Here's a toughie for ya

[black max]

OK, guys, gimme some help here.

When I was a teenager, my friend had an 8-track copy of "Animals" from PF. This cartridge had a different version of "Pigs on the Wing" than I've heard anywhere else -- instead of the two short bits bookending the other three songs, it was one track stitched together by a lovely slide guitar bridge.

My wife says she remembers someone else having that version way back when. And that's all I can find.

Does this ring a bell? And more importantly, does anyone have an idea of where I might lay my hands on a copy?

This had better not be an instance of "everyone knows this but me." I've asked a lot of knowledgeable people over the last 20++ years about this, and no one's given me a good answer yet.

[clactdj]

Max-

The 8-track version is different from the album version and has not been "officially" released in any other form, unless they did it on the box set. I believe there have been some CD boots with the 8-track version, but couldn't tell you their names.

The REASON this was different was to fill up that program channel time on the 8-track. I would like to hear this version myself. Perhaps the answer could be found on the FAQ section at pinkfloyd.com.

[clactdj]

Here's one I found:

One of the major drawbacks of 8-tracks was the need to evenly divide albums into four pieces, which works with short songs, but not with this album. Dogs fades out and in from 1 to 2, and then Pigs On The Wing fills out the rest of the time. To make it an even time split, this song is Parts 1 & 2, connected in between by a guitar solo by Snowy White, a friend and long-time live player with the band.

So that's the explanation. Maybe I'll find out where we can get this on CD next.....

[black max]

Man, excellent response. Thanks!

(Possible poll for later: how many AM listeners go "huh?" when the conversation turns to 8-tracks? Hell, I've had people go duh on me when we talk about vinyl.)

[Tarkus]

8 tracks...ahhhhh..that takes me back!

I never understood the reason for fading out songs to switch tracks.
I had and 8 track recorder..yup they existed...and just recorded right over the track change.
You missed a tiny bit of music but it was less obtrusive thand"fade out...CLUNK...fade in."

[Extended Play]

Originally posted by clactdj
Here's one I found:

One of the major drawbacks of 8-tracks was the need to evenly divide albums into four pieces, which works with short songs, but not with this album. Dogs fades out and in from 1 to 2, and then Pigs On The Wing fills out the rest of the time. To make it an even time split, this song is Parts 1 & 2, connected in between by a guitar solo by Snowy White, a friend and long-time live player with the band.

So that's the explanation. Maybe I'll find out where we can get this on CD next.....

Yes, that's all correct, and man what an amazing solo! I think I almost enjoy that piece more than the rest of the album (maybe). You can find a cd recording of the track on Snowy White's rarities compilation Gold Top.

Tommy

[black max]

EP, thanks for the info. I won't waste time snagging this one!

[Extended Play]

You're very welcome. Maybe I can play one of the Animals shows one of these days (ha). Sonwy did the Pigs On The Wing solo all throughout the tour at the tail end of PoTW Part II.

Tommy

[Rick and Roll]

My favorite 8-track memories are:

1) On Passion Play, Ian is narrating "The Hare Who Lost His Spectacles", and he says "A Bee", and then click, the track switches, and again he says "A Bee". That kept me busy for a month and a half in high school.
2) The silence that gets put on the end of tracks to balance it out. Zeppelin was famous for that.

I clicked the Gold Top link, and the first thing I see is an ad for a Britny Fox CD! I'm suffering from Big Hair!

And thanks clactdj and Tommy, you guys are as usual, an encyclopedia of information. I had forgotten about that delicious little solo.

A item that always confused me was that goofy little 45-second piano/vocal ditty at the end of Sabbath's "Sabotage". You need to turn the volume almost all the way up, and it's right after "The Writ" fades out. It's on the album and the 8-track, but I don't think it's on the CD. Was that Ozzy or Bill Ward really drunk? They keep repeating the phrase "Blow On The Jug".

[black max]

Argh, I remember that little ditty at the end of "Sabotage." Had to be the product of late-night studio time.

Best little album-ending ditty I know of is at the end of the Green Day "Dookie" CD. The last track ends, there's a good bit of silence, and then this weird little jangly song comes on, very low (like the Sabbath ditty), something about a guy peeking in his girlfriend's window. Very funny.

Gotta love the little album-ending weirdnesses. That, and the "secret" messages carved into the LP vinyl just outside of the label.