When The Record Company Submits The Wrong 'Take' To Be Pressed!

[Philles/Motown Gary]

Imagine this: The record company spends a bundle of time and big bucks finding the perfect song matched to the perfect arranger, the perfect producer, and the perfect performer -- only to have the wrong "take" sent to the record pressing plant! I doubt if it happens often, but, when it does, it can be a real blinger!

Here's an example of a goof made by the good folks at Cameo/Parkway Records back in 1960!

DEE DEE SHARP - "Mashed Potato Time" [[Cameo C-212-A)

There are 2 versions of Dee Dee Sharp's "Mashed Potato Time". One is an alternate version which I bought unknowingly on eBay 7 years ago. To my ears, it's quite horrible -- mostly due to the background girls sounding like crap, coupled with a weak music arrangement, a lousy sax break, and just an overall weak take. Dee Dee's phrasing also suffers compared to the final version.

There also exists, of course, Dee Dee's hit version of "Mashed Potato Time" which I was finally able to obtain -- musically perfect in every way!

Both vinyl 45 versions look identical utilizing Cameo's new [[at the time) red, black, and white label design [[as opposed to their previous solid-orange label). Both have the exact same record label and record # as can be seen above.

It was apparently a mistake at the record plant -- probably due to Cameo/Parkway inadvertently sending the wrong master tape to be pressed.

Here is the wrong, alternate version:

https://youtu.be/yse5-C6kqAw?si=CpDIKFhX7Kv3mjUQ


And, here is the correct version which we all know and love:

https://youtu.be/ZNwE8UQkokg?si=SCidNyd7vIo-nPMO


Can anyone provide other examples of pressing plant errors that have been known to happen over the years?

[Graham Jarvis]

I Love Dee Dee Sharp [& The Orlons & Cameo/Parkway records]. My favourite Dee Dee Sharp "Standing In The Need Of Love" fantastic record. If your missing anything let me know

I Presume you have worth checking out the other? Orlons also others from Cameo/Parkway I had a few errors. The Parkway [especially Parkway]seemed Ok and have Bunny Sigler, Christine Cooper, Eddie Holman, Chubby Checker, Johnny Maestro and many others.

[Philles/Motown Gary]

Hey Graham! I've loved the Cameo/Parkway label and it's stable of artists since I was a kid of 10 or 11. They hit it big just prior to Phil Spector's Philles label. Back in the early '60s when American Bandstand was broadcasting in Philly, you were sure to hear the latest releases from Chubby Checker, Dee Dee Sharp, Bobby Rydell, The Orlons, The Dovells, etc. Cameo/Parkway was HOT! I've got tons of their releases on CD. It's amazing how well their hits have stood the test of time -- right up there with Philles and Motown.

[Philles/Motown Gary]

I got my very first Cameo/Parkway 45 in 1959 when I was 8. It was Dave Appell & The Applejacks' "Bunny Hop" b/w "Night Train Stroll". [[Not to be confused with another Applejacks group from the U.K.) For me, that record has stood the test of time beautifully. BTW, Dave Appell & The Applejacks were Cameo/Parkway's in-house band who played on all the hits by Chubby, Dee Dee, Bobby, The Orlons, and all the other Cameo/Parkway artists.

DAVE APPELL & THE APPLEJACKS
"Bunny Hop"
https://youtu.be/2XS2vEk7JqI?si=MpxkSdsJDMlCH_ZM

b/w

"Night Train Stroll"
https://youtu.be/XV8S82wgwFQ?si=RlZW1w8FiJHb7a9j

[Sotosound]

The US got an early take of "We Gotta Get Out Of This Place" by The Animals instead of the intended one that we Brits got.

That error was never corrected, and older folk on each side of the Atlantic now have different memories of that hit.

[Sotosound]

This kind of problem was more common during the 1970s, when old hits were re-issued.

When my employer, Lightning Records, started up the Old Gold record label and started to re-issue classic hits intended, in part, for the jukebox market, they were sent wrong versions of UK hits such as "Meet Me On The Corner" by Lindisfarne, and "She Wears My Ring" by Solomon King. The incorrect pressings were soon spotted, however, and withdrawn from sale.

In the world of CD compilations, two more recent errors have been the use of an early and less satisfactory take of "You Sexy Thing" by Hot Chocolate, which was released as the B-side of "Blue Night" before they realised exactly what they had in their hands and tweaked it to perfection, and an early take of "The Sun Ain't Gonna Shine Anymore" by The Walker Brothers, which has the big production of the hit but is in a lower key and at a lower tempo that's far closer to the Frankie Valli original.

What these errors give us are invaluable insights into the creative process, and how a small tweak or two can transform a failure into a smash hit.

[Motown Eddie]

Can anyone provide other examples of pressing plant errors that have been known to happen over the years?

Here's one; In 1976, an error at one of Motown's pressing plants resulted in Side 2 of Stevie Wonder's Innervisions album having the music of Side 2 of Yvonne Fair's The Bitch Is Black instead.

PS: I love Dee Dee Sharp along with most of the artists on Cameo Parkway Records in 1960s.

[Philles/Motown Gary]

Here's one; In 1976, an error at one of Motown's pressing plants resulted in Side 2 of Stevie Wonder's Innervisions album having the music of Side 2 of Yvonne Fair's The Bitch Is Black instead.

PS: I love Dee Dee Sharp along with most of the artists on Cameo Parkway Records in 1960s.

WOW! I had never heard about the pressing plant messing up Side 2 of Steve's album with Yvonne Fair's "The Bitch Is Black" album! That would be so annoying and frustrating, although I love both albums -- especially Yvonne's "Walk Out The Door If You Wanna" track.

[Stax_of_Motown]

On Marvin Gaye's UK stereo LP album "That's The Way Love Is", the title track is the mono version, don't know if the US release is the same. The same track was released on his next album "M.P.G." in stereo. Did Motown realise their mistake and decide to release again on the next album in stereo?

[Stax_of_Motown]

On Marvin Gaye's UK stereo LP album "That's The Way Love Is", the title track is the mono version, don't know if the US release is the same. The same track was released on his next album "M.P.G." in stereo. Did Motown realise their mistake and decide to release again on the next album in stereo?

The mistake is also replicated on my CD [[Japan release). Is it replicated also on US, European versions?

[Starguard4]

The same track was released on his next album "M.P.G." in stereo

The album "M.P.G." came directly after "In The Groove", but before the LP "That's The Way Love Is", so your album chronology is somewhat incorrect ;-)

[Stax_of_Motown]

The album "M.P.G." came directly after "In The Groove", but before the LP "That's The Way Love Is", so your album chronology is somewhat incorrect ;-)

Oh, my mistake but this begs a different question as to why they would put a mono recording on a stereo album which had already previously been released in stereo?
Could this have been added to give the LP a title from a successful single as a way of promoting the LP release and decided to use the mono recording as the stereo version had already been used, giving a good reason for its inclusion?

[Starguard4]

...this begs a different question as to why they would put a mono recording on a stereo album which had already previously been released in stereo?

Exactly, but will probably remain as one of those Motown Mysteries, forever unsolved. Can only speculate - mix-up with the master tapes ??, stereo version no longer usable for some reason, and a quick replacement was needed ?? Who knows ?? Only those there at the time, and the producer Norman Whitfield is sadly no longer with us.

[Optimal Saint]

Here's one; In 1976, an error at one of Motown's pressing plants resulted in Side 2 of Stevie Wonder's Innervisions album having the music of Side 2 of Yvonne Fair's The Bitch Is Black instead.

wow

what would a mint copy of that error album be worth?

[robb_k]

The hit version is so much better than that alternate take that it's no contest. That's rather unusual for me. With my weird taste, I have probably liked alternate takes more than the "hit version" more than 50% of the time. But this one has a weaker vocal, weaker instrumental, and weaker backup singers track.

[Motown Eddie]

On Marvin Gaye's UK stereo LP album "That's The Way Love Is", the title track is the mono version, don't know if the US release is the same. The same track was released on his next album "M.P.G." in stereo.

It was probably a mastering error that Motown's engineers made on That's The Way Love Is that led to the mono version of the title track showing up on the stereo LP.

A similar thing happened on The Supremes' More Hits & I Hear A Symphony stereo LPs where the mono mixes of "He Holds His Own", "Any Girl In Love [Knows What I'm Going Through]" & "He's All I Got" were used [the stereo mixes of those tracks were finally used for the Expanded Editions of those albums].

[BayouMotownMan]

On Marvin Gaye's UK stereo LP album "That's The Way Love Is", the title track is the mono version, don't know if the US release is the same. The same track was released on his next album "M.P.G." in stereo. Did Motown realise their mistake and decide to release again on the next album in stereo?

The MPG lp was issued first with a stereo mix of That's The Way Love Is. I'd have to go back and listen to the That's The Way lp. Motown did the same thing with No Matter What Sign You Are, putting the mono first on the Let Sunshine In Lp

[BayouMotownMan]

In 1978 Motown issued the excellent Three Ounces Of Love lp. However Side A was on both sides of the vinyl. It was recalled and corrected

[theboyfromxtown]

As I recall.......MPG's That's The Way Love Is was issued in the UK on the "MPG" album in stereo [[or monofied on TML 11119). The UK mono 45 on TMG 718 was issued a couple of months later. The version of the track that was later included on the "TTWLI" album is the remixed mono 45 version released in America.

[Philles/Motown Gary]

The hit version is so much better than that alternate take that it's no contest. That's rather unusual for me. With my weird taste, I have probably liked alternate takes more than the "hit version" more than 50% of the time. But this one has a weaker vocal, weaker instrumental, and weaker backup singers track.

Oh, you're referring to the Dee Dee Sharp's record, Robb? Yeah, the alternate version is a real stinker. About 8 years ago, I obtained a vintage, fully-restored, early-1950's RCA 45-EY-2 Record Changer. I bought a bunch of NM 45s to play on it -- most of which were for sale on eBay. Imagine my shock when I played Dee Dee's "Mashed Potato Time" -- expecting it to sound exactly like the 45 I had when I was a kid! There's no indication on the Cameo label.indicating that it's an alternate version. I immediately ordered another copy from eBay -- this time from a different dealer -- one whose copy of "Mashed Potato Time" would surely be the correct version from a different pressing. And it was indeed the correct version. I immediately compared the label information and they were identical. There's no way off telling the alternate version from the correct version without playing them. [[That alternate version really sucks the big one! I have to wonder how many copies of the wrong version got pressed before they realized their error. I'll bet they realized their mistake after hearing the crappy one being played on the radio!

[Motown Eddie]

Here's a 'mini-documentary' of Dee Dee Sharp's career that I found on YouTube.

[Motown Eddie]

It was apparently a mistake at the record plant -- probably due to Cameo/Parkway inadvertently sending the wrong master tape to be pressed.

Finally got around to hearing the alternate take of Dee Dee Sharp's "Mashed Potato Time' for the first time and I agree that it's a mess.

[drlorne]

The hit version is so much better than that alternate take that it's no contest. That's rather unusual for me. With my weird taste, I have probably liked alternate takes more than the "hit version" more than 50% of the time. But this one has a weaker vocal, weaker instrumental, and weaker backup singers track.

I agree: but it's interesting in terms of the background for sure, but Dee Dee's phrasing and energy is just so much more engaged. Only hearing the released version, I had no idea so much work went into making a song better. I guess the producers kept looking for that sound they wanted.

[robb_k]

Oh, you're referring to the Dee Dee Sharp's record, Robb? Yeah, the alternate version is a real stinker. About 8 years ago, I obtained a vintage, fully-restored, early-1950's RCA 45-EY-2 Record Changer. I bought a bunch of NM 45s to play on it -- most of which were for sale on eBay. Imagine my shock when I played Dee Dee's "Mashed Potato Time" -- expecting it to sound exactly like the 45 I had when I was a kid! There's no indication on the Cameo label.indicating that it's an alternate version. I immediately ordered another copy from eBay -- this time from a different dealer -- one whose copy of "Mashed Potato Time" would surely be the correct version from a different pressing. And it was indeed the correct version. I immediately compared the label information and they were identical. There's no way of telling the alternate version from the correct version without playing them. [[That alternate version really sucks the big one! I have to wonder how many copies of the wrong version got pressed before they realized their error. I'll bet they realized their mistake after hearing the crappy one being played on the radio!

Actually, there IS a way to tell that the original version is different from the later, HIT version of "Mashed Potato Time" written on the 2 records. It's one of the code numbers etched into the runout groove trail.

On the HIT version it reads: 45 - C 212 - A - 7
The C stands for Cameo Records [[as opposed to Parkway, Fairmount, or any of their other labels), 212 stands for Cameo's Record Catalog Number, A stands for the 45's "A" side, and the number 7 stands for the 7th recording take.



On the earlier take that was released first as Cameo Records # 212, it SHOULD be:

45 - C 212 -A - [[a number probably between 3 and 6).

Please look at both your "Mashed Potato Time" 45s, on their runout groove trails, and inform us what number directly follows the dash just after the squarish capital A. THAT will be which take of the song is on that record, and was the first version released.

Also, the pressing plant job number is either etched or stamped into the groove trail, and should be mostly the same, but it could have its last number different [[possibly with a dash in front) to indicate which pressing it is.

Please also let us know if the pressing numbers are also different. I can't tell you the structure or letter codes in their pressing plant numbers because I don't know at which plant it was pressed, and each plant across USA and Canada has its own number/letter code with different amounts of numbers and letters. All I can tell you is that the pressing plant Job No. should be, by far, the longest grouping of numbers on the runout.

[Philles/Motown Gary]

Hey Robb! I looked at both copies of which both are like new.

The hit version looks like it reads:

45 - C 212 - A - 6 [[not 7, as you stated)

The earlier version I couldn't read at all. My eyes can no longer decipher such small hieroglyphics.. Sorry!

'

[robb_k]

Hey Robb! I looked at both copies of which both are like new.

The hit version looks like it reads:

45 - C 212 - A - 6 [[not 7, as you stated)

The earlier version I couldn't read at all. My eyes can no longer decipher such small hieroglyphics.. Sorry!

The hit version and my duplicate are both very clear 7s. 7 and 6 CAN'T be confused with each other. That means that there were at least 3 different takes issued, or some were mismarked by the engraver.

You don't have access to a magnifying glass that you could place directly atop the record to magnify the image as large as you'd need to see it?

[Philles/Motown Gary]

No, I don't. Sorry!

[robb_k]

I'll bet that the difference between the so-called 6th "Take", and The 7th "take", both described as The "Hit version", is just that one of them has a shorter trailout, from being cut down slightly at the end, or else just a slight change in the instrumental mix, that is almost imperceptible, given that we both think "our" version is The "Hit" version. I seen many, many records, whose different takes involved just a shortened trail, or bringing the horns or strings more forward, or turning the bass up or down slightly.