Atlantic Starr - Always

Somewhere I have a promo copy of this on red vinyl, shaped like a heart.

Does anyone know if the "Extended Version" (runs about 5:33
and appears to have only been released on 12" in the UK)
has ever been released on CD anywhere? The 45 version
(3:59) is actually edited from this longer extended
version, as the LP version is simply an early fade (running
around 4:46) of this extended version.

In 2021, SoulMusic Records released a 3-CD anthology called
"Always: The Warner/Reprise Recordings 1987-1991", but this
extended version was missing.

Edited by Bellenger1981

LP version

I only have the LP version on two CDs:

• Mystic Music/Warner Special Products 2-CD Sweet Love (1996) - has very low levels; about 9 dB of headroom
• Rhino's Now And Forever Timeless Wedding Songs (1999)

The Rhino disc has a slightly larger dynamic range, and a slightly shorter tail to the fade. Both sound fine.

45 version

The 45 can't be edited down from the LP version (although I can't recall where the unique audio is in the song).

The 45 version first appeared on CD on Sessions/Warner Special Products' 2-CD Night Beat (1988). It sounds OK here - nice dynamic range, nice EQ, no evidence of noise reduction. The tail of the fade cuts to silence rather abruptly; not sure if that happens on the actual 45. The same analog transfer is used on:

• Wwarner Special Products' 2-CD Always (1990) - digitally exactly 2.8 dB louder
• Starland Music/Warner Special Products' 2-CD Reflections Of Love (1996)
• Time-Life's Sounds Of The Eighties Vol. 20 The Late '80s Take Two (1996) - differently EQ'd digital clone
• Warner Special Products' 2-CD Touched By Love (1997)
• Time-Life's 2-CD Body And Soul Vol. 2 Love And Tenderness (1998) - differently EQ'd digital clone
• Time-Life's 2-CD Classic Soul Ballads Nite And Day (2004)

There was a new analog transfer on Razor and Tie's 2-CD Forever '80s (1994). Here, it has a nice dynamic range, nice EQ, no evidence of noise reduction, and seems to use a tape source comparable to Night Beat. Where the tail of the fade on Night Beat drops to silence, the tail of the fade on Forever '80s drops to tape hiss. The same analog transfer is used on:

• Time-Life's Body Talk Vol. 5 Sealed With A Kiss (1996)

All of the above sound about the same, so take your which version to use.

There's an early fade (by about 20 seconds) on the UK's 2-CD The Hits Album 7 (1987) - avoid.

My recommendations

None of the above sound bad, but I chose Razor & Tie's 2-CD Forever '80s (1994) for the 45 version, and Rhino's Now And Forever Timeless Wedding Songs (1999) for the LP version. You'll be pleased with any CD copy you find of the song.