Exposé - I Wish The Phone Would Ring

The CD "Playlist: The Very Best Of Exposé" has a
version of this song that runs 3:50 and it's labelled
as "Single Version". Right next to that is a notation
that says "Previously Unreleased In US". So my
question is, how can this be a "Single Version" if it
wasn't previously available in the US? Do they mean
previously unavailable on CD in the US (meaning only
previously available on 45 and Cassette only)? Was it
the Single Version in another country that is finally
seeing a US CD release?

After checking Discogs, it doesn't appear that there
was a 45 in the US for the song. There was a Cassette
Single, for which no running times are listed, a CD
Maxi-Single, which has the 4:06 Album Version as the
lead-off track, and a 12" Vinyl Single. There's also a
promo CD Single (ASCD-2466), which I have. Tracks are:

1. Single Version (listed 3:54)
2. Album Version (listed 4:06)

So I'm confused as to what the "Official" single
version is. Does anyone have the Cassette Single and
can confirm the song's running time? If it's true that
the 3:50 went unreleased until the Playlist CD came
out a few years ago, that would lead me to think that
the Album Version was on the commercial Cassette
Single. Also, maybe they meant to put the 3:50 on the
commercial single, but put the 4:06 by mistake? Any
help would be greatly appreciated with this, so I can
know what label to apply to which version.

thecdguy wrote: The CD "Playlist: The Very Best Of Exposé" has a version of this song that runs 3:50 and it's labelled as "Single Version". Right next to that is a notation that says "Previously Unreleased In US". So my question is, how can this be a "Single Version" if it wasn't previously available in the US? Do they mean previously unavailable on CD in the US (meaning only previously available on 45 and Cassette only)? Was it the Single Version in another country that is finally seeing a US CD release? After checking Discogs, it doesn't appear that there was a 45 in the US for the song. There was a Cassette Single, for which no running times are listed, a CD Maxi-Single, which has the 4:06 Album Version as the lead-off track, and a 12" Vinyl Single. There's also a promo CD Single (ASCD-2466), which I have. Tracks are: 1. Single Version (listed 3:54) 2. Album Version (listed 4:06) So I'm confused as to what the "Official" single version is. Does anyone have the Cassette Single and can confirm the song's running time? If it's true that the 3:50 went unreleased until the Playlist CD came out a few years ago, that would lead me to think that the Album Version was on the commercial Cassette Single. Also, maybe they meant to put the 3:50 on the commercial single, but put the 4:06 by mistake? Any help would be greatly appreciated with this, so I can know what label to apply to which version.

You're overthinking it. The Single Version was indeed never released commercially in the U.S. It was available on the promo single, but not on the commercial single. The Album Version was included on the commercial single.

[/QUOTE]

You're overthinking it. The Single Version was indeed
never released commercially in the U.S. It was
available on the promo single, but not on the
commercial single. The Album Version was included on
the commercial single. [/QUOTE]



Sorry if I'm overthinking the subject, but as a
collector, I like to know what version of a song I
have when I add it to my collection. Collecting
singles was/is a passion of mine, so therefore I'm
going to be a little bit more obsessive about it
compared to the average music fan, I guess. I do
appreciate your confirmation of the commercial single
version, so thank you for that.

So basically, the label of "Single Version" for the
song is incorrect. A more accurate description would
be, "Promo Single Edit" or something to that extent.

Regarding "In Walked Love," the version on ASCD-2665 runs an actual 4:35.

In the '90s, there are several instances of promo CD singles labeling a song Single Version, 7" Edit, etc., even when that version wasn't released commercially on any singles or there wasn't ever a 7" pressed up. As I'm sure you've figured out by now, the Expose Playlist CD is referring to the actual version called "Single Version" from the promo CD. I do agree that "previously unreleased" was a poor choice of marketing hype on their part, given that technically it was released in the US but only promotionally.

thecdguy wrote: Sorry if I'm overthinking the subject, but as a collector, I like to know what version of a song I have when I add it to my collection. Collecting singles was/is a passion of mine, so therefore I'm going to be a little bit more obsessive about it compared to the average music fan, I guess. I do appreciate your confirmation of the commercial single version, so thank you for that. So basically, the label of "Single Version" for the song is incorrect. A more accurate description would be, "Promo Single Edit" or something to that extent.

Why would it be incorrect? There are a Single Version and an Album Version. Whether a particularly mix was released commercially or not, it doesn't negate their existence. The single versions of Damn I Wish I Was Your Lover and Two Princes were included on the promo singles but not on the commercial CD singles. As a long time collector, you must know that as the 90s progressed a lot of commercial singles included 'Album Version' s instead of 'Single Version' s.

By your logic, the single version of Alanis Morrissette's You Oughta Know would be the Live Version, as it was that mix that was released commercially as a double-A side with Ironic.

Michaeldila wrote: Then it should read “previously unavailable in the US”.....if it was distributed to radio stations as a promo, then it was certainly “released” as far as i’m concerned...

Released has always meant 'commercially released' (that's literally the meaning of the word). If it was promoted by the label but not commercially released, then it was promoted not released. There are thousands of singles / albums that were promoted but never released commercially.

Otherwise, "The Black Album" was released in 1987 simply because of the promo copies Warner Bros. sent out.

Edited by Loveland