Thoughts on an old 45 record I had versus the new CD version.
My parents had the 45 rpm single of this hit song from 1964 in their record collection. The single could still play twenty years later, but it started with a blast of static. In the middle of the muddle, a deep voice started the song. Voilins joined in. The lead singer, Ben E. King cried out that his baby had left him after he had done something to break her heart.It's never explained what caused the breakup. He's full of remorse and seeks another chance, but the girl is nowhere to be found.
His backup singers seem more concerned with keeping time with the music and are oblivious to him. Voilins try to drown him out. The stylus of the record player would skip lines.
King sings with all his force to get above the fray till the last word. The song fades without a resolution.
There's so much sorrow, but he will live and go on to record other classic songs.
If he could survive, any broken heart could survive.
We got a copy of the song on Compact Disc in the 90's. The static was gone. The violins had perfect pitch. The stylus didn't skip.
It stunk.
For all the studio craftsmanship, the song lost it's power and pain.
How can I relate? How can anyone understand remorse without having to fight against background singers and static.
Isn't life more like the tense unresolved original than the perfect CD version?
