Joe Jackson "Steppin Out"

No, the 45 version cannot be recreated from the LP due to the LP version fading while the 45 has a cold opening.

If you don't want to invest in the Omigod 80s box, another option for you would be to hunt down the Class Reunion 82 CD on Rebound. This CD contains what is essentially the LP version of Steppin' Out, but with the cold opening. However, you have to perform several edits and an early fade to recreate the 45 version from this CD.

One other place to find the single version is the UK set Now That's What I Call Music 1983 (it was a UK hit in Jan/Feb '83). The single mix also has 3 seconds of percussion before the keyboards kick in.

Edited by cmmmbase

sriv94 wrote: I'm wondering if the "LP version with cold opening" is a radio version. The AM/FM combo here played that version.

Doug, both my stock 45 and promo 45s for this one contain the exact same version. Our station received a gold record from A&M, for being one of the very first significant Top 40 stations to start playing it - but, 3-4 weeks after we initially did, it was VERY slow to start catching on. But both the MD and I still believed, and we both blurted out at the exact same moment, "Let's give it ONE more week before we give up on it and drop it!" Luckily, it DID finally kick in that week, both locally and nationally. One of my prouder moments over the years. As for your local AM/FM combo playing the version you cite above, and "Was it an issued-to-radio version?", I suppose it could've been. Often labels would send us a 2nd promo version, as you know, trying to help get a struggling song "over the hit hump." Since we were "early" to add it, A&M MAY not have sent us a 2nd promo, because our "precinct was already in!", but we normally did get just about every different variation in, anyhow. I don't remember a promo 12" coming in for it either, so I'm especially perplexed by what you say you remember, Doug. I believe you, though.

The 45 version starts cold, as noted, but also has a thicker drum sound on top of the existing drum machine track. It's very noticeable when you compare the LP and 45 versions side-by-side.

The only place I've found the true 45 version, with the true 45 mix, is the UK 2-CD set Now That's What I Call Music 1983, which was released in 1993 (not 1983).

Not sure - I'll have to check tonight.

Whoever compiled the Omigod set (Bill Inglot?) did a pretty good job finding the 45 versions (except for Laid Back's "White Horse").

I don't really like the set, though, because it's mastered WAY too loud, and most of the tracks clip. (On the Steve Hoffman forum, we refer to it as being "maximized", "overly compressed", or even "squashed". It results in distortion and a severe lack of dynamic range. It's a common problem on most CDs released since about 1997 or so.)

The Now 1983 set is far from maximized, and has terrific sound throughout, despite a few odd edits and abrupt fades (so that they could cram 20 songs per CD).