"Brandy (You’re A Fine Girl)"

The most noticeable difference is during the bridge ("Brandy used to watch his eyes when he told his sailor stories," etc.) The 45 version has prominent bongo drums during this part.

The 45 version is faster. It has added congas, and the horns are lower in volume.

Been trying to untangle what's what on the various compilations I have for this song, so I thought I'd do it chronologically.

The first version to come out on CD was on Rhino's Billboard Top R&R Hits - 1972 (1989). It was the LP mix, played at the original speed of the master, but with a very bass-shy EQ. Probably a high-generation source tape.

Next came the CBS/K-Tel compilation Seems Like Yesterday Vol. 1 (1989). Also the same LP mix, played at the original speed of the master, but with a much more reasonable EQ. Probably a lower-generation source tape than Billboard. Fades a teeny bit earlier, probably to hide tape hiss. A few later CDs used the same analog transfer as SLY, including Razor & Tie's Those Fabulous '70s (1990), Razor & Tie's 2-CD Suddenly '70s (1997; vastly improved EQ on this CD), and Razor & Tie's 1-CD version of Suddenly '70s (2001; digital clone of 2-CD version with level changes).

Next, the version on Rhino's Have A Nice Day Vol. 9 (1990) has the LP mix, but sped up by about 1.7% or 1.8% in an attempt to match the 45 pitch/tempo. This version runs out to the same point as the Billboard CD, but runs about 3 seconds shorter as a result of the pitch/tempo change. Better EQ here than on Billboard.

There's a digitally identical clone of Have A Nice Day on Time-Life's 2-CD Singers And Songwriters - Early '70s (2000).

Finally, the 45 mix appeared on Columbia/Legacy's Rock Artifacts Vol. 2 (1989). It's a different mix, with a lot more panning than the LP mix. The bass is mostly in the left channel on the 45, and is centered on the LP mix. Other differences: the 45 has bongos in the bridge (1:45-2:02 or so), and some of the instruments are brought forward. In particular, listen for the drum fill at 1:29 under the words "The sailor said..." If you can clearly hear the snare that begins the fill, that's the 45. If the snare is pretty well hidden, that's the LP. Plus, the 45 is sped up by about 2.5% over the LP and fades a little earlier in the song.

Other CDs that use the same analog transfer as Rock Artifacts are Time-Life's Sounds Of The Seventies - 1972: Take Two (1991, awfully flat-sounding EQ), Time-Life's Superhits - 1972 (1991, basically same EQ as Rock Artifacts but with L/R channels reversed) and Time-Life's AM Gold - 1972 (1991; digitally identical to Superhits).

(There seems to be an error in the 1996 version of the book. My copy of Superhits - 1972 runs 2:54, just like AM Gold - 1972, and not 2:46 as listed in the book. The two are digitally identical. I'm unaware of any re-releases for Superhits - 1972.)

If I had to pick the best for sound quality, I'd go with Rock Artifacts for the 45 mix, and Suddenly '70s for the LP mix. Both are played at their proper respective pitch/tempos.

Yes, I always appreciate crap's detailed analysis of the various CD pressings. Very helpful.