Week 8: Country version

After the launch of the album, someone in the band or at Buie/Geller thought a country version of "Pac-Man Fever" would be a hit. Having already worked with Edgel Groves on "Footprints in the Sand", the duo asked him to record it.

After the country version of "Pac-Man Fever" was recorded, however, CBS Records got wind of it and nixed it. They were worried it would eat into sales of the original. Despite this, some 45 copies were pressed locally on the Starstruck label.

Remember in week 4 we told you we'd see Edgel Groves' name again? Yes, he's the same one that helped create the patterns included on the album's sleeve.

The country version of "Pac-Man Fever" is actually faster than the original, having been played at about 200 bpm as opposed to the original's 150 bpm. This makes the country version almost exactly one minute faster.

Just like the original, the country version 45 comes with an instrumental version on the B side. But nobody has ever put it online! Until now!!! Enjoy!

Week 4: Album sleeve

Something unique to the Pac-Man Fever album are the Pac-Man patterns on both sides of the album sleeves. They even advertised them with a sticker on the shrink wrap! 

Photo courtesy Discogs.com

Here are the patterns in 4K-ish glory (courtesy Rodney Siddall). 

In case you're... younger than me, the ghost monsters in the Pac-Man arcade game reacted in predictable manners to Pac-Man's movements. Therefore, there was practically an industry devoted to publishing patterns players could memorize to excel at the game. The patterns here are credited to Edgel and Chuck Groves. We'll be seeing Edgel Groves' name again a little later.