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Many thanks, all, for your insights. The second-try on this tune remains a mystery to me, as “CSWY” isn’t even that great of a song (compared to, say, “You’re The One,” which sat lonely on the shelf for a decade). “CSWY" is a nice enough album cut or random B-side, perhaps, but to spend so much time with it. Huh. I suspect it’s consideration as a single is the likely case, although that’s a head scratcher to me (even though it was a top-5 hit for Barry Manilow the next year...his last top 5 hit, by the way, not that I’m saying it was a career-killer for him, but...).
Great theory, about promoting the 74-78 Singles collection! I hadn’t thought of that, but it makes perfect sense. This is my favorite answer, so far.There has to be some reason for an entire minute to be re-recorded, added woodwinds and another layer of background vocals added toward the end. One guess would be to help promote 1974-78 Singles package in England. Funny thing to me is that Karen sounds better in the first minute on the original version rather than the edited one with different words. Maybe someone knows factually. Since this is written forever, I hate to even put these thoughts down on paper, but since it is a discussion board, I guess its permissible.
Great theory, about promoting the 74-78 Singles collection! I hadn’t thought of that, but it makes perfect sense. This is my favorite answer, so far.
Thanks, @Rumbahbah. Was it more than a year? The “Occupants” single was released in October of 1977, and Singles 1974-1978 in 1978 (I couldn’t dig up the actual release date for this album). I could see it might have been part of the plan at some point, even if the hits album ended up being released a bit later. At any rate, the "promotion of the second Singles collection theory” is still in play for me, although the release date for that collection could shed some more light.That can't be the answer though, as The Singles 1974-1978 wasn't released until December 1978, whereas the redone version of 'Can't Smile Without You' first appeared on the flip of 'Calling Occupants' more than a year earlier...
CFCN #62 November 1978:
"...A&M records in London are compiling another Singles Album,
which they plan to release towards the end of this year..."
CFCN #63, January 1979:
The Singles 1974-1978 "...reached #4 within five days of its release...
....It was #2 while she was in England for the Bruce Forsythe Show..."
(The show taped early December. The show aired Christmas Eve).
By the way, I always assumed that the Single Can't Smile Without You
was more along the lines of a re-mix. As it does not sound to me as if the
entire vocal performance is different, just certain select parts altered (or, added to).
Am I in error ? Is the entire Single an entirely "new" performance ?
Color me confused....
the Vinyl Single is time-stamped 3:26,
that's the Vinyl-45 1978-S. (back of USA Occupants).
The Vinyl LP version time-stamped 3:26, also.
If we have two entirely different vocal takes, I think it
astounding that they would be timed exactly the same !
The Japanese 45-pressing of Sweet, Sweet Smile is also backed
by this (alternative version ) song--surely, if the alternative version
was recorded during the Hush sessions, it should have gotten on to the 1976 LP ?
This really has got me to thinking about this song.
Still wondering if they didn't re-record the song to potentially release after Goofus - but when that was such a bomb, they just walked away from this album... but I do like Must Hear's suggestion... Surely the real story is out there in the ether...
Wow. Now THAT’S an intriguing theory. I wonder if “CSWY” was being prepped as a single, but “Goofus” won the fan club vote (am I remembering that correctly from the newsletters?).