En Vogue - Hold On

I used to have the cassette single for En Vogue "Hold On," but it's long gone. However, if my memory hasn't failed me, I remember a difference between the cassette single and LP versions that I have a question about.

On the cassette single version, I recall that the song was exactly the same as the LP version, with the exception of one line. On the fadeout of the cassette single version, the lyrics are:

"He'll be there for you; he'll want to f*** you all the time."

Later, I purchased the full-length CD, and these lyrics are changed to "he'll want to have you all the time," which matches the "Radio Version With Intro" from my 12" single.

Did original pressings of Born To Sing have the uncensored lyrics, and then the song was later replaced with the censored radio version?

Sure, Ed! Did you check out those lyrics?

We need to look at "Hold On" in greater detail, especially with regard to the cassette single perhaps being different from the LP version. Here is what I have:

dj cd single Atlantic PRCD 3386 has two tracks. track 1 called the "radio edit" runs 4:15 not 4:30 as stated on the cd and has the "f*** you" line at 3:53. Track 2 called "edited version" runs 4:21 not 4:35 as stated and has the "f*** you" line at 3:59.

dj cd single Atlantic PRCD 3171 has three tracks. Track 1 called "radio version - with intro" runs 5:07 not 5:34 as stated and has the "f*** you" line at 4:59. Track 2 called "edited version" runs 4:21 not 4:35 as stated on the cd and has the "f*** you line" at 3:59. Track 3 called "extended version" runs 5:01 not 5:18 as stated and has the "f*** you" line at 4:39.

My "Born To Sing" cd has this song running 5:01 with the "f*** you" line at 4:39.

So what are the specifics of the commercial cassette single and where does the 3:44 version on the cd "Cosmopolitan Volume 1" Sandstone 33047 come from?

Edited by Moderator

I remember back in the day when a couple of our CDs in the air studio had a big sign taped to the front that read "FADE BEFORE (8:88)!!!" It wouldn't surprise me if stations did an early fade. It's also possible that another DJ single was released with the clean versions.

Pat, are the tracks labeled as "radio version" or "LP version" on the DJ singles you have? I'll have to check my 12" single when I get home---it might be a promo copy.

Here is some info on my 12" single. It IS a promo copy with the following mixes and printed (not actual) run times:

A: "Radio Version With Intro" (5:08)
   "Edit" (4:15)
   "Edit With Intro" (4:58)
B: "Extended Version" (5:18)
   "Instrumental" (3:56)
   "Dub Version" (3:56)

All versions have the censored version which says "he'll want to have you."

Although my CD copy of Born To Sing is in Michigan, I have "Hold On" dubbed from that disc onto a CD-R, and it is also the censored version. The only logical conclusion is that more than one version of the full-length CD exists. As for the promo copies, Atlantic must have goofed when they were pressing the dj cd single. Anyone have a promo copy that IS censored?