I’m A Flirt by R. Kelly

Here's an interesting situation that I found while researching the song "I'm a Flirt" by R. Kelly. Trying to determine what the 45 version should be, I went to Itunes (since this charting version is available only as a digital download) and discovered that there are 6 different versions listed as the single version. Unlike a cd single where one generally assumes track 1 is the "A" side, I cannot do that with multiple digital downloadable versions. Any discussion as to what the 45 version of this song should be?

eriejwg wrote: Not sure if the squeaky clean is a further edit that iTunes did.

I work with iTunes on a project through work, and I can say for sure that anything on iTunes comes directly from the various record labels. They are not allowed to make their own versions or even pull songs from the actual CDs. That R. Kelly edit would have to be an official version released by Jive.

Pat, what is your current policy on songs that are not available as singles except via download? Maybe it's time to start listing alternate versions by their actual names (i.e. Radio Edit, Remix, etc.) rather than "45 version." After all, the days of having only two, maybe three, versions of a song are long gone, and it's kind of hard to put a "45 version" classification on songs with multiple mixes when a true single was never avaialble.

I'd say if the song has a physical single (CD or vinyl), the "45 version" classification would still apply (or "DJ edit" since just about all songs have promo singles available). Otherwise, my vote is to list the name of the mix. If the hardcore collectors on this board can't even determine what the "45 version" of a song is, then maybe there really isn't one.

(As a side note, whenever I'm compiling pre-1990 songs, I do use the terms "45 version" and "LP version." Otherwise, I list the name of the actual mix. For purposes of keeping things simple in the database, I can understand why Pat uses "45 version" even for songs that never had a vinyl 45; however, I prefer to list "single version" or the actual name of the mix for those songs.)

I didn't know there was a commercial 12" single of the R. Kelly version of "I'm a Flirt" as the Billboard chart justs lists a "D". How can that happen Paul?

Are T.I. & T-Pain listed as contributors on the 12" and dj cd single by R. Kelly?

Paul Haney wrote: Pat, the commercial 12" single didn't come out until the song's 6th week on the chart...starting on April 7, 2007, the chart showed both a "T" and a "D". .

I've always wondered who it was that was responsible for reporting what formats were available to Billboard. During the '90s there were numerous times where songs were available on vinyl, but a (V) was never listed on the chart. I also have a couple of commercial CD singles that never had that designation either.

eric_a wrote: Meanwhile, I know vinyl jukeboxes are quickly going extinct, but are current 7" singles still common? My mall's store stopped carrying them about 10 years ago, and I've only rarely seen them since.

While the Billboard charts certainly seem more accurate these days in terms of what formats songs are available in, current vinyl 45s have all but disappeared. I think the last top 40 single to have a vinyl 45 was Kelly Clarkson's "Because of You" over a year ago.

It was fun while it lasted, but it looks like everything's going to downloads instead of physical singles.