Luther Vandross, etc. - The Best Things

The database has no notation next to the Luther Vandross & Janet Jackson hit "The Best Things In Life Are Free," yet the two entries show times of (4:35) and (4:01).

I'm guessing that the single contains the LP/soundtrack version, which also features a rap by Bell Biv Devoe. The shorter (4:01) version (without actually hearing that CD) is most likely the "Classic 7" Without Rap" version that was serviced to DJs.

Yes it did...and it wasn't that great. A much better mix - and one I heard most often on the radio - was available commercially on the 12-inch single. I think it's called "classic 12-inch mix". I've got the British import 12-inch single...waited too long to buy it and by then the domestic ones were nowhere to be found.

That mix includes the rap; I believe a version without the rap was available on the US 12-inch.

Edited by torcan

aaronk wrote: Yes, there is also a "Classic 7" With Rap" which is a short version of that 12" mix (might even be on your vinyl, torcan).

The shorter version isn't on the British pressing. There are six mixes on there, and I think a couple of them weren't on the US 12-inch. I did see a promo CD single on e-bay one time (didn't win it) that had 9 mixes of the song on it, including "classic 7" with rap, and without. For the record, it was the version without rap that I most often heard.

When the song first hit (a big No. 24 debut on Billboard), I heard the LP verison for the first couple of weeks until they switched to the "classic" version. I guess those mixes must have been released a couple of weeks behind the whole-length CD.

We got in THREE different promo CD singles for this:

31458 8003 2 (All 9 versions below are for "The Best Things In Life Are Free")
1-Classic 7" w/rap (listed 4:22; actual 4:21)
2-Classic 7" w/o rap (listed 4:03; actual 4:01) **
3-CJ's U.K. 7" w/rap (listed 4:18; actual 4:17)
4-CJ's U.K. 7" w/o rap (listed and actual 4:17)
5-Classic 12" w/rap (listed 5:53; actual 5:52)
6-Classic 12" w/o rap (listed 5:42; actual 5:40)
7-CJ's U.K. 12" w/rap (listed 9:58; actual 9:57)
8-CJ's U.K. 12" w/o rap (listed 9:55; actual 9:53)
9-Def Version (listed 8:41; actual 8:39)

** the version we played at our station, according to notes made back in 1992


28968 1713 2
1-The Best Things In Life Are Free (listed 4:37; actual 4:35)
2-The Best Things In Life Are Free (Instrumental) (listed 4:29; actual 4:28)

28968 1715 2
1-The Best Things In Life Are Free (Without Rap) (listed and actual 4:28)

Edited by jimct

Would anyone be able to share info regarding the following version:

28968 1715 2
1-The Best Things In Life Are Free (Without Rap) (listed and actual 4:28)

My memory is fuzzy. Was this a unique mix or an edit of the original mix (perhaps utilizing portions of the instrumental version)? I'd love to review this as I believe it was the version I was more familiar with for at least part of TBTILAF's chart run.

Thanks for any details!