I sometimes listen to the lastfm radio selection for the VU at work, and today I was surprised to hear what seemed to be a version of Heroin that I didn't know. The infuriating part was that I was away from my desk for most of it and only caught the end, and you can't go 'back' on lastfm. but what I heard did sound like a different version and it's also a minute longer than the std VU&N version - am i losing my mind?
The bit is the preview clip isn't very revealing, but the phrasing sounds a bit unfamiliar, and it does say it's 8.15 long - I can confirm this as I listened to the end. The standard 1st version is 7.05 and the Scepter version is 6.16...
Timing of Heroin on that Best of Words & Music - 7:09 /
on Live 1969 CD vol. 1 8:14 (must be the one OP refers to)
on Live 1969 vol. 2 CD 9:49 (although 9:42 on vinyl)
any sounds that we feel would detract from the performance has been left in place
Yes, it's the bonus version that was added to the 2xCD edition of 1969, along with I Can't Stand It. I've got a copy but I can't say it sounds as familiar as the one on the original LP.
Heroin without Cale's viola isn't really Heroin. The three viola songs on the banana album were rendered moot for live performances when Cale left the band, IMO.
peppergomez wrote:Heroin without Cale's viola isn't really Heroin. The three viola songs on the banana album were rendered moot for live performances when Cale left the band, IMO.
True, although there are of course the versions of Heroin & Venus featuring Cale on organ (and vocals!) from Poor Richard's in June '66, so there was a precedent for viola-less versions of those songs before he left. I agree they don't sound as good as the viola versions though (including the live Valleydale ones), and I don't like the constant tempo of Heroin from Poor Richard's.
