Mills Brothers - "Cab Driver"
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Category: Top 40 Music On Compact Disc
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URL: https://top40musiconcd.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=951
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Topic: Mills Brothers - "Cab Driver"
Posted By: jimct
Subject: Mills Brothers - "Cab Driver"
Date Posted: 15 May 2006 at 8:49pm
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I have some old friends at WLNG in Sag Harbor, NY. A DJ asked me for a dub of "Cab Driver." He's been there since it was a current, and knows his versions. Pat's book said one version only, so I dubbed from CD for him. He gets it, calls me and says "Jim, all CD versions on "Cab Driver" are wrong - I already had the version you dubbed!" My 45 fades at (2:46); all non-re-recorded CDs seem to run in the 2:52-2:53 range, and end. This veteran DJ said he believes it's a different vocal take and mix. The 45 vocal may sound a bit more Dean Martin-y to me: you know, a bit looser; I think I hear his voice crack at the 1:35 mark of the 45, whereas the CD vocal sounds perfect; I also believe I might be hearing more background instrumentation added to the last :30 seconds of the 45, but I'm just not good at this - or, maybe he's wrong and it could just be an early fade of the CD version. But if he's wrong, it would be the first time in my experiences with him. Any help from the "sonic heavyweights" on the Board?
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Replies:
Posted By: Pat Downey
Date Posted: 16 May 2006 at 6:13am
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This is a good catch Jim. After listening to all of the cd's that run 2:52 or 2:53, I believe they are all alternate takes. There is a lyrical difference in the 1:40-1:43 range where on the 45 the line goes "why don't cha wait here by the door" and on the cd's it is just "wait here by the door". Now the question is, could this be the stereo LP version of this song and if anyone has the "Fortuosity" LP by the Mills Brothers please step forward with any further information. I just ordered the stereo LP on Ebay but it will take a while to get here so if no one comes forward immediately, I will have the answer in a couple of weeks.
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Posted By: Gary Mack
Date Posted: 16 May 2006 at 12:55pm
Pat, my original Dot 45 says why don't cha wait here by the door, whereas my Pickwick LP of Dot masters says wait here by the door. Haven't had a chance to time them or listen further, however.
GM
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Posted By: Robert
Date Posted: 21 May 2006 at 7:46pm
Pat,
I have the Fortuosity LP and I believe that it is the LP stereo version. It does not have the "why don't cha wait" line and it ends cold. It runs 2:53, while the 45 runs 2:46 and fades.
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Posted By: aaronk
Date Posted: 05 October 2007 at 12:08pm
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Just had a chance to listen to both the stereo CD version versus the mono 45. They are, indeed, two different vocal takes. While the stereo version does sound very, very close in some places, it's not exactly the same. Other places in the song are completely different, as Pat has pointed out in an earlier post.
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Posted By: davidclark
Date Posted: 05 October 2007 at 3:19pm
aaron, where do you have the mono 45 version (hint hint)?
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dc1
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Posted By: eriejwg
Date Posted: 05 October 2007 at 4:13pm
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Hehe - double hint, Aaron. :)
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Posted By: aaronk
Date Posted: 05 October 2007 at 8:05pm
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A very, very nice sounding vinyl 45. ;)
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Posted By: MMathews
Date Posted: 03 August 2017 at 1:54am
Well, after comparing the three mixes of this song, one
thing I can tell you for sure is that was recorded at a
studio with an 8-track.
So, two of the mixes are discussed above, the mono 45 and
stereo LP version. All CD's contain the stereo LP version
except one which I'll get to in a moment. The LP version
has the same backing track as the 45 but the instruments
are mixed differently, and the LP version clips the
opening guitar note, and as mentioned has an alternate
take vocal track.
Pat, the one CD you have in the DB that says "45 version"
- the 1994 GSC set called "Thanks For The Memories" ...
well, it's almost the 45 version. It is yet another mix.
This mix has the correct vocal take, and does not clip
the opening guitar note. But, it's also missing the
electric-bass guitar and the bongos which both appear in
the 45 and LP versions. BTW, this mix did not debut on
this CD, it first appeared on the MCA Re-issue 45 circa
1980. I imagine it ended up on this CD because it was
MFG. by MCA special products. MCA aquired Dot but there's
always been a fuzzy line between what they own and what
went to Welk's Ranwood label.
MM
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