Whitney Houston - How Will I Know

Gordon, the splice occurs exactly at 4:16 just before the drum fill. Tacking the LP ending on makes the song run 4:32. The original single mix completely fades out by 4:30. So, you're right. There's virtually nothing "extended" about the ending.

At the 4:16 mark of the 2nd 45 version, the EQ and instrumentation changes enough to where I immediately picked up on it. Perhaps the reason I was listening carefully was because I originally noticed it on a TM GoldDisc. Knowing that they often took things from vinyl, added noise reduction, etc., I was probably scrutinizing their copy. I certainly didn't remember the "heartbeat" background vocal was missing; that's something I discovered when A/B-ing the ending with the original single mix ending.

As for your DVD collection, I'd be willing to bet money that the engineer replaced the audio of the original video to enhance the sound quality. Record labels have done that many times over the years, as it seems video master tapes tend to have hissy audio. My guess is that there was only one "hallway" video ever originally made, and it has the first single mix.

As for the "heartbeat" version, I have several copies--both promo and stock--and most (all?) of them have the original single mix with no RE in the matrix. In fact, when I restored the ending on my file, I had six different sources to work with, and all of them had the original single mix ending. The only reason I even knew there was a second issued "RE" version was from this thread.

To make sure I understand:

There were two singles released, one the full remix and the other the remix with the LP version tacked on for the last seven (EDIT: fifteen) seconds. At this point we're considering both of these "hit" mixes since they seem to have both been out while the single was climbing.

These same two versions were released as promos to radio stations, first the full remix and then the remix with the LP version tacked on the last seven (EDIT: fifteen) seconds. Both could easily be considered the "hit radio version" depending on when a particular station picked up the song.

If a radio station switches to another song before the last seven (EDIT: fifteen) seconds, there is no difference to be heard between the two promos.

The version with the tacked on LP ending is available many places digitally, while we have yet to find the full single remix without edit on CD.

Does that sum it up accurately?

Edited by NightAire

My promo copy is the RE-1 version.

Can anyone confirm that they have a promo that is the
non-RE-1 version?

I'm wondering if radio stations got two versions (and
how many days/weeks apart)!

Does anyone in radio have any remembrance?

Andy

Thanks Aaron.

If promo copies were issued with both endings, my only
logical conjecture is that some programmers out there
didn't like how the original single mix dumped-out
prematurely and wanted the slightly extended album
ending.

By the way, does anybody out there know who mixed the
single? Was it Jellybean Benitez?

I ask because the single uses production elements of
the Jellybean 12" remix, but he wasn't credited on the
45 (Michael Barbiero was credited on the LP).

Andy

Yes, Aaron, I forgot that the labels would sometimes
reservice a hot record to replace cue-burnt copies! I
figured by then just about all stations would cart up
the tracks, but you're right, I'm sure a measure of
stations (especially in smaller markets) played vinyl
directly.

Andy