"Opportunities..." - Pet Shop Boys

I have obtained the 12" dj single of "Opportunities" and it is the full length version on both sides running 3:43.

who is the moderator..........it's not pat???...........if not, who is it??

Just to complete this investigation, I have finally obtained a dj copy of the vinyl 45 of "Opportunities" and it runs (3:43) so there was no promo edit that I am aware of.

MCT1, all 3 of my stock copies are the EMI America 8330 45 issue. But, one of my "go-to" research books states that the b-side of the EMI America 8321 45 release was "In The Night", while the more common EMI America 8330's flip side is "Was That What It Was." Further, my latest "1955-2006 Billboard Top Pop Singles" book by Mr. Whitburn has a small notation under this title's listing, saying "first 5 chart weeks on EMI America 8321." But I am not so sure as to the accuracy of that statement, however. In 1986, as I've mentioned before here, I bought all of the "Hot 100" new entry stock copy 45s during the VERY first week that they entered the chart, and my 45 copies are EMI America 8330, not the 8321 number. I believe that MCT1's thoery is correct, and that this was simply a "b-side substitution" by the record label. I suspect that very few, if any, 8321 stock copies actually made it into stores, especially here on the East Coast, where I happen to reside.

Paul, my apologies - I was very unclear, and all of the following "deep menusha" is specifically designed for you, Paul, in terms of an explanation. I have no doubt that Billboard LISTED the EMI America 9321 stock # for "Opportunities", in those "early chart run" issues of the magazine. What I was actually (and very poorly) trying to say was that I DID, on rare occasions in the 80's, notice "irregularies" while I "scoured the globe" for the EXACT stock 45 #/types of single release info that the magazine stated for Hot 100 entries. I had been "burned" a few times back in the 70's by retail, when I found out that I was sold stock copies with a different # than the one Billboard had listed. One such 80's instance, that I will never, EVER forget, was attempting to obtain the 1988 Billboard #64 hit, "You Have Placed A Chill In My Heart", by the Eurythmics, with its listed-in-the-mag stock #, RCA 8619, during its entire, 7 week chart run. Problem was, ALL stock 45s, that ALL of the retail outlets that I knew of had in stock, were ALL RCA 7615! This song was released twice, and never charted in its original 45 release/mix. It had a listed time of (3:50), on BOTH sides of the original promo 45 we got in. The label # was RCA 7615 (deadwax "7615-7-R-A"). (FYI, I have ALL my referenced 45s right in front of me, at this moment.) Then, a "Chill Mix" remix was subsequently released as a 45. We DID happen to play this remix at our station for a few weeks, and THIS is the version that "earned" the song's Hot 100 placing. Our re-released PROMO 45s have the listed (4:00) "Chill Mix", shown as "Side A", on one side (label # "8619-7-RA1", deadwax "8619-7-RA1-A"), with the original (3:50) mix, shown as "Side 1", on the other side (label # and deadwax are both "8619-7-RA1"). All of my stock 45s contain the EXACT same versions as the newer promo 45s, on both sides, EXCEPT that the "8619-7-RA1-A" deadwax info has a line through it, and has "7615-7RX-A" written to its right, for the "Chill Mix". Same for the other side, with "7615-7RX-B" added to the left of the crossed out 8619 deadwax info. Both sides of my stock 45's label state a stock # of "7615-7RX." For some reason, RCA went back and decided to re-cycle/re-utilize the original "RCA 7615" #, for only the STOCK copies of the "Chill Mix/Original Mix" 45 release, while leaving PROMO 45 copies, for the EXACT same version combo, as RCA 8619! I know all this is VERY confusing and difficult to follow, Paul, but ALL my info here is both complete, and 100% accurate. Please, check the original 1988 Billboard issues - they ALL state "RCA 8619" as the stock 45 #, don't they? And that info was always incorrect, IMHO. All the new promo 45's WERE RCA 8619. But the STOCK copy #'s had been changed back to the original "RCA 7615", for some unknown reason. Paul, even Mr. Whitburn's OWN books have "waffled" on this song's stock # over the years since. My 1955-1994 Billboard Pop Annual FINALLY, and CORRECTLY, state "RCA 7615" as the stock #. But my new BB Top Pop Singles 1955-2006 book has gone back and reproduced the original, 1988 Billboard Magazine error, once again stating that the actual RCA stock # for the song was "RCA 8619!". Paul, what is the stock # for the 45 that Mr. Whitburn has in storage for this song? I'll bet that it's RCA 7615! That is my ONLY point in all this, Mr. Haney, my friend, and I believe the exact same thing is true with "Opportunities", although that error was later "adjusted/corrected", in the magazine itself, by week 6 of its chart run. Hey, are there any openings at Record Research for an old, washed-up DJ? :)

Edited by jimct