"Electric Avenue" - Eddy Grant

Regarding Eddy Grant's "Electric Avenue", Abagon informs me the commercial 45 and LP both have an actual run time of 3:46 (the printed time on both is 3:47). I only pass this along because database CDs containing this song run 3:43-3:48.

Edited by Todd Ireland

My go to version is the same as Ron's, the 1983 Billboard Top Hits from Rhino Gene.

I've listened to the others and have to concur with Ron.

The oldest CD with "Electric Avenue" is likely Realistic's Laser Rock (1984), which was released through Radio Shack. It sounds all kinds of terrible here, with seemingly high-generation source tapes. It runs about 6 beats shorter than the 45. It also runs at 121.05 BPM, in case you need that particular number. Avoid.

There's a better analog transfer on Columbia's Seems Like Yesterday Vol. 4 (1990). It's a little muffled-sounding, but it runs the full length of the 45. It runs at 121.42 BPM.

There's a stellar analog transfer on Rhino's Billboard Top Hits 1983 (1992). It runs out to the full length of the 45, and runs at 121.35 BPM. The sound quality is terrific: listen to the intro in headphones, and you'll hear the crisp hi-hat, and some nice reverb on the snare. The same analog transfer is used on:

• Time-Life's Sounds Of The Eighties Vol. 11 1983-1984 (1995) - differently EQ'd digital clone
• Time-Life's 2-CD Modern Rock Vol. 5 Dance (1999) - differently EQ'd digital clone
• Time-Life's Modern Rock '80s Grooves (1999)
• Rhino's 7-CD Like Omigod (2002)
• Rhino's promo Selections From Like Omigod (PRCD 400056, 2002)
• TM Century track no. 00020564 - may be a small amount of added noise reduction?

There's a new analog transfer on Sony's budget Big Hits Of The '80s (1993). It sounds so-so here, being a little more muffled than the Rhino discs. It runs out to the full length of the 45, and runs at 121.29 BPM. The same analog transfer is used on:

• Razor & Tie's 2-CD Totally '80s (1993)
• JCI's Only Rock 'N Roll 1980-1984 (1994)
• TM Century track no. 00000496 - has significant added noise reduction and fades a little early; avoid
• swaitek's promo 50-CD The A-List Disc 17 (1994) - sounds just like TM Century, with significant added noise reduction and fades a little early; avoid

There was a new analog transfer on EMI UK's Time To Remember 1983 (1997, also sold under name CDCard). It fades about 6 beats earlier than the 45. It runs 121.95 BPM here. The same analog transfer is used on:

• EMI Australia's 5-CD Eighties Complete Vol. 1 (1997) - fade is 4 beats shorter and a little muffled-sounding; added noise reduction?
• Disky's 8-CD Greatest Hits Of The '80s (1998)
• EMI UK's 2-CD Now The Millennium Series 1983 (1999) - fade is 8 beats shorter

Finally, there was a new analog transfer on the rare Epic 50th Anniversary Collection (2003). It sounds nice here, and runs 121.70 BPM. You'll have a very difficult time finding this set, and it really doesn't sound any better than the Rhino discs.

My recommendation

Go with Rhino's Billboard Top Hits 1983 (1992). It's cheap, and it sounds great.

does anyone know if the first version of 'Electric Avenue'
which MTV played often in 1983 was ever issued on cd?

I don't remember the specifics but I remember that there
was a different version at first.

Maybe it was the video edit?

Edited by edtop40