Trans-X - Living On Video (O/T)

I've managed to get myself completely confused on the releases of Trans-X's "Living On Video".

The versions I have in my library are labeled as follows:

Original LP version / possible 83 remix version
45 version
French version / Vivre Sur Video (from 12" single)
85 remix version
maxi version
an "unknown version" running 3:38
another "unknown version" running 5:49 that is likely the LP version faded early

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I looked at Discogs, and saw in the United States:

12" w/ French version on A side, LP version on B side (1983)
A commercial 7" w/ the 45 version (published 1984, released 1986)
Two promo 7" w/ the 45 version (published 1984, released 1986)

So no problem, the commercial 45 and promo version are the same. Easy, peasey.

...Until I looked at Wikipedia.

Wikipedia claims it was released and became a hit in Europe in 1983. They say the remix in 1985 was a worldwide hit, reaching #61 on the Billboard Hot 100.

It also mentions it being re-recorded in 1986 and being released as a maxi-single, and having been remixed in 1984 for a club mix.

Wikipedia claims the original 1983 7" single was 4:18, while the 1985 7" single was 5:32 (labeled as "Big Mix"). They also mention a nearly 7 minute 1986 12" maxi.

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All I really want to know is: which version / length / mix / recording was considered the "hit" mix in the United States. Was it the 3:47 version I have, was it the mystery 4:18 version Wikipedia lists, or the 5:32 1985 remix?

Was it a bigger hit in 1983, 1984, 1985, or 1986?

This feels like a big knot for such a minor hit...

In the US, the song was only released on 45 in 1986, and it was the 3:48 remix version that had already been out in the rest of the world in 1985.

Wikipedia is wrong about the '85 Big Mix being on 45. It was not.

My notes follow.

1983 versions, released in 1983/1984:

3:58 Vivre sur vidéo [1983 7-inch version with French vocal]
6:12 Vivre sur vidéo [1983 12-inch version with French vocal]
5:52 Living on Video [1983 12-inch & LP version aka Remix aka Long Version]
4:19 Living on Video [1983 UK & EU 7-inch & video version, aka Original Mix]
6:42 Living on Video (Remix) [1983 CA 12-inch B-side]

1985 versions, released in 1985/1986:

3:48 Living on Video ('85 Re-Mix aka Vocal/Edit, Vocal, Radio Mix)
5:30 Living on Video ('85 Big Mix aka Vocal/Remix Version)
6:28 Living on Video (Dub Mix aka Dub Version)
5:00 Living on Video (Dub Version) [an early fade of the 6:28 dub]

1986 versions (based on a new recording, very different sounding):

7:05 Living on Video [1986 LP version aka Remix]
6:59 Living on Video [1986 12-inch version, possibly same as LP version]
5:00 Living on Video (Instrumental)
3:40 Living on Video (Radio Version)

Durations may be off by a few seconds.

Given that these are the only US releases...

1984 promo 12" (DMD 785): Long Version on both sides
1986 promo 12" (DMD 941): Vocal/Remix Version + Dub Version
1986 retail 12" (0-96815): Vocal/Remix Version + Dub Version
1986 promo 7" (7-99534): Vocal/Edit + Vocal/Remix Version
1986 retail 7" (7-99534): Vocal + 5:00 Dub Version

...it seems that the US "hit" version would have to be the ~3:48 version. (I'd assume the 12" versions were probably better known in dance clubs, where the Canadian releases were probably circulating well before the 1986 domestic release.)

Edited by mjb50

crapfromthepast wrote: It was a real hit here in Minneapolis, but it was before I moved here. No idea what actually got airplay back then.

After mulling this over for a few days, I think I might be confusing this song with "Dancing In Heaven" by Q-Feel. I'm pretty sure the Q-Feel song was the hit here in Minneapolis.

Just wanted to make sure the posts here on the board are correct (or as correct as my memory serves!)

crapfromthepast wrote: crapfromthepast wrote: It was a real hit here in Minneapolis, but it was before I moved here. No idea what actually got airplay back then. After mulling this over for a few days, I think I might be confusing this song with "Dancing In Heaven" by Q- Feel. I'm pretty sure the Q-Feel song was the hit here in Minneapolis. Just wanted to make sure the posts here on the board are correct (or as correct as my memory serves!)

Ron, "Living On Video" did chart as an "extra" for a few
weeks on WLOL (I don't remember hearing it). But yes,
"Dancing In Heaven" was the legitimate hit.