C + C Music Factory - Things That Make...

"Things That Make You Go Hmmmm...", that is.

I was all set to post the edit instructions for creating the 45 edits, when I realized that the woman singing the "things that make you go hmmmm, yeah" parts is DIFFERENT on the 45 than on LP version! It's not just a different take, it's an entirely different PERSON!

I have no doubt that this came about from Martha Wash's lawsuit against Clivilles and Cole, for completely omitting her from the album credits on the Gonna Make You Sweat album. But it's still not clear who's singing on which version... Here's what I know:

The commercial 45 is Columbia 38-73687 (1990) and is credited to C & C Music Factory Featuring Freedom Williams:
      A: Things That Make You Go Hmmmm... (The Radio Mix 1) (printed 4:10, actual 4:08; includes about 2.1 seconds of faint crowd noises before the opening notes)
      B: Things That Make You Go Hmmmm... (The Radio Mix 2) (printed 4:49, actual 4:47; includes about 2.5 seconds of faint crowd noises before the opening notes)

Both sides of the 45 have the credits, "Special Versions From The Columbia Records Release: 'GONNA MAKE YOU SWEAT' 47093" and "Edits from the video mix."

Apparently, the UK single was the (4:08) A-side of the 45, which turns up on Now 1991 (Virgin EMI PolyGram UK 27083, 1993; runs 4:06 and starts with the opening notes, omitting the faint crowd noises that precede it on the 45).

The album version is far more common in the US, and shows up on:

• Cosmopolitan Vol. 8 (Sandstone, 1994, runs 5:24)
• Monsters Of Rap Vol. 1 (Razor & Tie, 2000; runs 5:21)
• Hot Hits Vol. 7 (1991; runs 5:22)

Can anyone else shine some light on this? Promo CD single, perhaps?

Edited by crapfromthepast

To supplement Jim's nicely detailed promo CD single info regarding C + C Music Factory featuring Freedom Williams' "Things That Make You Go Hmmmm...", I thought I'd also pass along that the commercial cassette single has an actual run time of 4:10 and features the "Radio Mix 1". (Timing info courtesy of Edtop40.)

Edited by Todd Ireland

Thanks for pointing that out, Ed. I went back to my post and made the correction.

Incidentally, the commercial 45 that crapfromthepast referenced in his original post also features the "Radio Mix 1" version. Ed, does the cassette single contain the "Radio Mix 2" on the B-side like on the 45?

Edited by Todd Ireland

Todd Ireland wrote: does the cassette single contain the "Radio Mix 2" on the B-side like on the 45?

Yes, it does.

crapfromthepast wrote: "Things That Make You Go Hmmmm...", that is. It's not just a different take, it's an entirely different PERSON!

That's not exactly accurate. The Album Version features both Martha Wash and Zelma Davis performing backing vocals.

If you listen VERY CAREFULLY, you'll hear Martha singing 'Things that make you go hmmmm…', quickly followed by Zelma singing 'Things that make you go hmmmmm…". It appears that their lines alternate.

All mixes included on the single simply remove all of Martha's vocals and leave only Zelma's vocals.