Eric Burdon and the Animals - Sky Pilot, original 45 mono mix, parts 1 & 2

First, for better sound quality, choose the HD 720p viewing option.
"Sky Pilot (Parts 1 & 2)" reached number 14 on the U.S. pop charts upon its release in 1968. When released as a single the song was split across both sides, due to its length. I bought this copy new upon its release.

[@AlexZambra]

Excellent. This is the "real" 45 RPM version that is recognized by the echo when " how high can you fly" is sung. Thanks for sharing!

[@vinnyveducci6736]

I haven't heard the echoed version since the early 80s 😊

[@Lyndanet]

Is it really? there must be a diamond head needle tip here and it must be a motor driven machine no belt on it ?

[@antrygis1]

I bought it at 11-12? Wait until he says, "With God you're never alone." Great song. I love it. But I repeat that line in my head at least once a week. Thanks Eric.

[@markjenkins4861]

After hearing this song in its original entirety, this is clearly the best song The Animals ever made...or that MGM Records ever recorded.

[@brucemabley9808]

So many good tunes😊

[@borecleaner1]

This is one of my all time favorite tunes by Eric Burdon.I listened to this when I was in the eighth grade.My God,what memories this brings back of my mom banging on my bedroom door and yelling at me to turn the damned music down !!!!!!

[@crosstimbers2]

Thanks for putting the REAL Sky Pilot on yt.

[@anniebethmcnamara4468]

Yes, I agree. I had this 45 in 1967 or 1968 at the height of the war. My brother and his friends felt so hopeless. . .

[@dannyweasner5823]

My Favourite Music Tune as a '360' Mono Record - Excellent !

[@ChadQuick270W]

Superb! The only way to hear this: the original 45 on a proper turntable. 👍

[@ponidelapradera]

thhe best echo effect i have ever heard.

[@54mftexas]

I am 56 and had the exact same 45 back in the day. Back then a 45 was good music not a gun as it is today. This particular song is one of my all time favorites. The music, lyrics, beat, and voice mesh together for a beautiful musical purpose which also contains profound meaning. This is just plain good rock. WHAT HAPPENED? THANK YOU FOR THE PLEASURE

[@vado575]

Finally the real one with the echo

[@Nyckname]

When my brother gave me his stack of 45s, this was one of maybe four that he kept.

[@afterhourshotrods6882]

Well here I am in stinkin 2022!!!! And it's like I'm back @ Haulover Beach listening to WSHE Psychedelic Sunday in the late 70's early 80's..... Good n simple times indeed!!!!

[@dsl70]

Excellent version I love the SATURATION SOUND Plug on the label The.CSG-Holzer mono-stereo process was the rage in 1968.Buddah called it DUAL 45 Atlantic called it Compatiable 45 The birth of the stereo 45 was at hand.This was a fine example. I have a DJ copy of this and the entire 7 plus mins is fitted on to one side.Quite an accomplishment for MGM back then.Like Dunhills Macarthur Park.How to stuff a long song on a 7 inch disc was the IN thing to do.

[@bigmur001]

+dsl70 I would not be surprised if ABC-Dunhill also used the Haeco-CSG process to create the mono masters for their 45's during that era, but made no mention of it on their labels. For all we know, the mono 45 of "Mac Arthur Park" could be CSG processed mono. Maybe an audio engineer who worked at ABC-Dunhill at the time and is reading this can give us some info on this subject.

[@mayitopriego1028]

Gracias por. subier este excelente Tema de Erick Burdon y los Animales, esta Versión es la Original es la buena

[@actormanic]

I have the 45, but mine's in stereo. It was the first stereo 45 I ever heard. It didn't say it was in stereo on the label, but you could hear it and see it by looking at the grooves on the record. I still have it, so if pressed, I can prove it...A friend of mine didn't believe it when I told him it was in stereo, until he came over and heard it. I love the bagpipes at the very end, which you don't hear on the LP version. Great piece of music, great lyrics. Eric Burdon's voice is amazing.

[@glennk1931]

I have the stereo 45 too. Have had it since 1968. In fact I didn’t realize that it was until a friend mentioned it. I found out the the group Love had the first stereo 45 released about 2 years before. Not sure. This, (Sky Pilot) was the first stereo single I bought.

[@HitsTownUSA]

@@glennk1931 I have the original promotion radio station 45 and that too is in stereo. The full 7 minute version on one side, and the short version on the flip side. Atlantic Records also had stereo 45’s in limited quantities in 1968.

[@ponidelapradera]

please upload it

[@williammeier4534]

I remember listening to their album The Twain Shall Meet (which includes this song) when my parents would play it with friends either at our home or sometimes at the home of one of their friends. That was back in 1969 and 1970 when I was 2 and 3 years old. Vic Briggs of the Animals was an immense musical and production talent. He was only in his early 20's and he really knew how to put together arrangements for not only other the Animals but also other groups and musicians.

[@FR-ed4zy]

Cette chanson est absolument géniale, musique et paroles. Du grand, très grand Eric Burdon !

[@rockland6674]

I love the "SATURATION SOUND" blurb on the label.

[@patmatthews4730]

WHAT A CLEAN COPY!!!!!

[@romandiaz7382]

Recordando los años maravillosos de nuestra bella juventud

[@ColinBryanJoeRyan]

My God...This is Amazing. I'm 17 and I wish this music was still being made! And God...You have to miss the vinyl, especially these mono mixes. This is one of my favorites, and of all the differences in stereo/mono versions that exist in these 60s songs, I honestly think that this one has the most, and this mono 45 mix BLOWS the stereo mix away. Upload more Eric Burdon/Animals!!!!!

[@williamdowning1552]

Count the tears in my eyes 😎

[@christopherguzzi1316]

Thanks for posting. I love Eric Burdon and the Animals. This is great fidelity. The warble sound effect is amazing, and I love 60's guitar solos (simple but groovy).

[@michellerjackson5776]

Really Great post.. My younger brother played this 45 a lot on his HIfi.. Just gave him the 45 as,a surprise Christmas present. Sent this to him as,#tbt... All the best..

[@BillStraub]

Yeah... I heard this version with the echo effect on the "How high can you fly?" line when I was a kid too and have been looking for it ever since. It's been over 40 years almost 45 years since I heard this version...

[@AlejandraPineda-zs6kk]

Muchas gracias 😊 por compartir

[@matthewclark9652]

At the 4:55 till 6:00 mark, that part reminds me of "Super Bowl VIII" highlights from January of 1974 when the Miami Dolphins beat the Minnesota Vikings 24 - 7. Voiced by the late John Facenda who said "I can hear bag pipes from far away" (and so on) near the end of the program episode!! Larry Czonka won for Most Valuable Player!!

[@MustangSam]

I still have this 45 too which I bought when released. I didn't know it was kind of rare. I was clicking on all these other video's and they weren't this version. The upload sounds great!

[@ABlastFromYourPast]

Thanks MY MAN.......... For making this video....... The video and sound took me away ..... Seen Eric like 7 times, This is my all time fav is the long version from the band ....

[@alanfox4172]

Thank you for showing the details at the beginning before playing the single.

[@d.a.elliottjr.367]

I've heard this song millions of times before but never this mix where the word fly is echoed & the bagpipes at the fade. This single version is better than the LP version.

[@crosstimbers2]

+D.A. Elliott Jr. This was the original recording I heard a million times as a teenager. The LP versions are instantly recognizable as missing something important - They have no reverb on "How high can you fly?".

[@panhead55]

crosstimbers2 the affect on his vocals is called the echo-plex.

[@jmcd112]

Great to hear the original 45. It was slightly different from the album version and/or version played on the radio!

[@tubephobia]

Hi, thanks for the 5-star moment. Perfectly done by you. Brilliant.

[@69ssrszl1]

I also have this on LP and 45, have hundreds of vinyl records, and will keep them all, they have a unique sound.

[@jasonsadventures64]

THE BEST sounding rendition of Sky Pilot I have heard so far. Better mixing on the mono mix, and better harmonies on the last chorus of "Sky Pilot"

[@jasonsadventures64]

Wow. It's 2023 and I'm still listening to this video.

[@donhoward3517]

Don howard grew up listing 2 this song one of my favritoes

[@Lemopalm]

Thanks for putting these together. This mix is long out of print

[@esthermendoza6665]

Maravilloso un verdadero tesoro 😘

[@borecleaner1]

@kenfig You are spot on in your assessment!!!.Groups like the Animals NEVER got the play on the radio that they should have.They are kind of like Jim Morrison and the Doors.Great Tunes that will last forever..but a bunch of inferior and substandard ''artists''got ahell of a lot more airplay than these great tunes. The very BEST music came out in the 60's and 70's...Tunes like this will be around decades from now when the garbage that people call ''music''nowadays will be in the trash heap

[@bobolinkgieske8485]

Fantistic! Thank you for sharing this

[@williamdowning1552]

You're welcome 🌴

[@lavallee1963]

Fantastic!!!, in Europa Sky pilot single was edited from Lp, and is a divided version in two parts of the Lp version...the american mix is different from the Lp and very awesome. Excellent work of edition. Thank you.

[@LesAtlas]

I had this version when I was a teen. I recall that echo/tremolo. And this recording seems to have more dynamic range than the usual LP version. Somehow this song makes me think of going to Vietnam as a GI. I had a very low draft lottery number and was expecting to go, perhaps even as an airman. But they ended the draft just before I was called up.

[@Multi1628]

~ Original 1968 7" single didn't have anything marked on it regarding stereo saturation sound; the original (when it was first sold in 1968) single was the older black (not sky blue) MGM record label. It is 2018: why not have 2 copies of the single and just segue on a mixing board? BTW: This song is more significant today that it was in 1968: today's endless wars have no pathos or righteous motivations as they are fought for the rich by the anonymous. Honour and respect to our living legend, Eric Burdon, & R.I.P. our beloved Aretha Franklin. Cheers, DAVEDJ ~

[@cjay2]

First: This single was bought in the first week of release in NYC. It was bought in a small neighborhood mom-and-pop record store in Brooklyn, so it's not some special release. This is what New Yorkers bought when they purchased this song in the first week of release of this single. As to why not have 2 copies and segue thru a mixer: Side 1 ends by fading out within the ongoing song. Side 2 begins by fading in at about the same rate as the previous side's fadeout, and begins a bit early. With a bit of gain work and careful noise reduction in the audio editor, it was possible to recreate the entire recording with no lost part between the sides. Additionally, the two sides of the record were equalized very differently, and Side 2 had to be remastered in the editor to match eq's. Each side was restored first, then the equalizations were matched, then the splice was accomplished. This could only be done digitally, and trying it live with the vinyls would be impossible - too little cueing-space for live producing a mix, and two gain controls and complex EQ all would be needed to be rode together. This song was at least as relevant in 1968, with the useless Viet Nam war going on, and our best people and political candidates being killed by the same military industrial complex that today, has complete control over the entire world, one way or the other. And yes, respect to Mr. Burdon who, thank goodness, is still alive at this point.

[@poppermost]

Never heard the mono version before - awesome post! Cheers and thank you!

[@williamdowning1552]

Thks with love from Costa Rica 😎 to Cali 😎🌴

[@mayitopriego1028]

Muchas gracias play them again por subir la versión original de esta joya musical saludos

[@songbyrdsings1]

Great fidelity, thanks for posting:)

[@Lyndanet]

Ty…

[@BMeanies]

Excellent clip of a great song... I believe that 45 is actually in Stereo...and it’s a very alternate mix...besides the effect on the vocal..there’s some additional bagpipes at the end amongst other differences

[@lukpac]

FYI, stereo copies did *not* use the CSG process. It is possible that CSG was used to fold the stereo mix down to mono, however. The mix on the 45 in the video is a fold-down of the stereo mix.

[@michaelhance8402]

"Sky Pilot" This 7" single video is done so exceptional and sounds real good. I have a copy like the one playing and there are true stereo American prints of this special version, if you can find one in near mint condition. The Lp versions are muddy sounding. I especially like the way the parts are stitched together!.

[@Citizen110]

I followed your instructions about the 720p option and the sound quality was great-even through the dinky speakers on my laptop! Thanks for posting this great tune, Bro! It kinda popped into my head today, and here it is in all it's glory on youtube!

[@dadadruma]

The sound is Amazing great job!

[@bigmsound]

Excellent mono sound!! This mono 45 has the best sound that i ever heard on this song. I always thought that this was a stereo 45 since it says "Saturation Sound "plays mono or stereo'. Saturation Sound is MGM's name for the Haeco-CSG process. The mono master used on this 45 is a stereo master summed to mono through a "CSG" unit. Although the CSG process yields rather poor sound in stereo and mono, "Sky Pilot" is an exception. Great work!! Keep those old Monos comin'.

[@PlayThemAgain]

Thanks for the comments. The sound restoration was a long elaborate job on this one, but hey, it's fun!

[@TomEllisPhotography]

So glad you posted this. I remember this song well from my childhood, I was 12 when it was a hit. I was sure that I remembered a version with tremolo/vibrato during the line "How high can you fly?" but couldn't find an LP or CD version that sounded like that. Figures that they would use that effect on the 45 but not the LP! Aaargh! I tried to download this but was not able to do so, apparently there is a copyright issue! I finally find the version I want, but now I can't get it for myself, serious bummer! :-(

[@AlexZambra]

Rhino records CD Songs of Protest had this version with the echo. I must add that also at end of Part 2 the bagpipes end the record; so nice to hear well.

[@cjay2]

Tom Ellis If you're still around, you can easily download this video by using the Firefox browser, with its Add-on "Easy KZbin Video Downloader Express". And while you're at it, you may as well install the Add-on "uBlock Origin" to block ALL adverts on KZbin. All this can be done easily by anyone in several mouse-clicks. Once you're in Firefox, go to its Menu, click Add-ons, search for them, click Install. You can extract the audio from the video as a wav or any other format by using Pazera Free Audio Extractor 2.9.

[@robertorick6383]

CKLW did play this in 1968. However, they usually only played part one, due to their restricted time limits. Original copies were on the black 1960-1968 "Leo The Lion" label and were in mono. The "Saturation Stereo" version came a few months later when MGM switched to their 1968-1982 blue/gold label. Most copies I find are on the blue/gold label and are easy to locate. Original black label versions are fairly rare being first pressings. First pressings of Orpheus's "Can't Find The Time To Tell You" were also on the old black label. More common copies were on the blue & gold label.

[@PlayThemAgain]

Thanks for the compliments. I did not know about that CSG process before. Interesting! This track was a b*tch to clean and remaster for this video - Side 2 was like 6dB lower and had noticeably worse sound quality. This video continues to be my most-watched one, for reasons I don't know.

[@tomsanford5624]

cause it rules

[@JFS3]

Because this is the version that those of us here in the states grew up listening to, and unfortunately (outside of needle drops such as this), seems to have completely disappeared. Now if someone could just find a nice quality copy of the original stereo 45 (which apparently is no easy task), we'd have it made.

[@christopherguzzi1316]

No doubt this would be a popular one. I've watched/listened to it 5 or six times now, as I'm sure others have too. The musicians as well as the production are just incredible. Such a heavy subject done in such a beautiful way.

[@santiagoherrera4887]

que buen sonido ¡¡¡¡ y el disco en exelente estado ¡¡ buen tornamesa... parece "tecnichs"

[@sandrablum1370]

Very nice!!

[@youtubeviewer7030]

when i worked in radio thats the exact turntable i used

[@gilmour509]

wow nice seamless transition!

[@williamdowning1552]

Now chill ,it gets better 😎

[@PlayThemAgain]

@borecleaner1 For me it was my second year of college! And strangely enough, my folks hardly ever complained about the music. I think they were glad to just have me there at that point! The world was getting pretty crazy then.

[@Multi1628]

The world has only gotten crazier since 1968. Two steps forward, two steps back. Over and over and over....

[@TheMoonchildiva]

thanks for posting this!! I am blasting it all over the place!

[@panpeti]

Good job, Bro! Thank You!

[@Ratelzwatel]

1:01 Beginning of the song.

[@noscrubbubblez6515]

Man that's some corn ball lyrics. ''how high can you fly? you'll never reach the.....' Eric took loads of LSD. The song development was trying for something epic like 'downtown'... crash and burn!

[@anniebethmcnamara4468]

". . . You're soldiers of God. . .". How many generations of young men of all nationalities and creeds have heard these words? How many more?

[@matthewclark9652]

This is the "MONO" version (which is NOT in STEREO on the label)!!

[@automatedelectronics6062]

That is supposed to be a stereo 45. The mono version was on a black label. I got my black label mono 45 when it came out. There was also a stereo "SS" black label version released a little later. The blue & gold "SS" stereo version was released even later.

[@PlayThemAgain]

@fatcatbuzz Yes, I did. I ripped both sides, restored and remastered each side, then did the splice using the multi-channel mixer. Then took the video footage and made the matching splice there, taking care to match timing and the audio sync tracks from each video. Dropped in the restored audio track and mixed.

[@Jameswilliamson405]

LOVE SONG

[@toneyisaiah3556]

K-Tel released a compilation album called Vintage Rock which was released in 1980.

[@analorenasolis1997]

Espero les guste ❤

[@charlottewhyte9804]

don,t know this ata all ,interesting record,thanks

[@gordonteats298]

Praise YESHUA

[@PlayThemAgain]

Don't know. Back then I wouldn't have even known how and where record companies pressed records. Wouldn't have even thought about it. The funny thing about this record is that the label says "plays mono or stereo", and it's a mono track. I eventually did notice that it was in mono (when I got stereo gear), but didn't worry about it. I believe I bought this as soon as it was released, like within a week. I had great resources and access there in NYC for new music.

[@robgetz3564]

Another interesting note is the bagpipes playing faintly on the end of Part Two. Also missing from the LP version as it crossfades into 'We Love You Lil'.

[@Lyndanet]

MGM records nice…Mr Briggs good job!

[@PlayThemAgain]

@333harvey333 - Sounds great! Stay tuned and I"ll try and keep'em coming!

[@crosstimbers2]

I came here for the reverb version. That is what I remember from the original release.

[@joycew1560]

ty

[@PlayThemAgain]

@mrsplitterman You're very welcome. It's a kick to create these videos and restore the sound and present them here. Enjoy!

[@geoffolehane]

The single mix is a bit different from the album version. It has the reverb after "How high can yoiu fly" and the little bagpipies bit at the end. That isn't on the album version. Thanks for posting.

[@williamdowning1552]

I was on acid when this came out 😎

[@PlayThemAgain]

@benloe1 You're welcome! And, you can never wish too much. Enjoy!

[@OldMusicOnVinyl1]

This is actually the mono mix that was used on the UK pressing of this single. Did MGM use imported metal parts for some copies, like yours? Because others are in stereo.

[@lukpac]

No, it's not. The UK 45 is a fold down of the stereo LP mix. This is a fold down of the stereo 45 mix.

[@blackscorpione]

Great...... Nonthaburi THAILAND

[@JFS3]

Wished they had let the bagpipes go for just few seconds longer in the fade-out, but an incredible record nonetheless.

[@ThisIsSoul67]

very nice! Do you have "Magic Mountain" by Eric Burdon & War? Would love to see a youtube clip on 45 of that on a nice stereo like yours....

[@OldMusicOnVinyl1]

Stereo copies used the Haeco-CSG process (referred to by MGM as "Saturation Sound"). The version on this copy, however, is a dedicated mono mix. No CSG process whatsoever to speak of.

[@PlayThemAgain]

Hi, It's a AT150MLX, tracking these 45's at about 1.75g.

[@Erzahler]

I was wondering how they did this on 7" vinyl. No how much you try, you just CANNOT put 7-1/2 minutes of music on a 7" vinyl, even at 33-1/3. Maybe you could do it at 16-2/3, but you would sacrifice some sound quality. A two-sider makes sense. It's funny, I was just thinking how they always did splits like this on 8-track tape cartridges! Was this record perhaps a harbinger of those 8-track tape days? (Which I do miss, believe it or not! 😁😄) I must say, that was a masterful job of editing you did between parts one and two. Seamless! You, sir, are a steely-eyed music man! (To paraphrase a quote from a movie)

[@Multi1628]

~ MacArthur Park, Richard Harris, Seven minutes and twenty seconds, 1968. Why do you make comments in a public forum which are totally factual inaccuracies? I also have lots of E.P.s that are way over 10 minutes of music on both sides. Ever heard of Bing or Google or Discogs? Cheers, DAVEDJ ~

[@cjay2]

Erzahler They faded songs out at the change-track times of the cartridge, then faded them back in a bit early, so as to offer 'all' of the track's contents. As far as the editing work to recreate this track for the video, I'll repeat some of what I wrote in another comment above: Side 1 ends by fading out within the ongoing song. Side 2 begins by fading in at about the same rate as the previous side's fadeout, and begins a bit early. With a bit of gain work and careful noise reduction in the audio editor (Audition 3.01), it was possible to recover the entire recording with no lost music between the sides. Additionally, the two sides of the record were equalized very differently, and Side 2 had to be remastered in the editor to match Side 1. Side 2 is over 2 minutes longer than Side 1, which clocked in at around 2min 45sec. Both the gain and bass had been reduced by the vinyl mastering engineer, in order to fit Side 2 onto the 45 (this is irregardless of the fact that MacArthur Park was mastered onto a single side of a 45 in 1968 - it's sound quality borders on horrendous - I have that original single). Each side was restored first, then the equalizations were matched, then the splice was accomplished.

[@lukpac]

The promo has the full song on side 2, and sounds better than the part one/part two cuts.

[@brucemabley9808]

At one-time I had medicine man/Buchanan bros❤had to flip it over

[@williamdowning1552]

Just hold your breath 😎

[@malegrissusran8847]

Nice --- but why you has cutting the turning of the record ?? That would be much more interesting !! ======================================== many greetings

[@PlayThemAgain]

@forku2umf The table is a Technics SL1200MKII. Direct drive, weighs 15#. See my channel for more info.

[@PlayThemAgain]

@tubephobia You're welcome! Keep listening!

[@dstraightone]

Hey playthemagain, What is the brand of your turntable. I'd like to get one. And what program do you use to edit out all the pops and all of the other noise from LPs and 45s?

[@PlayThemAgain]

@panpeti You are welcome. Check out the rest of the vids on the channel!