Gloria Estefan: The U.S. Singles

GLORIA ESTEFAN (AND MIAMI SOUND MACHINE)
Part 1: 1984-1992


The period covered on Gloria Estefan's 1992 Greatest Hits release is without a doubt her most successful with a streak of hit singles which rarely dipped below the top 40 (she's only achieved an additional 5 Top 40 hits since). It's a shame that only 10 of these songs made it to the final track selection of her initial Greatest Hits release in 1992.

Newer "series" compilations from Sony BMG have made obtaining the single versions of these hits significantly easier than it once was, with all but one of her Top 40 hits ("Betcha Say That") making an appearance on either Greatest Hits, The Essential Gloria Estefan or Playlist: The Very Best Of Gloria Estefan.

The following is a list of every Epic label single release in the United States from the albums Eyes Of Innocence, Primitive Love, Let It Loose, Cuts Both Ways, Into The Light and Greatest Hits. I have marked their Billboard Hot 100 Singles Chart peaks and made a note of what the correct US hit single versions are, as well as the easiest source for them on compact disc.


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DR. BEAT [4:21] (Billboard Hot 100 Peak: NC)
Single version is the same as on the Eyes Of Innocence, Hits (promo) and The Essential CDs.

I NEED A MAN [3:37] (Billboard Hot 100 Peak: NC)
Single version is the same as on the Eyes Of Innocence CD.

CONGA [4:12] (Billboard Hot 100 Peak: #10)
Single version is the same as on the Primitive Love, Hits (promo), Greatest Hits, The Essential and Playlist CDs.

BAD BOY [3:48] (Billboard Hot 100 Peak: #8)
Un-named single version is a "special" remix by Shep Pettibone found on the Hits (promo) and Playlist CDs. (NOTE: Most other territories were instead issued a Pablo Flores single mix which is the "Remix" found on The Essential and international pressings of the Greatest Hits CD.)

WORDS GET IN THE WAY [3:26] (Billboard Hot 100 Peak: #5)
Single version is the same as on the Primitive Love, Hits (promo), Greatest Hits, The Essential and Playlist CDs.

FALLING IN LOVE (UH-OH) [3:08] (Billboard Hot 100 Peak: #25)
(Remix) Single version is a remix by Pablo Flores available on the Playlist CD. Also appears on the Hits (promo) CD with a mastering error, a late start that nearly misses the first beat of the song.

RHYTHM IS GONNA GET YOU [3:56] (Billboard Hot 100 Peak: #5)
The single version is the same as on the Let It Loose, Hits (promo), Greatest Hits, The Essential and Playlist CDs. Prior to release, "Rhythm Is Gonna Get You" was remixed by Pablo Flores and is occasionally labeled as 7” Version.

BETCHA SAY THAT [3:40] (Billboard Hot 100 Peak: #36)
(Edit) Single version is an edit of the LP version (which, like "Rhythm Is Gonna Get You", was remixed by Pablo Flores). The edit removes the second verse/chorus and concludes with an early fade. Found on the "Betcha Say That" (promo) single and Hits (promo) CDs. It can be accurately recreated using the Let It Loose CD version.

CAN’T STAY AWAY FROM YOU [3:57] (Billboard Hot 100 Peak: #6)
Single version is the same as on the Let It Loose, Hits (promo), Greatest Hits, The Essential and Playlist CDs.

ANYTHING FOR YOU [4:01] (Billboard Hot 100 Peak: #1)
Single version is an un-named and uncredited LONGER version and can be found on the Greatest Hits and Hits (promo) CDs. The only credit on the 45 label is "English Version" which doesn't reflect the differences between the single and LP version, but might be an appropriate note to distinguish them from one another.

1-2-3 [3:35] (Billboard Hot 100 Peak: #3)
(Remix) Single version is remixed by Emilio Estefan, Jorge Casas and Clay Ostwald and can be found on the Hits (promo), Greatest Hits and The Essential CDs.

DON’T WANNA LOSE YOU [4:08] (Billboard Hot 100 Peak: #1)
Single version is the same as on the Cuts Both Ways, Greatest Hits, The Essential and Playlist CDs.

GET ON YOUR FEET [3:38] (Billboard Hot 100 Peak: #11)
Single version is the same as on the Cuts Both Ways, Greatest Hits, The Essential and Playlist CDs.

HERE WE ARE [4:49] (Billboard Hot 100 Peak: #6)
Single version is the same as on the Cuts Both Ways, Greatest Hits and The Essential CDs.

OYE MI CANTO (HEAR MY VOICE) [3:46] (Billboard Hot 100 Peak: #48)
(Radio Mix) The US single version is a remix by Keith Cohen and can be found on the Playlist CD. (NOTE: While this was also the single version in Japan, other territories were instead issued a Pablo Flores single mix.)

CUTS BOTH WAYS [3:14] (Billboard Hot 100 Peak: #44)
Single version is the same as on the Cuts Both Ways, The Essential and Playlist CDs.

COMING OUT THE DARK [4:03] (Billboard Hot 100 Peak: #1)
Single version is the same as on the Into The Light, Greatest Hits and The Essential CDs.

SEAL OUR FATE [3:54] (Billboard Hot 100 Peak: #53)
(Edit) Single version is an edit of the album version found on the Into The Light CD, and can be found on the "Seal Our Fate" (promo) CD single. The edit removes a few bars from the middle section and a round of "vamping" towards the end. It can be accurately recreated by using the version found on the Into The Light CD.

CAN’T FORGET YOU [4:14] (Billboard Hot 100 Peak: #43)
Single version is the same as on the Into The Light CD.

LIVE FOR LOVING YOU [4:19] (Billboard Hot 100 Peak: #22)
(Remix) Single version is a remix by Pablo Flores and can be found on The Essential CD.


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I plan to expand this list to include at least the rest of her top 40 single releases. If there is additional info you think should be included I will gladly add it if I am able.

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GLORIA ESTEFAN
Part 2


For posterity, part two begins with the singles that originated as new tracks on the Greatest Hits CD. While none of them made the top 40, one came close and another cracked the Hot 100.


ALWAYS TOMORROW [4:51] (Billboard Hot 100 Peak: #81)
Single version is the same as found on the Greatest Hits, The Essential and Playlist CDs.

I SEE YOUR SMILE [4:34] (Billboard Hot 100 Peak: #48)
Single version is the same as found on the Greatest Hits and The Essential CDs.

GO AWAY [3:51] (Billboard Hot 100 Peak: NC)
(Radio Edit) Single version is a remix by Pablo Flores and can be found on The Essential CD.


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- UPDATED FEBRUARY 1, 2010 TO REFLECT THE RELEASE OF "THE ESSENTIAL GLORIA ESTEFAN" AND "PLAYLIST: THE VERY BEST OF GLORIA ESTEFAN"

more to come...

Edited by Underground Dub

nicely done.....great info...thx

I agree... appreciate your posting these, Underground Dub.

Underground Dub, you are right about the actual Hits CD having a chopped intro on that song. I think at least one or two other songs on Hits suffer the same problem.

Fantastic reference list, thanks Underground!

A couple of notes on the side:

"ALWAYS TOMORROW"

There were two promo CD's issued in the US.

ESK74472: featured the album/single version you mention (4:51).

ESK4902: features a version called The New Mix, remixed by John Bastianelli. It sounds less acoustic, lots of "typical Estefan" pop/latin arrangements added. The ending fades out earlier, running time is approximately 4:31. I guess this mix must have gotten some airplay as well.

"I SEE YOUR SMILE"

There is a remix version with different piano and synth arrangements. This version was used for the video. I only found one promo CD single in the US (ESK74847). I don't own it but several sources referenceits one track as "album version", so I'm not sure if the remix was released in the US. A commercial UK CD single (6589612) features this mix, so it may have been the single version in Europe. Both these US and UK CD's have identical production credits and state "taken from Greatest Hits". I guess that would be wrong on the UK CD since the european "Greatest Hits" pressing features the same "I See Your Smile" version as the US one.