Ashford And Simpson - Solid

I need a little help sorting through the versions for this one.

The US 45 version runs about 3:46 and starts with Valerie's a cappella vocals.

The US 45 version sounds great on Rhino's Billboard Hot R&B Hits 1984 (1996), with digital clones on Time-Life's Solid Gold Soul Vol. 26 Mid-'80s (2000; differently-EQ'd) and Time-Life's Solid Gold Soul '80s Rhythm And Grooves (2001; digitally exactly 0.1 dB quieter). It also sounds very good on Warner Special Products' 3-CD After Hours (1990).

The LP version runs about 5:09 and also starts with Valerie's a cappella vocals.

The LP version sounds fine on the single-artist Capitol Gold The Best Of (1993). (A little compressed, but not life-threatening.) The same analog transfer is used on Cema's 2-CD Cool Rock (1995; differently-EQ'd digital clone), Madacy's Rock On 1984 (1996; digitally exactly 1 dB quieter), and Disky's European 8-CD Greatest Hits Of The '80s Disc 3 (1998).

I encountered a shorter edit, running about 3:21, which sounds like it just cuts off the intro. To me ears, it feels like it starts mid-song, which is a little unsettling. Wikipedia calls this a "radio edit", but I don't have the promo 45 to confirm this.

The 3:21 edit shows up on a bunch of European compilations, including EMI/Virgin/Polygram's 2-CD Now 1985 (1993; sounds great and doesn't fade early), EMI's Time to Remember 1985 (1997), Skifan Iceland's 2-CD Pottþétt 80's (1999) and Disky's 8-CD Greatest Hits Of The '80s Disc 7 (2001; white cover art).

I poked around on the web and found that the UK 45 has two configurations, both Capitol CL 345, both copyright 1984 - a purple label with the 3:21 time, and a silver label with the 3:46 time. I'd thought that this song was released twice, once in 1984 (3:46 version, not a hit) and again in 1985 (3:21 version, was the hit version over there). Can anyone confirm?

Can anyone also confirm if the 3:21 version ever came out in the US? Promo 45, perhaps?

And finally, there's the 12" version, which starts with instrumentation, not with Valerie's vocals. I'm 99% sure that the New York City radio stations played a homemade edit of this 12" version on-air, because the intro sounds right to me. Anyone else remember?

I have Capitol white label promo 45 P-B-5397 (dead wax S-45-B-5397-99525-A Z1). Both sides are Stereo and have an actual time of 3:43 (3:46 listed). It has a cold intro with Valerie's acapella voice and ends with "Solid, solid, solid"

I remember WHTT in Boston playing a version with a slightly longer ending...it went "solid, solid, solid (pause) solid as a rock!"
How did the album version end?

There is no "as a rock" at the end of the commercial 45. I have a copy of that one.

That’s a shame. I really like the acapella intro!