U2 - Even Better Than The Real Thing - Top 40 Music on CD Forum

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Topic: U2 - Even Better Than The Real Thing
Posted: 03 February 2020 at 7:44pm

Surprised I couldn't find this topic on the chat board.
I no longer have any of the original singles for "Even
Better Than The Real Thing" by U2, but browsing discogs
most singles are LP length with no labelled remix fro
the lead track. The database indicates that there is a
"45 version." Can someone shed some light?

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Posted: 04 February 2020 at 4:06pm

In between 'All I Want Is You' 6/89, all the way up to 'Stay' 2/94, no vinyl 45 RPM singles were released by U2. They were probably released on cassette singles, but the designation of '45 version' on the deluxe edition of 'Achtung Baby' might have been left over from a U.K. release. I have a domestically released CD 4 track E.P. that was released at that time (7/92), and has the LP (3:39) version on it. -Bill.

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Posted: 05 February 2020 at 12:09pm

Thanks Bill. Can anyone confirm that the cassette
single contains the LP mix as well? If so, the database
may need an update.

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Posted: 07 February 2020 at 10:20am

Both the "single" version and the "LP version" appear on the deluxe edition of Achtung Baby and maybe we can convince Mark Matthews to compare the two versions to see if there is a mix difference.

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Posted: 07 February 2020 at 6:30pm

Sure Pat -
I took a quick listen to A/B a few parts...I found a
mix difference. The 2 versions start identical to my
ears.
But I checked the ending choruses and the LP version
has one "Edge" guitar track playing in the right
channel.
But the "single version" has 2 guitar tracks there -
one on the left and one on the right.

I'm sure there are other differences I'll check later
but I can say for sure they are definitely different
mixes.
We just need to be sure that's the mix that was on the
U.S. single.
MM

Edited by MMathews

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Posted: 08 February 2020 at 11:51am

The following is copied from the website www.u2songs.com:

The single version of “Even Better Than the Real Thing” differs slightly from that found on Achtung Baby, although it was not labeled as a “Single Version” at the time. The album and single versions both use the same vocal track and run 3:41, but the instrumentation, particularly from 2:05 onwards, is different in the two mixes. The single version also places greater emphasis on the scat vocals near the end of the song.

One example of the "greater emphasis on the scat vocals" on the single version is the 'yeah' heard at 3:24, which is considerably more upfront on the single version than on the album version.

My copy of the 4-track CD single (Island 422-866 977-2) is a Canadian pressing (so there is a slight chance it differs from the US pressing) and it contains the 'single version'. I don't have a cassette single and, as alluded to above, a 7-inch single was not issued in the US.

Edited by Paul C

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Posted: 08 February 2020 at 6:43pm

Here are the details of my promo CD singles:

PRCD 6723-2
1. non-described version (listed & actual 3:41)

PRCD 6735-2
1. The Perfecto Mix-Radio Edit (listed 4:30; actual 4:34)
2. The Perfecto Mix (listed & actual 6:38)
3. Sexy Dub Mix (listed & actual 7:18)
4. Apollo 440 Stealth Sonic Remix (listed & actual 6:42)
5. V16 Exit Wound Remix (listed & actual 3:19)
6. A 440 Vs. U2 Instrumental Remix (listed & actual 6:27)

The version on promo CD PRCD 6723-2 is the single mix and differs from the LP version starting at 2:10. I hadn't paid much attention until reading this thread, but it sounds like there is an obvious crossfade at 2:10 (the bass note at that point quickly fades and the bass of the song goes from nice and thick to very thin).

Aaron Kannowski
Uptown Sound
91.9 The Peak - Classic Hip Hop

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Posted: 08 March 2020 at 3:04pm

Thanks everyone for weighing in on this and thanks Mark
for the comparison. So I guess all we need to do is
confirm that the U.S. cassette single has the single
mix. The probability seems high but I know we are all
about the facts here.

Author	Message Topic Search Topic Options Post Reply Create New Topic Printable Version Translate Topic
Ringmaster_D Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Music Fan Joined: 08 July 2010 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 3	Post Options Post Reply Quote Ringmaster_D Thanks(0) Quote Reply Topic: U2 - Even Better Than The Real Thing Posted: 03 February 2020 at 7:44pm
	Surprised I couldn't find this topic on the chat board. I no longer have any of the original singles for "Even Better Than The Real Thing" by U2, but browsing discogs most singles are LP length with no labelled remix fro the lead track. The database indicates that there is a "45 version." Can someone shed some light?

ChicagoBill Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Music Fan Joined: 06 November 2019 Location: Utah Status: Offline Points: 23	Post Options Post Reply Quote ChicagoBill Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 04 February 2020 at 4:06pm
	In between 'All I Want Is You' 6/89, all the way up to 'Stay' 2/94, no vinyl 45 RPM singles were released by U2. They were probably released on cassette singles, but the designation of '45 version' on the deluxe edition of 'Achtung Baby' might have been left over from a U.K. release. I have a domestically released CD 4 track E.P. that was released at that time (7/92), and has the LP (3:39) version on it. -Bill.

Ringmaster_D Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Music Fan Joined: 08 July 2010 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 3	Post Options Post Reply Quote Ringmaster_D Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 05 February 2020 at 12:09pm
	Thanks Bill. Can anyone confirm that the cassette single contains the LP mix as well? If so, the database may need an update.

Pat Downey Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Admin Group Joined: 01 October 2003 Status: Offline Points: 1	Post Options Post Reply Quote Pat Downey Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 07 February 2020 at 10:20am
	Both the "single" version and the "LP version" appear on the deluxe edition of Achtung Baby and maybe we can convince Mark Matthews to compare the two versions to see if there is a mix difference.

MMathews Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Music Fan Joined: 18 August 2005 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 0	Post Options Post Reply Quote MMathews Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 07 February 2020 at 6:30pm
	Sure Pat - I took a quick listen to A/B a few parts...I found a mix difference. The 2 versions start identical to my ears. But I checked the ending choruses and the LP version has one "Edge" guitar track playing in the right channel. But the "single version" has 2 guitar tracks there - one on the left and one on the right. I'm sure there are other differences I'll check later but I can say for sure they are definitely different mixes. We just need to be sure that's the mix that was on the U.S. single. MM Edited by MMathews

Paul C Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Music Fan Joined: 23 October 2006 Location: Canada Status: Offline Points: 30	Post Options Post Reply Quote Paul C Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 08 February 2020 at 11:51am
	The following is copied from the website www.u2songs.com: The single version of “Even Better Than the Real Thing” differs slightly from that found on Achtung Baby, although it was not labeled as a “Single Version” at the time. The album and single versions both use the same vocal track and run 3:41, but the instrumentation, particularly from 2:05 onwards, is different in the two mixes. The single version also places greater emphasis on the scat vocals near the end of the song. One example of the "greater emphasis on the scat vocals" on the single version is the 'yeah' heard at 3:24, which is considerably more upfront on the single version than on the album version. My copy of the 4-track CD single (Island 422-866 977-2) is a Canadian pressing (so there is a slight chance it differs from the US pressing) and it contains the 'single version'. I don't have a cassette single and, as alluded to above, a 7-inch single was not issued in the US. Edited by Paul C

aaronk Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Admin Group Joined: 16 January 2005 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 267	Post Options Post Reply Quote aaronk Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 08 February 2020 at 6:43pm
	Here are the details of my promo CD singles: PRCD 6723-2 1. non-described version (listed & actual 3:41) PRCD 6735-2 1. The Perfecto Mix-Radio Edit (listed 4:30; actual 4:34) 2. The Perfecto Mix (listed & actual 6:38) 3. Sexy Dub Mix (listed & actual 7:18) 4. Apollo 440 Stealth Sonic Remix (listed & actual 6:42) 5. V16 Exit Wound Remix (listed & actual 3:19) 6. A 440 Vs. U2 Instrumental Remix (listed & actual 6:27) The version on promo CD PRCD 6723-2 is the single mix and differs from the LP version starting at 2:10. I hadn't paid much attention until reading this thread, but it sounds like there is an obvious crossfade at 2:10 (the bass note at that point quickly fades and the bass of the song goes from nice and thick to very thin).
	Aaron Kannowski Uptown Sound 91.9 The Peak - Classic Hip Hop

Ringmaster_D Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Music Fan Joined: 08 July 2010 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 3	Post Options Post Reply Quote Ringmaster_D Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 08 March 2020 at 3:04pm
	Thanks everyone for weighing in on this and thanks Mark for the comparison. So I guess all we need to do is confirm that the U.S. cassette single has the single mix. The probability seems high but I know we are all about the facts here.