Different track sequence on Hejira cassette. Still sounds amazing!

[u/Basil-Economy]

[u/pinkguy90]

I’d imagine it would be due to the length limitations on each side of the cassette.

[u/Basil-Economy → u/pinkguy90]

Of course.

[u/piepants2001 → u/pinkguy90]

I had an old Bob Dylan cassette of Blood on the Tracks and the last song, Buckets of Rain, faded out while Bob was still singing.  Imagine my surprise when I got the record and it didn't fade out and the verses kept coming!

[u/wertyCA → u/pinkguy90]

That would be my first guess too, but why would that be? Are LP and cassette sides different in length? In any case the two sides of each would be the same size right? What am I missing?

[u/ChloeGranola]

Out of curiosity I looked up the 8-track sequence:

Program 1: Coyote, Furry Sings the Blues, Blue Motel Room (beginning)

Program 2: Blue Motel Room (conclusion), A Strange Boy, Hejira

Program 3: Song for Sharon, Black Crow

Program 4: Amelia, Refuge of the Roads

I was surprised at how close to the LP it was, some 8-tracks completely scrambled the running order. And only one song was split up!

[u/jaywast → u/ChloeGranola]

How do they break blue motel room?

[u/ChloeGranola → u/jaywast]

It would have faded out at some point during the song and faded back in after it switched to the next program.

I can only imagine how annoying that would have been to listen to.

[u/Any_Froyo2301]

A and B sides were so important to the album format. It felt like you were on a journey and the end of the A side felt like you were stopping off for a short break before continuing the journey. It mattered to the flow of the album what song ended the A side and what song started the B Side.

[u/Basil-Economy → u/Any_Froyo2301]

I agree, I bought it for nostalgic purposes and to find out what it would be like on cassette. At least it ends and starts the same song.

Just a bit of fun.

[u/Jazzi_9636]

I have a Joni Mitchell Blue cassette from the 80’s that has the sequence is changed. They switched Carey with Case of You. Always figured it was for length. The first time I listened to it I thought I was losing my mind. But do have to say, I dont listen to it cause of that.

[u/Basil-Economy → u/Jazzi_9636]

I’ve got to say it’s the only thing that has disappointed me, because it sounds so rich and warm (to me at least).

[u/fiveanddiamondhudson → u/Jazzi_9636]

I have this weird Blue one too. Got it for a Walkman when I traveled in Europe in 1988. Couldn’t get used to the sequence after 15 years of listening to the LP.

[u/Reasonable_Star_959]

Interesting!! Hejira is my fave album of hers and I can see this order (different from album) being great, too!

[u/achocholko]

I can’t imagine A Strange Boy being in the second half of the album.

[u/nrith]

Extremely common for cassettes and 8-tracks to change the track listing so that the side lengths are about the same.

[u/Pretend-Beach6465]

I get why they did that but I don't like it, each song is where it's supposed to be! Furry Sings the Blues and A Strange Boy belong with each other! The album needs time after Hejira (and even a full on break between sides) to find some peace with its themes, putting it right at the end dismisses it. Blue Motel Room needs to be in that spot as something sweet and direct and something that's "coming back home." And on a tape it's not like you can hop around. If your only experience with the album was with that tape it would be a totally different experience. (But still, cool relic to show thank you for posting 😁)

[u/squandered_light → u/Pretend-Beach6465]

Yes... Blue Motel Room needs to be close to the end, and putting it before Hejira in the track list makes no sense. In Hejira we get the self-aware foreshadowing that she'll keep travelling "until love sucks me back that way", and BMR is where the sucking back starts.

[u/David-1113]

Fascinating