Boyz II Men - Motownphilly
Printed From: Top 40 Music on CD
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Topic: Boyz II Men - Motownphilly
Posted By: aaronk
Subject: Boyz II Men - Motownphilly
Date Posted: 13 March 2007 at 9:23pm
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Jim was kind enough to pass this information along to me, and I didn't want to hoard it all to myself. This is the supplied info on his promo CD singles for Boyz II Men "Motownphilly."
CD45-1336 1-Album Version (listed and actual 3:52) CD45-1386 1-12" Version (Edited) (listed and actual 4:47) 2-7" Main (listed 3:52; actual 3:54) 3-Bonus Beats (listed 3:50; actual 3:49) 4-12" A (listed 5:50; actual 5:39) 5-12" Dub (listed 4:09; actual 4:07) 6-Quiet Storm (listed 4:06; actual 4:05) Also, I have a version labeled "Single Edit without Rap" on my TM Century library. While I noticed this version is not on either one of Jim's promos, it must be an official version. The song is similar to the 12" Version / 7" Main, but it cuts all of the talking parts (rap) by Michael Bivins. It also strips out some of the "extra" samples found in the aforementioned remixes. Does anyone own a promo CD with this version? |
Replies:
Posted By: jimct
Date Posted: 25 August 2009 at 11:42pm
| Aaron, I didn't realize that this was a sort of a "repeat query" by you until I'd already re-researched it, and then pulled this old thread up - you must REALLY want to uncover this "single edit without rap" version that you seem real confident was "official" in a major way, my good friend! Wish I could be of more help to you... |
Posted By: aaronk
Date Posted: 26 August 2009 at 7:37am
| Sorry about that, Jim! I should've mentioned that info in the other thread. |
Posted By: aaronk
Date Posted: 22 April 2010 at 7:27pm
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Just today, I was able to confirm the promo CD single existence of the elusive "Single Edit Without Rap" mix of "Motownphilly." Here are the details:
Motown PRD-90023 1. Single Edit (Without Rap) (3:17 listed) 2. LP Version (3:55 listed) |
Posted By: Todd Ireland
Date Posted: 24 April 2010 at 9:16am
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On the CD jacket and in the database, the now common Boyz II Men Cooleyhighharmony CD pressing (Motown 314530231) shows "Motownphilly" with the comment "remixed radio edit". Can anyone confirm if this version matches any of the tracks appearing on the promo CD singles?
Also, does anyone have a commercial single pressing of "Motownphilly" who can pass along the track listing and run time(s)? (Ed? Paul Haney?) |
Posted By: aaronk
Date Posted: 24 April 2010 at 9:44am
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My commercial CD single, labeled on the spine as "Motownphilly (REMIX)" has the following:
CD5-MOTDS-4779 1. 12" Version (Edit) (4:47) 2. LP Version (3:52) 3. Quiet Storm (4:06) 4. 12" A (5:50 - actual 5:40) 5. 12" Dub (4:09 - actual 4:07) |
Posted By: Todd Ireland
Date Posted: 24 April 2010 at 10:11am
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Thanks, Aaron! According to my research, it appears the cassette single release features the "album version" as the lone track. All we need now is the run time info.
Boy, it never ceases to amaze me how so many of these early '90s hits with their multiple versions spread out over multiple formats have created a real MESS for us die-hard collectors to sort out! |
Posted By: Todd Ireland
Date Posted: 25 May 2010 at 10:21pm
| Ok, I've finally obtained the cassette single timing info for Boyz II Men's "Motownphilly", thanks to help from my good friend Edtop40. The cassette single run time is 3:53. |
Posted By: Todd Ireland
Date Posted: 06 September 2010 at 9:10pm
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If I may bring up one more question regarding "Motownphilly"...
Is there any difference between the album version and the 7" Main version from the CD45-1386 promo CD single, or are the two identical? |
Posted By: aaronk
Date Posted: 07 September 2010 at 5:02am
| The 7" Main is a remix that is not even close to the album version. |
Posted By: aaronk
Date Posted: 20 April 2011 at 6:54pm
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I just obtained an original copy of the Motownphilly promo I had long been searching for. Here are the full details:
Motown PRD-90023 1. Single Edit (Without Rap) (3:17 listed; 3:21 actual) 2. LP Version (3:55 listed; 3:52 actual) ------------- Aaron Kannowski http://www.uptownsound.com" rel="nofollow - Uptown Sound http://www.919thepeak.com" rel="nofollow - 91.9 The Peak - Classic Hip Hop |
Posted By: Todd Ireland
Date Posted: 26 March 2012 at 8:00pm
| To repeat a query I made a couple of years ago, does anyone know if the "remixed radio edit" of "Motownphilly" appearing on the now common Boyz II Men Cooleyhighharmony CD pressing (Motown 314530231) matches any of the tracks appearing on the promo or CD singles? |
Posted By: aaronk
Date Posted: 09 July 2014 at 10:14pm
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The "remixed radio edit" on the reissue of Cooleyhighharmony does not match any of the tracks from the promo CD. The version on this CD is a house remix, and isn't even close to the remixes that were on the promo and commercial CD singles. ------------- Aaron Kannowski http://www.uptownsound.com" rel="nofollow - Uptown Sound http://www.919thepeak.com" rel="nofollow - 91.9 The Peak - Classic Hip Hop |
Posted By: Todd Ireland
Date Posted: 10 July 2014 at 7:13pm
| I also looked through all the promo and commercial single entries on Discogs for "Motownphilly" and I don't see anything about a "remix radio edit" on any of them. So perhaps a brief database mention of this version not appearing on any promo single release might be useful here. |
Posted By: eriejwg
Date Posted: 11 July 2014 at 7:48pm
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Question: Can the "single edit (without rap) edit be
recreated from the LP version? |
Posted By: aaronk
Date Posted: 11 July 2014 at 9:18pm
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No, it's a remix similar to the 7" Main, but with all the spoken and rap
parts removed. It also has fewer samples and overdubs compared to the 7" Main. ------------- Aaron Kannowski http://www.uptownsound.com" rel="nofollow - Uptown Sound http://www.919thepeak.com" rel="nofollow - 91.9 The Peak - Classic Hip Hop |
Posted By: PopArchivist
Date Posted: 17 September 2020 at 7:08pm
So did anyone hear the single edit back in 1991? ------------- Favorite two expressions to live by on this board: "You can't download vinyl" and "Not everything is available on CD." |
aaronk wrote:Posted By: aaronk
Date Posted: 17 September 2020 at 7:24pm
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In the late ‘90s, the top 40 station where I worked played the song as a
“gold.” We played the Single Edit Without Rap directly from a TM Century GoldDisc. I do not remember, however, if this mix was played as a current on my old station. ------------- Aaron Kannowski http://www.uptownsound.com" rel="nofollow - Uptown Sound http://www.919thepeak.com" rel="nofollow - 91.9 The Peak - Classic Hip Hop |
Posted By: prisdeej
Date Posted: 18 September 2020 at 2:00pm
I share this sentiment. In the late 90's WFHN would play the Single Edit Without Rap, but I swear that's the first time I heard it. ------------- DJ L. |
Posted By: eriejwg
Date Posted: 18 September 2020 at 2:51pm
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Seems like I've always heard the LP version but now that
I've heard the Single Version Without Rap, I actually prefer that version. ------------- John Gallagher Erie, PA https://www.johngallagher.com" rel="nofollow - John Gallagher Wedding & Special Event Entertainment / Snapblast Photo Booth |
Posted By: BSharp
Date Posted: 18 September 2020 at 4:44pm
I was at Fun from 1993 to 2000; that absolutely is the version we played, from a TM Century Golddisc. If you're still in New Bedford, we added "Motownphilly" to the rotation at WNBH/Big 101.3 this week; we're playing the LP version. Maybe I'll change it out for this edit. |
Posted By: eriejwg
Date Posted: 18 September 2020 at 7:05pm
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I see Kwame is on Fun 107. He previously was PD here in
Erie, PA at Star 104. ------------- John Gallagher Erie, PA https://www.johngallagher.com" rel="nofollow - John Gallagher Wedding & Special Event Entertainment / Snapblast Photo Booth |
Posted By: BSharp
Date Posted: 19 September 2020 at 9:18am
He's Townsquare's brand manager in Portland, Maine now (Q97.9 WJBQ) and voicetracks for a bunch of their stations (including Fun 107 - he's on Sundays 3 to 7). |
Posted By: prisdeej
Date Posted: 19 September 2020 at 4:23pm
I live in Providence! WNBH Big 101.3 is a great station, btw -- please get artist and title information scrolling for over the air :) ------------- DJ L. |
Posted By: mjb50
Date Posted: 27 January 2023 at 11:57am
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I was having trouble sorting this out based on past discussion and what's in the database.
The commercial releases of the single, including the vinyl 45, all contain the "LP Version", duration printed as 3:52, actual a little over 3:51. Notably, despite always saying it's from the forthcoming Cooleyhighharmony album, the actual album contained a somewhat different mix which was not on the singles. Aside from effects & instrument changes, it is prefaced by 2½ seconds of a wailed "ne-eh!" & spoken "it don't matter, just don't curse!" I'm sure I've heard both of these versions on the radio. Nowadays I only hear the latter. I don't have the CD45-1336 one-track promo CD containing the "Album Version" (3:52). Can anyone confirm that this is the same as "LP Version"? Also, I found that although the database implies the version on the Hitsville USA CD release is the 45 version, it is not. See below. All three of these have the same basic structure and vocals, and just have some mostly minor changes to the instrumentation and effects: Cooleyhighharmony album version – as described above. • printed duration 3:55 • actual duration 3:55 • usually listed with no version title, or sometimes as Original Version 45 version, often labeled LP Version – the original US hit single version. • printed duration 3:52 • actual duration 3:51 promo single version – a mix appearing on the 2-track promo CD single ( https://www.discogs.com/release/6279350-Boyz-II-Men-Motownphilly - PRD-90023 ) and on the 1993 v/a compilation https://www.discogs.com/master/630458-Various-Hitsville-USA-The-Motown-Singles-Collection-Volume-Two-1972-1992 - Hitsville USA vol. 2 (not to be confused with the band's 2007 album with a very similar name). The left & right channels are swapped. Several instruments are mixed louder, imparting a denser sound. A delay-type echo was added to the "Boyz II Men, A.B.C., B.B.D. — mm-hmm!" at the very end. The most striking difference is that when the rap starts at 1:30, the drum machine stops, the rap vocal has chorus-type reverb on it, and there's no background vocal samples ("Boyz II Men, Boy, Buh-Boy, Boyz II Men") or hard-panned instrumental stabs. • printed duration 3:55 • actual duration 3:52 • listed as LP Version on the promo CD single, and with no version title on the Hitsville Two release Continuing on... US remixes by Boyz II Men member Dallas Austin. All except Quiet Storm contain https://www.whosampled.com/Bob-James/Take-Me-to-the-Mardi-Gras/ - the iconic "Mardi Gras bells" sample : • 5:40 12" Version a.k.a. 12" A [printed as 5:50 on UK releases] • 4:47 12" Version (Edited) • 3:52 7" Main • 3:20 7" Main [edited by Robin Albers, only on European CD] • 4:09 12" Dub • 4:06 Quiet Storm • 3:21 Single Edit (Without Rap) [only on promo CD; printed duration 3:17] • 3:50 Bonus Beats While researching this, I found in Discogs that the retail US 12" sleeve & labels say the record has a 5:50 Instrumental, but it plays the regular 12" Version, and no instrumental of that duration was ever released, as far as is known. (Or was it actually pressed on some copies?) UK house mixes by Camelle Hinds and Steve & Paul Jervier. They all sound similar and contain the "I'm talkin' to you" sample from Tears for Fears' "Shout": • 5:35 12" Extended Club Mix a.k.a. 12" Club Mix Edited • 3:50 7" Radio Version a.k.a. 7" Version a.k.a. Remix Radio Edit • 3:50 Philly Instrumental • 3:49 Mo' Bass Mix • 4:08 Dub Mix • 3:54 Dub Mix 1 [on UK promo 12"; uniqueness unconfirmed] Remix Radio Edit is the only one of these house versions that has been released in the US, I think; it appears on the 1992 (UK/EU) and 1993 (US) Cooleyhighharmony reissues, with the original album version as a bonus track. |
Posted By: aaronk
Date Posted: 27 January 2023 at 4:41pm
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Wow, that's a lot of mixes and a lot of research. Nice work! Does the 3:20 7" Main match the 3:21 Single Edit (Without Rap)? ------------- Aaron Kannowski http://www.uptownsound.com" rel="nofollow - Uptown Sound http://www.919thepeak.com" rel="nofollow - 91.9 The Peak - Classic Hip Hop |
Posted By: mjb50
Date Posted: 27 January 2023 at 5:39pm
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No, the edited 7" Main and the Single Edit (Without Rap) are different right from the start.
The durations for this song don't tell us much. So many versions have basically the same length as each other! |
Posted By: mjb50
Date Posted: 24 June 2023 at 12:50am
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I made a correction to my list of mixes; the Mo' Bass Mix is not the same as the Philly Instrumental at all.
The Mo' Bass Mix is exclusive to the UK CD single (ZD 45080) and is a vocal version which is very similar to the 7" Edit (aka 7" Radio Version or Remix Radio Edit), but it has a different bassline (not so bouncy/housey), no cymbal crashes, no extra reverb in the break, and it has added samples & bass for a denser sound right after the break. It also fades out slightly early. |
Posted By: mjb50
Date Posted: 11 October 2024 at 3:20pm
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I made another correction to my list of mixes, to clarify that the version on Hitsville USA vol. Two was in fact released first as an "LP Version" on the 1991 2-track promo CD single. I renamed that mix to "promo single version". Beware of fake rips floating around with the 45 version as track 2.
In headphones, I noticed another easy way to tell the difference between the 3 regular versions: just listen to the panning of the first musical sounds. Notice how the initial percussion sample hits 4 times, and the tonal stab hits 3 times. • 45 version: first sample is heard on the right twice, then on the left twice, and the tonal stabs are centered. • promo single version: first sample is heard on the left all 4 times; tonal stabs are on the right. • actual album version: prefaced with banter, then first sample is in the center all 4 times; tonal stabs are on the left. |
Posted By: aaronk
Date Posted: 11 October 2024 at 4:53pm
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CD45-1336
1. Album Version (listed & actual 3:52) This is truly the "45 version" with the opening sample heard twice in the right channel and then twice in the left channel. CD5-MOTDS-4779 (retail CD single) 2. LP Version (listed & actual 3:52) This also has the true "45 version." Motown PRD-90023 2. LP Version (3:55 listed; 3:52 actual) This is a slight remix that does not match the 45 version or the LP version. Mike is correct that this version appears on the Hitsville USA Vol. 2 box set. ------------- Aaron Kannowski http://www.uptownsound.com" rel="nofollow - Uptown Sound http://www.919thepeak.com" rel="nofollow - 91.9 The Peak - Classic Hip Hop |
Posted By: aaronk
Date Posted: 11 October 2024 at 5:07pm
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I updated the database to reflect this new info. For the Hitsville V.2 box set, I labeled it (promo CD single "LP version" from PRD-90023) for the time being. It's very confusing with two different mixes being labeled "LP Version" or "Album Version" when neither are the true LP version.
Previously, MTV Party To Go Vol. 2 was labeled "45 version," but this is really a "neither version." The bulk of the song is the true LP version, but the spoken intro has been removed, and the ending acapella line has been swapped with one that has a significant delay-type echo. I think this ending is probably from the 12" A version found on the retail CD single and one of the promo CDs. ------------- Aaron Kannowski http://www.uptownsound.com" rel="nofollow - Uptown Sound http://www.919thepeak.com" rel="nofollow - 91.9 The Peak - Classic Hip Hop |