Heartaches by the Number (1959/1983) Fallout side-by-side comparison

Описание: Fallout: New Vegas uses a 1980 recording of "Heartaches by the Number" instead of the original 1959 version.

The re-recording was originally produced by K-Tel Records in Nashville in June 1980, but the earliest physical issue I can find is from a 1983 Candlelite Records LP set. K-Tel acquired Candlelite in 1980 followed by a bankruptcy in 1984, possibly explaining the late release.

The two versions of the songs have been heavily spliced to sync with each other.

Notable differences:

1959 Columbia Records
Opening whistling is "harsher" and more forceful
Ending notes are played with an acoustic piano
Record was cut very loudly with a wall of sound effect. Gain was artificially lowered for this track.
The female chorus suddenly raises their pitch on the end of "troubles by the score" at 0:19, 1:06, and 2:05
1:42 "was when you called me" dramatically lowers the pitch with a glissando at the end of the phrase

1983 Candlelite Records
Opening whistling is smoother
Ending notes are played with a synthesizer or electronic organ
More dynamic range and backing vocals are less overwhelming
No obvious female chorus during "troubles by the score" at 0:19, 1:06, and 2:05
1:42 "was when you called me" slightly lowers the pitch at the end of the phrase

Confusingly Guy Mitchell recorded at least 4 versions of "Heartaches by the Number, likely more, including a 1982 version.


The 1980 version doesn't appear to have been ever physically issued as a standalone Guy Mitchell album and will be found among other artists in compilation albums.

The earliest issue I could find with this 1980 version is the 1983 Candlelite Records release "Top 100 Country Hits of All Time" CU 188LP issued as a vinyl LP set and 8-track tape cartridge set. Candlelite also issued in 1983 this track on the compilation albums "Country Music Cavalcade - Nashville Graffitti" as well as "1950′s Rock’N’Roll Music Collection - Looking Back". (Note: there is a nearly identical 1976 Nashville Graffiti issue that uses the original 1959 version instead)

There are also a number of later UK issues with this track including "Heat of the 50′s" (1987, Mastersound), "Those Fabulous 50′s" (1988, Ocean), and an actual K-Tel branded release on "Hooked on Country" (1990, K-Tel); all of which are compilation albums of various artists. There is likely a compilation CD by K-Tel or Dominion Entertainment with the track, but it can be difficult to tell which version is used except by listening to it and will only have one or two Guy Mitchell tracks among the other artists.

There is a very short Guy Mitchell digital album called "His Very Best" licensed by K-Tel in 2009 which appears to feature all four songs from the June 1980 Nashville recording session: "Heartaches by the Number", "Singing the Blues", "Knee Deep in the Blues", "Rock-a-Billy".

The 1982 session included those tracks as well as "Music! Music! Music!" and "Side by Side" never before recorded by Guy Mitchell until that session which may be an indicator if a compilation album includes the 1980 or the 1982 version of "Heartaches by the Number".

The Fallout: New Vegas end credits also cite Dominion Entertainment as the licensing source for the track. Dominion is also a subsidiary of K-Tel. The other Columbia Records songs "Big Iron" and "Jingle Jangle Jingle" use the original Columbia versions in the credits.


Listen to the 1959 version of "Heartaches by the Number" here:
   • Heartaches by the Number (1959) - Guy Mitc...  


Listen to the 1983 version of "Heartaches by the Number" here:
   • Heartaches by the Number (1983) - Guy Mitc...