What is the Alternate Release of Fresh?
SonyMusic originally released Fresh on CD ca. 1990. About two months later, the CD was pulled from music store shelves and later replaced. Why? It seems that someone at Sony must have pulled the wrong master reel from the archives, and instead CD's were pressed in which all songs but the first track, "In Time," differed in some way from the tracks on the original record. Sony promptly recalled these "alternate" discs and began shipping the correct ones, but some lucky individuals were able to procure copies before this occurred. What is the origin of this alternate master? I can only guess, based on a 1973 article in Black Stars, that a version of the album which was shipped to music critics before it was released to the general public was in fact different than the one released to said public. My guess is that the critics heard this "alternate" version.
The only way to tell the two CD's apart is this: look on the back of the jewel box at the serial number. If the number is: 0 7464-32134-2 then you have one of very few copies of the original, mis-released disc. If the number is 0 7464-32134-2 02, then you have a copy of the widely distributed "correct" CD, which is the same as the album's original vinyl release.
So, just how different are these two CD's? Quite different. As stated previously, every song but "In Time" is different in some way from the original released version. In general, the songs seem to be at earlier stages of inception and recording as the music is generally more sparse: less keyboard, guitar and background vocals. To be a little more specific:
"If You Want Me To Stay": This song has a different feel from the original: more laid back and more swung. At least the drums and vocals are different takes.
"Let Me Have It All": This song is different in many ways from the original. For starters, the drums are done in an entirely different manner, much more plodding and simple than Andy Newmark's more intricate track on the original. There is no guitar track, and very little background vocals. Also, the bass guitar is turned up in the mix and is treated with a "phase shift" effect about half way through the song.
"Frisky": It's hard to say exactly what is different between the two versions, I will only say that the alternate version is sparser than the original.
"Skin I'm In": This song does not differ greatly from the original version. I believe only the mix is different, the performances are the same.
"Keep On Dancin'": The alternate version is a different mix of the original, with the drum machine, bass guitar and second guitar tracks featured much more prominently. The bassline differs slightly from the original.
"Que Sera, Sera": Very different from the original. The vocals are different takes, from both Rose and Sly, the live drums are less audible over the drum machine, and a clavinet provides additional bass notes.
"If It Were Left Up To Me": The most audible difference in this song is a very prominent guitar part that does not appear to be in the original version.
"Babies Makin' Babies": This song is perhaps the most unlike the original version than any of the songs on the alternate release. The feel is completely different, the music, the instrumentation ... the only thing that is similar between the two versions are the lyrics and Sly's basic delivery of them. Everything else is different, including the three-chord progression which repeats throughout the original version.
These are just general descriptions, but if anyone has more to add or knows more about the origins of the alternate master or about Sony's slip-up, feel free to e-mail me at: [email protected].
It is also worth mentioning that Small Talk and Greatest Hits also had alternate versions released.
Let me know if you've heard any more.
Creator and Webmaster: Jon Dakss