Clash City Rockers pitch correction

[Heston]

Someone was asking about this on Facebook. He, like me, had read that the song was restored to its original speed speed for all subsequent releases after the sacking of Mickey Foote. I did some checking though and these are my findings...

The Clash s/t US version 1979 - Sped up version
Story of the Clash 1988: Sped up version
The Singles 1991: Sped up version
Clash On Broadway box set 1991: Normal pitch version
Essential Clash 2003: Sped up version
Sound System 2013: Normal pitch version

Can anyone have a listen to back me up and confirm I'm not going mad? It seems such a strange decision to have a sped up and slowed down version on two different compilations that came out the same month in 1991.

[matedog]

Is the track length different?

[Heston]

Is the track length different?

Yes, roughly a 10 second difference. I never thought of checking that!

Why the hell would they keep releasing different versions on different comps. And I've definitely seen the quote, "the song was subsequently corrected for all compilation releases." Strange that as late as 2003 they were still using the Mickey Foote version.

[Heston]

While I'm on, does anyone know the purpose of the alt version of CCR? Was it just a rough mix?

[Silent Majority]

Is the track length different?

Yes, roughly a 10 second difference. I never thought of checking that!

Why the hell would they keep releasing different versions on different comps. And I've definitely seen the quote, "the song was subsequently corrected for all compilation releases." Strange that as late as 2003 they were still using the Mickey Foote version.

Laziness, I guess.

[matedog]

Is the track length different?

Yes, roughly a 10 second difference. I never thought of checking that!

Why the hell would they keep releasing different versions on different comps. And I've definitely seen the quote, "the song was subsequently corrected for all compilation releases." Strange that as late as 2003 they were still using the Mickey Foote version.

Laziness, I guess.

A lazy handling of the Clash legacy? I don’t believe it!

[TeddyB Not Logged In]

The 1991 dichotomy makes sense to me. The Singles comp had the original single version while the COB set had the correct speed. Sound System has the correct speed because Mick was directly involved.

[Heston]

The 1991 dichotomy makes sense to me. The Singles comp had the original single version while the COB set had the correct speed. Sound System has the correct speed because Mick was directly involved.

Weren't Mick on Joe on board for Essential? That's the one that doesn't make any sense.

Any ideas on the alternate CCR take, Teddy?

[Flex]

I'm guessing that the the compilers for Singles and Essential just used whatever tapes were handed to them without much checking. Essential was purportedly overseen by the band in some sense iirc, but obviously not the same level of involvement as Sound System. Different people compiled and mastered Singles vs COB in '91, so it's not a stretch to think all involved just went about their business on each project and never compared notes or anything.

[TeddyB Not Logged In]

The 1991 dichotomy makes sense to me. The Singles comp had the original single version while the COB set had the correct speed. Sound System has the correct speed because Mick was directly involved.

Weren't Mick on Joe on board for Essential? That's the one that doesn't make any sense.

Any ideas on the alternate CCR take, Teddy?

While the group was involved in song choice for Essential, they were not involved with production to the extent that Mick was with Sound System. I also recall interaction between members over song choices for the COB box. As for the CCR alternate version, I have it on a cassette from MJ that also features the alternate version of The Prisoner. I would assume that these were both earlier mixes.

[Heston]

Thanks for the info, Teddy.

[Heston]

Just checked the alt take of Clash City Rockers and noticed the drums are different, especially at the end, so is definitely an alternate take rather than a rough mix.

[matedog]

Just checked the alt take of Clash City Rockers and noticed the drums are different, especially at the end, so is definitely an alternate take rather than a rough mix.

What is the alt take?

[Wolter]

Just checked the alt take of Clash City Rockers and noticed the drums are different, especially at the end, so is definitely an alternate take rather than a rough mix.

What is the alt take?

It was on the DOA comp

[Heston]

Just checked the alt take of Clash City Rockers and noticed the drums are different, especially at the end, so is definitely an alternate take rather than a rough mix.

What is the alt take?