The original Metallic KO album... (was) lost in the past

I mean the album as it was originally, in it's two incarnations, 'Metallic KO' and 'Metallic x 2 KO' is now gone, replaced by something else.

all tracks were recorded at Detroit's Michigan Palace on February 9, 1974 and on October 6, 1974. But the way they are available know, presented as both gigs on two CDs, is not the way it was mixed and sequenced and produced originally.

I searched in vain here and on the web for any info. So here's my take :

Version 1 - The original album

Mixed by Marc Zermati, I think it was never ever released on CD, only LP.
Tracks were

1# RAW POWER 5:29
2# HEAD ON 7:23
3# GIMME DANGER 6:45
4# RICH BITCH 10:52
5# COCK IN MY POCKET 3:21
6# LOUIE LOUIE (Richard Berry) 3:24


Version 2 - The extended version

Still mixed by Marc Zermati. It keeps both sides of the original LP, and extend the in between with 2 more sides of vinyl. Released on a multitude of double LPs and on CD by Skydog in the eighties, a rare CD, distribution Melodie.?The CD is I think a needle drop. This is in my opinion the ultimate version to own, the editing (notice the differences in timing) is fantastic. Even the original tracks are extended with better chat editing.

Tracks are

1#Raw Power 5:45
2#Head On 8:32
3#Gimme Danger 7:11
4#Search And Destroy 7:46
5#Heavy Liquid 9:31
6#Open Up And Bleed 5:03
7#I Got Nothing - I Got **** 4:25
8#Rich Bitch 11:37
9#Cock In My Pocket 7:05
10#Louie Louie 3:37


Version 3 - The Munster version

Released on CD and LP by Munster Records in the nineties. This is not the same mix, nor the same order. Mostly it is the two show put back in order, probably from the original tape, but missing some of the songs. This mix is badly balanced, with a leaning on the left channel. Licensed from Skydog, but it lacks now the Producer's credit, as the tapes are now back in their raw state.

1#Heavy Liquid 3:24
2#I Got Nothin' 4:29
3#Rich Bitch 11:46
4#Cock In My Pocket 7:08
5#Louie Louie 3:39
6#Raw Power 5:47
7#Head On 8:30
8#Gimme Danger 7:11
9#Search & Destroy 8:44
10#Heavy Liquid (I Wanna Be Your Dog) 9:52
11#Open Up & Bleed 3:56

Version 4 - The Jungle Version

Jungle released around the same time a special edition of 2 CDs, with both shows complete, each on is on disc. That is the version that is the most common now. However, it is not the original mix, simply a complete version of the Munster single disc. The sound is claimed "remastered", but still fails to beat the original skydog discs. I won't go into minuting those, I think it's a CD for completists. The balance of the channels is as ****ed up as the Munster one.

Disc One:
The last ever Iggy & The Stooges show. Michigan Palace, Detroit 9th Feb '74

1 Heavy Liquid
2 I Got Nuthin'
3 Rich Bitch
4 Gimme Danger
5 Cock In My Pocket
6 Louie Louie

Disc Two:
Michigan Palace, Detroit 6th Oct '73

1 Raw Power
2 Head On
3 Gimme Danger
4 Search and Destroy
5 Heavy Liquid
6 Open Up And Bleed

(note : that last disc was released, as is, on Bomp as 10/6/73 Michigan Palace, with a better sound than jungle, claiming to be mostly unissued stuff).

Bottom line : if all you ever heard was versions 3 & 4, you have never heard this album. The live Metallic KO mastertape, as it was originally produced & mixed by Marc Zermati, still lays on a shelf somewhere, and is only to be heard on the original vinyl and on the version 2 needle drop CD. This is the one with superior sound, superior editing, superior balance of the channels, superior everything.

The so called "remastered" versions 3 & 4 are just back to the original tapes, transferred without any kind of production work. Funny how Stooges stuff from this era, like the original Bowie mix of Raw Power, have been wiped out of history, replaced with inferior remasters.

Do yourself a favor. Find the original 70's and 80's skydog vinyls, or the rare skydog mid 80's CD.

I'm going to ask a dumb question...

I saw for sale a blue sleeve vinyl version of Metallic K.O in a second hand store. Is it rare?!?! Should I have bought it?!?!

Absolutely. That is still the x2 version, from the mid eighties. Item !

Alright. I will go back and see if it's still there. I am going past there tomorrow, and I will see if I can get it. Although, it has been a month since I saw it there.

Thanks.

Hi,
I'm new to all of this forum stuff. (I love the forum by the way it's nice to read posts from people who are very passionate about this wonderful & confussing subject)

Anyway.

If memory serves me right the original 'Metallic KO' on Skydog (French) sleeve was silver, the U.S version reissue which i have on 'Import Records' has a blue sleeve.
This whole release & rerelease thing that is going on comes down to who owns the original masters & who has got them. As much as the 'Heavy Liquid' is a great release wouldn't it great if the recordings were taken from the masters?.Someone must have them.

I found this while trollin' the web.-

http://www.4boxs.com/page.html

scroll down to the 'The Ridiculous Trio' and download it's well funny, and really quite good.

(Sorry if this dosen't make sense a few lagers were involved)

The masters ? that's a whole story in itself...

On other curious note and coincidence, I just got an email from Zermati, saying the original 6 tracks version, is coming out soon on Jungle Records.

I suggested this to him months ago. Good to see some people do listen

Thanks Seventeen for this very informative post. I have the original vinyl, it came with a t shirt iron on transfer that was pretty cool.

Can't wait till the original 6 track version comes out on CD !


Zen Dog Radio http://search.mercora.com/page/ZenDog

I just hope it's not just the Jungle mix pared down to 6 tracks...

So the version you are talking about, will the Open up and bleed on that disc be the best version there is?
I'v always had fantasies about a "as good as it gets" verison of that song hihi

That song is amazing, yes, the Skydog mid-eighties CD version is sounding great (meaning it's not fun house, just that it sounds better than the others)


Here's the jungle release

IGGY & THE STOOGES ‘Metallic K.O.’ 1xCD original edit version
FREUDCD096 5013145 209622
Original 1976 notorious, riotous 6-track album remastered
Shipping: late June, coinciding with Stooges festivals world tour!

Sevteen: The version of Open up and bleed I have is only 3:55minutes long and the end is a fade out.
Is there a full version? I'v always thougt it was cut short because they hadn't enough "space" on the vinyl.
I'd really like a full version of the song, it's god damned nice

It's faded out because the tape probably runned out.

On the Skydog x 2 CD, it's neatly segued with I got nothing, so you get the feeling the song just stops, and they go into another.

All the studios versions also miss the ending. Somehow, the only place I found the last part of the song is on a Revenge CD. I'm thinking of putting back the complete song together, by figuring when the part 2 starts, and cutting it into part one.

If you did that, would it be possible for you to post it? I would write thank you -and really mean it!

Write me, with a 500 $ note well concealed in the envellope

That's a very unfair buisness What's the biggie with making me happy?
Doesn't the Robin Hood attitude apply?

I bought the blue version of Metallic K.O today. I'm surprised it was still there because the last time I went there was over 1 month ago and it was still there when I went there today.

I'll take pictures of it and post them of you want.

Lucky guy !

I agree about the comments and stage banter, just the best ! I consider the entire show a historical event, a glimpse into the Stooges legend. I was there that night, and I must admit, my friends and I were a little pissed off at the sound quality, the crowd, etc. But, looking back in retrospect, it was a fine evening. I was a young crazy Detroit boy with a beautiful wife and good friends, most of whom are gone now, including the wife..LOL.

Pardon me for getting nostalgic.....but any mention of this album just starts the memories flowing.

Zen Dog Radio http://search.mercora.com/page/ZenDog

Here are the pics of it:

I hope that the new re-release will reinstate that marvellous disclaimer that the blue sleeved Metallic KO carried about the sounds on the record being a true representation of the Stooges last stand and 'NOT a defect in the mastering'.
Always loved that comment!
I'm still hopeful that one day the original recordings will be rediscovered and we might get a full document of the final gig, instead of this chopped about version that's been out there in various forms for the last 30 odd years... I can dream can't I?
Cheers,
Richard

The full document have never been lost, it's out since 1999 on Jungle two CDs version. There's no more than every piece that is on that CD.

heavy liquid wrote:

Here are the pics of it:

Yeah
These are my two versions


.....but i prefer the Night Of The Iguana on ruthless rhymes...it's powerful!



All the best.
Gabs