Alec R. Costandinos - Romeo & Juliet Japanese Promo 12''

**retrohunter** · July 8th, 2011, 06:24 AM

Hi, everyone!
I know this is a multi-discussed artist and record, but I came across this (by now uknown to me) Japanese promo release being sold at E-bay and I wonder if any of you are aware of this specific 12'' (It's NOT at Discogs). It is actually a double-artist promo with "Romeo And Juliet" clocking at 8:08 on Side A and la Bionda's "Bandido" clocking at 4:03 on Side B. It's on PHILIPS Label issued back in 1978 and cover states "Special long Version". I have never heared an 8min+8secs (edit?) before, so if anyone is familiar with this version I would appreciate the info. I have almost every version of this track (along with a lot of rare Costandinos recordings) and I'm already waiting for the Japanese 7'' I recently bought at E-bay (Side A: part 1 - 4:46 / Side B: Part 2 - 4:00). I will not buy the 12'' as its cost is OVER-THE-TOP (52 euros / about 75 dollars including shipping) but it's at least intriguing to find more info about this version. I'll try to post pictures of the cover below:
ALEC A.jpg ALEC B.jpg

**retrohunter** · July 8th, 2011, 06:50 AM

Additional info: Observing carefully the picture, I read "Special Edited by..." (phrase is spelled exactly as printed) but my eyes don't help me enough to read the name. So, it's officially an unheared different version of the song. Just when I thought I knew it all...!

**STEPHEN L FREEMAN** · July 9th, 2011, 03:07 PM

Originally Written by retrohunter

...I'm already waiting for the Japanese 7'' I recently bought at E-bay (Side A: part 1 - 4:46 / Side B: Part 2 - 4:00)...

I know the listing you're talking about (which hasn't come down in price, for the last 6 months), and if it's anything like the Japanese 7" (which, I'm sorry to say, is constructed with some very sloppy editing), I wouldn't waste your $$$.

**retrohunter** · July 10th, 2011, 04:14 AM

Thanks for the iput, Stephen! Still haven't received the 7'', so I can only imagine what you mean, but it was cheap anyway so I won't be disappointed. I would not give a lot of money for a record I don't trust, I'm just trying to satisfy my curiosity, which sometimes is insatiable! (lol). I did buy some cleaned mp3s from Alec's site, though, and I'm very satisfied with the quality and clarity of sound. The spoken intro on "Hunchback side A" is obviously new with Costandinos' voice as it is now, but I replaced it with the original to be exactly as it should. Have a nice Sunday!

**Chap2Power** · July 11th, 2011, 07:08 PM

Promise to buy all the Costandinos singles I see and offer them on here when my wife and I go back to Japan. The stores over there would make you freak.