Firefall - You Are The Woman

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   Hi good people,

I have a weird question for the initiated out there.

I bought an early pressing 45 of "You Are The Woman" 

before it charted on Billboard as a local AM station 

WWWD was playing it upon receival of promo copy (I 

really liked the song).

I subsequently bought the 'Firefall' LP because I 

wanted the LP mix/version of "Cinderella".

I then noticed that "You Are The Woman" on the album 

was the same mix as my 45, albeit with much less 

audible compression.

My 45 sounds like the LP version was run through a 

UREI LA-4 before cutting.

What I don't know is if Atlantic Records actually 

prepared a specially-compressed 45 master tape, or if 

it was just mastering instructions.

I was wondering two things: 

1)Is my early 45 pressing possibly the only one with 

the extra compression?

2)If they're all like that, do any CDs out there have 

the sound of the 45?

Note: Of course I'm not looking for a digitally-

limited or brickwalled version of the LP version; the 

sound of my 45 is buffered with slow attack & release 

compression.

Any information or opinions would be appreciated.

Thanks!

Andy

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AndrewChouffi Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Music Fan Joined: 24 September 2005 Status: Offline Points: 19	Post Options Post Reply Quote AndrewChouffi Thanks(0) Quote Reply Topic: Firefall - You Are The Woman Posted: 15 May 2021 at 5:11am
	Hi good people, I have a weird question for the initiated out there. I bought an early pressing 45 of "You Are The Woman" before it charted on Billboard as a local AM station WWWD was playing it upon receival of promo copy (I really liked the song). I subsequently bought the 'Firefall' LP because I wanted the LP mix/version of "Cinderella". I then noticed that "You Are The Woman" on the album was the same mix as my 45, albeit with much less audible compression. My 45 sounds like the LP version was run through a UREI LA-4 before cutting. What I don't know is if Atlantic Records actually prepared a specially-compressed 45 master tape, or if it was just mastering instructions. I was wondering two things: 1)Is my early 45 pressing possibly the only one with the extra compression? 2)If they're all like that, do any CDs out there have the sound of the 45? Note: Of course I'm not looking for a digitally- limited or brickwalled version of the LP version; the sound of my 45 is buffered with slow attack & release compression. Any information or opinions would be appreciated. Thanks! Andy

Yah Shure Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Music Fan Joined: 11 December 2007 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 0	Post Options Post Reply Quote Yah Shure Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 15 May 2021 at 11:27am
	What's this?? A post containing the word "receival"? OK, I'm in! I don't hear the 45's compression on any of the three CD sources I have: the Atlantic & Atco Masters/Rhino Firefall, Rhino's Greatest Hits and Time Life's AM Gold 1976. It's also missing from the 1981 stereo, promo-only Atlantic PR 410 45, "You Are The Woman"/Love That Got Away", which was issued to promote The Best Of Firefall LP. The matrix number on the label is the same as the 1976 stereo 45, but this newer cutting sounds dull and lifeless, compared to the original single. The compression is evident on both sides of my two 1976 Atlantic 3335 mono/stereo promo 45s; one pressed by Specialty and the other by Plastic Products. Both mono sides are folds. I don't have a stock copy to compare, but my guess, Andy, is that any other stock 1976 45 also has the compression that yours does. Typically, all three of Atlantic's contracted 45 pressing plants at the time receivalled metal parts derived from the same lacquers. Edited by Yah Shure

AndrewChouffi Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Music Fan Joined: 24 September 2005 Status: Offline Points: 19	Post Options Post Reply Quote AndrewChouffi Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 15 May 2021 at 4:21pm
	Thanks for the info John! Yes, my Rhino Greatest Hits CD is the uncompressed LP mastering; I don't own the other two you have so thanks for letting me know. I double-checked my Atlantic Classic Rock 1966-1988, it IS more compressed, but it sure sounds like the dreaded undecoded Dolby 'A' rather than the smooth compression of my 45 pressing and your mono/stereo promo. Thanks for sending me a dub of your promo 45 - it's much less worn than my commercial 45, but it has the correct sound that I'm looking for! Andy Edited by AndrewChouffi