Can't Wait Too Long - why the different versions?

[Jeff]

The SS/WH two-fer has a 5:35 version Can't Wait Too Long that includes the tag but doesn't include some of Brian's spoken words, among other things.  Then the GV Box set has a version that seems both more complete and less repetitive--but does not include the tag.  But the second SS/WH release doesn't attempt to include the missing material that is on the box set.  What's up with this?  Why the schizophrenia?  Anyone have any thoughts?

[buddhahat]

I seem to remember asking a similar question, but can't remember what the general consensus was!

Possibly a similar situation to Smile where the sequence was based on best guess/available material at the time?

Has anyone ever tried a mix that incorporates the a cappella intro from the Wild Honey era version? That part is beautiful and begs to be fleshed out into a full song.

[MBE]

The bootleg mix was longer than the original 2 few but basically the same thing. They edited it for release. The spoken part wasn't totally on the mix and first showed up on the box set. I think perhaps they didn't have that one segement for 1990. My favorite mix is the bootleg one on the two LP Smile from 1990 or the 1989 CD version.  You can hear Carl Or Brian say "f***ed up that one" very quickly on the boot.

[onkster]

It's almost like the song was a mini-SMiLE: many variations made, none finally decided on or completed. There are a couple of nice fan mixes out there, but still nothing that feels totally perfect or complete to me. (Yes, I will try one of my own at some point!)

I don't think I've heard any that use the full-harmony "miss you darlin'" vocals from Get the Boot. Know of any?

And can anybody vouch for a truly great fan-mix?

[Zach95]

Here's a question, why is the GV Box set mix so much clearer and well, better than the SS/WH twofer mix, which has very little separation and plenty of tape hiss?

[sockittome]

The two-fer mix sounds a bit tinny to me, while the box set has a much fuller bass.  Also the two-fer drives me nuts, going back and forth between mono and stereo, and that middle section repeats waaaaaayyyyyy too many times.  I had gotten so used to hearing just part of the spoken line "miss you so hard now....." that when I hear the rest of it on the box, it sounds really awkward as Brian is rattling it out to try to get all the words in.  I miss the inst. tag when I listen to the box version, and I find it sad that they couldn't have included a stereo mix of it.  The ending of that last vocal part is a little strange.  It fades, yet you can hear the cold ending, almost like it wasn't a quick or early enough fade.

So I've made my own edit of this using the best sections of each mix.  It's very easy to do if you match the eq's. 

[Jason]

Sheesh, if you think the official releases are confusing, the bootlegs are even worse!

You have the 1989/90 version which runs about 6:25 which is basically the two-fer version without the edits. And one of the 1983 Smile bootlegs has the 1:46 version with the strange vocal intro (with Dennis quite evident) going into the "way too long, been way too long baby" bit, which then cuts quite obviously into the funky part with Carl's bit.

Things get really confusing with the three mixes on Archaeology. The 3:45 and the 1:52 edits are basically the same as the two-fer version from 0:46 to the end. However, there is a 1:55 edit which is basically the same as 0:13-0:58 from the 1:46 edit off of the 1983 Smile bootleg but unedited. Plus, there's the 0:14 vocal bit on Get the Boot that doesn't appear in any other mix.

[DonnyL]

I always assumed there are so many different versions because the song was left unfinished and there was no final mix, so they're basically playing guessing games regarding what it's 'supposed' to sound like.

I always liked the one that goes on and on and on, because it's like 'been way too long', actually giving you the sense of how long it's been. I think they recorded the phrase that many times for a reason. And then when it changes, it's really jarring and gives you a nice jolt.

[lance]

Me too. I always thought it sort of a mini-smile type thing, with Brian not sure how to do it best so recording and re-recording; the mixed stuff being latter-day Linnett mixes to show what is there listenably; nothing 'definitive' about them, in the sense that the hypothetical completed work might not have been that way...Personally, I don't have any bootleg versions. I guess I prefer the twofer one because of the bit at the end.

[Zach95]

I simply don't understand how the twofer version is mixed, er, worse than the 93 Box version.

[runnersdialzero]

I seem to recall preferring the twofer mix to the box set mix, even if the spoken bits are missing. The fan edit that incorporates that but also adds the section that's never been properly released (the one with Dennis' vocal being prominent) is especially keen, although I'd guess it's not official.

As for why different versions, it was never finished - they're just different edits of the available material. You could compare it to the 1993 box set edits of the Smile material versus the 2011 versions. I also have to feel like the two different recordings of it weren't even meant to follow one another as they do, it feels like two very different takes of the song put together. You can tell where the "Baby you know that I can't wait forever" vocal from the funkier, more Wild Honey-esque 2nd take was supposed to go over the first version, or I think it may actually be slightly audible on one or all versions, very faintly, and only a couple lines.

What's weird is on both I can hear some kind of tape bleed that comes after the "miss you darlin', I miss you so hard, come back baby, and don't break my heart" section that sounds like a trumpet or something, so there may be even more that's missing or isn't on either mix.

Has anyone ever tried a mix that incorporates the a cappella intro from the Wild Honey era version? That part is beautiful and begs to be fleshed out into a full song.

All available versions are Wild Honey era, and the part you speak of appears in the beginning of the song.

[Bubba Ho-Tep]

Sheesh, if you think the official releases are confusing, the bootlegs are even worse!

You have the 1989/90 version which runs about 6:25 which is basically the two-fer version without the edits. And one of the 1983 Smile bootlegs has the 1:46 version with the strange vocal intro (with Dennis quite evident) going into the "way too long, been way too long baby" bit, which then cuts quite obviously into the funky part with Carl's bit.

Things get really confusing with the three mixes on Archaeology. The 3:45 and the 1:52 edits are basically the same as the two-fer version from 0:46 to the end. However, there is a 1:55 edit which is basically the same as 0:13-0:58 from the 1:46 edit off of the 1983 Smile bootleg but unedited. Plus, there's the 0:14 vocal bit on Get the Boot that doesn't appear in any other mix.

After all these years and all my collecting for some reason that 1983 vocal intro thing has NEVER found it's way into my collection. 

[runnersdialzero]

Sheesh, if you think the official releases are confusing, the bootlegs are even worse!

You have the 1989/90 version which runs about 6:25 which is basically the two-fer version without the edits. And one of the 1983 Smile bootlegs has the 1:46 version with the strange vocal intro (with Dennis quite evident) going into the "way too long, been way too long baby" bit, which then cuts quite obviously into the funky part with Carl's bit.

Things get really confusing with the three mixes on Archaeology. The 3:45 and the 1:52 edits are basically the same as the two-fer version from 0:46 to the end. However, there is a 1:55 edit which is basically the same as 0:13-0:58 from the 1:46 edit off of the 1983 Smile bootleg but unedited. Plus, there's the 0:14 vocal bit on Get the Boot that doesn't appear in any other mix.

After all these years and all my collecting for some reason that 1983 vocal intro thing has NEVER found it's way into my collection. 

Man - how? It's fairly easy to find, I believe. I'd sent it to you, alas, I'm away from home and don't think I have it with me

[Jeff]

It's almost like the song was a mini-SMiLE: many variations made, none finally decided on or completed. There are a couple of nice fan mixes out there, but still nothing that feels totally perfect or complete to me. (Yes, I will try one of my own at some point!)

I don't think I've heard any that use the full-harmony "miss you darlin'" vocals from Get the Boot. Know of any?

And can anybody vouch for a truly great fan-mix?

Can't Wait Too Long just cries out for a "definitive" mix.  Here's hoping the archival project includes one.  The improvement could be as vast as, say, Vegetables from the GV box set to the Smile Sessions.