Floodland: The collect them all thread

[Gaijin]

As most here will be aware there are variants of the Floodland album.

For many years I knew of only the LP vs CD variants that feature the same mixes in both cases but due to the retraints of vinyl some tracks were cropped for the record. I don't include the cassette because it uses the same versions as on the CD.

LP: https://www.discogs.com/The-Sisters-Of- ... ase/313899

CD: https://www.discogs.com/The-Sisters-Of- ... e/11172487

When fellow Heartlander robertzombie posted his needle-drop project "The Needle and the Damage Done" in 2015 I was made aware of a third variant. The Mobile Fidelity Sound Labs pressing from 2013 features alternate versions of some tracks: a longer end on Mother Russia and alternate versions of Never Land and Flood II are the highlights.

MFSL: https://www.discogs.com/The-Sisters-Of- ... se/5096910

Just recently I learned of another variant. An original promo pressing has this comment noted: The musical content differs from the commercial release as the tracks on this release are not mixed/crossfaded together. Brilliant - I've wanted clean intro's and outro's since the album was released.

SAM410: https://www.discogs.com/The-Sisters-Of- ... se/7704232

There may be a 5th version though - but again there might not be.

This release entry has annoyed me for years: https://www.discogs.com/The-Sisters-Of- ... se/8611871

Presumably this is actually the first ever version of the album pressed. There are no track times given (as on the SAM410 entry) and considering the rarity of this variant I took this as a sign of wilful omission by the entry's contributors. Naturally, I don't have this version as it won't have had a significant pressing run and is bloody scarce. Though with a little lateral thinking and some speculation might the MFSL version perhaps be considered as a rough mix of Floodland? I don't know but my thinking is leaning this way.

In the event someone on this forum actually has a copy of this, or has a better knowledge of said item, I would welcome some input on this matter. Does the pink label promo have the same content as the MFSL pressing?

If the 2 differ in content in any way this would be very interesting to know.

[Elon]

i do have the pink label and the other variants you list and i can confirm the versions on the pink label are close to the original release but some tracks sound slightly rougher. my best guess is the pink label is an early test pressing whose mixes were considered not final

the MFSL release sounds completely different and was remastered almost 20 years later from the original tapes if my memory is correct

hope this helps

[Elon]

this below might also be of interest in tracking all the versions / mixes from the Floodland era

An advance promo tape titled "The Tape Gallery 07.10.1987"

very graciously shared on his FB page by tape-master Phil Verne

https://youtu.be/bP1jCC0Xh5I

there is a link on the FB page to download the FLAC rip of the tape (might still be active)

Phil's explanations:

I have this tape in my collection since 25 years from the giant collector LG , and i had just checked if it was demos or not, because i'm interested by demos in priority .
I decided last week to make a transfer and send to Robert Cowlin who's a specialist regarding different mix .
Here are the results :
Track 1 Is the standard CD mix.
Track 2 Is unique. The mix is the same as the CD version but it isn't crossfaded by Dominion or Lucretia. So you get the whole song on its own with the full intro and outro .
Track 3 Is the usual album version but has a slightly longer fade-out.
Track 4 Has a unique vocal mix. This has recently been issued (by mistake) on the 2015 Rhino box set .

[Elon]

timing of the pink label test pressing tracks -- all slightly longer than the 1st edition LP

1.Dominion 7m19
2.Flood I 6m28
3.Lucretia My Reflection 5m05
4.1959 4m15
5.This Corrosion 9m31
6.Flood II 6m24
7.Driven Like The Snow 4m42
8.Never Land (A Fragment) 2m50

then there is this tape:
which based on the duration seems to contain the same mixes as the standard release

https://www.discogs.com/The-Sisters-Of- ... e/11212706

[robertzombie]

I feel as though I've heard that "rough mix" and can't recall anything interesting about it. Perhaps Elon would be interested in loaning their copy to me so we can get a good transfer of it and know for sure?

The SAM-410 promo sounds promising. I've put in an offer for a copy on Discogs.

[robertzombie]

There's also the Canadian LP that lists shorter track lengths but I assume that's a misprint. Though I haven't heard it.

[taylor]

there are also 2 "tape galley" copymaster full lenght album dated 27 oct 1987 and 02 nov 1987. while the above 4 tracks "tape gallery" sampler date 07 oct 1987 featuring an unique unedited version of flood part 1

[Gaijin]

Thank you for the answers all.

I'm surprised to learn that there are indeed 5 unique mixes of Floodland. I sense an interesting Heartlanders' Boxset affair coming down the line.

I'm very interested to hear the 2 'new' versions after a 32 year wait.

[Gaijin]

BTW: Does either of these promo-only LP's have the variant of Driven with the additional overdub at 0:15-20s that sounds like a car passing by?

I haven't tracked down the source of this version - even though it's been 'available' on P2P for many years.

[Gaijin]

there is a link on the FB page to download the FLAC rip of the tape (might still be active)

Gaijin don't Facebook. But he can flac - any chance of a private reshare?

[Elon]

Perhaps Elon would be interested in loaning their copy to me so we can get a good transfer of it and know for sure?

where are you based? i dont have an issue to loan you the copy so you can do a nice transfer for the community but i won't mail the record.

[robertzombie]

Perhaps Elon would be interested in loaning their copy to me so we can get a good transfer of it and know for sure?

where are you based? i dont have an issue to loan you the copy so you can do a nice transfer for the community but i won't mail the record.

London

[robertzombie]

I now own the SAM410 disc, purportedly without cross-fades.

[andreww100]

How exciting! That was quick!

[Gaijin]

Oh Lordy!

[robertzombie]

BTW: Does either of these promo-only LP's have the variant of Driven with the additional overdub at 0:15-20s that sounds like a car passing by?

I haven't tracked down the source of this version - even though it's been 'available' on P2P for many years.

It's on the Sampler 410.

[Gaijin]

^^ Not unexpected, that old p2p share is terrible quality but was interesting for that track alone. Sadly the other tracks on that tape seem to actually have truncated outro's as opposed to clean fade-outs.

Looking forward to your findings, and more news.

[DomConway]

BTW: Does either of these promo-only LP's have the variant of Driven with the additional overdub at 0:15-20s that sounds like a car passing by?

I haven't tracked down the source of this version - even though it's been 'available' on P2P for many years.

It's on the Sampler 410.

Ooh! Would love to hear a needledrop of this!

[robertzombie]

Needledrop forthcoming

Gaijin has set me off on a bit of an audit. There is a spreadsheet!

[DomConway]

Needledrop forthcoming

Gaijin has set me off on a bit of an audit. There is a spreadsheet!

[Gaijin]

Needledrop forthcoming

Gaijin has set me off on a bit of an audit. There is a spreadsheet!

Oh Lordy!

[robertzombie]

First draft...

FLOODLAND ALBUM MIXES

Assessed:

Digital:
1987 CD
2015 High-resolution download

Vinyl:
1987 UK Sampler (SAM410)
1987 UK Promo (Damont)
1987 USA promo
1987 Commercial release (R/S Alsdorf)
1987 Japanese commercial release
2013 Mobile Fidelity Sound Lab

Tape:
1987 cassette

General Notes:
⦁ All CD releases appear to be sourced from the same 1630 master tape. The giveaway is a digital glitch at the very beginning of Never Land.
⦁ The 2015 high-resolution download, despite claiming to contain "vinyl versions", is slightly different to the commercially released vinyl versions.
⦁ The SAM410 disc has the tracks separated, i.e. without crossfades.
⦁ The 1987 UK promo (matrices: * MR-441L A-1 * MT. 1 DAMONT D / * MR-441L B-1 * 2 MT DAMONT C) contains the same mixes as the commercial counterpart pressed by Record Service Alsdorf.
⦁ The 1987 USA promo has the same matrix number as its commercial counterpart, it too is no different to the UK promo or its commercial counterpart.
⦁ The 1987 Japanese release is the same as other commercial releases.
⦁ The 2013 Mobile Fidelity Sound Lab release contains previously unheard versions (commercially) of Dominion/Mother Russia, Flood I, Flood II, Driven Like The Snow, and Never Land.
⦁ The 1987 cassette is the same as the CD.

In order to hear (almost) everything, one needs:
⦁ 1987 CD
⦁ 1987 UK sampler LP (SAM410)
⦁ 1987 commercial LP (any country)
⦁ 2013 MFSL LP
⦁ 2015 high-resolution download

There is also an alleged "rough mix", with the matrices MR441L A-I * MT I Damont / MR441L B-I * MT I Damont, as well as sample cassettes produced by the Tape Gallery and WEA which might contain alternate or unique mixes. A four track Tape Gallery cassette, dated 07.10.1987, contains a "full length" version of Flood I, unheard on any of the releases mentioned above.

I have not heard every single pressing of Floodland, but I think the information below is fairly reliable. Versions appearing on the same line (i.e. CD/commercial LP/High-Res) are the same.

DOMINION/MOTHER RUSSIA
⦁ CD/commercial LP/High-Res
⦁ SAM410 - no crossfades
⦁ MFSL - longer ending

FLOOD I
⦁ CD/commercial LP/High-Res
⦁ SAM410 - no crossfades, first guitar in left channel is different to above
⦁ MFSL - slight crossfade, longer intro than SAM 410, additional guitar at beginning

LUCRETIA MY REFLECTION
⦁ CD/commercial LP/MFSL/High-Res
⦁ SAM410 - no crossfade

1959
⦁ CD/SAM410/commercial LP/MFSL
⦁ High-resolution download - additional vocal "in ' 59" @ 03:10

THIS CORROSION
⦁ 10:55 CD
⦁ 09:17 SAM410 - left-channel distortion (cutting/pressing error), early fade-out
⦁ 09:16 Commercial LP - less fade-out than SAM410 to facilitate crossfade with Flood II
⦁ 11:14 MFSL - "full length" version heard on MR 39CD
⦁ 09:31 High-resolution download - longer outro than commercial LP

FLOOD II
⦁ 06:47 CD
⦁ Commercial LP/high-res - missing 05:17-05:50 section from CD
⦁ SAM410 - same as commercial LP/high-res but no crossfade, early fade-out
⦁ MFSL - same length as CD version but different mix: shorter crossfades, no fade on repeated "flood" line @ e.g. 02:17, whispered "flood" @ 04:32 lower in mix, additional "sea" @ 05:09

DRIVEN LIKE THE SNOW
⦁ CD - ignoring the long synth intro, the main body of the song is 00:42 longer than vinyl versions: additional 00:17 of music before first verse, additional 00:16 of music before last verse
⦁ Commercial LP - no synth intro, "car" sample @ 00:09, longer fade-out than SAM410
⦁ SAM410 - no synth intro, "car" sample @ 00:09, early fade-out
⦁ MFSL - same length as CD but different mix: missing wave sample @ 00:10
⦁ High-resolution download - same length as commercial LP but different mix: no "car" sample

NEVER LAND (a fragment)
⦁ CD - digital glitch @ 00:00:330
⦁ SAM410/commercial LP
⦁ MFSL - completely unique mix
⦁ High-res - missing first cymbal in left channel (transfer/mastering error)

[Being645]

Oh wow, that looks impressing ... :eek::eek: ... ... as usual, robertzombie ... ...

[Charlie]

Wow robertzombie you're a legend! Great stuff!

[Lavra]

Wow, fantastic!!!
Thank you!