New Edition "If It Isn’t Love"

I'm bumping this because I'm still wondering if radio played the edit or the remix, & if the album version can be edited to the 45 length... & if so, what those edit points would be.

THANKS! :)

It now appears, after going over a copy of the 45 edit, that this version can NOT be edited down from the album version due to unique vocals at the end.

Vocals are much drier than the "Busby edit," similar or identical to the album version. Lyrics & vamping end suddenly at 3:31, sounding like somebody punched them out of the mix, or we jumped forward in a remix.

All of the instruments except for the rhythm section fade out, leaving just the drums & assorted percussion to fade to the end of the song.

The album version allows the vocals to continue, then the song ends cold with voice and instruments.

TO CONFIRM: There are THREE versions of this song.

1) Album version, from the album obviously.
2) Busby edit, on many CDs & flip-side of DJ promo.
3) 45 edit / mix, on commercial & DJ promo CD and 45.

...correct?

Also, at least some of not all stations played the 45 edit / mix at the time; the Busby edit was not often heard, right?

It appears there was also a 7:42 club mix and several variations of the same, but I'm unaware of these showing up on CD anywhere.

(It's possible the album version + the instrumental version on the B-side might allow you to get close to the 45 edit / mix, but I've never heard the instrumental version.)

Does this about cover it?

Edited by NightAire

I was comparing the 45 with the LP version and I came up with another observation. On the 45, at around the 2:53 mark (right after he sings "...really helped me realiiiize"), the mix suddenly seems to have a lot more reverb in it. The LP version remains dry through the end of the song (which is different from the 45).

It's possible my 45 isn't in the best of shape, since I bought it when this song came out in late summer '88 and played it quite a bit, but I'm really hearing that reverb suddenly appear at that point.

Since the "Busby" edit has more reverb, I tinkered with trying to tack that onto the end of the (edited) LP version to get the 45 edit, however the Busby edit is missing a "Whyyyyy does it hurt so bad" over top the chorus at 2:56. Other than that, though, it sure sounds like the Busby edit got added to the (edited) LP version at 2:53 with that reverb popping up in the mix and lasting through the end of the 45.