Peter Gabriel "Sledgehammer" issue

In my DJ library, it's the actual edit. But, I
agree, probably the botched edit on the radio.

The intro is crossfaded between the instrumental opening and the first
verse.

At some point, the original mix of "Sledgehammer" was swapped out for the video remix on digital versions of So and a couple of his hits compilations. I was surprised to hear this when streaming the song on Spotify. The most notable difference is the added synthesizer that appears from 3:17 to 3:37. Unlike the video, though, this has the full LP performance and fade out at the end, rather than the percussion from the Extended Dance Remix.

Although it's very subtle, this remix is different from start to finish. There are slightly different reverb/echo effects on one of the synths throughout, so it's not just a case of overdubs at the 3:17 mark.

On Spotify, the album is labeled as 2012 Remaster, but this is not true. I have a rip of the CD 2012 remaster, and it's not the video remix on the CD version.

Anyhow, it's pretty cool to have this remix in perfect sound quality after all these years.

To clarify, the version released digitally in place of the original LP version is the full, unedited remix used in the music video. It's not just similar--it is the exact mix.

For the music video, they started with this remix, made two edits (one during the second chorus and the other just before the fade out), and then segued into the ending of the Extended Dance Remix. The segue has one beat of unique audio where the word "night" overlaps the percussion ending. You can hear that it's not crossfaded, as all the instrumentation drops out except one guitar in the left channel.

Technically Shaking The Tree is not an edit of the video version, because it uses the LP mix and a different segue at the end (as well as the reverbed ending).

davidlg1971 wrote: Yes - in fact I discovered this too a few years back. As far as I can tell, this mix first showed up on the 2002 remaster of So. I found it odd that Sledgehammer has had a different mix on various discs and platforms for years, but no one noticed. Perhaps because the variations are fairly subtle?

Great info! I also just discovered that this remix was used for the 2003 compilation Hit.

I've updated the database about the 2002 remasters.

Edited by aaronk - 56 minutes ago at 9:31am