Gerry Rafferty Singles

I made what I thought was the single edit of "Days Gone Down" about ten years ago, from a CD containing the long version, and I can send you an mp3 of this for you to check it out if you'd like - But now I'm not sure it's correct. You wrote:

"The single version of "Days" is not only
edited but repeats and tags on the second chorus to the end of the
track."

I remember duplicating the awkward edit near the end but I don't remember repeating the 2nd chorus. Of course, I did this edit 10 years ago and it could simply be that I don't remember all that I did to make the edit. Are you saying that instead of the third chorus, they replaced it with the second chorus?

Sure, Doug. What is your email address (I can't find it.)

Sorry for the delay, but I think I finally figured out the editing to make
"Days Gone Down" into the 45 version, though it's tricky. I used the
version from the European import Baker Steet (1999 Disky 854422).
--First, edit out part of the intro from :48 to 1:04.
--Second, edit out the first chorus and second verse, from 1:32 to 2:34,
to go directly from the end of the first verse to the second chorus.
--The second chorus has the "shine a light" tag on the end. After the
third verse, the third chorus is edited after Gerry sings "Yes, you do" at
approximately the 3:08 mark (it sounds as though the edit point is right
before the next line after "Yes, you do"), and the corresponding part of
the second chorus must be grafted onto the end, so, once again the
"shine a light" tag is there.
--After that, the "shine a light" tag must be copied and added on after
the third "shine a light". In other words, the "shine a light" tag repeats
three times in the chorus, but four times at the end of the 45 version. So,
graft on the "shine a light" until you have about a 4:00-long track and cut
the rest. Then put on a 15-second fade on the end.
    The one point I'm not sure of is the actual length of the 45 version,
since I don't trust my ol' turntable to be accurate. Could anyone give the
actual length of the single version, and if there are any speed issues to be
aware of?

Edited by PaulEschen

I just matched the CD version of "Days Gone Down" to the vinyl 45. Paul is correct about the edits. There's one on the intro; first chorus and second verse are cut out; and after the third verse, the second "shine a light" chorus has to be pasted on the end and looped. (On the LP version, it goes to an instrumental section.)

Rafferty did some amazing music, including the not yet mentioned "Everythng'll Turn Out Fine" with Stealers Wheel. But (and it's not a single) the best song he ever did (in my humble opinion) is "The Way It Always Starts" from the "Local Hero" soundtrack. Mark Knopfler co-wrote it with Rafferty, Alan Clark, Neil Jason and Steve Jordan. It's an absolutely beautiful song. Check it out. Dan