Dire Straits-"Sultans Of Swing"

Current database CDs for this song run between (5:43) and (5:47). But both my commercial 45 and the "Long Version" of the only promo 45 for it that I own, a listed (4:44/5:49) promo, have a listed time of (5:49) and an actual time of (5:48). The (4:44) DJ 45 short version has a listed time of (4:44) and an actual time of (4:43). I don't own the other promo 45 for this, although a friend of mine did at one time. He told me that this other promo 45 featured a different vocal take. Besides the times I refer to above, the database also notes DJ 45 lengths of (4:38) and (5:52). Pat, are these the listed times for the other promo 45? Can I assume that this promo 45 also includes a "long (5:52)/short (4:38)" configuration, or are there TWO other promo 45s for this? If you could look into this situation for me, Pat, whenever you happen to get a moment, I would sincerely appreciate it.

Edited by jimct

The 4:38 Warner Brothers promo edit - WBS-8736 - is, indeed, an alternate vocal from the 5:52 UK version featured on the B side. The revised promo, the 4:44 length, is identified as WBS-87356RE-1.

Here's more

GM

WBS-87356RE-1

This is the one I own, matching Jim's timing's. The 4:44 version says (Edit), while the 5:49 side says (Long Version).

I just spoke with my friend Johnny (the A&R guy for Dire Straits, living in England at the time). Here's what he told me about "Sultans." He originally discovered them after hearing a demo version of the song. That demo version is available on a vinyl LP, but I don't have the name offhand.

After being signed, the LP version was recorded, but it wasn't getting any airplay in England. Johnny asked the band to go back into the studio to re-record the track and make it a little LESS slick---more "gruff" sounding is the term he used. (I had this backwards in my earlier post.) This version was what made the 2nd British 45 stock and promo copies, and eventually made it a hit in England, even though the band didn't want to release it.

To his knowledge, that version was never released here in the US, but he was in England at the time, so it might have been put out without his knowledge. I'm curious to know if the dub I have from his British promo 45 (the "edit" side) is the same as the US promo without the "RE-1."

Edited by aaronk

aaronk wrote: I just spoke with my friend Johnny (the A&R guy for Dire Straits, living in England at the time). Here's what he told me about "Sultans." He originally discovered them after hearing a demo version of the song. That demo version is available on a vinyl LP, but I don't have the name offhand. After being signed, the LP version was recorded, but it wasn't getting any airplay in England. Johnny asked the band to go back into the studio to re-record the track and make it a little LESS slick---more "gruff" sounding is the term he used. (I had this backwards in my earlier post.) This version was what made the 2nd British 45 stock and promo copies, and eventually made it a hit in England, even though the band didn't want to release it. To his knowledge, that version was never released here in the US, but he was in England at the time, so it might have been put out without his knowledge. I'm curious to know if the dub I have from his British promo 45 (the "edit" side) is the same as the US promo without the "RE-1."

The "gruff" version is what's on the first US promo 45, whereas the hit version was the revised release. It's a good thing WB made the switch, for I doubt the "gruff" version would have been as popular here.

GM