INXS - "Suicide Blonde"

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   Were there two different mixes for this song?  I can't point to any one element, but I have one set of CDs that sounds a little different from another set of CDs.

I dug out my commercial 45 (Atlantic 7-87860, purplish label, printed and actual 3:53, matrix no. ST-A-59149-SP printed on the label, but ST-A-59149-2 printed on the deadwax).  No indication of any "mixed by" credit or any difference from the LP version.  Speed is just a hair under 120 BPM - my software says it's 119.98 BPM.

To my ears, I hear the same mix as the 45 on:Rock On 1990 (Madacy, 1997; actual 3:53)
Now That's What I Call Music 18 (Virgin EMI PolyGram UK, 1990?, actual 3:52)
Now 1990 (Virgin EMI PolyGram UK, 1993; actual 3:49; tail of fade is accelerated by a few seconds)
Atlantic's Year In Review: 1990 (Atlantic promo, 1990; actual 3:53; just a teeny bit loud so a few peaks clip)All come in between 119.97 and 119.99 BPM, according to my software.  If you look at the waveforms for all of the above, there is very little compression.  (Is this the LP mix?  I don't have the "X" album.)

I found a slightly better-sounding mix on a set of compilations.  The best way to describe a difference is that the hi-hat sound in the drums is a little more "flat" sounding and less "rounded" than the 45 mix.  (I just looked at that last sentence and that probably doesn't make any sense.  Words fail me, but you'll know the difference when you hear it.)  The vocals are also moved back farther in the mix but seems better-defined.  They're all a tiny bit faster than 120 BPM, coming in from 120.01 to 120.03 on my software BPM counter.  Overall, I prefer this mix to the 45.  I found it on:Guitar Rock - The '90s (Time-Life, 1996; actual 3:50)
Modern Rock - Early '90s (Time-Life, 2000; actual 3:50; samples line up with Guitar Rock but don't cancel completely due to different EQ)
Pump Up The Jam!  '90s Dance Hits (Realm, 2002; actual 3:50)
Stud Rock - Wild Ride (Simitar, 1998; actual 3:50)
The Best Of INXS (Atlantic/Rhino, 2002; actual 3:49; the mastering on this CD is horrendously loud and every track is maximized - avoid if possible; I only paid $1 for mine and I want my $1 back)All of the above mixes are a little compressed - if you look at the waveform you don't see the wild peaks that the top batch show.

I'm even further confused by the notation on the 2002 Best Of CD, which calls it "Maxi-Single Version - 7" Mix"  and "This version from Atlantic maxi-single #86139".  I don't have the first Greatest Hits or X, so I'm not sure what to think at this point.

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crapfromthepast Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Music Fan Joined: 14 September 2006 Location: United States Status: Online Points: 41	Post Options Post Reply Quote crapfromthepast Thanks(0) Quote Reply Topic: INXS - "Suicide Blonde" Posted: 21 December 2007 at 12:35pm
	Were there two different mixes for this song? I can't point to any one element, but I have one set of CDs that sounds a little different from another set of CDs. I dug out my commercial 45 (Atlantic 7-87860, purplish label, printed and actual 3:53, matrix no. ST-A-59149-SP printed on the label, but ST-A-59149-2 printed on the deadwax). No indication of any "mixed by" credit or any difference from the LP version. Speed is just a hair under 120 BPM - my software says it's 119.98 BPM. To my ears, I hear the same mix as the 45 on: Rock On 1990 (Madacy, 1997; actual 3:53) Now That's What I Call Music 18 (Virgin EMI PolyGram UK, 1990?, actual 3:52) Now 1990 (Virgin EMI PolyGram UK, 1993; actual 3:49; tail of fade is accelerated by a few seconds) Atlantic's Year In Review: 1990 (Atlantic promo, 1990; actual 3:53; just a teeny bit loud so a few peaks clip) All come in between 119.97 and 119.99 BPM, according to my software. If you look at the waveforms for all of the above, there is very little compression. (Is this the LP mix? I don't have the "X" album.) I found a slightly better-sounding mix on a set of compilations. The best way to describe a difference is that the hi-hat sound in the drums is a little more "flat" sounding and less "rounded" than the 45 mix. (I just looked at that last sentence and that probably doesn't make any sense. Words fail me, but you'll know the difference when you hear it.) The vocals are also moved back farther in the mix but seems better-defined. They're all a tiny bit faster than 120 BPM, coming in from 120.01 to 120.03 on my software BPM counter. Overall, I prefer this mix to the 45. I found it on: Guitar Rock - The '90s (Time-Life, 1996; actual 3:50) Modern Rock - Early '90s (Time-Life, 2000; actual 3:50; samples line up with Guitar Rock but don't cancel completely due to different EQ) Pump Up The Jam! '90s Dance Hits (Realm, 2002; actual 3:50) Stud Rock - Wild Ride (Simitar, 1998; actual 3:50) The Best Of INXS (Atlantic/Rhino, 2002; actual 3:49; the mastering on this CD is horrendously loud and every track is maximized - avoid if possible; I only paid $1 for mine and I want my $1 back) All of the above mixes are a little compressed - if you look at the waveform you don't see the wild peaks that the top batch show. I'm even further confused by the notation on the 2002 Best Of CD, which calls it "Maxi-Single Version - 7" Mix" and "This version from Atlantic maxi-single #86139". I don't have the first Greatest Hits or X, so I'm not sure what to think at this point.

jimct Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Music Fan Joined: 07 April 2006 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 0	Post Options Post Reply Quote jimct Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 21 December 2007 at 1:44pm
	Ron, my promo CD single (PRCD 3460-2) has the following: 1-7" Mix (listed 3:54; actual 3:53) 2-Earth Mix (listed & actual 5:39) 3-Devastation Mix (listed 6:19; actual 6:18) Seems track 1 on here jives with your first four listed CDs. I also do have the "Atlantic maxi-single #86139" they refer to, Ron. It contains: A Side: -7" Mix (listed 3:53; actual 3:51), and it sure does sound like a little different mix than cut 1 of my promo CD single, Ron. Maybe bringing up the maxi-single #86139 stock # info was the ONLY way they could think of to distinguish between the promo CD single's "7" Mix", and this maxi-single version, also brilliantly titled as the "7" Mix" (!), but was only included on the maxi-single configuration at the time, and is now found on your second "grouping" of CDs for this song. -Earth Mix (listed 5:39) B Side: -Devastation Mix (listed 6:19) -(a different track, "Everybody Wants U Tonight") I hope this info is somehow able to assist you in sorting all of this confusion out, Ron.

crapfromthepast Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Music Fan Joined: 14 September 2006 Location: United States Status: Online Points: 41	Post Options Post Reply Quote crapfromthepast Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 21 December 2007 at 2:21pm
	Thanks, jimct! Surprising that the so-called 7" mix on the 12" single doesn't match the promo CD single or the commercial 45. You're right - couldn't Atlantic have called it a 12" mix? I'll assume that the promo CD single version was the one that got all the airplay in 1990 and would qualify as the "hit", even though I prefer the 12" mix.

Todd Ireland Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Music Fan Joined: 16 October 2004 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 23	Post Options Post Reply Quote Todd Ireland Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 22 December 2007 at 11:44am
	So was this "Atlantic maxi-single" mix only found on 12" vinyl copies then? I'm not aware of a maxi-CD or maxi-cassette single release for "Suicide Blonde". In any case, it sounds like some database notation should be made to explain the 12" mix since it has appeared on some domestic CD releases. In addition to incorporating Jim's promo CD single info, perhaps a general comment for the song could also be added and state something like: (12-inch vinyl copies state (7" Mix) on the label, but is a different mix than the one found on the commercial 45 and DJ CD single copies.) Then for each CD that applies, a comment can be added indicating: (this is the 12" vinyl single mix.) Just a humble suggestion.

Brian W. Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Music Fan Joined: 13 October 2004 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 13	Post Options Post Reply Quote Brian W. Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 23 December 2007 at 1:35pm
	There was a US Maxi CD Single, Todd -- I own it. I'm at work now, so I can't investigate till this evening.

Brian W. Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Music Fan Joined: 13 October 2004 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 13	Post Options Post Reply Quote Brian W. Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 26 December 2007 at 2:07am
	Okay, the US Maxi CD single for "Suicide Blonde" (Atlantic 7 86139-2) contained: 1. 7" Mix (actual 3:53, barely) 2. Earth Mix 3. Devastation Mix 4. Milk Mix 5. Demolition Mix 6. Everybody Wants U Tonight (Unavailable on LP) Not sure if this is the 45 version or the 12-inch "7 inch version," as I don't have the 45 version to compare.