I won't bore you with the long and convoluted story of my confusion. The release of the Freddie Solo Box cleared much of it up (for me, at least).
That is, except this one thing...
I got The Great Pretender album the Christmas of 1992.
I got The FM Solo Collection boxed set the Christmas of 2000
The version of Living On My Own on my original TGP album is the No More Brothers' "Radio Mix".
The version on the boxed set TGP album is the "1992 Album Mix" (same as appears on Greatest Hits III).
The liner notes of the original CD booklet seem to indicate I *should* have the "1992 Album Mix" (as attested to the remixing credits) on both.
I went to my local HMV a while ago and listened to a store copy of TGP and lo, the "1992 Album Mix".
You see my confusion? Was there a mispressing early on of The Great Pretender, putting the wrong mix on it?
I'm curious to see which versions of the CD are out there and who has the same one I have.
If you're not sure, here are some hints as to which version is which:
1992 Album Mix *absolutely* appears on Queen+ Greatest Hits III, as well the 1992 The Freddie Mercury Album and *boxed set* Solo Collection edition of The Great Pretender.
If your copy of The Great Pretender features this same version, you have what appears to be the correct edition.
If "Living On My Own" is different on your TGP CD, I believe you have the mispressing.
The Radio Mix was the version that went No. 1 when the singles were released in 1992. It starts with the low moody synth over which Freddie sings "Sometimes I feel I'm gonna break down and cry...".
Also, later editions of The Great Pretender feature a bonus track "Techno Mix" of "Living On My Own", but at least that one identifies itself correctly.
I'v always been confused on which version of this song went to number one. I believe it was the version on the mini box released in america in 2000 on the third disc. I think the greatest hits 3 verson is not the one that went to #1.
Correct!
The version on that third disc is the "Radio Mix", which went to No. 1 and in my opinion is a decent remix (as far as remixes go). THAT one appears on my original copy of The Great Pretender CD, but the boxed set TGP CD has the "1992 Album Mix", as do all the other versions of The Great Pretender I read about.
I wonder why mine is different.
Yes, I still can't believe they put the wrong version on GH 3. Falling standards, I guess. I also don't believe they've ever corrected it either.
The version on Hits 3 is so bad - there's no way that would have got to No. 1!