Singles that were better than the album track

**QUINNY** · September 15th, 2003, 03:56 AM

Don't know if this topic has been discussed before. I very much doubt it, as most posters seem to have been obsessed with lengthening short tracks.
Anyhow, for my money, not all album versions of tracks were better than the 7" single version. Here's a few to start the ball rolling.
Fatback Band - (Are You ready) Do The Bustop - the album version sounds sadly lacking to my ears and that synth solo is awful.
Morning, Noon & Night - Bite Your Granny - the album version just doesn't make me wanna move in the same way as the single does.
Michel Polnareff - Lipstick - Part 2 was the side of the 7" that I played and played. The album version lacks that 7" edit's edge.
Creative Source - Who Is He (And What Is He To You) - To take what seems like an eternity to get to the main vocals is just too much.
Lemon - A-Freak-A - Both the single and the LP versions sound a little awkward at times, the 7" slightly less so? A great record nonetheless.
Rhythm Makers - Zone - Ha Ha, bet you never thought I'd be critical of my beloved Zone, but the album/12"? has the utterly disposable "It's Got To Be Funky" acappella. The 7" would have been even better IMO if they'd started it on the very first thumping beat after the shimmering, slightly psychadelic sounding intro.

Well, there's a few. Any other takers?

**Forrrce** · September 15th, 2003, 06:51 AM

Quinny,
The '...funkay, yeah' intro to 'Zone' definitely isn't on the 12" or (I'm pretty certain) LP, you'll be relieved to know. During my short association with Castle Communications, I was given a tape of the complete RM sessions (including the lukewarm, previously unissued tracks) and didn't recognise that intro at all. I haven't played 'Zone' for years. The 12" and LP versions are the same...maybe even the 7"(?) - but I'm certain none start with the a capella.

'Soul On Your Side' was issued as a Unidisc CD with most, if not all of, the tracks on the tape I was given. 'Monterey' (my favourite track from the LP) is an extended edit (not the best idea, I fear) but the full-length version of the blazin' 'Can You Feel It' (just over a minute long on the LP) is only on the b-side of 'Zone' on 12" and clocks in at a more realistic length (over 4 mins.). This never made the CD.

**QUINNY** · September 15th, 2003, 07:59 AM

Forrrce: So you're saying that the acappella although recorded like that, actually ended up in the bin for all its official releases at the time? I just assumed it was the album version, as I have it on 3 CDs like that now. It does sound like it has been spliced onto the front, otherwise why fade it?
The 7" in this country had Prime Cut as the 'B' side.

**BrunoRepublic** · September 15th, 2003, 09:18 AM

I've always thought that "Come Into My Heart" was just too drawn-out on the album version. The 7" is much more concise and to-the-point.

**Boogie Child** · September 15th, 2003, 02:06 PM

"Heaven Knows" by Donna Summer - the single version was filled-out with strings and more orchestration - the "Live and More" suite version was more sparse...

**Forrrce** · September 15th, 2003, 02:19 PM

Alton McClain & Destiny's 'It Must Be Love' has strings added from the get-go on the 7". Nice.

Also, I always liked the original US 7" of Teena Marie's 'Lovergirl', which was quickly withdrawn in favour of the crappily reverbed, handclap deprived remix. The first version was dry, tight and had more of an edge.

Two other 7"s I really like (neither track was from an LP, but the 7"s were never commercially issued) are 'Get Down Friday Night' by The Fantastic Aleems (M&M) and 'Hard Times' by Al McCall (Tee Scott). Without the 12" disco extensions, the tracks are heard as complete, radio-friendly songs. No passages are left out and there even ad-libs and other extra parts the 12" mixes omitted, like original intros. And as opposed to simply being edited versions of their respective 12s, they are actually different mixes.

**Leatherman** · September 15th, 2003, 03:54 PM

Main Ingredient "Happiness...." far punchier and compact on 7" - really jumps out the speakers compared to the LP mix.

Bobby Lyle "Groove (Ain't no doubt..) I'd need to check them against each other but I remember the 7" being pretty different and far funkier than the album

Pratt and McClain "Whachasign" - though the Jim Burgess mixed 12" is ok, the 7" is a tighter mix and far more concise arrangement

**SandraDee** · September 15th, 2003, 04:47 PM

Narada Michael Walden's 7" version of 'I Dont Want Nobody Else To Dance With You' was so much snappier & more exciting than the LP/12" version IMHO; the horns were mixed so much better I thought. I also always thought that the 7" version of Sylvester's 'Dance (Disco Heat)' was so much better than the 12" version; it just sounded tighter & more concise.

**K-Bee** · September 16th, 2003, 03:12 AM

Talking about Narada Michael Walden....
The same quality difference between album and single versions is present when it comes to "Divine Emotions"
The album version is not a bad track, but the Shep Pettibone 12" remix takes the track into a whole different territory.
8:48 of late 80s house heaven if you ask me :lol: and after all these years, it's still my favorite 12" version ever!!

**efunk_adelic** · September 16th, 2003, 04:01 AM

Quinny, here's a couple that popped up in my head...

Side Effect - Make You Mine
sounded better in the club.... w/bass slightly louder and puncher

General Kane - Girls
liked the edit... and the horns at the end

**NickNack** · September 16th, 2003, 09:52 PM

Just a question: These single edits all of you are discussing... are you saying you, personally, like them better or that they were better for the dancefloor?

And Quinny: I've played that 7" version of Creative Source several times since you first said how superior you feel it is to the album version. (I'm playing it right now :) .) Sorry, can't agree on this. To anyone that has heard and danced the full length version, then this one is simply 'unfinished'. The intro feels rushed as the tempo slides up too quickly because of what has been edited out. No horn rushes, no breaks, no dance vibe. Just a nice little radio song at 3:35. Not good for me... not good for the dancefloor.

**NickNack** · September 16th, 2003, 09:55 PM

There is a single I regret having lost that I feel is much better than the lp. "Take A Look Around" by The Temptations. While the album track is nice, the 7" edit had a totally different intro, including French Horns and Strings, as well as a 'fuller' body and exit. They give you a taste of it on their Emperors of Soul collection but it's not complete like the original 7".

**Discovery** · September 17th, 2003, 06:44 AM

Chic - "Le Freak" (1978)

I prefer the 3:30 single version over the album version.

**QUINNY** · September 17th, 2003, 09:28 AM

NickNack: Half and half really, but I do write as someone who thinks most 12" records were maybe too long.

**Leatherman** · September 17th, 2003, 12:36 PM

Re Creative Source - I always thought what was good about "Who is he..." was the long atmospheric build up. Yes it probably is to long for most dancefloors but having just a 3 min edit of the song section would loose the essence of what the record is about. I doubt if it would be anything like as much of a classic if it didn't have this extended drawn out arrangment - that's what made it different at the time.

Generally, I think if you become familiar with the 7" version of a song then hear the 12" it can seem over long, but I didn't think thats what this thread was about. I was under the impression it was where the 7" was a different mix/recording and/or had parts that weren't on the other versions.