She Blinded Me With Science

AdvprosD, yes, the long version, which is what's on the US 45 and EP, is as you describe. There's about 50 seconds of mostly instrumental intro plus some exclusive muttering from the scientist, whereas the short version just has a brief guitar intro and gets right into the vocals. Once the vocals begin, the two versions are basically the same, although there are differences, like the stuttering "science! i-i-ience!" at 1:45 (it's just in that one spot), and the echo on the falsetto backing vocals is different, and then of course the drum coda.

I admit that the stutter edit is dated and unnecessary, but it doesn't ruin the song for me. Overall, it's just a better song in its longer form, in my opinion. The short version just feels too stripped down, with too much of its "atmosphere" removed.

That said, usually I find songs sound better in their shorter versions. I much prefer the video/45 version of Men Without Hats' "The Safety Dance", for example, whereas the relatively plodding but arguably more spacious-sounding LP/12" version seems to be at least as popular, if not the only version some people ever heard on the radio.

mjb50, you are not the only one.

In Tulsa, the way I remember it, is K107 playing the long version.

The synth intro, to me, was a better talk-up ramp for the DJ to speak over than the short single, and when I first heard the electronic drums at the end jumping from left channel to right channel and back again, I was mesmerized.

I bought the Capitol LP of "She Blinded Me With Science" and got the version I loved.. with the bonus of no DJ fading the drums early!

The first time I heard the DJ edit, on Retrospectacle, I was shocked. As you said, the "meat" was there but somehow it now sounded like another throwaway pop song... and I love Thomas Dolby!

Years later I worked for a friend who had a mobile DJ company. It was the first time I saw "Blinded By Science." (The cover is hysterical, BTW.)

CFTP, that guitar version HAS made it onto CD. You'll find it on the extended remaster of The Golden Age of Wireless (which thankfully is not brickwalled). You can hear it at Amazon.

Edited by NightAire