The KLF - 3 A.M. Eternal

I have come across a couple of edits for KLF's "3 A.M. Eternal." One of them I'm sure appeared on a promo CD, which I have yet to come across. The other one is a mystery to me.

The first version, called the "Radio Freedom Edit," appeared on a TM Century HitDisc when the song was first released. Essentially, it cuts the talking and sound effects from the beginning and starts cold with "KLF! Uh-huh (x3)." If my memory is correct, this version also fades out quickly at the end before the "Ladies and gentlemen" spoken part.

The other edit appears on an Entertainment Weekly compilation (manufactured by Arista) called Hot Dance Mix. The version cuts the spoken part and sound effects from the intro and starts cold like the "Radio Freedom Edit." HOWEVER, there is a strange edit at the beginning, which doesn't even keep the rhythm of the song. It cuts about four seconds, right after "KLF! Uh-huh (x3)." After that part is sung, it cuts the beeping noises out and skips right to the line "KLF is gonna rock ya!" Also, the ending line and crowd sound effects are in tact on this version, as opposed to faded like on the "Radio Freedom Edit."

Could this perhaps be another edit from the promo single, or is it some strange butchered edit that Arista accidentally included on this compilation?

Since the database does not include information about the promo CD, here are the details of mine:

1. Radio Freedom Edit (3:13 listed and actual)
2. Live At The S.S.L. (3:36 listed and actual)
3. Live At The S.S.L. (Extended) (5:50 listed; 5:49 actual)
4. Rankin' Club Version (4:34 listed; 4:33 actual)

Track 2 is the same as the LP version (and presumably 45 version since no database notation is present for most entries). The "Radio Freedom Edit" cuts the talking and sound effects and fades before the "ladies and gentlemen" at the end.

Just thought I'd add that, should anybody be trying to track down the promo CD single that my friend Aaron has just accurately detailed above, the Arista inventory # for it is ASCD-2230.

aaronk wrote: The first version, called the "Radio Freedom Edit," appeared on a TM Century HitDisc when the song was first released. Essentially, it cuts the talking and sound effects from the beginning and starts cold with "KLF! Uh-huh (x3)." If my memory is correct, this version also fades out quickly at the end before the "Ladies and gentlemen" spoken part.

When I was at AM96 in 1991, we never had the KLF CD single in the control room. Instead we played it off the monthly BMG compilation promo CD - did you get those in the US? But it did have the "Freedom" edit. I dubbed it on to a cassette and still have it to this day...lol.

I don't ever recall seeing BMG compilations either, maybe it was a Canadian thing? Then again in 1991 I worked at a gold-intensive AC that (1) what few currents we played we just traded out for and (2) wouldn't have played the KLF anyway.