Charlene from 1982

In 1982 radio was sent two DJ 45 copies, one with the spoken version on both sides, the other with one side which stated "Special Edited Version) and that side mixed out the talk segment. The other side was the spoken version.

The Special Edited version on that DJ 45 in 1982 matches the original 1977 LP verion of the song. The track was issued on the 1977 Charlene album "Songs of Love". Track two on side one, with no spoken section.

That LP was on Prodigal (Motown)

The 1982 Charlene LP "I've Never Been To Me" contained some of the tracks from the 1977 "Songs of Love" but "I've Never Been To Me" was track one, side one with the spoken section. That 1982 LP was on Motown proper.

So if you wanted to find it without the speaking part you'd need to get the Prodigal LP or the special DJ 45.

I don't know if there was a Prodigal 45 on this in 1977 or not.

Welcome to the forum, Jody.

I knew St. Catherines many years ago. I went to school in Rochester, NY in the late '80s, and St. Catherines was the first town once you crossed the border into Canada. For me, it was much closer than Toronto, and was the easiest place to buy Canadian CDs, which I'd smuggle into the US under the front seat of my car (for shame!) There were a few labels in Canada (PolyTel, Quality) that put out compilation CDs that didn't exist in the US - sort of the late '80s equivalent of the old K-Tel albums. I remember having to drive over the border every few months to load up on whatever the store had. By 1991 or '92, the store I'd been going to had closed - I can't remember the name, but it was along a whole street of shops.

I didn't know St. Catherines had any radio stations of their own. During my drives out there, I'd load up on CFNY/Toronto - a phenomenal station back then, and one you couldn't pick up in Rochester.

I'm in no way defending K-Tel, but in many cases I've found that lower modulation, whether it be on 45s or LPs, often times means less chance of groove distortion. Some of the "long" 5:00+ versions on promo 45s, for instance, have no distortion at all, while the "short" side (with louder modulation) have distorted vocals in places. (This is even when your turntable and stylus are properly calibrated and aligned.)

Bill Cahill wrote: The Special Edited version on that DJ 45 in 1982 matches the original 1977 LP verion of the song. The track was issued on the 1977 Charlene album "Songs of Love". Track two on side one, with no spoken section. That LP was on Prodigal (Motown)

In case you're looking for this, do not get confused by the 1976 self-titled LP, also on Prodigal, which has almost the same track listing as the 1977 "Songs Of Love" LP. "I've Never Been To Me," which is also cut 2 on side 1, does have the spoken section in the middle. Apparently, the original LP version (from self-titled) is the same as the 1982 LP version.

Discovered that the break that features the spoken part is
longer on the commercial 45/LP version than on the promo 45
talk-removed version. It's what accounts for the
difference in length between the two. The fade points are
the same.

I also discovered that Time-Life's 2-CD Body Talk Vol.
10 From The Heart (1997) is a differently-EQ'd digital
clone of Motown's 20 Hard to Find Motown Classics Vol.
2 (1986). Both feature the 1982 hit commercial 45/LP
version, with the spoken part.