Acetate [Level 1]
Does anyone else ever heard a short version of a song on an LP or 7 inch Single and then find the 12 inch only to be disappointed by a cheap extended version which repetitious and (frankly) annoying beats and pauses that seem to have been hastily put together in order to extend the shorter version. It seems that many 12 inch singles were very cheaply made.. and that many of the producers of these records did not want to incurred more expense by using orchestras to fill in the record with melody and not boring beats - which are pointless... I wanted the extended version in order hear the music not some random beats and percussion instruments and annoying repeats of vocals or random notes over and over and over and over again ...
Underground Hit [Level 5]
Well,
You take me by surprise on that cold call.
Nothing comes to my mind right now but yes, there are a few bad extended versions out there.
But there is something worse to me than the type of patchwork you describe.
I remember buying a few 12" that were in fact twice a long a the 7" version (almost done from a "cut & paste").
This kind of lazy work really frustrates me.
Chart Hit [Level 6]
I agree, and I especially found that to be true of extended versions of rock and pop songs by the Beach Boys, Rolling Stones, Wings, etc. But I SERIOUSLY doubt if the producers of these records were involved in these remixes, if you read the credits they often list the name of the person who did the remix and THAT'S who I'd blame. Seems to be one of those money makin' moves.....Originally Written by discoboy2008
Platinum Record [Level 8]
Are you talking about re-edits, rather than full remixes?
If so here are some examples that come to mind that disappointed me:
Jacksons - Enjoy Yourself (Ext version only available in the UK)
Bay City Rollers - Don't Stop The Music (Ext version I think is Canadian 7" only)
Jackie Robinson - Pussyfooter (it's obvious they extended the 3 minute LP version - some really bad edits on this 12")
RSO Ext versions of tracks by The Bee Gees, Yvonne Elliman on 12"
Tony Valor - Gonna Get It (Tom Moulton was great at doing remixes, but with this track he seems to have gotten a little lazy and just re-edited it)
Disco Funk
Double Platinum Record [Level 9]
Not disco, but the 12" of Elton Motello's "Jet Boy Jet Girl" is simply the short version played through twice. The 12" of "Chase" by Giorgio Moroder is another one like that.
Chart Hit [Level 6]
Many elongated version contain no additional music-just repeats of verses and choruses which is a reason why I'm a CD collector of albums and not a 12" single collector. For that hidden gem or great mix, there's 3 that are subpar and not really worth fussing over. I know because I often get different mixes on a CD compilation with varying results.
Indie Release [Level 4]
I would always prefer a remix with new material added over a cut-and-paste re edit but sometimes when you want a longer version of a song there isn't any remix available. I'd rather have a good quality re-edit than only a 3-minute song off a 45 or LP. I have been experimenting with Audacity software and have been getting good results making my own extended re-edits but it gets awfully boring if you do more than repeat another chorus and another rhythm break.
Platinum Record [Level 8]
Speaking of a boringly repetitive edit, I just remembered another one - 24 Hours A Day by Barbara Pennington. I was so happy to get my hands on the 12" thinking that I was getting an awesome 9 minute remix! Then I discovered it was just the 3 or 4 minute LP version with certain parts repeated, ad nauseum I might add.
Disco Funk
Underground Hit [Level 5]
That always has bugged me about someof the famous Donna Summer ones--Dim All the Lights is simply just looped (for that matter so is Love to Love You Baby at aroudn the 13 minute mark, which is usually when I turn it off). On the other hand some of her 12" like Last Dance and Walk Away have added vocals, etc which make them essential.
her worst was the 12" of THe Deep because it actually speeded up the track so that she starts to sound a bit like Minnie Mouse (though not as bad as some more recent remixes where this was done). One of my fave 12", Cher's Take Me Home also speeds up the track a tiny bit so she appears to be singing in a higher speed but that one is done well and not noticeable unless you compare
Gold Record [Level 7]
even though it wasn't a masterpiece... and it was just re-looped just to add another verse repeated, I still enjoyed it (Night Fever) for nastalgia purposes.
No Longer Charting
Was nastalgia a Freudian slip, Efunk?
Weren't most remixes cut and paste jobs in essence, as technically a remix is just that...a remix of what's already there and were invariably the doubling/repetition of certain sections (albeit with certain instruments either taken out, diminished or brought to the fore)? Listen more closely and the sources become evident.
Underground Hit [Level 5]
Very true but often the best extended versions add a new element--Donna Summer's Walk Away has those vocals "this time I'll get over you/Only thing to do" etc that weren't on the album version, Cher's take Me Hoem had added percussion, Moroder's remix of Enough is Enough (which Gary Klein produced originally) hjad more synths, etc
Underground Hit [Level 5]
Not exactly right.
Did I read “remix” or “extended”?
I think there is a nuance to make between the two (most of the time).
To me, a real extended version has a longer intro, often but not always different arrangements, some room half way through to complete mixing without too much musical confusion.
A remix can be made of any patchwork by someone who had nothing to work with.
I finally found a good example of such a disgrace:
The 6’06” version of Dance Little Lady Dance – Tina Charles on Epic compilation.
Cut and paste before the expression even existed.
More to come as I dig deeper in the pile.
- Marcus
Gold Record [Level 7]
Quinny,
I didn't have to pleasure of hearing "Night Fever" extended until recently... so it was a pleasant surprise.
Platinum Record [Level 8]
I myself don't call extended edits 'remixes'. To remix something is to recreate the 2 channel stereo mixdown from the original multitrack master tapes. Even if someone was to cut and paste together a vocal and instrumental version of a track, that technically isn't a remix, because the placing of the instruments in the 2 channel stereo mix is still the same as the non-edited versions. Nowadays people like Danny Krivit correctly call their re-interpretations of the released mixes (i.e. their re-edit projects) as 'Edits'. However, if the A side of a record is a vocal and the B side is an instrumental, I would definitely call the B side a remix.
Disco Funk
Platinum Record [Level 8]
It's too bad they never thought of having instrumental B-sides for these singles. Can you imagine having the instrumental mixes to some of these classics?!!
You can tell when singles are pop-oriented (as opposed to club-oriented) releases when one side is a dancer, and the flip side is a ballad rather than a remix of the A side.
Disco Funk
Test Pressing [Level 2]
Reminds me of the mid to late 80s, where every man and his dog were putting out 12" singles, even heavy metal acts!
You would lucky to have an extra 30 seconds of drum loops and studio effects in the middle and maybe an extended intro, then that was about the only difference to the 7" version.
Gold Record [Level 7]
At least the DJ's got that special record that they probably took for granted. They could've released "More Than A Woman" as a single and it probably could've went to #1 also.
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