simmonel wrote:

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Are the two versions of cocaine socialism (deluxe edition and bside) now the same?

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 Nope.

joemc5054 wrote:

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Also looks like theyve fixed the Sisters EP with Babies being the correct mix now!

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Seems to be slowly getting out there... from what I can see, it's still wrong on Deezer, Spotify, Qobuz and Amazon Music, seems to be correct on Apple Music, YouTube Music and Soundcloud now, though! The corrected version subtitles both Babies and Your Sister's Clothes as "Sisters EP Versions". 

Common People EP has also been replaced - look out for Underwear with a subtitle of "Single Version", this is the original B-side version... and the two versions of Common People are closer to their original single edits, too.

simmonel wrote:

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I didnt realise the difference would just be backing vocals? Did Spotify always label it without (Proper Version) in ()?

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There are some other instruments on the 'Proper Version' that weren't on the B-side. Interesting to read on the Instagram today that the B-side version was considered a mistake by Pulp - guess that explains the name of the version they eventually released on TIH Deluxe.

hawalius1 wrote:

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joemc5054 wrote:

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Also looks like theyve fixed the Sisters EP with Babies being the correct mix now!

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Seems to be slowly getting out there... from what I can see, it's still wrong on Deezer, Spotify, Qobuz and Amazon Music, seems to be correct on Apple Music, YouTube Music and Soundcloud now, though! The corrected version subtitles both Babies and Your Sister's Clothes as "Sisters EP Versions". 

Common People EP has also been replaced - look out for Underwear with a subtitle of "Single Version", this is the original B-side version... and the two versions of Common People are closer to their original single edits, too.

 

simmonel wrote:

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I didnt realise the difference would just be backing vocals? Did Spotify always label it without (Proper Version) in ()?

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There are some other instruments on the 'Proper Version' that weren't on the B-side. Interesting to read on the Instagram today that the B-side version was considered a mistake by Pulp - guess that explains the name of the version they eventually released on TIH Deluxe.

-- Edited by hawalius1 on Friday 18th of August 2023 06:23:01 PM

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 All correct versions of the songs are floating around now, just a mess to get to them. But they are there. 

Ian wrote:

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I had a listen this morning. I have never been a fan of "A Little Soul". I think after the previous singles, an obvious hit was needed to restore a bit of balance. "Glory Days" would have been the obvious choice and "Party Hard" was released too late. Oh well.

This version of "Cocaine Socialism" is indeed the one that appeared on the original CD. I have always wondered why, after 8 years of assuming that this was the finished version, the "proper" version appeared on the reissue. There's not a massive difference; this version does not have the female backing vocals and some of the horns are a bit different. It's hard to say which one I prefer.

Again, I haven't listened to these remixes for years. The alternative version of "A Little Soul" isn't too bad because it is recognisable as the original. Granted, I don't like the original but I'd say that this is a great remix in relation to its parent song, which is more than can be said for some of the "This is Hardcore" and "Party Hard" remixes. The Lafayette Velvet remix isn't too bad either, giving the song a fairly loungey feel with what sounds like a different vocal take.

As for "That Boy's Evil", well, it's different and fairly interesting. Too experimental to have been a single or album track so putting it out as a B-side was the right thing to do. I don't think that the rest of the band's involvement has ever been established, they are all credited on the sleeve but this was also put out as a Chocolate Layers (Jarvis and Steve) promo. I managed to get hold of one of these and some of the guitars sounded louder but that may have been due to listening on vinyl rather than CD.

-- Edited by Ian on Friday 18th of August 2023 06:51:45 PM

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 In the recent Instagram post Pulp did, they explained that they couldnt find the right mix of it and the unfinished and unpolished version was put on the single instead.

I do prefer the Deluxe edition version tbh as the loudness and length of the horns both bigger and longer as well as the backing vocalists really add to the song.

Eamonn wrote:

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Not sure Glory Days was the obvious 3rd single. I thought you had advocated (retrospectively, as all our choices are!) for Sylvia, rawk-balladry primed for lighters aloft at Glasto? There's logic in that.


A Little Soul is lovely though I can see for some it might be one to admire more than enjoy. A weepy for the parents, (it's a crash-course for the ravers....)

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I don't have a big problem with That Boy's Evil. Fun little big beat instrumental. Not sure what it's doing on a Pulp record though.

The versions of Little Soul on CD2 (which I'd probably not listened to in 20+ years till today) are a waste of time though. 'Alternative mix' just sounds slightly unfinished, and the Layfayette Velvet is possibly my least favourite thing that's come out under the Pulp name. I kind of get remixes that really screw around with the song and do something weird/playful (TIH remixes) or turn them into banging dance anthems (Motiv8) but this is just... nothing. I'd forgotten how cross it made me in 1998, and it hasn't improved with age!

Nice to hear Cocaine Socialism again, I think it was the right decision not to put it on an A side though. Think it could've been a bit of a shark-jumping moment.

(Might be one for the unpopular opinions thread!!)