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Nowheretohide reacted to Orko in Causing a Commotion
i actually prefer the movie house edit. Again, missing.
There is still no digital file. I'm pretty sure someone on here reconstructed it from the house mix
This is the hidden content, please Sign In or Sign Up Craigy
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Nowheretohide reacted to Aiwa08 in Causing a Commotion
The leaked instrumental remix drives me crazy, as well as the Dub version.
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Nowheretohide reacted to Adonna in Causing a Commotion
It is a great mix. I also love the dub version that was on the CD. Madonna one of the first artists to offer different versions on various formats.
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Nowheretohide reacted to Aiwa08 in Causing a Commotion
Yes, I love it. It was my last Madonna song I loved before becoming a fan.
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Nowheretohide reacted to Aiwa08 in [FANMADE] Causing a Commotion (Real Movie House Mix Edit) [Updated with a minor fix]
As many of you know, the Movie House Mix Edit is actually an edit of the Silver Screen Mix. I've decided to create a genuine edit using the Movie House Mix. I hope you enjoy the final result.
WAV, 4:21
This is the hidden content, please Sign In or Sign Up EDIT: Updated with a minor fix
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Nowheretohide reacted to DoneGone in Single Reissues Campaign - Causing a Commotion - OUT NOW
"Hollywood" and "Die Another Day". They were lifted straight from the "American Life" CD for "Celebration" but the tracking wasn't right: "Hollywood" started with the ending of "American Life" still and "Die Another Day" missed a millisecond or something at the start.
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Nowheretohide reacted to DoneGone in Single Reissues Campaign - Causing a Commotion - OUT NOW
"Celebration" was a s**tshow and the fact that we're still talking about how bad it was handled 15 years later proves it.
Plus we're still suffering the consequences from it, lately the whole "Like A Prayer" Spotify merging thing.
Yep, the artwork and some of the versions included and remasters were the only good thing to come from that project. I would add the new songs too, but some people don't even like them, "Revolver" hasn't got many fans for instance (I like it).
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Nowheretohide reacted to missberic in Single Reissues Campaign - Causing a Commotion - OUT NOW
This is just sad lol
That's why I don't know how anyone can prefer anything on this album, even the maybe 2 or 3 tracks that are "ok" are tainted by the awful conception and even worse artwork.
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Nowheretohide reacted to Orko in Single Reissues Campaign - Causing a Commotion - OUT NOW
I don't understand how they screwed up Edits. Why not just use the mixes. They are already done. I have No idea how the stuffed-up Music. It's a straight Album Track. They should have just taken of GHV2.
This Version of Music was On the Taiwanese Edition, and it sounds Fab.
This is the hidden content, please Sign In or Sign Up Cheers,
Craigy
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Nowheretohide reacted to Aiwa08 in Causing a Commotion
I usually prefer remix edits, as long as they aren't too short, over extended versions. Many times, extended versions break the flow of the song. Of course, there are exceptions where you enjoy every minute of the extended version, like "Vogue," "Ray of Light," "Where's The Party," and others.
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Nowheretohide reacted to Redha DBL in Causing a Commotion
Never been a fan of that song. There's something about her way of singing and her voice on that song that lacks character. It doesn't even sound like her. Could be because of the backing vocals.
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Nowheretohide reacted to DoneGone in Single Reissues Campaign - Causing a Commotion - OUT NOW
It’s not about having free time, it’s about paying attention or not.
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Nowheretohide got a reaction from FreshPrince in Single Reissues Campaign - Causing a Commotion - OUT NOW
https://requiem4adream.wordpress.com/2009/09/19/celebration-a-retardation/
Here is what is included on Celebration.
There are 16 previously released songs featured in their full-length, original album versions.
BURNING UP
HOLIDAY
MATERIAL GIRL
INTO THE GROOVE
LIVE TO TELL
PAPA DON’T PREACH
LA ISLA BONITA
WHO’S THAT GIRL
LIKE A PRAYER
JUSTIFY MY LOVE
TAKE A BOW
FROZEN
BEAUTIFUL STRANGER
MUSIC – MASTERING ERROR: multiple digital pops and clicks that are not part of the original recording can be heard throughout this song.
DIE ANOTHER DAY – MASTERING ERROR: Track fades up late due to the incorrectly placed track index on the American Life album. This is ridiculous. The unaffected album version appears on both the US Promo CD single and the Die Another Day film soundtrack, all Warner Bros. releases.
HOLLYWOOD – MASTERING ERROR: Track starts abruptly and end of “American Life”‘s fade out is audible.
Of these, ten were released as singles in versions that differ from these LP mixes. I would have much preferred the inclusion of the difficult to obtain single mixes, but I’m in therapy and have mostly moved on. Mostly.
Fortunately, five tracks do appear in their official single versions.
SECRET (Edit)
RAY OF LIGHT (Edit)
SORRY (Single Edit)
4 MINUTES (Edit)
MILES AWAY (Radio Edit)
…and one more is a rarity from a US promo CD:
HUNG UP ([Unblended] Album Version)
Next up, there are five remixes lifted directly from The Immaculate Collection.
BORDERLINE (1990) (Q Sound Mix)
LIKE A VIRGIN (1990) (Q Sound Mix)
CRAZY FOR YOU (1990) (Q Sound Mix)
OPEN YOUR HEART (1990) (Q Sound Mix)
VOGUE (1990) (Q Sound Mix)
And now we pause to ask ourselves why.
The remaining nine tracks are unique to the collection. The first two are new recordings.
CELEBRATION
REVOLVER
One appears to be a from-the-vault rarity, likely included by mistake.
LUCKY STAR – ALTERNATIVE Q SOUND MIX
Virtually identical to the version heard on The Immaculate Collection, though there is noticeably more reverb on the “ee-yeah“‘s at the foot of each chorus. The music leading into the first verse is different (on TIC is was edited to match the original 7” version, on here it is not.) The most obvious difference is right at the fade, instead of the chorus it edits to a set of adlibs heard on longer versions of the song, but not heard on the Q Sound version. Odd, but inoffensive as it seems to be a genuine unreleased variation.
As for the rest, quality control has reached an all time low:
EVERYBODY – FAKE EDIT
This uses the full length, original 12″ version as its starting point (as did the official 7″ single version), but is structured differently. While the overall idea for this edit wasn’t horrendous, whoever was placed in charge of actually executing the edits needs to be tortured. Slowly… painfully.
DRESS YOU UP – FUCKED UP INTRO
What the hell happened here? This isn’t a mix variation so much as a mastering error… the album version started late with severe tape pinch/phasing issues right at the top. Of the four beats on the intro, all but the fourth are missing.
EXPRESS YOURSELF – FAKE FUCKING FUCK.
The most offensive. In a failed attempt to kindofsortof recreate the video version, they have taken the complete intro straight off of the Local Mix, “zipper” included. The actual, official video version starts at the percussion and is specially mixed to have echo on the line “Do you believe in love…” which is dry on the Local Mix and therefore not present here. This new monstrosity then incorrectly cuts to the 7″ Remix/Edit version and then again where they have BUTCHERED the song right at the bridge. A bad edit jumps the track from the end of the chorus to the repeat of the bridge which kills the structure of the track. This version is unlistenable.
CHERISH – FAKE EDIT
The original album version cut to the length of the super-short Immaculate Collection version. AMATEUR doesn’t begin to describe how bad these edits have been executed. Poor edits result in creating entirely new lyrics! How about this chestnut… “Can’t get away, I won’t let to” ?! They render all prior complaints about bad edits on Madonna’s releases void. Again, unlistenable. In the cases of “Express Yourself” and “Cherish,” why not just use the fucking Q Sound remixes?! They’re the exact same length as the fake edits and it’s not like there aren’t 6 others from that release present here.
EROTICA – FAKE Radio Edit
The edit points are around the same places as the OFFICIAL radio edit, but are poorly executed. The worst is around 3:30… they cut a beat late making for one of the sloppiest moments on this royalfuckupofacompilation. I don’t understand why this needed to be recreated as the official edit appears on countless singles and 2001’s GHV2 compilation. Oh. And the “surface noise” on the end of “Erotica” overlaps the beginning of “Justify My Love”.
DON’T TELL ME – FAKE Radio Edit
The least offensive/noticeable fake edit, but incorrect nonetheless. The true radio edit was a unique mix for the very last second that does not feature the “whimsical strings” tag. For Celebration, they have chopped off the end, but the first millisecond of this tag is audible.
Regarding the mastering: It sounds as though noise reduction was used to remove “tape hiss” which is unnecessary on most recordings post 1980. This process kills part of the high end of recordings. In addition, the entire album has a smear of bass over it. I really wanted to like it, but it sounds like a cheap “bass boost” EQ effect was applied to the songs, not proper remastering.
I had accepted the slightly shoddy sequencing, several major omissions and overall lack of consistency and attention to detail with the mixes chosen for this release. I love the look of the entire project, but I cannot understand the use of newly created, butchered versions of songs.
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Nowheretohide reacted to MPowered in Single Reissues Campaign - Causing a Commotion - OUT NOW
They fixed some errors but didn’t fix everything that was wrong with Celebration. I think the only tracks that were changed were Erotica & Cherish.
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Nowheretohide got a reaction from Orko in Causing a Commotion
I've never been a fan of this song, but I think the mixes are far superior to the original version on the album, which is very weak.
Movie House Mix, definitely.
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Nowheretohide got a reaction from PhysicalAttraction in Single Reissues Campaign - Causing a Commotion - OUT NOW
https://requiem4adream.wordpress.com/2009/09/19/celebration-a-retardation/
Here is what is included on Celebration.
There are 16 previously released songs featured in their full-length, original album versions.
BURNING UP
HOLIDAY
MATERIAL GIRL
INTO THE GROOVE
LIVE TO TELL
PAPA DON’T PREACH
LA ISLA BONITA
WHO’S THAT GIRL
LIKE A PRAYER
JUSTIFY MY LOVE
TAKE A BOW
FROZEN
BEAUTIFUL STRANGER
MUSIC – MASTERING ERROR: multiple digital pops and clicks that are not part of the original recording can be heard throughout this song.
DIE ANOTHER DAY – MASTERING ERROR: Track fades up late due to the incorrectly placed track index on the American Life album. This is ridiculous. The unaffected album version appears on both the US Promo CD single and the Die Another Day film soundtrack, all Warner Bros. releases.
HOLLYWOOD – MASTERING ERROR: Track starts abruptly and end of “American Life”‘s fade out is audible.
Of these, ten were released as singles in versions that differ from these LP mixes. I would have much preferred the inclusion of the difficult to obtain single mixes, but I’m in therapy and have mostly moved on. Mostly.
Fortunately, five tracks do appear in their official single versions.
SECRET (Edit)
RAY OF LIGHT (Edit)
SORRY (Single Edit)
4 MINUTES (Edit)
MILES AWAY (Radio Edit)
…and one more is a rarity from a US promo CD:
HUNG UP ([Unblended] Album Version)
Next up, there are five remixes lifted directly from The Immaculate Collection.
BORDERLINE (1990) (Q Sound Mix)
LIKE A VIRGIN (1990) (Q Sound Mix)
CRAZY FOR YOU (1990) (Q Sound Mix)
OPEN YOUR HEART (1990) (Q Sound Mix)
VOGUE (1990) (Q Sound Mix)
And now we pause to ask ourselves why.
The remaining nine tracks are unique to the collection. The first two are new recordings.
CELEBRATION
REVOLVER
One appears to be a from-the-vault rarity, likely included by mistake.
LUCKY STAR – ALTERNATIVE Q SOUND MIX
Virtually identical to the version heard on The Immaculate Collection, though there is noticeably more reverb on the “ee-yeah“‘s at the foot of each chorus. The music leading into the first verse is different (on TIC is was edited to match the original 7” version, on here it is not.) The most obvious difference is right at the fade, instead of the chorus it edits to a set of adlibs heard on longer versions of the song, but not heard on the Q Sound version. Odd, but inoffensive as it seems to be a genuine unreleased variation.
As for the rest, quality control has reached an all time low:
EVERYBODY – FAKE EDIT
This uses the full length, original 12″ version as its starting point (as did the official 7″ single version), but is structured differently. While the overall idea for this edit wasn’t horrendous, whoever was placed in charge of actually executing the edits needs to be tortured. Slowly… painfully.
DRESS YOU UP – FUCKED UP INTRO
What the hell happened here? This isn’t a mix variation so much as a mastering error… the album version started late with severe tape pinch/phasing issues right at the top. Of the four beats on the intro, all but the fourth are missing.
EXPRESS YOURSELF – FAKE FUCKING FUCK.
The most offensive. In a failed attempt to kindofsortof recreate the video version, they have taken the complete intro straight off of the Local Mix, “zipper” included. The actual, official video version starts at the percussion and is specially mixed to have echo on the line “Do you believe in love…” which is dry on the Local Mix and therefore not present here. This new monstrosity then incorrectly cuts to the 7″ Remix/Edit version and then again where they have BUTCHERED the song right at the bridge. A bad edit jumps the track from the end of the chorus to the repeat of the bridge which kills the structure of the track. This version is unlistenable.
CHERISH – FAKE EDIT
The original album version cut to the length of the super-short Immaculate Collection version. AMATEUR doesn’t begin to describe how bad these edits have been executed. Poor edits result in creating entirely new lyrics! How about this chestnut… “Can’t get away, I won’t let to” ?! They render all prior complaints about bad edits on Madonna’s releases void. Again, unlistenable. In the cases of “Express Yourself” and “Cherish,” why not just use the fucking Q Sound remixes?! They’re the exact same length as the fake edits and it’s not like there aren’t 6 others from that release present here.
EROTICA – FAKE Radio Edit
The edit points are around the same places as the OFFICIAL radio edit, but are poorly executed. The worst is around 3:30… they cut a beat late making for one of the sloppiest moments on this royalfuckupofacompilation. I don’t understand why this needed to be recreated as the official edit appears on countless singles and 2001’s GHV2 compilation. Oh. And the “surface noise” on the end of “Erotica” overlaps the beginning of “Justify My Love”.
DON’T TELL ME – FAKE Radio Edit
The least offensive/noticeable fake edit, but incorrect nonetheless. The true radio edit was a unique mix for the very last second that does not feature the “whimsical strings” tag. For Celebration, they have chopped off the end, but the first millisecond of this tag is audible.
Regarding the mastering: It sounds as though noise reduction was used to remove “tape hiss” which is unnecessary on most recordings post 1980. This process kills part of the high end of recordings. In addition, the entire album has a smear of bass over it. I really wanted to like it, but it sounds like a cheap “bass boost” EQ effect was applied to the songs, not proper remastering.
I had accepted the slightly shoddy sequencing, several major omissions and overall lack of consistency and attention to detail with the mixes chosen for this release. I love the look of the entire project, but I cannot understand the use of newly created, butchered versions of songs.
-
Nowheretohide got a reaction from zephyr in the sky at night in Single Reissues Campaign - Causing a Commotion - OUT NOW
https://requiem4adream.wordpress.com/2009/09/19/celebration-a-retardation/
Here is what is included on Celebration.
There are 16 previously released songs featured in their full-length, original album versions.
BURNING UP
HOLIDAY
MATERIAL GIRL
INTO THE GROOVE
LIVE TO TELL
PAPA DON’T PREACH
LA ISLA BONITA
WHO’S THAT GIRL
LIKE A PRAYER
JUSTIFY MY LOVE
TAKE A BOW
FROZEN
BEAUTIFUL STRANGER
MUSIC – MASTERING ERROR: multiple digital pops and clicks that are not part of the original recording can be heard throughout this song.
DIE ANOTHER DAY – MASTERING ERROR: Track fades up late due to the incorrectly placed track index on the American Life album. This is ridiculous. The unaffected album version appears on both the US Promo CD single and the Die Another Day film soundtrack, all Warner Bros. releases.
HOLLYWOOD – MASTERING ERROR: Track starts abruptly and end of “American Life”‘s fade out is audible.
Of these, ten were released as singles in versions that differ from these LP mixes. I would have much preferred the inclusion of the difficult to obtain single mixes, but I’m in therapy and have mostly moved on. Mostly.
Fortunately, five tracks do appear in their official single versions.
SECRET (Edit)
RAY OF LIGHT (Edit)
SORRY (Single Edit)
4 MINUTES (Edit)
MILES AWAY (Radio Edit)
…and one more is a rarity from a US promo CD:
HUNG UP ([Unblended] Album Version)
Next up, there are five remixes lifted directly from The Immaculate Collection.
BORDERLINE (1990) (Q Sound Mix)
LIKE A VIRGIN (1990) (Q Sound Mix)
CRAZY FOR YOU (1990) (Q Sound Mix)
OPEN YOUR HEART (1990) (Q Sound Mix)
VOGUE (1990) (Q Sound Mix)
And now we pause to ask ourselves why.
The remaining nine tracks are unique to the collection. The first two are new recordings.
CELEBRATION
REVOLVER
One appears to be a from-the-vault rarity, likely included by mistake.
LUCKY STAR – ALTERNATIVE Q SOUND MIX
Virtually identical to the version heard on The Immaculate Collection, though there is noticeably more reverb on the “ee-yeah“‘s at the foot of each chorus. The music leading into the first verse is different (on TIC is was edited to match the original 7” version, on here it is not.) The most obvious difference is right at the fade, instead of the chorus it edits to a set of adlibs heard on longer versions of the song, but not heard on the Q Sound version. Odd, but inoffensive as it seems to be a genuine unreleased variation.
As for the rest, quality control has reached an all time low:
EVERYBODY – FAKE EDIT
This uses the full length, original 12″ version as its starting point (as did the official 7″ single version), but is structured differently. While the overall idea for this edit wasn’t horrendous, whoever was placed in charge of actually executing the edits needs to be tortured. Slowly… painfully.
DRESS YOU UP – FUCKED UP INTRO
What the hell happened here? This isn’t a mix variation so much as a mastering error… the album version started late with severe tape pinch/phasing issues right at the top. Of the four beats on the intro, all but the fourth are missing.
EXPRESS YOURSELF – FAKE FUCKING FUCK.
The most offensive. In a failed attempt to kindofsortof recreate the video version, they have taken the complete intro straight off of the Local Mix, “zipper” included. The actual, official video version starts at the percussion and is specially mixed to have echo on the line “Do you believe in love…” which is dry on the Local Mix and therefore not present here. This new monstrosity then incorrectly cuts to the 7″ Remix/Edit version and then again where they have BUTCHERED the song right at the bridge. A bad edit jumps the track from the end of the chorus to the repeat of the bridge which kills the structure of the track. This version is unlistenable.
CHERISH – FAKE EDIT
The original album version cut to the length of the super-short Immaculate Collection version. AMATEUR doesn’t begin to describe how bad these edits have been executed. Poor edits result in creating entirely new lyrics! How about this chestnut… “Can’t get away, I won’t let to” ?! They render all prior complaints about bad edits on Madonna’s releases void. Again, unlistenable. In the cases of “Express Yourself” and “Cherish,” why not just use the fucking Q Sound remixes?! They’re the exact same length as the fake edits and it’s not like there aren’t 6 others from that release present here.
EROTICA – FAKE Radio Edit
The edit points are around the same places as the OFFICIAL radio edit, but are poorly executed. The worst is around 3:30… they cut a beat late making for one of the sloppiest moments on this royalfuckupofacompilation. I don’t understand why this needed to be recreated as the official edit appears on countless singles and 2001’s GHV2 compilation. Oh. And the “surface noise” on the end of “Erotica” overlaps the beginning of “Justify My Love”.
DON’T TELL ME – FAKE Radio Edit
The least offensive/noticeable fake edit, but incorrect nonetheless. The true radio edit was a unique mix for the very last second that does not feature the “whimsical strings” tag. For Celebration, they have chopped off the end, but the first millisecond of this tag is audible.
Regarding the mastering: It sounds as though noise reduction was used to remove “tape hiss” which is unnecessary on most recordings post 1980. This process kills part of the high end of recordings. In addition, the entire album has a smear of bass over it. I really wanted to like it, but it sounds like a cheap “bass boost” EQ effect was applied to the songs, not proper remastering.
I had accepted the slightly shoddy sequencing, several major omissions and overall lack of consistency and attention to detail with the mixes chosen for this release. I love the look of the entire project, but I cannot understand the use of newly created, butchered versions of songs.
-
Nowheretohide got a reaction from Orko in Single Reissues Campaign - Causing a Commotion - OUT NOW
https://requiem4adream.wordpress.com/2009/09/19/celebration-a-retardation/
Here is what is included on Celebration.
There are 16 previously released songs featured in their full-length, original album versions.
BURNING UP
HOLIDAY
MATERIAL GIRL
INTO THE GROOVE
LIVE TO TELL
PAPA DON’T PREACH
LA ISLA BONITA
WHO’S THAT GIRL
LIKE A PRAYER
JUSTIFY MY LOVE
TAKE A BOW
FROZEN
BEAUTIFUL STRANGER
MUSIC – MASTERING ERROR: multiple digital pops and clicks that are not part of the original recording can be heard throughout this song.
DIE ANOTHER DAY – MASTERING ERROR: Track fades up late due to the incorrectly placed track index on the American Life album. This is ridiculous. The unaffected album version appears on both the US Promo CD single and the Die Another Day film soundtrack, all Warner Bros. releases.
HOLLYWOOD – MASTERING ERROR: Track starts abruptly and end of “American Life”‘s fade out is audible.
Of these, ten were released as singles in versions that differ from these LP mixes. I would have much preferred the inclusion of the difficult to obtain single mixes, but I’m in therapy and have mostly moved on. Mostly.
Fortunately, five tracks do appear in their official single versions.
SECRET (Edit)
RAY OF LIGHT (Edit)
SORRY (Single Edit)
4 MINUTES (Edit)
MILES AWAY (Radio Edit)
…and one more is a rarity from a US promo CD:
HUNG UP ([Unblended] Album Version)
Next up, there are five remixes lifted directly from The Immaculate Collection.
BORDERLINE (1990) (Q Sound Mix)
LIKE A VIRGIN (1990) (Q Sound Mix)
CRAZY FOR YOU (1990) (Q Sound Mix)
OPEN YOUR HEART (1990) (Q Sound Mix)
VOGUE (1990) (Q Sound Mix)
And now we pause to ask ourselves why.
The remaining nine tracks are unique to the collection. The first two are new recordings.
CELEBRATION
REVOLVER
One appears to be a from-the-vault rarity, likely included by mistake.
LUCKY STAR – ALTERNATIVE Q SOUND MIX
Virtually identical to the version heard on The Immaculate Collection, though there is noticeably more reverb on the “ee-yeah“‘s at the foot of each chorus. The music leading into the first verse is different (on TIC is was edited to match the original 7” version, on here it is not.) The most obvious difference is right at the fade, instead of the chorus it edits to a set of adlibs heard on longer versions of the song, but not heard on the Q Sound version. Odd, but inoffensive as it seems to be a genuine unreleased variation.
As for the rest, quality control has reached an all time low:
EVERYBODY – FAKE EDIT
This uses the full length, original 12″ version as its starting point (as did the official 7″ single version), but is structured differently. While the overall idea for this edit wasn’t horrendous, whoever was placed in charge of actually executing the edits needs to be tortured. Slowly… painfully.
DRESS YOU UP – FUCKED UP INTRO
What the hell happened here? This isn’t a mix variation so much as a mastering error… the album version started late with severe tape pinch/phasing issues right at the top. Of the four beats on the intro, all but the fourth are missing.
EXPRESS YOURSELF – FAKE FUCKING FUCK.
The most offensive. In a failed attempt to kindofsortof recreate the video version, they have taken the complete intro straight off of the Local Mix, “zipper” included. The actual, official video version starts at the percussion and is specially mixed to have echo on the line “Do you believe in love…” which is dry on the Local Mix and therefore not present here. This new monstrosity then incorrectly cuts to the 7″ Remix/Edit version and then again where they have BUTCHERED the song right at the bridge. A bad edit jumps the track from the end of the chorus to the repeat of the bridge which kills the structure of the track. This version is unlistenable.
CHERISH – FAKE EDIT
The original album version cut to the length of the super-short Immaculate Collection version. AMATEUR doesn’t begin to describe how bad these edits have been executed. Poor edits result in creating entirely new lyrics! How about this chestnut… “Can’t get away, I won’t let to” ?! They render all prior complaints about bad edits on Madonna’s releases void. Again, unlistenable. In the cases of “Express Yourself” and “Cherish,” why not just use the fucking Q Sound remixes?! They’re the exact same length as the fake edits and it’s not like there aren’t 6 others from that release present here.
EROTICA – FAKE Radio Edit
The edit points are around the same places as the OFFICIAL radio edit, but are poorly executed. The worst is around 3:30… they cut a beat late making for one of the sloppiest moments on this royalfuckupofacompilation. I don’t understand why this needed to be recreated as the official edit appears on countless singles and 2001’s GHV2 compilation. Oh. And the “surface noise” on the end of “Erotica” overlaps the beginning of “Justify My Love”.
DON’T TELL ME – FAKE Radio Edit
The least offensive/noticeable fake edit, but incorrect nonetheless. The true radio edit was a unique mix for the very last second that does not feature the “whimsical strings” tag. For Celebration, they have chopped off the end, but the first millisecond of this tag is audible.
Regarding the mastering: It sounds as though noise reduction was used to remove “tape hiss” which is unnecessary on most recordings post 1980. This process kills part of the high end of recordings. In addition, the entire album has a smear of bass over it. I really wanted to like it, but it sounds like a cheap “bass boost” EQ effect was applied to the songs, not proper remastering.
I had accepted the slightly shoddy sequencing, several major omissions and overall lack of consistency and attention to detail with the mixes chosen for this release. I love the look of the entire project, but I cannot understand the use of newly created, butchered versions of songs.
-
Nowheretohide got a reaction from Veronica-Electronica in Which 10 Madonna Videos Would You Choose For A Weekend Rotating Playlist Right Now?
Burning up
Open your heart
Oh Father
Vogue
Bad girl
Bedtime story
Frozen
Don't tell me
Hung up
Girl gone wild
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Nowheretohide got a reaction from anjoel in Single Reissues Campaign - Causing a Commotion - OUT NOW
https://requiem4adream.wordpress.com/2009/09/19/celebration-a-retardation/
Here is what is included on Celebration.
There are 16 previously released songs featured in their full-length, original album versions.
BURNING UP
HOLIDAY
MATERIAL GIRL
INTO THE GROOVE
LIVE TO TELL
PAPA DON’T PREACH
LA ISLA BONITA
WHO’S THAT GIRL
LIKE A PRAYER
JUSTIFY MY LOVE
TAKE A BOW
FROZEN
BEAUTIFUL STRANGER
MUSIC – MASTERING ERROR: multiple digital pops and clicks that are not part of the original recording can be heard throughout this song.
DIE ANOTHER DAY – MASTERING ERROR: Track fades up late due to the incorrectly placed track index on the American Life album. This is ridiculous. The unaffected album version appears on both the US Promo CD single and the Die Another Day film soundtrack, all Warner Bros. releases.
HOLLYWOOD – MASTERING ERROR: Track starts abruptly and end of “American Life”‘s fade out is audible.
Of these, ten were released as singles in versions that differ from these LP mixes. I would have much preferred the inclusion of the difficult to obtain single mixes, but I’m in therapy and have mostly moved on. Mostly.
Fortunately, five tracks do appear in their official single versions.
SECRET (Edit)
RAY OF LIGHT (Edit)
SORRY (Single Edit)
4 MINUTES (Edit)
MILES AWAY (Radio Edit)
…and one more is a rarity from a US promo CD:
HUNG UP ([Unblended] Album Version)
Next up, there are five remixes lifted directly from The Immaculate Collection.
BORDERLINE (1990) (Q Sound Mix)
LIKE A VIRGIN (1990) (Q Sound Mix)
CRAZY FOR YOU (1990) (Q Sound Mix)
OPEN YOUR HEART (1990) (Q Sound Mix)
VOGUE (1990) (Q Sound Mix)
And now we pause to ask ourselves why.
The remaining nine tracks are unique to the collection. The first two are new recordings.
CELEBRATION
REVOLVER
One appears to be a from-the-vault rarity, likely included by mistake.
LUCKY STAR – ALTERNATIVE Q SOUND MIX
Virtually identical to the version heard on The Immaculate Collection, though there is noticeably more reverb on the “ee-yeah“‘s at the foot of each chorus. The music leading into the first verse is different (on TIC is was edited to match the original 7” version, on here it is not.) The most obvious difference is right at the fade, instead of the chorus it edits to a set of adlibs heard on longer versions of the song, but not heard on the Q Sound version. Odd, but inoffensive as it seems to be a genuine unreleased variation.
As for the rest, quality control has reached an all time low:
EVERYBODY – FAKE EDIT
This uses the full length, original 12″ version as its starting point (as did the official 7″ single version), but is structured differently. While the overall idea for this edit wasn’t horrendous, whoever was placed in charge of actually executing the edits needs to be tortured. Slowly… painfully.
DRESS YOU UP – FUCKED UP INTRO
What the hell happened here? This isn’t a mix variation so much as a mastering error… the album version started late with severe tape pinch/phasing issues right at the top. Of the four beats on the intro, all but the fourth are missing.
EXPRESS YOURSELF – FAKE FUCKING FUCK.
The most offensive. In a failed attempt to kindofsortof recreate the video version, they have taken the complete intro straight off of the Local Mix, “zipper” included. The actual, official video version starts at the percussion and is specially mixed to have echo on the line “Do you believe in love…” which is dry on the Local Mix and therefore not present here. This new monstrosity then incorrectly cuts to the 7″ Remix/Edit version and then again where they have BUTCHERED the song right at the bridge. A bad edit jumps the track from the end of the chorus to the repeat of the bridge which kills the structure of the track. This version is unlistenable.
CHERISH – FAKE EDIT
The original album version cut to the length of the super-short Immaculate Collection version. AMATEUR doesn’t begin to describe how bad these edits have been executed. Poor edits result in creating entirely new lyrics! How about this chestnut… “Can’t get away, I won’t let to” ?! They render all prior complaints about bad edits on Madonna’s releases void. Again, unlistenable. In the cases of “Express Yourself” and “Cherish,” why not just use the fucking Q Sound remixes?! They’re the exact same length as the fake edits and it’s not like there aren’t 6 others from that release present here.
EROTICA – FAKE Radio Edit
The edit points are around the same places as the OFFICIAL radio edit, but are poorly executed. The worst is around 3:30… they cut a beat late making for one of the sloppiest moments on this royalfuckupofacompilation. I don’t understand why this needed to be recreated as the official edit appears on countless singles and 2001’s GHV2 compilation. Oh. And the “surface noise” on the end of “Erotica” overlaps the beginning of “Justify My Love”.
DON’T TELL ME – FAKE Radio Edit
The least offensive/noticeable fake edit, but incorrect nonetheless. The true radio edit was a unique mix for the very last second that does not feature the “whimsical strings” tag. For Celebration, they have chopped off the end, but the first millisecond of this tag is audible.
Regarding the mastering: It sounds as though noise reduction was used to remove “tape hiss” which is unnecessary on most recordings post 1980. This process kills part of the high end of recordings. In addition, the entire album has a smear of bass over it. I really wanted to like it, but it sounds like a cheap “bass boost” EQ effect was applied to the songs, not proper remastering.
I had accepted the slightly shoddy sequencing, several major omissions and overall lack of consistency and attention to detail with the mixes chosen for this release. I love the look of the entire project, but I cannot understand the use of newly created, butchered versions of songs.
-
Nowheretohide got a reaction from BuschieFandango in Single Reissues Campaign - Causing a Commotion - OUT NOW
https://requiem4adream.wordpress.com/2009/09/19/celebration-a-retardation/
Here is what is included on Celebration.
There are 16 previously released songs featured in their full-length, original album versions.
BURNING UP
HOLIDAY
MATERIAL GIRL
INTO THE GROOVE
LIVE TO TELL
PAPA DON’T PREACH
LA ISLA BONITA
WHO’S THAT GIRL
LIKE A PRAYER
JUSTIFY MY LOVE
TAKE A BOW
FROZEN
BEAUTIFUL STRANGER
MUSIC – MASTERING ERROR: multiple digital pops and clicks that are not part of the original recording can be heard throughout this song.
DIE ANOTHER DAY – MASTERING ERROR: Track fades up late due to the incorrectly placed track index on the American Life album. This is ridiculous. The unaffected album version appears on both the US Promo CD single and the Die Another Day film soundtrack, all Warner Bros. releases.
HOLLYWOOD – MASTERING ERROR: Track starts abruptly and end of “American Life”‘s fade out is audible.
Of these, ten were released as singles in versions that differ from these LP mixes. I would have much preferred the inclusion of the difficult to obtain single mixes, but I’m in therapy and have mostly moved on. Mostly.
Fortunately, five tracks do appear in their official single versions.
SECRET (Edit)
RAY OF LIGHT (Edit)
SORRY (Single Edit)
4 MINUTES (Edit)
MILES AWAY (Radio Edit)
…and one more is a rarity from a US promo CD:
HUNG UP ([Unblended] Album Version)
Next up, there are five remixes lifted directly from The Immaculate Collection.
BORDERLINE (1990) (Q Sound Mix)
LIKE A VIRGIN (1990) (Q Sound Mix)
CRAZY FOR YOU (1990) (Q Sound Mix)
OPEN YOUR HEART (1990) (Q Sound Mix)
VOGUE (1990) (Q Sound Mix)
And now we pause to ask ourselves why.
The remaining nine tracks are unique to the collection. The first two are new recordings.
CELEBRATION
REVOLVER
One appears to be a from-the-vault rarity, likely included by mistake.
LUCKY STAR – ALTERNATIVE Q SOUND MIX
Virtually identical to the version heard on The Immaculate Collection, though there is noticeably more reverb on the “ee-yeah“‘s at the foot of each chorus. The music leading into the first verse is different (on TIC is was edited to match the original 7” version, on here it is not.) The most obvious difference is right at the fade, instead of the chorus it edits to a set of adlibs heard on longer versions of the song, but not heard on the Q Sound version. Odd, but inoffensive as it seems to be a genuine unreleased variation.
As for the rest, quality control has reached an all time low:
EVERYBODY – FAKE EDIT
This uses the full length, original 12″ version as its starting point (as did the official 7″ single version), but is structured differently. While the overall idea for this edit wasn’t horrendous, whoever was placed in charge of actually executing the edits needs to be tortured. Slowly… painfully.
DRESS YOU UP – FUCKED UP INTRO
What the hell happened here? This isn’t a mix variation so much as a mastering error… the album version started late with severe tape pinch/phasing issues right at the top. Of the four beats on the intro, all but the fourth are missing.
EXPRESS YOURSELF – FAKE FUCKING FUCK.
The most offensive. In a failed attempt to kindofsortof recreate the video version, they have taken the complete intro straight off of the Local Mix, “zipper” included. The actual, official video version starts at the percussion and is specially mixed to have echo on the line “Do you believe in love…” which is dry on the Local Mix and therefore not present here. This new monstrosity then incorrectly cuts to the 7″ Remix/Edit version and then again where they have BUTCHERED the song right at the bridge. A bad edit jumps the track from the end of the chorus to the repeat of the bridge which kills the structure of the track. This version is unlistenable.
CHERISH – FAKE EDIT
The original album version cut to the length of the super-short Immaculate Collection version. AMATEUR doesn’t begin to describe how bad these edits have been executed. Poor edits result in creating entirely new lyrics! How about this chestnut… “Can’t get away, I won’t let to” ?! They render all prior complaints about bad edits on Madonna’s releases void. Again, unlistenable. In the cases of “Express Yourself” and “Cherish,” why not just use the fucking Q Sound remixes?! They’re the exact same length as the fake edits and it’s not like there aren’t 6 others from that release present here.
EROTICA – FAKE Radio Edit
The edit points are around the same places as the OFFICIAL radio edit, but are poorly executed. The worst is around 3:30… they cut a beat late making for one of the sloppiest moments on this royalfuckupofacompilation. I don’t understand why this needed to be recreated as the official edit appears on countless singles and 2001’s GHV2 compilation. Oh. And the “surface noise” on the end of “Erotica” overlaps the beginning of “Justify My Love”.
DON’T TELL ME – FAKE Radio Edit
The least offensive/noticeable fake edit, but incorrect nonetheless. The true radio edit was a unique mix for the very last second that does not feature the “whimsical strings” tag. For Celebration, they have chopped off the end, but the first millisecond of this tag is audible.
Regarding the mastering: It sounds as though noise reduction was used to remove “tape hiss” which is unnecessary on most recordings post 1980. This process kills part of the high end of recordings. In addition, the entire album has a smear of bass over it. I really wanted to like it, but it sounds like a cheap “bass boost” EQ effect was applied to the songs, not proper remastering.
I had accepted the slightly shoddy sequencing, several major omissions and overall lack of consistency and attention to detail with the mixes chosen for this release. I love the look of the entire project, but I cannot understand the use of newly created, butchered versions of songs.
-
Nowheretohide got a reaction from madgefan in Single Reissues Campaign - Causing a Commotion - OUT NOW
In this interview published by Madonnatribe, SB speaks also about the Madonna songs and their remixes (second part... the first part concerns the Breakfast Club)
https://www.madonnatribe.com/interviews/madonnatribe-meets-stephen-bray-breakfast-club/
-
Nowheretohide got a reaction from TEO in Single Reissues Campaign - Causing a Commotion - OUT NOW
https://requiem4adream.wordpress.com/2009/09/19/celebration-a-retardation/
Here is what is included on Celebration.
There are 16 previously released songs featured in their full-length, original album versions.
BURNING UP
HOLIDAY
MATERIAL GIRL
INTO THE GROOVE
LIVE TO TELL
PAPA DON’T PREACH
LA ISLA BONITA
WHO’S THAT GIRL
LIKE A PRAYER
JUSTIFY MY LOVE
TAKE A BOW
FROZEN
BEAUTIFUL STRANGER
MUSIC – MASTERING ERROR: multiple digital pops and clicks that are not part of the original recording can be heard throughout this song.
DIE ANOTHER DAY – MASTERING ERROR: Track fades up late due to the incorrectly placed track index on the American Life album. This is ridiculous. The unaffected album version appears on both the US Promo CD single and the Die Another Day film soundtrack, all Warner Bros. releases.
HOLLYWOOD – MASTERING ERROR: Track starts abruptly and end of “American Life”‘s fade out is audible.
Of these, ten were released as singles in versions that differ from these LP mixes. I would have much preferred the inclusion of the difficult to obtain single mixes, but I’m in therapy and have mostly moved on. Mostly.
Fortunately, five tracks do appear in their official single versions.
SECRET (Edit)
RAY OF LIGHT (Edit)
SORRY (Single Edit)
4 MINUTES (Edit)
MILES AWAY (Radio Edit)
…and one more is a rarity from a US promo CD:
HUNG UP ([Unblended] Album Version)
Next up, there are five remixes lifted directly from The Immaculate Collection.
BORDERLINE (1990) (Q Sound Mix)
LIKE A VIRGIN (1990) (Q Sound Mix)
CRAZY FOR YOU (1990) (Q Sound Mix)
OPEN YOUR HEART (1990) (Q Sound Mix)
VOGUE (1990) (Q Sound Mix)
And now we pause to ask ourselves why.
The remaining nine tracks are unique to the collection. The first two are new recordings.
CELEBRATION
REVOLVER
One appears to be a from-the-vault rarity, likely included by mistake.
LUCKY STAR – ALTERNATIVE Q SOUND MIX
Virtually identical to the version heard on The Immaculate Collection, though there is noticeably more reverb on the “ee-yeah“‘s at the foot of each chorus. The music leading into the first verse is different (on TIC is was edited to match the original 7” version, on here it is not.) The most obvious difference is right at the fade, instead of the chorus it edits to a set of adlibs heard on longer versions of the song, but not heard on the Q Sound version. Odd, but inoffensive as it seems to be a genuine unreleased variation.
As for the rest, quality control has reached an all time low:
EVERYBODY – FAKE EDIT
This uses the full length, original 12″ version as its starting point (as did the official 7″ single version), but is structured differently. While the overall idea for this edit wasn’t horrendous, whoever was placed in charge of actually executing the edits needs to be tortured. Slowly… painfully.
DRESS YOU UP – FUCKED UP INTRO
What the hell happened here? This isn’t a mix variation so much as a mastering error… the album version started late with severe tape pinch/phasing issues right at the top. Of the four beats on the intro, all but the fourth are missing.
EXPRESS YOURSELF – FAKE FUCKING FUCK.
The most offensive. In a failed attempt to kindofsortof recreate the video version, they have taken the complete intro straight off of the Local Mix, “zipper” included. The actual, official video version starts at the percussion and is specially mixed to have echo on the line “Do you believe in love…” which is dry on the Local Mix and therefore not present here. This new monstrosity then incorrectly cuts to the 7″ Remix/Edit version and then again where they have BUTCHERED the song right at the bridge. A bad edit jumps the track from the end of the chorus to the repeat of the bridge which kills the structure of the track. This version is unlistenable.
CHERISH – FAKE EDIT
The original album version cut to the length of the super-short Immaculate Collection version. AMATEUR doesn’t begin to describe how bad these edits have been executed. Poor edits result in creating entirely new lyrics! How about this chestnut… “Can’t get away, I won’t let to” ?! They render all prior complaints about bad edits on Madonna’s releases void. Again, unlistenable. In the cases of “Express Yourself” and “Cherish,” why not just use the fucking Q Sound remixes?! They’re the exact same length as the fake edits and it’s not like there aren’t 6 others from that release present here.
EROTICA – FAKE Radio Edit
The edit points are around the same places as the OFFICIAL radio edit, but are poorly executed. The worst is around 3:30… they cut a beat late making for one of the sloppiest moments on this royalfuckupofacompilation. I don’t understand why this needed to be recreated as the official edit appears on countless singles and 2001’s GHV2 compilation. Oh. And the “surface noise” on the end of “Erotica” overlaps the beginning of “Justify My Love”.
DON’T TELL ME – FAKE Radio Edit
The least offensive/noticeable fake edit, but incorrect nonetheless. The true radio edit was a unique mix for the very last second that does not feature the “whimsical strings” tag. For Celebration, they have chopped off the end, but the first millisecond of this tag is audible.
Regarding the mastering: It sounds as though noise reduction was used to remove “tape hiss” which is unnecessary on most recordings post 1980. This process kills part of the high end of recordings. In addition, the entire album has a smear of bass over it. I really wanted to like it, but it sounds like a cheap “bass boost” EQ effect was applied to the songs, not proper remastering.
I had accepted the slightly shoddy sequencing, several major omissions and overall lack of consistency and attention to detail with the mixes chosen for this release. I love the look of the entire project, but I cannot understand the use of newly created, butchered versions of songs.
-
Nowheretohide got a reaction from Bjonkers in Single Reissues Campaign - Causing a Commotion - OUT NOW
https://requiem4adream.wordpress.com/2009/09/19/celebration-a-retardation/
Here is what is included on Celebration.
There are 16 previously released songs featured in their full-length, original album versions.
BURNING UP
HOLIDAY
MATERIAL GIRL
INTO THE GROOVE
LIVE TO TELL
PAPA DON’T PREACH
LA ISLA BONITA
WHO’S THAT GIRL
LIKE A PRAYER
JUSTIFY MY LOVE
TAKE A BOW
FROZEN
BEAUTIFUL STRANGER
MUSIC – MASTERING ERROR: multiple digital pops and clicks that are not part of the original recording can be heard throughout this song.
DIE ANOTHER DAY – MASTERING ERROR: Track fades up late due to the incorrectly placed track index on the American Life album. This is ridiculous. The unaffected album version appears on both the US Promo CD single and the Die Another Day film soundtrack, all Warner Bros. releases.
HOLLYWOOD – MASTERING ERROR: Track starts abruptly and end of “American Life”‘s fade out is audible.
Of these, ten were released as singles in versions that differ from these LP mixes. I would have much preferred the inclusion of the difficult to obtain single mixes, but I’m in therapy and have mostly moved on. Mostly.
Fortunately, five tracks do appear in their official single versions.
SECRET (Edit)
RAY OF LIGHT (Edit)
SORRY (Single Edit)
4 MINUTES (Edit)
MILES AWAY (Radio Edit)
…and one more is a rarity from a US promo CD:
HUNG UP ([Unblended] Album Version)
Next up, there are five remixes lifted directly from The Immaculate Collection.
BORDERLINE (1990) (Q Sound Mix)
LIKE A VIRGIN (1990) (Q Sound Mix)
CRAZY FOR YOU (1990) (Q Sound Mix)
OPEN YOUR HEART (1990) (Q Sound Mix)
VOGUE (1990) (Q Sound Mix)
And now we pause to ask ourselves why.
The remaining nine tracks are unique to the collection. The first two are new recordings.
CELEBRATION
REVOLVER
One appears to be a from-the-vault rarity, likely included by mistake.
LUCKY STAR – ALTERNATIVE Q SOUND MIX
Virtually identical to the version heard on The Immaculate Collection, though there is noticeably more reverb on the “ee-yeah“‘s at the foot of each chorus. The music leading into the first verse is different (on TIC is was edited to match the original 7” version, on here it is not.) The most obvious difference is right at the fade, instead of the chorus it edits to a set of adlibs heard on longer versions of the song, but not heard on the Q Sound version. Odd, but inoffensive as it seems to be a genuine unreleased variation.
As for the rest, quality control has reached an all time low:
EVERYBODY – FAKE EDIT
This uses the full length, original 12″ version as its starting point (as did the official 7″ single version), but is structured differently. While the overall idea for this edit wasn’t horrendous, whoever was placed in charge of actually executing the edits needs to be tortured. Slowly… painfully.
DRESS YOU UP – FUCKED UP INTRO
What the hell happened here? This isn’t a mix variation so much as a mastering error… the album version started late with severe tape pinch/phasing issues right at the top. Of the four beats on the intro, all but the fourth are missing.
EXPRESS YOURSELF – FAKE FUCKING FUCK.
The most offensive. In a failed attempt to kindofsortof recreate the video version, they have taken the complete intro straight off of the Local Mix, “zipper” included. The actual, official video version starts at the percussion and is specially mixed to have echo on the line “Do you believe in love…” which is dry on the Local Mix and therefore not present here. This new monstrosity then incorrectly cuts to the 7″ Remix/Edit version and then again where they have BUTCHERED the song right at the bridge. A bad edit jumps the track from the end of the chorus to the repeat of the bridge which kills the structure of the track. This version is unlistenable.
CHERISH – FAKE EDIT
The original album version cut to the length of the super-short Immaculate Collection version. AMATEUR doesn’t begin to describe how bad these edits have been executed. Poor edits result in creating entirely new lyrics! How about this chestnut… “Can’t get away, I won’t let to” ?! They render all prior complaints about bad edits on Madonna’s releases void. Again, unlistenable. In the cases of “Express Yourself” and “Cherish,” why not just use the fucking Q Sound remixes?! They’re the exact same length as the fake edits and it’s not like there aren’t 6 others from that release present here.
EROTICA – FAKE Radio Edit
The edit points are around the same places as the OFFICIAL radio edit, but are poorly executed. The worst is around 3:30… they cut a beat late making for one of the sloppiest moments on this royalfuckupofacompilation. I don’t understand why this needed to be recreated as the official edit appears on countless singles and 2001’s GHV2 compilation. Oh. And the “surface noise” on the end of “Erotica” overlaps the beginning of “Justify My Love”.
DON’T TELL ME – FAKE Radio Edit
The least offensive/noticeable fake edit, but incorrect nonetheless. The true radio edit was a unique mix for the very last second that does not feature the “whimsical strings” tag. For Celebration, they have chopped off the end, but the first millisecond of this tag is audible.
Regarding the mastering: It sounds as though noise reduction was used to remove “tape hiss” which is unnecessary on most recordings post 1980. This process kills part of the high end of recordings. In addition, the entire album has a smear of bass over it. I really wanted to like it, but it sounds like a cheap “bass boost” EQ effect was applied to the songs, not proper remastering.
I had accepted the slightly shoddy sequencing, several major omissions and overall lack of consistency and attention to detail with the mixes chosen for this release. I love the look of the entire project, but I cannot understand the use of newly created, butchered versions of songs.
-
Nowheretohide got a reaction from MPowered in Single Reissues Campaign - Causing a Commotion - OUT NOW
https://requiem4adream.wordpress.com/2009/09/19/celebration-a-retardation/
Here is what is included on Celebration.
There are 16 previously released songs featured in their full-length, original album versions.
BURNING UP
HOLIDAY
MATERIAL GIRL
INTO THE GROOVE
LIVE TO TELL
PAPA DON’T PREACH
LA ISLA BONITA
WHO’S THAT GIRL
LIKE A PRAYER
JUSTIFY MY LOVE
TAKE A BOW
FROZEN
BEAUTIFUL STRANGER
MUSIC – MASTERING ERROR: multiple digital pops and clicks that are not part of the original recording can be heard throughout this song.
DIE ANOTHER DAY – MASTERING ERROR: Track fades up late due to the incorrectly placed track index on the American Life album. This is ridiculous. The unaffected album version appears on both the US Promo CD single and the Die Another Day film soundtrack, all Warner Bros. releases.
HOLLYWOOD – MASTERING ERROR: Track starts abruptly and end of “American Life”‘s fade out is audible.
Of these, ten were released as singles in versions that differ from these LP mixes. I would have much preferred the inclusion of the difficult to obtain single mixes, but I’m in therapy and have mostly moved on. Mostly.
Fortunately, five tracks do appear in their official single versions.
SECRET (Edit)
RAY OF LIGHT (Edit)
SORRY (Single Edit)
4 MINUTES (Edit)
MILES AWAY (Radio Edit)
…and one more is a rarity from a US promo CD:
HUNG UP ([Unblended] Album Version)
Next up, there are five remixes lifted directly from The Immaculate Collection.
BORDERLINE (1990) (Q Sound Mix)
LIKE A VIRGIN (1990) (Q Sound Mix)
CRAZY FOR YOU (1990) (Q Sound Mix)
OPEN YOUR HEART (1990) (Q Sound Mix)
VOGUE (1990) (Q Sound Mix)
And now we pause to ask ourselves why.
The remaining nine tracks are unique to the collection. The first two are new recordings.
CELEBRATION
REVOLVER
One appears to be a from-the-vault rarity, likely included by mistake.
LUCKY STAR – ALTERNATIVE Q SOUND MIX
Virtually identical to the version heard on The Immaculate Collection, though there is noticeably more reverb on the “ee-yeah“‘s at the foot of each chorus. The music leading into the first verse is different (on TIC is was edited to match the original 7” version, on here it is not.) The most obvious difference is right at the fade, instead of the chorus it edits to a set of adlibs heard on longer versions of the song, but not heard on the Q Sound version. Odd, but inoffensive as it seems to be a genuine unreleased variation.
As for the rest, quality control has reached an all time low:
EVERYBODY – FAKE EDIT
This uses the full length, original 12″ version as its starting point (as did the official 7″ single version), but is structured differently. While the overall idea for this edit wasn’t horrendous, whoever was placed in charge of actually executing the edits needs to be tortured. Slowly… painfully.
DRESS YOU UP – FUCKED UP INTRO
What the hell happened here? This isn’t a mix variation so much as a mastering error… the album version started late with severe tape pinch/phasing issues right at the top. Of the four beats on the intro, all but the fourth are missing.
EXPRESS YOURSELF – FAKE FUCKING FUCK.
The most offensive. In a failed attempt to kindofsortof recreate the video version, they have taken the complete intro straight off of the Local Mix, “zipper” included. The actual, official video version starts at the percussion and is specially mixed to have echo on the line “Do you believe in love…” which is dry on the Local Mix and therefore not present here. This new monstrosity then incorrectly cuts to the 7″ Remix/Edit version and then again where they have BUTCHERED the song right at the bridge. A bad edit jumps the track from the end of the chorus to the repeat of the bridge which kills the structure of the track. This version is unlistenable.
CHERISH – FAKE EDIT
The original album version cut to the length of the super-short Immaculate Collection version. AMATEUR doesn’t begin to describe how bad these edits have been executed. Poor edits result in creating entirely new lyrics! How about this chestnut… “Can’t get away, I won’t let to” ?! They render all prior complaints about bad edits on Madonna’s releases void. Again, unlistenable. In the cases of “Express Yourself” and “Cherish,” why not just use the fucking Q Sound remixes?! They’re the exact same length as the fake edits and it’s not like there aren’t 6 others from that release present here.
EROTICA – FAKE Radio Edit
The edit points are around the same places as the OFFICIAL radio edit, but are poorly executed. The worst is around 3:30… they cut a beat late making for one of the sloppiest moments on this royalfuckupofacompilation. I don’t understand why this needed to be recreated as the official edit appears on countless singles and 2001’s GHV2 compilation. Oh. And the “surface noise” on the end of “Erotica” overlaps the beginning of “Justify My Love”.
DON’T TELL ME – FAKE Radio Edit
The least offensive/noticeable fake edit, but incorrect nonetheless. The true radio edit was a unique mix for the very last second that does not feature the “whimsical strings” tag. For Celebration, they have chopped off the end, but the first millisecond of this tag is audible.
Regarding the mastering: It sounds as though noise reduction was used to remove “tape hiss” which is unnecessary on most recordings post 1980. This process kills part of the high end of recordings. In addition, the entire album has a smear of bass over it. I really wanted to like it, but it sounds like a cheap “bass boost” EQ effect was applied to the songs, not proper remastering.
I had accepted the slightly shoddy sequencing, several major omissions and overall lack of consistency and attention to detail with the mixes chosen for this release. I love the look of the entire project, but I cannot understand the use of newly created, butchered versions of songs.