12-inch Versions That Were Superior to the Original Versions

Don't get so excited, OP. Guys are always SAYING it's 12 inches, but IRL it's usually quite a different story.

In the first sentence, I meant to start with: "In the 1980s, with the growing popularity of the 12-inch remix..." My apologies.

[quote]record companies often released inferior, usually pointlessly lengthened versions of hit songs.

Seriously. Often with some tacky bongo/cowbell breakdown in the middle that sounded so cheap..

Nicole - Don't You Want My Love (12" Club Mix 1985)

Soft Cell: Tainted Love/Where Did Our Love Go

Laid Back - It's The Way You do It 12' (Velvet Spike Mix) 1985

Donna Summer I Feel Love

The version with the 17 minute-long orgasm

Lol wow, r7, you have great taste

"You Make My Heart Beat Faster (And That's All That Matters)" by Kim Carnes (1984)

Always loved the mellow extended middle music riff

"Cities In Dust" by Siouxsie and The Banshees (1985)

r11

Together Forever - Rick Astley. So much more epic than the original.

R4, that's a great track! I vaguely remember hearing it back when it came out, but that's exactly the kind of song I mean. I love how it borrows from "Everyday is Halloween" too!

I always loved the 12" version of "Little Red Corvette". It has that slightly ominous, brief, spoken verse at the end that changes the whole tone of the song.

Thanks, R7 it's amazing. I'll add the much longer and unofficial 1978 I Feel Love remix by Patrick Cowley, which later received the Casablanca Records seal of approval with their 1982 12" release. This version (edited) charted the song a 2nd time. Giorgio Moroder is said not to like this much, but I love it!

Speaking of Prince, I much prefer the "Long Look" version of "U Got the Look", and listen to that as the standard version of the song when I listen to it.

It's funny OP mentioned the Dead or Alive track. For my money, the best 12" are squarely in that same era, especially since most of them were very available at record stores. Flock of Seagulls, New Order, The Human League, Howard Jones, Bronski Beat, Spandau Ballet, Berlin, etc, etc.

Unlike later 12" releases, they didn't stray TOO far from the original song. Once they started getting uninvolved third parties into it, the whole 12 inch thing crashed, at least for me.

R19, OP here. I'm glad you mentioned New Order. Their club version of "Sub-culture" was another one of the extended mixes that was much better than the album version.

Situation by Yaz. I didn't know that the original version was only 2:22 long.

Super nature by Cerrone, Safety Dance by Men Without Hats

Perhaps my all-time favorite dance song:

Bizarre Love Triangle - and this version is also on their compilation album "Substance"

R22, Supernature is such a fucking great song. I remember hearing it and thinking: "the lyrics sound like something Lene Lovich might write..." wasn't surprised at all to find out that was correct.

I was obsessed with the Shep Pettibone 12" remix of "I Don't Wanna Go On With You Like That" when I was a freshman in high school.

“Sensoria” and “James Brown” from Cabaret Voltaire’s 1984 album Micro-Phonies both have wild 12” mixes that seem superior to the album versions.

I Get Weak - Belinda Carlisle

I heard this at a Body and Soul NYC party the weekend she died. The crowd went wild. More obscure than her other 17 minute extendeds but just as special.

This conversation had me off down a rabbit hole. It sounds dumb, but I never really understood what a 12" (or 7") disc really was. Vinyl was out by the time I was born, my first album was cassette and then almost immediately I was on to CDs. I found this short doco below that explained things really well.

I used to listen to a lot of 12" mixes of songs as a kid that were on singles or included on special editions and I never really liked them that much. As OP says: "often ... inferior, usually pointlessly lengthened versions of hit songs." They often sounded kinda tinny to me as well, with boring extended percussion bits. But the doco I found gave me more of an appreciation that a lot of the time they were designed to be played on vinyl and in clubs for dancing. Whereas I was just listening to them in my room as a kid. Interesting that recording on 12" allowed greater depth of sound, especially bass and drums. All up found it very interesting.

I still don't understand what "dub" is exactly, but that'll be the next thing to learn about.

^Oh and as for some good extended versions that I listen to more than the album version, I think the Pet Shop Boys did a great job there. Some songs like "Suburbia" and "Jealousy" really fit the extensions and become these really melodramatic songs that actually work. Also Introspective is a good example, as that album was designed to be an album of 12" versions of singles.

It's when there's an interminable breakdown in the middle of cheap sounding percussion and vocals going "co-co-co-co come on!" over and over again that I have issues.

FGTH

Speaking of the Pet Shop Boys, I am working my way through their Further Listening series at the moment, so a lot of different versions of songs there to listen to. And last night I heard a ten-inch version of "It's Alright" - and honestly, I thought it was the best version of that song I've heard. So, here's a great TEN-inch version, even! There are all these small changes to the instrumentation that really work for me.

Also, then being reminded of Bronski Beat last night and checking out the 12" versions on the remastered The Age of Consent, and I gotta say, the 12" of "Why" is so fun! This is how you do a percussion and choppy vocal breakdown properly!

R31, Frankie had some really good 12-inch versions. I always loved this version of Welcome to the Pleasuredome.

"It's when there's an interminable breakdown in the middle of cheap sounding percussion and vocals going "co-co-co-co come on!" over and over again that I have issues."

EXCUSE ME? You've got to get into the groove, R30!

R32, I have to wonder though if there really was a 10-inch version or if the Pet Shop Boys were just being cheeky?

[quote] EXCUSE ME? You've got to get into the groove, [R30]!

Hahaha, I love you, R35. I was hoping someone would pick up on that!

[quote]I have to wonder though if there really was a 10-inch version or if the Pet Shop Boys were just being cheeky?

Hehe, well, I looked into it and there really was one! (Parlophone -10R 6220) But let's be honest, I'm sure they were being cheeky about it too. How could you not? Incidentally, I started looking into Frankie Goes to Hollywood after they were recommended above, and they make a big thing on a couple of album titles about "Twelve inch", hehehe. (also, R31, I really enjoyed that mix!)

Years ago- hell, it may have even been during the song's original release in1987- I heard a fantastic long version of "Breakout" by Swing Out Sister. It was essentially the same as the album version with a tad bit longer intro and a light guitar break just after the bridge. But what I really loved was where the original mix faded out, this longer mix continued, allowing you to hear more of the harmonized Andrew Sisters type backing vocals and the general 1930's/1940's swing sound they were trying to capture. It wasn't unnecessarily padded and just the right amount longer running time if you really loved the song. But after digging through the actual twelve inch vinyl and many other SOS remix collections (there are many remixes of "Breakout"!), I can't find that particular version.

Oh yeah, oh yeah!

The 12 inch version of Pretty Boys Pretty Girls with Tubular Bells is amazing. The regular version seems pretty light. And it’s a great reimagining of The Exorcist theme.

Not a 12 inch, but the madhouse remix of Yaz’s State Farm is so much more interesting than the original. Would also make a great drag race lip synch song

Makes me very nostalgic for "Twelve Inch Dance Records" on P Street NW, in Washington DC.

I could spend hours in there flipping through the racks. If you wanted to hear a track, there was an "on-site" DJ that would play it for you.

Every once in a while you would come across some gem that you'd been looking for for years.

Good times.

R38, that kind of thing has happened to me before - hearing a great remix and never finding it anywhere. Interesting you mention "Breakout". I found an album on Apple Music last night, 12" 80's Classics it was called, and they have a remix of it on there called the N.A.D. mix. I'm sure this isn't the one you mean as you say you have been looking everywhere already, but just in case, thought I'd mention it.

The 12" version of "Bad Girl" by Madonna makes the song feel more complete to me. Which is a bit odd, as the album version is already 5 and a half minutes long, but the extended version just feels right. They could've moved it a couple of songs on in the album sequence with that version and it would've worked very well as the album's centrepiece, I think.

Peace Train Dolly

Video directed by Christopher Ciccone no less.

Here's the N.A.D. remix of Breakout in case that's the one you're after, r38. It sounds like it could be what you're describing but as you mention there are many mixes of the track

I've just discovered the 12" mix of Kylie Minogue's "Step Back in Time" and I think this is definitely on par with, or even more fun than, the original.

She's so young and cute here too!

The B-52's Girl From Ipanema Goes To Greenland

Big Bill Eld. What a cock!

The title of that song has always made me giggle, R48!

The 12-inch version of, "Legs" by ZZ Top

I have to agree with R51. The 12-inch version of Legs is excellent.

As are the "Urban Dude" and "Extended Rockin'" 12-inch versions of "Dude Looks Like a Lady."

Of course, there is always the Naughty XXX-rated Exorcist version of Dead or Alive's "Something in My House." It wasn't better than the original version, really, but it was certainly different:

Sorry. R54 here. Here is the correct link:

The 12" mix of Experiment IV is the definitive version for me. Spanning six and a half minutes, the song finally feels like it has enough space for the sonic daemon to outstretch its wings.

*sonic demon

What about Viola Wills' Stormy Weather?

This “Joan Crawford Mega Mix Mashup” of “State Farm” by Yaz was basically made for DL.

My favorite remix

I rather liked "Don't Leave Me This Way" by Thelma Houston.

Thanks for sharing R56. That has never been a favourite Kate Bush song to me, but I can see how an extended version works better.

R59, thank you!! I loved it. Was that available on a cd or vinyl? Or just for the web. In any event, I loved it. Because I'm not one of her faaaaaaaaaannnnnnnssssss!

I saw the video at R60 before and it is exactly when I KNEW that Paul Rudd was gay. Jimmy Fallon, too, but that was a given. Still, as cute and as fond as an homage as it is, it's not nearly as good as the original Murder Mix. It's just cute.

Can't beat the extended "Night Version" of Girls On Film.

People spoke about Frankie above; I would say the "New York Mix", which is basically the 12" version of the song, is the definitive to me. The 4 minute version on the album feels way too short for what is essentially an anthem.

"Lost In Emotion" is a lost gem =

"Fascinated" is great =

Funny you post that, R70, I literally checked out their album for the first time yesterday, based on that song being recommended. "Fascinated" and "Full Circle" are both very fun! The 12" version you posted even more so.

Madonna, "Like a Prayer (12" Dance Mix)"

Shake Your Love -

Brand New Lover remixed =

Pump Up The Volume by Marrs

Mariah Carey's "Dreamlover" David Morales Def Club Remix

Sonia "You'll Never Stop Me From Loving You (Kiss Mix)"

Leave A Light On remix - Belinda Carlisle

Some Expose...

I Drove All Night = Cyndi Lauper

R72, I was listening to that remixes album the other day, and I think my favourite 12" from that would be this one:

Sexy Dancer 12" - Prince

My personal fave...

NAUGHTY GIRLS!!!!

Deborah Cox, "Absolutely Not (Hex Hector Chanel Club Mix)"

I always loved this song & wish it was released as a US single -

Memories, R86! That was on the Queer as Folk soundtrack for season 2 and my friends and I went through a phase of playing that whenever we went on drives. The lyrics used to tickle us, but we did really enjoy it.

Family Man remix - Fleetwood Mac

Jane Wiedlin from The Go-Go's

Carol Douglas.....Doctor's Orders......dance all night!!!

Anyone remember "Strange But True" by Times Two?

Awe Mikey...

And Instant Replay by Dan Hartman!!!

Tiff's Radio Romance is great

It has Michael's ego trip audience applause at the start but it's still a good remix =

Jody Watley "Some Kind Of Lover"

This extended version drove me WILD. The rhythm track is only slightly tweaked from the album version, but the intro with the spoken vocal and the background vocal...

Still so good 35 years later.

R.I.P. Laura

I just love this intro -

As Hex Hector was mentioned above, thought I'd add this one that was very popular just as I was coming out:

Legacy of Sound "Happy (Full on Gypsy Mix)". Much faster and energetic than the radio version.

This is one "dance" remix that makes me sad...

These are all great! Thanks, everyone!

Safe By Your Side was such a mellow and light FM type of song. A disappointment really. Ben Watt"s remix turned it into a dance remix for the ages.

IT"S MY LIFE ! ! !

Another that makes me think of coming out and being in the clubs in the early 00s. There are SO many fucking remixes of this song, I can never remember which one is the one we used to dance to in particular, but hey, this sounds pretty familiar. God we had some fun. Dancing with abandon with my best lesbian friend, flirting and making out with random guys - hands down each others' pants as secretly as we could (probably not very, haha), sense of belonging finally, trying my first party drugs, and just a lot of laughter. Man...

This thread needs more open gays =

Like Bronski Beat?

The ultimate 80s tune -

"Stand Back" by Miss Stevie Nicks

^ a.k.a. "Stand Back (12" Vagina Bone Remix)"

The ultimate 90s tune -

R.I.P. Baltimora

Cathy Dennis - Touch Me (All Night Long)

The “Touch This” mix, which was a house mix, was amazing. I wouldn’t say it’s “better” than the standard radio/club mix, but was just different enough to grab your attention and keep it.

My fave Madonna remix...

R116, I'd forgotten that one! Great mix! What a trip down memory lane this thread is turning out to be. Loving it!

What a great remix of a so so song!

Tina getting some love now...

My fave Janet tune -

This song was everywhere back in the day =

"Throb" is my favourite Janet too, R128. Never heard the extended mix before. Thanks!

My favorite Madonna remix. It totally changes the focus of the song.

This extended back to the Future song. At first I didn't really care for his voice but surprisingly it's danceable and it was popular in the clubs

The best Janet remix. Shep Pettibone again working magic again to recraft a song into a perfectly elevated version.

Ooh yeah, that's a great one, R134. My favourite song from Control as it is, and as you say, gets perfectly elevated here.

^And that remix of "Angel" above at R132 is great! Always liked that song and found it quite underrated.

1978 - Patrick Hernandez - "Born To Be Alive"

RIP ❤️

1987 - Donna Summer - "Dinner With Gershwin" (an underrated song by Summer, which should have hit the top 10)

RAH Band: Messages from the Stars (1983)

Wish ft. Fonda Rae: Touch Me (All Night Long) (1986)

The Sun Always Shines On TV

The intro and the faster tempo of ABC’s Munich Disco mix of Be Near Me was much more fun and engaging than the album original.

R.I.P. Roxette

Summer Madness by Kool and the Gang

Serbian National Basketball Team of 1992 was Superior to Team of 1991.

Some Genesis -

Some Phil Collins -

No Bananarama on this thread?!?

Say You Will - Foreigner

Dance Little Sister...

Lessons In Love = Level 42

R56 I like it but there are other remixes of KB's music I prefer.

Some Taylor The Trumper -

How many Nancy boys out there?

I didn't know this song had a vinyl release until recently

The lost version has been found!

Whitney getting some love now...

Borderline by Madonna

The extended version is my absolute fave.

Come Back & Stay everyone!

Chaka Khan Chaka Khan...

Come on shake your body

A solo Gloria tune

The lost version has been found!

Lost versions are being found all over the place!

R158 one of my favorites from the 80s

R158: Instant hapiness!

Who could forget this one?

Some New Edition -

Some Bobby Brown -

NKOTB =

Annie gets some love...

How can we leave out Diana Ross (1986) ?

My fave remix of theirs =

TWIST!!!

I wish they put out more content -

This tune was an instant classic back in the day...

A fun tune from the late 80s =

I don't even recognize the song at the start of this one -

Lovely Livvy singing about a blow job (1985) - a song which made Madonna blush.

RIP - ONJ.

La Luna - Belinda Carlisle

Alternate version of Livvy's "Soul Kiss" in 12" dance version

I wanna be your ....

One of the best sounding 1 hit wonders...

The Cars have arrived!

Aretha is now in hers =

A fresh take on the tune -

6'4" & full of MUSCLE!

R.I.P. Men In Hats

There are so many great tracks listed in this thread!

[bold]BUT[/bold] how could we forget New Order's "Blue Monday". One of the most famed and played 12" tracks of the eighties.

It was released as a 12" single in 1983. The remix charted as a 12" single all over the world, broke all previous sales records and remains the best selling 12" single of all time to this day.

Blue Monday owns this thread.

^ I thought it was already posted above.

Details on New Order's Blue Monday 12" remix:

40 years ago this month, "Heart Attack" was climbing up the charts and landed at #3 on the Hot 100 on November 6, 1982. A special 12" record was sent to DJs to play in the clubs. Should have gone to #1.

I couldn't see it listed and was surprised R198.

SWING BITCHES!!!

R.I.P. to Alex

I like 12-inchers. They can be challenging but, ultimately, rather rewarding.

HEAT OF THE NIGHT!

This 12” mix owns this thread

New Order's Bizarre Love Triangle was listed R198 - but not Blue Monday.

As the top selling 12" single of all time, Blue Monday rules this list in my opinion.

Band Of Gold - Bonnie Tyler

Anyone remember these gals?

Hall & Oates

R.I.P. Falco

Belinda's Band Of Gold remix =

There are many great examples on this thread. Good work, lads 🥃

Van Halen's JUMP

Shame on me. Shame on you.

R.I.P. Tommy

Maarrriiiiaaaaa....

How Soon Is Now?

The Smiths

12 inches is better than 10 inches...

Going to the Mills now -

Do you want a ride?

What a fun old tune to dance to =

She's a very kinky girl...

Marvin he was a friend of mine...

Memories of 80s dancing in an ankle length wool coat, pork pie hat, and artistically applied eye liner. No wonder people pointed and laughed at me on the subway.

We're half way there!

I know I do !

HEY MCIKEY !!!

BOYZ !!!

A LEGEND

A legendary follow up =

AFOS

R.I.P. Naked Eyes

He's so right...

Talk it over...

Dolly to the rescue =

Like a rock...

Cold Hearted - Paula Abdul

This thread is EVERYTHING! Thank you, all who posted! I may not sleep tonight!

And yes [ R197 ], BLUE MONDAY owning this thread but SO MUCH great music!

I bought this when I was 15. It’s adorable.

Blondie ATOMIC (Diddy's 12' Remix)

Jody Watley - Don't You Want Me

I know there's a site where you can rip YouTube videos into MP3s.

Still looking...

Communards "Don't Leave Me This Way (Extended Version)".

The 12-inch mix does the song the justice it deserves.

Regina - the original Madonna wannabe

Expose "Point of No Return (Original Mix)". This is the version with the original line up of the group. It's not as processed sounding, always got a bit better response on the dance floor than the 1987 version

Diana -Swept Away.

No More Tears (Enough is Enough)

R249 -- use AVS Any Video Converter and set it to convert to MP3.

Add the URL of the video page and then make sure the MP3 quality settings are set to High.

It's really easy to use. It's free to download too. I better not link it in case I'm not allowed.

Actually it's a legitimate piece of software R249 so here is the link.

New Toy! Lene Lovich

Genius of Love! TomTom Club

Patrick Cowley 12” remix of I Feel Love

I've been listening to this album (triple album in fact) on streaming lately, and really enjoying it. Thought I would share. I've found the first "disc" particularly enjoyable.

There's something really fun about these 80s 12" mixes - not remixed like we think of today, almost beyond recognition, but more extended versions of the original, which is so fun when you love the song and wish it would just go on longer.

Sidling up to R225 for a boogie. Never heard that song before and now have it on repeat. Thanks for sharing!

Olive "Outlaw."

The remixes took a bland song and made it great.

(Same thing with Lisa Stansfield's "I'm Leavin'")

Basia - Cruising For Bruising (12" Remix / Special Version From The Epic Release)

Remember Claudja Barry ? She had the modest hit 'Boogie Woogie Dancin' Shoes' from 1978. Major hit in the dance clubs with the 12" version (which I ran out and bought) !

R249 I use ClipGrab......works very well!

And more Olivia....

Even before Regina and Baby Love, there was Alisha with Baby Talk. It’s a clear Madonna wannabe ripoff of Into The Grove. I still like it and I remember first hearing it in 1985 and thinking it was Madonna.

Any Marxists here?

Bringing this thread Back To Life...

I CAN"T HEAR YOU...

What the?

Love seeing the Prince love on here! His 12" singles are always worth getting. He does his own remixes most of the time, and often considered the "extended" mixes of the A-side songs to be the original version. A lot of his greatest songs are seven or eight minutes long, with the album version being shorter, and the released single would be cut down even more by Warner Bros.

Then there's those delicious non-album B-sides ❤

Friends - J. Watley & co.

Come 2 My Aid

My favorite release of hers =

A cure is just like heaven...

We Want The Same Thing - Belinda Carlisle

The BEST ballad turned dance fave.

The Boss Is Here =

The Neutron Dance

Queen's I Want To Break Free

Ooh! Pointer Sisters! How about the BH Cop II follow up.

Ray Ray

Stick Around - Julian Lennon

That Ain't Love = REO S. W.

THE WARRIOR!

99 something something....

We will be INVINCIBLE!

It's Pat!

Hit me with your best shot =

Love Is A Battlefield

You're a Heartbreaker....

Blue Kiss - Jane W.

Where We Can Go - Jane W.

Lover's Night - Jane W.

Rush Hour - Jane W.

Cool Places =

Not a 12", but back in the 2005, Mariah Carey put out an cd of remixes...essentially her Greatest Hits, but remixed...I preferred almost all of them to the originals. Sometimes you have to wonder why the remix doesnt get the original release because it is so superior.

Melissa Manchester (1983) 'My Boyfriend's Back / Runaway' from her Arista Album 'Greatest Hits'. Manchester wanted the label to release this as the lead single, but they chose 'Nice Girls'. 'Nice Girls' flopped in the clubs and on radio, but this maxi-single was released to clubs and became a huge dance hit. Would've been a huge hit for Manchester on the Top 40.

Some Spice Girls...

Thank You - Dido

Babs is Guilty

This is stunning! Much better than the original - showcasing the music, percussion and isolated voices.

(*Sorry it's Michael Jackson but what a great mix!)

This thread needs more Paula =

Knocked Out...

Straight Up....

Opposites Attract...

Coldhearted...

(It's Just) The Way That You Love Me...

12" always makes an impression.

1 Or The Other...

Secret - OMD

Love Voodoo - Duran Duran

One of my personal favorites =

Shannon in the house!

"Policy Of Truth" from the early 90s

Call Me - Blondie

One of the best ones out there & should've brought Tiffany back to the charts =

Speaking of Madonna... R251 Was this the same version that was on You Can Dance?

Polynesian-flavored dance created by a French Disco band.

Danceable cultural appropriation j/k

Some China Crisis...

Grace Jones Party Girl =

R.I.P.

I prefer Joan's EV of this tune to her album version =

This even-more-amazing version of 'Twist of Fate' takes a dump on the already amazing original

More Than This...

Not the same artist, but I love Remake's Replicant Mix of the main [italic]Blade Runner[/italic] theme by Vangelis.