Overdub Session for RCA, August 7-8, 1969 (brass)

Studio :

United Recording, Las Vegas, Nevada

Producer :

Chips Moman, Felton Jarvis

Engineer :

Bill Porter

Suspicious Minds (stereo version, overdub)

XPA5 1227

August 7-8 (Thu-Fri.): 03:30 - 06:30  

Takes NA

(M)

3:24

Brass overdubs for stereo master after March 18 

UN

strings, or possibly after March 18 basic brass (if 
recorded at all).
Extended (M) 4:31 Splice of 0:00-3:03, 2:47-3:03, 2:47-3:03, 2:47-3:03 Worldwide Gold Award Hits vol.1 CD°°(4:28)
and 2:47-3:24 (chorus near end repeated 4 times)
Faded M 4:31 Fade out 3:19-3:34, followed by fade in 3:34-3:47 Heart & Soul DSD°°(O)/E1°°(R2, 8-track/2-track mix)
of extended master.

Suspicious Minds (mono version, overdub)

XPA5 1227

August 7-8 (Thu-Fri.): 03:30 - 06:30  

Takes NA

(M)

3:24

Brass overdubs for mono master after March 18 

UN

strings, or possibly after March 18 basic brass (if 
recorded at all).
Extended (M) 4:23 Splice of 0:00-3:03, 2:47-3:03, 2:47-3:03, 2:47-3:03
and 2:47-3:16 (chorus near end repeated 4 times)
Faded M 4:23 Fade out 3:19-3:34, followed by fade in 3:34-3:47 Suspicious Minds 45 RPM single°(O)/WWGA Hits vol. 1 LP°(O)
of extended master.

 

Musicians:

Trumpet :

Art Vasquez, Norman Prentice, Bobby Shew

Trombone :

Archie LeCroque, Johnny Boicie

Bass Trombone :

Kenneth Adkins


Notes:

The brass overdubs for Suspicious Minds only exist on the final and mono and stereo masters. The mono and stereo masters have all different brass performances (sample: L=Mono Master, small brass mistake, R=Stereo Master). According to Bill Porter, the reason for this procedure was that all the 8 tracks were full. Porter also persuaded Felton to do the final stereo and mono mixes at the same time as this overdub session (see liner notes DCC 24K Hits). This is also the reason why both the remastered attempts 'Memphis Record'(1987, missing the brass) and '30 #1 Hits'(2002, flanging due to mixing stereo master with 8-track) failed. Remastering Suspicious Minds must involve faithful re-recording of the brass section. Maybe that even can be justified now that there is no clear definition of "original" master in the first place.

The 2003 'Heart & Soul' DSD flat transfer of the original Suspicious Minds stereo master is by far the best in terms of sound quality. Unfortunately we will never know how Steve Hoffman's version really would have compared, since the source he was given to work on for the DCC 24K Hits release obviously was processed to begin with (even looks like NoNoise pattern...)