"After Midnight" - Eric Clapton

According to the database, the LP length of Eric Clapton's "After Midnight" is 3:11. What I find curious though is the song only runs 2:50 on all CD releases of Clapton's self-titled parent album. Assuming the song's 3:11 vinyl LP time is correct, does anyone have any idea why its CD counterparts run :21 shorter?

Edited by Todd Ireland

Update... I did some further research online for Atco vinyl LP pressings of Eric Clapton's self-titled album. It appears there were mono and stereo pressings of this LP. I found a photo of the stereo LP label on eBay and the printed run time for "After Midnight" is 3:15. If this time is accurate, it would match the longer version/length found on the Atco vinyl LP. I was unable to find a photo of the mono LP label, so I don't have any printed run time info for the song on those pressings.

I thought I'd ask once more if anyone has a vinyl Atco pressing of Eric Clapton's self-titled album who can pass along the song's actual run time on it. I find it odd that every CD pressing of this album contains the shorter 2:50 45 version/length.

Edited by Todd Ireland

How about that! Then it looks like all CD releases of Eric Clapton's self-titled album are based on the 45 and Atco LP version/length. Thanks, Andy!

Edited by Todd Ireland

*****Regarding After Midnight '88*****

Discogs is really letting me down on this one; various pages across the internet claim there was a single released of the slowed-down version Clapton did for the Michelob commercial. (This is the version that appeared on Crossroads.)   However, Discogs isn't pulling any single release of this song for me from the 80s.

(Something's weird in their database here anyway; I can search and pull up the "Crossroads" album, but when I look through Clapton's discography it isn't listed... don't know if it's them or me.)

Another poster on another form explains what I've found better than I could:

"I had previously assumed the version on Crossroads was from the Michelob commercial, but that isn't the case, and there are various edits:

- Crossroads (4:05) - apparently cut short to fit

- Japanese Cream of Eric Clapton and UK CD single (5:04) - "Extended Version" Just a longer fade? I haven't heard it.

- US single (3:37) - just an earlier fade?

- bootleg (?) version (6:22) - Somebody mentioned this in a post, but I don't know anything about it.

As for the commercial itself, it seems to be a completely different recording. The tempo seems faster, and Eric's vocal is clearly different. He puts in a pause between "mid" and "night", unlike the version on Crossroads. Has this performance ever been released anywhere?"

(From the "Slowhand" mailing list)

I have heard the commercial which does appear to be a unique take, I have the version from the Crossroads CD, and I've found a video on YouTube that demonstrates what must be the edit(s) on the single version.

I guess I have three questions:

1) Was a full-length version of the Michelob take released?

2) Does anybody have the single / promo info for the 1988 release?

3) Did radio pick up the '88 version? I can't find any indication it ever charted.

Thanks! A listener requested it, and I wanted to play the "right" version. :-)

FYI: If you remove on the Crossroads version 2:47 to 3:20 on the snare before "we're gonna let it all hang out" you will duplicate the edit I found on the YouTube video... EXCEPT the instrumental fade goes about 2 seconds longer at the end on the video version! I wonder if this means technically the single version can't be created from the LP version because it fades 2 seconds early, or if the video version has just a hair more audio at the end than the single? Enquiring minds would like to know!

Edited by NightAire

NightAire wrote: *****Regarding After Midnight '88***** Discogs isn't pulling any single release of this song for me from the 80s.

Is this what you're looking for?

https://www.discogs.com/Eric-Clapton-After-Midnight-Extended -Version/master/791228

Edited by aaronk