The Smiley Smile Message Board

My local record shop has the Epic/Caribou CD issue of Sunflower... Is it worth picking up? (considering that it's been played, but that it's in very -very- good condition, and that it costs about $12)

Thanks for your advice on this!  :)

It might be an interesting collector's item, but  you'd be better off with the two/fer including Surf's Up.  The sound is much improved on that disc.

Thanks!  :) I guess I won't buy it then... The sound quality is what matters the most to me, and since I already have the two-fer...

There are some who would argue that the sound is a lot cleaner on those original single issue CD's, particularly on Sunflower and Surf's Up.  To me, the sound quality on these is a little harsh and tinny, but you won't hear a lot of tape hiss like on the newer 2-fers.  Overall, though, I prefer the 2-fers.

You've made me hesitate...  ;D Well, since it's quite cheap I'll probably buy it to hear by myself! Thanks for your advice!  :)

I don't think those Epic CDs are really that rare. I see them quite often at record fairs.

Besides "Pacific Ocean Blue" what BB/solo CDs   ARE collectible/valuable?

The Japanese CD issues of the two Carl albums go for about $80-150 on ebay.  I managed to get Youngblood sometime around 1994 for about $25.  I was never able to find a reasonably priced 1981 album though.

I remember paying $45 for the Japanese issue of Blondie Chaplin (probably around 1996), only to find another copy on ebay a few years ago for $9.99.  I won it, but eventually re-sold it on ebay for about $25.

The LP versions of these reissues are mega rare and I would LOVE to have the Holland and MIU vinyl.

Out-of-print CDs like Summer In Paradise, the Rarities comp, Carl's solo albums, the NASCAR CD, Still I Dream Of You (Japanese BW productions comp), The American Spring album...

Thanks!

I believe for the twofer, they found the original "Sunflower" master and used it for the first time since 1970.  The 1990 version was probably treated with no-noise, which is why there's less tape hiss, whereas the 2000 version was left unaltered except for some EQ. 

Speaking of that, it appears the original "Surf's Up" master was not used for either CD release, because the "Surf's Up" tracks on "The Warmth Of The Sun" come from a "newly discovered source" that's never been used before...

I was lucky enough to find 3 LP-reissues on the Epic-label: Sunflower, Surf's Up and Holland (the last one with the NicePrice-sticker still attached). Didn't find any other reissue from that series on vinyl though...does anyone have proof of those being released like that? (this was talked about before, I know, but I still have to be convinced about the other 70-ies albums, pictures anyone?)

Also pretty rare: the 3CD-box release of Sunflower/Surf's Up/Holland. Actually 3 cd's in a carton box. Saw it once, long time ago, didn't buy it, of course regret it now, and never saw it again. A friend of mine recently did find it, so I know it exists. The cd's are a bit different from the regular Epic release: disc 1, 2 or 3 is mentioned on the cd.

C-Man -

Can you tell us more about the "newly discovered source" for Surf's Up used on The Warmth of the Sun CD?  Surf's Up always sounded muddy (very little treble) from day one when it was released on vinyl.  From an EQ standpoint, it sounds absolutely nothing like Sunflower, which is a little on the bright side.  I asked (via email) Stephen Desper about this disparity once, but he seemed unaware of any significant difference in sound quality between the two albums.  I had surmised that perhaps there had been an azimuth misalignment at some point which could have caused the muddy sound on Surf's Up.  Of course a lot of 70s music suffers from Dolby mistracking as the various tracks were mixed down, causing a loss of high end, but I'm guessing (but don't really know) that Surf's Up was recorded without Dolby NR.

As far as the original Sunflower master, I'm really curious about that too.  Within the last year or two, on this board, either Alan Boyd or Mark Linett (I'm guessing it was Boyd) said that the actual Sunflower original stereo mixdown master (as opposed to a presumably brighter LP master) has just been found.  Any news on what is happening with that? Sunflower is such an incredibly well done album from a recording standpoint (not to mention the performances) that I'd love to hear it in full from this newly discovered stereo mixdown master.

Wow...I was never aware that there were any.  I thought they were issued on just cassette and CD (I found CATP-ST on cassette before I found it on CD).

Out of these, I'd say NASCAR usually gets the lowest winning prices on ebay.  I scored a second copy for $4.99.  I used to see Summer In Paradise in used CD stores all the time back in the mid-90's.  How I wish I had scooped up more copies!

Sunflower on CD ( either version) has been a great disappointment  to me....
after enjoying the european version of Sunflower lp ( with mono Cottonfields as lead track) for years marvelling at the
awesome dynamics of the lp, I have found the CD's very very inferior... Dennis's material is especially  swamped with hiss and the separation ( depth) of the cd as a whole is totally lacking...
now I'm not a vinyl nut... but in this case, I haven't found the CD's to be satisfactory at all...

just my 2 cents...

If you ever see the Holland again let me know so I can get one. Btw I did see all of them at a store once. Didn't know the M.I.U. was different takes or I would have bought it. P.O.B. was there for certain. These albums are so rare I had collectors tell me I was imagining things when I told them I saw them.

How much does a copy of the U.S. release of Summer in Paradise usually go for?  I looked on ebay and at the moment, the only one on there is a cassette version.  Just last week I found a copy in a used cd store and scooped it up.  The case is in good shape.  I few little places where the cardboard has worn but nothing bad at all.  The poster was in it as well.  The cd does have some very minor surface scratches but nothing that affects the playability.  I don't really have any plans to sell it.  Just curious I guess.

I was lucky enough to find both versions (US and European) on cd. And during a holiday in Poland (of all places) I even succeeded in finding a cassette of SIP. A UK-print, but who cares....
Now the only thing that's left is a vinyl version of SIP (just for the artwork of course... ;D  )

It's noted! Can you imagine me (a collector as well) still not believing the fact that the whole 70-ies series, including POB, were reissued on vinyl? Just when did it strike you, that you missed a golden opportunity to buy these at the time?

I wonder what the original vinyl Sunflower that I have, that is still sealed, is worth?

Ill give you 5 bucks for it :)

It struck me about 1 year later when I heard the 1990 mixes were different on MIU and I could NEVER find the vinyl ones again. The reason I really want Holland too is because I think it would be cool to have the Fariy Tale actually on the LP.
The Summer In Paradise took me about 13 years to find. It does sound better, I mean it's still a bad album but not quite as sterile.

Is there a vinyl issue of "Holland" that has "Fairy Tale" as part of the LP? The original release had a separate 45 single of "Fairy Tale" included in the sleeve, but the composition was not on the LP itself.

Yes there is. With 6 tracks on side 1 (till The Trader), and on side 2 the last 3 lp-tracks + the fairy tale.

That's the 1990 vinyl pressing that has it.