I'm not sure how old I was when I learned what a remix was. I certainly didn't have a childhood of going through 12" singles and hearing alternate, longer versions of my favorite pop songs. But I do know that when I first started realizing that songs would be edited for radio (or extended for single consumption), my mind was blown.
This increased tenfold with the discovery of remixes through the '80s. Say what you will about the music at that time, some of it was made better by remixing on vinyl. Those extended passages, done by cutting and splicing tape instead of hacking stuff together in Pro Tools, was studio art. (It didn't hurt that I also had no concept of studio recording, and thought each individual track was laid down one at a time.)
As remixes got more avant-garde, adding more ridiculous overdubs and entirely different backing tracks, the idea got boring. But thanks to lots of reissue projects in the past decade or so, '80s remixes live on. And even if they aren't always better, they're certainly always interesting.
Take Bruce Springsteen, for instance. Born in the U.S.A., his 1984 LP, was a smash success that yielded seven hits (in an already big year for radio hits in general - Prince, Madonna, Michael, etc.). But it was also a minor change in direction for him, in that he had a bit more modernity in his sound (particularly compared to his last album, the incredibly spare Nebraska (1982)). Songs like "Dancing in the Dark" and the title track were heavy on synths and big drum sounds - the typical order of the day for '80s pop - and the first three singles from the record were commercially remixed by Arthur Baker, who was on the rise thanks to his work with Afrika Bambaaataa and Cyndi Lauper (he would produce and/or mix for Hall and Oates and Bob Dylan within the next two years).
Perhaps unsurprisingly, none of these remixes have ever been put out on CD. And to be honest, I can't imagine that the ten mixes Baker did (two of which were actually Top 20 Club hits on Billboard's chart) would ever turn up on a reissue of Born in the U.S.A. But would a digital EP or limited CD release be impossible? I think not.
Join us after the jump to speculate on how a remixes EP for Born in the U.S.A. would look.Bruce Springsteen, Born in the U.S.A.: The Remixes
- Dancing in the Dark (Blaster Mix) - 6:09
- Cover Me (Undercover Mix) - 6:09
- Born in the U.S.A. (The Freedom Mix) - 7:07
- Dancing in the Dark (Dub) - 5:30
- Cover Me (Dub 1) - 4:02
- Born in the U.S.A. (Dub) - 7:27
- Cover Me (Dub 2) - 4:15
- Dancing in the Dark (Radio Mix) - 4:50
- Cover Me (Radio Mix) - 3:46
- Born in the U.S.A. (Radio Mix) - 6:01
Tracks 1, 4 and 8 from 12" single - Columbia 44-05028, 1984
Tracks 2, 5, 7 and 9 from 12" single - 44-05087, 1984
Tracks 3, 6 and 10 from 12" single - Columbia 44-05147, 1984
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Why not include these in an expanded/remastered/deluxe edition of Born in the USA?
I would prefer it if they would remaster the entire Springsteen catalog....
I have all three of these 12" singles and actually enjoy these remixes. I know they didn't go over very well with many of Bruce's hard core fans, but I thought they were great. The remixes of "U.S.A." are especially strong. Too bad they'll probably never see light of day on CD. No Bruce pun intended there.
I agree, they need to remaster the entire Springsteen catalog, but releasing these remixes on cd would be great as well. I have never heard them, and I am especially interested in the Cover Me mixes.
Ugh... I'll be honest, I thought those remixes were dreadful. It was the style of the time, but it didn't fit Bruce. IMO. Then again, I feel like "Dancing In the Dark" stood out like a sore thumb from the rest of the Born In the USA album.
Anyhow, I feel the same goes for the Billy Joel remixes of the time (BTW, talking about 1984 and radio hits, Billy had six top 40 singles of his own from the album An Innocent Man). The remixes of "Tell Her About It" and "Keeping the Faith" were less egregious than the Bruce remixes, but they were still pointless.
Like I said in a posting last week (regading the upcoming Setlist series), I'd rather see Sony/Legacy start opening the vaults and releasing complete, historic concerts from these guys. I think the remixes have very limited appeal, especially when it's multiple versions of the same few songs.
Remixes such as those discussed above would be perfect choices to spice up a Playlist volume. (Not that I expect a Playlist for Springsteen to be coming any time soon.) I'd be among the first in line to buy! That said, I think a digital release of the Bruce/Billy/etc. remixes would be just swell, and that's coming from a physical-product guy. It would get them out in the marketplace again for those interested, and would basically be "found money" for Sony...
I recently came across a "grey area" CD of the mixes listed above. They have aged poorly. The 80'sproduced some interesting remixes, (Prince and Duran Duran's 12" singles comes to mind...DD if I remember correctly often re-recorded longer versions of songs...but I digress) unfortunately Bruce was not one of them.
If Bruce was going to go into the vaults, I much rather see the version of Cover Me with Donna Summer, or the much speculated "Darkness on the Edge of Town" re-issue than the remixes.
I always liked the "DITD" and "BITUSA" remixes ("Cover Me" not so much) but hardcore Springsteen fans have been whining about these for a quarter-century now. I know that many have been wishing for a expanded BITUSA album, as Springsteen famously left dozens of songs on the cutting room floor, but so many songs from these sessions have since been official released (as B-sides, on the "Tracks" set and the "Essential" bonus disc) that it seems unlikely that there is much left in the can that might interest collectors. Still, as the long-rumored 30th anniversary "Darkness on The Edge of Town" set is now two years behind schedule, I wouldn't expect to anything like this from the Springsteen camp until about 2019 or so.