LP version (3:06)
It starts with a drumbeat. It's found on the original release of Epic's Lap Of Luxury (1988). And that's about it. It was just an album track when "The Flame" was topping the chart.
45 version (3:08)
Epic Records wanted another hit, so for the second single, they punched up the mix on "Don't Be Cruel". It starts with some sung ascending notes before the drumbeat. The mix is indeed big and new.
The promo CD single for "Don't Be Cruel", Epic ESK 1216 (copyright 1988), included one track, labeled as "Big New Mix". The Big New Mix was used on the 45, and virtually everywhere except the original Lap Of Luxury CD. The same analog transfer as the promo CD single is used on:- Epic's Greatest Hits (1991) - differently EQ's digital clone, with a small amount of added compression/limiting
- Sony's Big Hits Of The 80's (1993) - differently EQ's digital clone
- swaitek's promo 50-CD The A List Disc 44 (1994) - maybe added noise reduction?
- Cema's Greatest Hits Of The 80's Vol. 6 The Decade Of Excess (1994) - same analog transfer as GH, which has the added compression/limiting
- Time-Life's Sounds Of The Eighties Vol. 20 The Late '80s Take Two (1996) - differently EQ's digital clone of GH, which has the added compression/limiting
- EMI Australia's 5-CD Pop Complete (1999) - same analog transfer as GH, which has the added compression/limiting
My recommendation
For the LP version, you'll need the original Lap Of Luxury (Epic 40922, copyright 1988).
For the 45 version, go with Big Hits Of The 80's (Sony Music Special Products 23390 or Sony Music Special Products 26019, copyright 1993), which has a larger dynamic range than all the versions based on the compressed/limited Greatest Hits mastering.
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