Joe Jackson "Steppin Out"
Printed From: Top 40 Music on CD
Category: Top 40 Music On Compact Disc
Forum Name: Chat Board
Forum Description: Chat away but please observe the chat board rules
URL: https://top40musiconcd.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=1766
Printed Date: 03 May 2025 at 8:37am
Software Version: Web Wiz Forums 12.07 - https://www.webwizforums.com
Topic: Joe Jackson "Steppin Out"
Posted By: 995wlol
Subject: Joe Jackson "Steppin Out"
Date Posted: 11 February 2007 at 11:11am
| Could someone please explain the the difference(s) between the LP version and the 45 version? I have what I assume is the LP version from a 1996 A&M CD single reissue (31458 1396 2). The opening fades in for approximately 20 seconds. However, I've heard the opening on the radio before and it sounds like there is no fade-in. Would this mean that the 45 version can not be created from the LP version? I would just like to confirm before investing in the 80$ Pop Culture Box, which is the only source for the 45 version according to the database. |
Replies:
Posted By: Roscoe
Date Posted: 11 February 2007 at 2:34pm
|
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. |
Posted By: sriv94
Date Posted: 11 February 2007 at 3:33pm
|
I'm wondering if the "LP version with cold opening" is a radio version. The AM/FM combo here played that version. ------------- Doug --------------- All of the good signatures have been taken. |
Posted By: cmmmbase
Date Posted: 11 February 2007 at 3:34pm
| 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. |
Posted By: aaronk
Date Posted: 11 February 2007 at 6:15pm
| I also have that 1996 reissue CD single, and essentially it is the LP version, but without the overlap from the previous track. The drums still fade in like they do on the LP version. |
Posted By: jimct
Date Posted: 11 February 2007 at 10:13pm
|
sriv94 wrote:Posted By: sriv94
Date Posted: 12 February 2007 at 8:44am
Perhaps it was a lot of jumping through hoops, Jim, but it's also possible that the station (WLS-AM/FM) grafted the 45 opening onto the LP version to create a custom version that started cold but had the LP length. Anything is possible at this point. My ears could also have been playing tricks on me, but I'm almost positive their version didn't fade in. All I know is I was relatively disappointed that WLS-AM didn't even sniff the single version (I would've expected WLS-FM to play a longer version)--sometimes WLS-AM did play different versions of a song depending on the daypart. WLS was known for doing some tricky things to songs back in the day. :) ------------- Doug --------------- All of the good signatures have been taken. |
Posted By: crapfromthepast
Date Posted: 12 February 2007 at 11:58am
|
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). |
Posted By: aaronk
Date Posted: 12 February 2007 at 12:06pm
| Are you saying that the Rhino Omigod box set does not have the correct mix? |
Posted By: crapfromthepast
Date Posted: 12 February 2007 at 3:05pm
|
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). |
Posted By: aaronk
Date Posted: 12 February 2007 at 3:45pm
| OK, let me know what you find. What was wrong with "White Horse" on that set? The database says this is the commercial 45 and uncensored DJ version. Is there an incorrect edit? |
Posted By: crapfromthepast
Date Posted: 12 February 2007 at 6:41pm
|
I compared the Now 1983 version and the Like Omigod versions of "Steppin' Out" side-by-side, and I see two minor differences:
(1) The drum sounds in the Now 1983 mix are a little "boing"-ier than the Like Omigod mix - the hi-hat sounds a little more bell-like, and the snare is a little less pronounced. It's easiest to tell them apart during the intro. If I remember correctly, the Now mix is what's on the 45, but I could be mistaken. The rest of the mix sounds the same, to my ears. (2) The fadeout on Now 1983 is about 1 second longer than on Like Omigod. Fairly insignificant. I take back my earlier comments about maximization and all that; the version of "Steppin' Out" on Like Omigod has very nice levels. As for "White Horse", that's most definitely not the commercial 45 version. The word "b****" is featured prominently and repeatedly in the Like Omigod version, and is deliberately cut out of the commercial 7". I'm going to dig out my 45s of "White Horse" (there were several promos) and report my findings in a "white Horse" post, if there isn't already one out there. |
Posted By: Todd Ireland
Date Posted: 12 February 2007 at 9:39pm
|
crapfromthepast:
Could the differences you're hearing between the mix on the Now 1983 CD and the Like Omigod! disc be nothing more than the equalization used by the mastering engineers on these respective discs? Like you pointed out, it appears Bill Inglot tried to make it a point to specifically track down the correct single versions for all the tracks on the Like Omigod! set (though there are a couple of exceptions). I also agree with you that "Steppin' Out" on the Omigod! box set contains excellent audio quality and levels, but unfortunately a number of the other tracks on that set suffer from the loud overcompression you speak of. Regarding "White Horse", I know there was a detailed discussion a long time ago on this board regarding the multiple versions of "White Horse" that exist. I'll bump that message thread back up to the front page on the board so that everyone can refer to it and add additional comments, if necessary. |
Posted By: Pat Downey
Date Posted: 12 February 2007 at 9:42pm
| My commercial 45, Sire 29346 matrix number BAA-2248-V1-S-352-JW1 has definitely got the lyric line "If you wanna be rich, you've got to be a bitch". |
Posted By: AndrewChouffi
Date Posted: 13 February 2007 at 2:01am
|
Hi Doug & Jim,
Yes, there was a promo 12" issued to AOR (& record pool disco DJ's) a little in advance of the 45. SP-17201 was is number, and yes it featured the single edit on the A-side & the album version (albeit with the longer, cold intro) on the B-side. I have it in my hands so it is a confirmed domestic promo. Andy |
Posted By: sriv94
Date Posted: 13 February 2007 at 8:47am
|
Andy, thank you! Guess this 25-year memory isn't so bad after all.
Now, what did I have for breakfast this morning? :) ------------- Doug --------------- All of the good signatures have been taken. |
Posted By: Todd Ireland
Date Posted: 13 February 2007 at 9:51am
| At the present time, the database does not list the Class Reunion '82 CD among the titles containing "Steppin' Out". Roscoe, could you please relay to us the song's actual run time on that disc? And, Andrew, could you please provide us with the run time of "Steppin' Out" on your promo 12" single? I'm interested to see if everything matches up. |
Posted By: Roscoe
Date Posted: 13 February 2007 at 8:56pm
Steppin' Out runs 4:18 on the Class Reunion 82 CD. |
Posted By: Pat Downey
Date Posted: 13 February 2007 at 11:09pm
| Class Reunion '82? I have no record of this cd - can anyone pass along a record label and catalog number for it? |
Posted By: sriv94
Date Posted: 14 February 2007 at 8:38am
|
Rebound 520494.
It's well out of print, but here are the tracks (courtesy of allmusic.com): 1 Steppin' Out--Joe Jackson (4:21) 2 The Look of Love, Pt. 1--ABC (3:30) 3 Caught Up in You--.38 Special (4:38) 4 Stone Cold--Rainbow (5:17) 5 State of Independence--Donna Summer (4:27) 6 Mama Used to Say--Junior (3:37) 7 Get Down on It--Kool & the Gang (4:55) 8 No One Like You--Scorpions (3:57) 9 I Know What Boys Like--Waitresses (3:12) 10 Tainted Love--Soft Cell (2:40) 11 Up Where We Belong--Joe Cocker & Jennifer Warnes (3:52) ------------- Doug --------------- All of the good signatures have been taken. |
Posted By: Todd Ireland
Date Posted: 14 February 2007 at 10:02am
|
I went through my music library and just now realized I actually have the Class Reunion '82 disc! {smacking my head} You know you have too many CDs when you can't even remember what's in your collection!
If you'd like, Pat, I can try and provide you with actual run times and versions for all the tracks on this CD within the next day or so. Let me know. |
Posted By: Pat Downey
Date Posted: 15 February 2007 at 6:14am
|
Todd,
I found several titles in this Class Reunion series that were not included in the database so I ordered all of those discs. But the one disc that I could not find for sale anywhere on the internet was the Class Reunion 1982 disc so yes, if you could time each track along with mono/stereo information that would help a lot. |
Posted By: Todd Ireland
Date Posted: 25 February 2007 at 8:41pm
|
Here you go, Pat. Sorry to take so long to get back to you with your requested info. My job has been keeping me brutally busy lately!
Here is the track info with actual run times for Top 40 hits on the Class Reunion 1982 CD on Rebound 520494 (I omitted songs that do not appear in the database): (S) (4:17) Joe Jackson - Steppin' Out (As documented elsewhere in this thread, the intro begins cold at full volume and does not fade in like the true LP version. Andrew Chouffi claims this version is on the B-side of his 12" promo single. Hopefully, Andrew can confirm the actual run time for both sides of his copy.) (S) (3:28) ABC - The Look of Love (Part 1) (S) (4:36) 38 Special - Caught Up in You (S) (5:15) Rainbow - Stone Cold (LP version) (S) (3:35) Junior - Mama Used to Say (S) (4:53) Kool & The Gang - Get Down on It (LP version) (S) (2:38) Soft Cell - Tainted Love (45 version) (S) (3:51) Joe Cocker and Jennifer Warnes - Up Where We Belong |
Posted By: edtop40
Date Posted: 25 February 2007 at 10:09pm
|
I went through my music library and just now realized I actually have the Class Reunion '82 disc! {smacking my head} You know you have too many CDs when you can't even remember what's in your collection!
If you'd like, Pat, I can try and provide you with actual run times and versions for all the tracks on this CD within the next day or so. Let me know. todd....your starting to sound like me!!! ------------- edtop40 |
Posted By: AndrewChouffi
Date Posted: 26 February 2007 at 9:55am
|
Todd requested actual timing of promo.
Label states 4:27. Actual time 4:21 Full four measure (16 beat) rhythm machine only intro. Andy |
Posted By: Pat Downey
Date Posted: 26 February 2007 at 12:23pm
| Hey Todd, one more clarifying question -- is the title Class Reunion '82 or Class Reunion 1982? |
Posted By: Todd Ireland
Date Posted: 26 February 2007 at 4:46pm
|
To Pat:
The correct CD title is actually Class Reunion '82. To Andrew: Thank you for confirming the run time of your promo 12" B-side! |
Posted By: edtop40
Date Posted: 24 January 2008 at 1:34pm
|
my commercial 45 of joe jackson's "steppin' out" states a run time on the label of 3:43....while this is true the 45 runs slightly slower than the version from the "omigod" box set.....in addition, that cd version has a slightly longer fade out (0:02) than the actual 45..... ------------- edtop40 |
Posted By: abagon
Date Posted: 08 June 2011 at 9:57am
|
The previous selection "Target" tracks into the introduction of "Steppin' Out" on the vinyl LP "Night And Day."
Although I don't have the "Night And Day" CD. I feel that the CD is the same as the vinyl LP. --abagon |
Posted By: crapfromthepast
Date Posted: 03 October 2013 at 7:37pm
|
Still trying to sort all of this out...
The true LP version on Night And Day tracks over the previous selection, so it's a little tough to figure out a true length for the track. On my CD for Night And Day, the track runs 4:23. It runs 159.2 BPM for the first 12 seconds, 159.8 BPM thereafter, no drift. If you listen with headphones, there's a little bit of buzz on the keyboard notes in the intro. The buzz disappears on the downbeat at 0:18. If I had to guess, I'd say that the intro was spliced together in pieces, and the buzz came from a higher-generation tape source. The LP version on Stepping Out The Very Best Of (1990) fades in, which seems to be the same fade-in used on Night And Day, but minus the previous track. This version starts on a faint snare (down about -50 dB), and there are 15 beats before the keyboards kick in. It runs 4:23, at 160.0 BPM for the first 7 seconds, 159.9 thereafter, no drift. There's buzz here, too, which disappears on the downbeat between 0:17 and 0:18. The true 45 edit starts on a full-volume downbeat, with 8 beats before the keyboards kick in. There are a few edits that shorten the keyboard intro and keyboard solo (I didn't check the edit points.) The 45 version on Virgin/PolyGram/EMI's 2-CD Now 1983 (1993) also runs 3:45, but at 159.2 BPM throughout, also with an edit at 3:04. There's buzz on the keyboard notes during the intro, which disappears at the downbeat at 0:15. The whole track seems to have a boosted high end, with more reverb than the other versions. It's the same kind of uneasy high-end boost that we used to hear from playing back Dolby C NR-reduced cassettes with the noise reduction off. I can't tell if the high end is unnaturally boosted here, or is deliberately reduced on the other discs. (I think this is why I thought it might have been a different mix in an earlier post.) The 45 version on Rhino's 7-CD Like Omigod (2002) runs 3:45, running at 159.5 BPM throughout. There's an edit at 3:04. I can still hear the buzz that disappears at 0:15, but it's muted quite a bit compared to the Now version. The 45 version sounds excellent on this set. And then, the CDs that attempt to deal with the LP version:
For the LP version, I like Stepping Out The Very Best Of (1990). Edit: Andrew posted that the promo LP version, which starts at full volume, has 16 beats before the keyboards kick in. That's twice as long as the 8-beat intro on the 45. I assume that the 16-beat intro starts on a downbeat, but can't confirm. ------------- There's a lot of crap on the radio, but there's only one http://www.crapfromthepast.com" rel="nofollow - Crap From The Past . |
Posted By: AndrewChouffi
Date Posted: 05 October 2013 at 5:04am
|
To 'Crap':
Yes, the 16-beat intro of the promo does start on a downbeat. Andy |
Posted By: mjb50
Date Posted: 19 November 2024 at 8:19pm
|
Just to clarify for people searching for the version details (not contradicting anything said previously):
• The common 45 version runs about 3:46, printed as 3:43. It's an edit with a cold open, 3 seconds (8 beats) of rhythm machine in the intro before the sequenced bass synth starts. • The full-length version, which we are calling the LP version here, runs about 4:20. It is unedited, with a cold open of 6 seconds (16 beats) of rhythm machine. It is called "Album Version" with a printed duration of 4:27 on the US promo 12". On some CD appearances, this version is faded in rather than starting at full volume, and on some CDs it is faded out a second or two early. • The actual Night and Day album plays the full-length version, but it begins over the fadeout of the previous song ("Target", which has prominent Latin piano), and fades up slowly from a low volume as the other song fades out. Its duration is printed as 4:34, but if you start from the first beat, it actually runs about 4:24, or 4:26 on my vinyl due to slower mastering. • The UK 12" advertises a "Full Length" version, but it is the Night and Day segued album version, just faded in very quickly right before the bass synth starts. You can hear a bit of the piano from "Target" as it fades in. This ends up running about 4:17, but is printed as 4:34 like on the album. A number of import 45s also have 4:34 printed; for now, I would assume they have this version. |