we've got a ball game.
When I first heard "Dear God" I was over the moon. God producing God, and it was a success. I couldn't stop playing that song. 40 years later, I'd like to think Todd Rundgren had it right in the first place, at least aesthetically. I prefer the record without it.
(I love "Button My Lip!)
My edits are simple. No Ringo, No Yoko.
I agree with Troy: I love the rockers on The River - especially Cadillac Ranch. Revolver is short enough that you could just add Rain and Paperback Writer without needing to remove anything, even on a single disc vinyl LP. As far as edits go, Let It Be...Naked swapped out "Dig It" and "Maggie Mae" for Don't Let Me Down, which is a definite upgrade. And I'm pretty sure it's been mentioned here before, but the Byrds' Younger Than Yesterday would be vastly improved by removing Mind Gardens, even if you didn't add anything in its place.
Marc
"Flying mallet lyrics" -- brilliant.
Bruce H.
Two very funny comments: "Blood On The Tracks" is my favorite Dylan record, but I never want to hear "Lily, Rosemary & The Jack Of Hearts." We are all going to die soon. I need that 8:50. AND THIS: I may have done a similar post years ago, but I couldn't find it after a solid 14 second search. Hahahahahaha.
I actually like Fixing A Hole and Good Morning Good Morning too! I really want to remove "She's Leaving Home" but thought that might be a bridge too far. I'd leave "Within You Without You" because it's just as odd as Number 9 and just feels -part of the experience. So make it longer, remove just "She's Leaving Home" and add Penny Lane and Strawberry Fields. Unstoppable.
I never make my own edits. I always think R.E.M. screwed up the last two songs of Murmur and should have "We Walk" as the side two closer instead of "West of the Fields." I just like the vibe of that loping, mellow track heading off for the horizon as the finale. But I don't play it that way. It's a fun exercise, but I just accept this is what they made and this is how I listen to it. Not sure what that says about me.
And wholly agree about XTC and "Dear God." It's a great song but does not in any way shape or form belong on that album anywhere.
As for The River, I think the single album version titled The Ties That Bind sucks creatively (and I don't play The River a ton, so Im not fanatically devoted to it in any way) and he was def right to keep working on it and let it sprawl.
One more: I must admit I DO tweak The Unforgettable Fire. I grab U2's live versions of "A Sort of Homecoming" and "Bad" from the ep Wide Awake I America for the studio versions because they really nailed them in concert. That makes it my favorite U2 album of all.
Amen on the live version of Silver Springs.
I usually start School's Out after the title song, making a much different listening experience.
For Electric Ladyland I'd toss Little Miss Strange, Burning of the Midnight Lamp (sonics don't fit the album), and splice the Rain/Dream cuts back together again. Now to sequence it...
Just saw a Youtube video where George Martin said that leaving Penny Lane and Strawberry Fields off of Sgt Pepper was the most painful episode of his time with The Beatles and that he always regretted it,
Leave "Trust" alone! It's great as is. I love the 2 songs you'd remove.
Hhhmmm......Many possibles on this topic.I always thought the Led Zep album Physical graff. would make a KILLER single lp with the rest of the tracks out on a box set or deluxe reissue at a later date.And I guess we could say the same about The Beatles White album.But what to cut???!! How about this..The Police Outlandos album...take out Be My Girl/Sally and replace with Dead End Job and squeeze in Joe Jackson's You Got The Fever onto the Look Sharp! album.And while I am thinking of it his Enough Is Not Enough b-side should have been on the Beat Crazy album.I love the early JJ Band albums as well as the ep:The Harder They Come/Out Of Style/Tilt.
Kind regards to everyone!!!!
I love the lightweight rockers on the River. Without them the record is way too dark and downbeat. They're far from Bruce's deepest or most profound songs but a couple of them are his most fun, no small thing. I'm with Sal on Quadrophenia and Blood on The Tracks tho.
About the rockers on "The River," I don't dislike them. Any one or two of them at one time is fine. The album could have used a change of pace. Pick any two or three from the officially released outtakes set instead.
A personal edit of Bowie’s Black Tie White Noise, closer to what Nile Rodgers may have hoped - Let’s Dance II:
https://music.apple.com/us/playlist/david-bowie-black-tie-white-noise-lets-dance-ii-edit/pl.u-4JomRWlFb1M8q
Listening to the debut Tin Machine album. Still
A lot of fun. Not the Bowie I’ll reach for but, no regrets. Lol! :)
That's a nice edit! Though, I love the title track. Really, there isn't a song I don't like on that record.
You’re too kind, sir. I really dig this mix. A lot.
Never knew that “Lucy Can’t Dance” and “You’ve Been Around” were originally from the Tin Machine period. :)
Elvis Costello- Spike (Sal Edit)
This Town
Deep Dark Truthful Mirror
Veronica
God's Comic
Tramp The Dirt Down
Pads, Paws & Claws
Baby Plays Around
Miss Macbeth
The Ugly Things
Last Boat Leaving
I actually did that edit back when, on cassette..called it Lucky Touch.
Well done, sir! I really enjoyed this. This album was the beginning of my drift away from Elvis. This was his first album in three years, and the only song which received any airplay was ‘Veronica’. This is also about the time where college/alternative rock became much more prominent: Pretty Hate Machine, Doolittle, Technique, Disintegration, 101/Violater, and my absolute favorite from that year still: The Stone Roses debut. An underexposed EC album never stood a chance. Sorry (I did return in time for his work with Bacharach and When I Was Cruel).
But, your excellent mix has remedied this. Very tight. Thank you for doing this, sir! :)
Note: I had to substitute the Brinkley Schwartz original of ‘The Ugly Things’ as EC’s version was a bonus track not available on Apple Music. :)
Just catching up on Burning Wood after being out of town. This is one of my favorite exercises. All of my CDs have been ripped to iTunes and I’ve edited quite a few albums so that they play better, at least to me. Some that I kind of liked but never listened to for all the reasons people have mentioned, too long, certain songs that ruin the flow or I flat out don’t like, etc. As a big Who and Stones fan here’s a couple of my favorite edits:
Face Dances
Side A
1 - You Better You Bet
2 - Don’t Let Down The Coat
3 - Cache Cache
4 - I Like Nightmares (Bonus Track replaces The Quiet One)
5 - Did You Steal My Money
Side B
1 - How Can You Do It Alone
2 - Daily Records
3 - It’s In You (Bonus Track replaces You)
4 - Another Tricky Day
5 - Somebody Saved Me (Bonus Track)
I love the Stones but I found myself almost never listening to their later (well, now 20-30 years old) releases. I realized that part of the problem for me was that they were just too damn long and some pretty decent songs were just lost trying to slog through 60+ minute albums so I cut them down to a proper album length and now I like them a lot better and will actually play them.
Voodoo Lounge (Was 62 mins now 41 mins)
Side A
1 - Love Is Strong
2 - You Got Me Rocking
3 - Sparks Will Fly
4 - The Worst
5 - Moon Is Up
Side B
1 - Out Of Tears
2 - I Go Wild
3 - Baby Break It Down
4 - Thru And Thru
5 - Mean Disposition
Removed: New Faces, Brand New Car, Sweethearts Together, Suck On The Jugular, Blinded By Rainbows
Bridges to Babylon (Was 62 mins now 47 mins)
Side A
1 - Too Tight
2 - Gunface
3 - You Don’t Have To Mean It
4 - Anybody Seen My Baby?
5 - Always Suffering
Side B
1 - Out Of Control
2 - Saint Of Me
3 - Low Down
4 - Already Over Me
5 - Thief In The Night
Removed: Flip The Switch, Might As Well Get Juiced, How Can I Stop
Track List Reordered
A Bigger Bang (Was 64 mins now 40 mins)
Side A
1 - Rough Justice
2 - Let Me Down Slow
3 - It Won’t Take Long
4 - Rain Fall Down
5 - Back Of My Hand
Side B
1 - Oh No, Not You Again
2 - Sweet Neo Con
3 - Look What The Cat Dragged In
4 - Driving Too Fast
5 - Infamy
Removed: Streets Of Love, She Saw Me Coming, Biggest Mistake, This Place Is Empty, Dangerous Beauty, Laugh, I Nearly Died
Thanks Sal for this post! I love the concept!
These are great, Jared…BUT…you removed “Might As Well Get Juiced,” my favorite song from “Bridges To Babylon,” and you did not remove “You Got Me Rocking” from the entire musical universe!
Ha, ha - I knew you would say that about You Got Me Rocking! ;-) I'll have to give Juiced another listen. Have a great week!
Elvis Costello- When I Was Cruel (Sal Edit)
45
Spooky Girlfriend
Tear Off Your Own Head
When I Was Cruel
Soul For Hire
15 Petals
Tart
Dust 2
My Little Blue Window
Episode Of Blonde
Oh Well
Revolution Doll
Smile
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