Thompson Twins - Hold Me Now

Forgive me if this has been discussed before; I couldn't find the info on the chat board.

I have found two different versions of this song, nearly identical in length, but with a slightly different intro & a slightly different vocal take.

The first, and the one that sounds "right" to my ears as the hit version, appears on Billboard Top Hits - 1984. There's extra percussion and piano on this intro compared to the second version. It runs 4:44 generally.

The second version appears on "The Greatest Hits" (Info on Discography).

It has a much drier intro, very sparse, with basically a couple of chimes and a bass drum, and suddenly "explodes" with the regular instrumentation as the vocals start (it literally sounds like everything was punched in on the downbeat, with residual echo evident over the opening lyrics). The vocals are a different take, too. The "breakdown" middle section is also mixed more sparsely. It runs 4:52.

I don't know if this second version appears anywhere else (like on a domestic release); the notes say "previously unreleased mix."

The 4:44 version that appears EVERYWHERE else is the hit version... yes? ....And it matches the LP version, so there is no distinction between the LP version and the commercial 7" 45 RPM single?

Gene you must have a copy of an import version of "Greatest Hits" as the bar code on your link does not match the US bar code at all. My copy features this song in its original version and runs (4:44) not (4:52) as you indicate. My complete bar code is 0078221894029 and there is no indication in the liner notes that this song is remixed.

The alternate mix was not the UK single release. I have the UK 7" and it's the normal LP/hit single version, same as US.