Tommy James & The Shondells - Crimson & Clover

 
MCA D-2483 (reissue of Roulette 7028, 1968)

Any fan of this group needs one of these, as the LP version is a complete mess.

Wiki says: 
Based on suggestions from radio stations, Tommy James and The Shondells chose to create a longer version of "Crimson and Clover" for their album. Since the song was initially recorded in single format, they had the choice of either re-recording it or expanding it. Opting to expand the song, the first two verses were copied without vocals and overdubbed with guitar solos by Shondells guitarist Ed Gray using steel guitars and fuzz guitars. Due to issues with the speed of the single version and the master, this resulted in a slight drop in pitch during the solos, which went unfixed...

Regardless, the LP version is terrible - and, unfortunately, all over oldies radio and best-of comps. Aside from the pointless instrumental interludes, the LP mix is weak. The original mono single mix has a wonderfully raw edge to it and some great dynamics (which I tried to keep intact for this mp3 rip).

INXS - Don't Change

 
Mercury (UK) 812-626, 1983 [Atco (US) 7-99874, 1982]

I hated this band when they first broke on MTV with The One Thing. Hated them. They embodied everything that was wrong with commercialized nu-wave: preening, pretentious... those dreadful keyboards and '80s lite jazz sax.

They completely won me over with this follow-up single, though. Epic track. I did get used to their sound in the years following, and they even made a few respectable LPs, though this one does remain as their greatest hit, IMO.



You can see from the pic that my copy had a bit of a manufacturing mishap: the label must have slipped while being pressed, and can be heard at the end of the song. Miraculously, it plays!

Robert Knight - Everlasting Love

 
Rising Sons #705, 1967

A search for this track will most likely turn up the mid '70s monstrosity by Carl Carlton - after that any number of horrendous covers not worthy of mention, but this is the real deal. A true Nashville R&B classic, and one of the last from that era.

Chi-Lites - Have You Seen Her

 
Brunswick 55462, 1971

Every hits compilation of this band seems to feature the same remix, which is a shame. The spare instrumentation of the original 45 was perfect.