Real Thing versions

JMK

Well-Known Member
Contributor
Does anyone have any info on the two different releases of The Real Thing on 45? The first is on the red Elektra label and is B sided with Homecooking, and the second is on the butterfly label with Peninsula as the B-side. The second version is listed as a 're-recording (on Wikipedia) and is longer, but I'm curious if anyone knows the background. I tried searching the archives and didn't come up with anything.
 
I have no definitive answer, but can perhaps put a piece in the puzzle. I have the second 45 with the butterfly label. The timing on it is 3:55 and when I stack it up against the album version, I get the following info:

- the 45 is almost a minute shorter than the album version, somewhere around :50 shorter
- the 45 is sped up a little, around half a percent or so
- the 45 edits out a verse that occurs at around 1:50, and then fades quicker.

Now, a couple of theories about the red-label version. On the Wikipedia page, the red-label 45 is listed as a non-album single, so it appeared before the NEW BRASIL 77 album, in the HOMECOOKING era. I'm guessing that Sergio & Co. then spruced up the track a bit for the new album, and released it as a single. So the key to any differences will be on the red-label version, which I don't own.
 
The red label version sounds like the same recording to me, only shorter and in mono (which tends to make the mix a bit different).
 
Ah, OK. So between the two of us, we have it all. The sound waves match up pretty well once I take care of the speed difference, so I can only conclude that they "re-tweaked" the record to help it sell as a single.
 
I have the EP version, which is extended. Seems it was created to be a dance record. I attended clubs back in the day. The EP version was usually played; not the original. It was big (for dancing) in those days. A really catchy tune that everyone enjoyed!

Jon...the "Brasil Nut"
 
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