There are two extended versions of Pop Life right?

The wide release one that Sheila E did (fresh danc emix) and the other one that is tons better imo. No cruchy sounds and drop outs..just srraight across pop life beat bass etc

Was this one released only outside the U.S.?

I've always read that the original extended version was released in the UK. I didn't know it existed until I started searching the internet in the 90s.

daPrettyman said:

I've always read that the original extended version was released in the UK. I didn't know it existed until I started searching the internet in the 90s.

Same here. I didnt search for it but it popped up in a Questlove post on the net. I was like "what are they talking about" and dl-ed it. Thank god.

soulyacolia said:

Yeah the extended version was a UK release I have it as a picture sleeve and a white label promo that plays the same both sides much better than the Sheila E remix imo

Thanks for the info. Yeah I like the UK so much better.

rdhull said:

daPrettyman said:

I've always read that the original extended version was released in the UK. I didn't know it existed until I started searching the internet in the 90s.

Same here. I didnt search for it but it popped up in a Questlove post on the net. I was like "what are they talking about" and dl-ed it. Thank god.

I didn't hear it until I bought the "12 inches to A Yard" boot. I like both versions, but prefer the UK remix also. I like the few extra lines and gives the song a different perspective.

I bought them both at the same time, so I never remember which version is which. But I think it's the Sheila E. version I like better--I like the "Frere Jacque," "na-na-na-na-na-na-NA" part.

Did Sheila really do the remix, though? Or are they both by Prince and he just gave the credit out because he was often doing weird things with credits back then?

Efan said:

I bought them both at the same time, so I never remember which version is which. But I think it's the Sheila E. version I like better--I like the "Frere Jacque," "na-na-na-na-na-na-NA" part.

Did Sheila really do the remix, though? Or are they both by Prince and he just gave the credit out because he was often doing weird things with credits back then?

That could be.I have no idea what the truth is.

She did play the drums on it ,still love this song .

I was shocked when I heard the other extended version a few years ago. Because I never knew it existed. I may have saw the import in the stores & thought it was the same Sheila E version. Why did Prince hide this version from the US? It was a big hit here.I feel I missed out on years of extra PopLife funk.....

a Prince classic,

Pop Life, vinyl 12" UK, 9 minutes:

http://sleevographia2.fre...0GBR11.htm

KCOOLMUZIQ said:

I was shocked when I heard the other extended version a few years ago. Because I never knew it existed. I may have saw the import in the stores & thought it was the same Sheila E version. Why did Prince hide this version from the US? It was a big hit here.I feel I missed out on years of extra PopLife funk.....

Thats how I felt when I first heard it.

thedance said:

a Prince classic,

Pop Life, vinyl 12" UK, 9 minutes:

http://sleevographia2.fre...0GBR11.htm

That price has seriously dropped! Not a vinyl collector but this I paid big money for....

Great stuff and although the frere jacques part on the Us version is very funny (being a lullaby), I definately prefer this version.

KCOOLMUZIQ said:

I was shocked when I heard the other extended version a few years ago. Because I never knew it existed. I may have saw the import in the stores & thought it was the same Sheila E version. Why did Prince hide this version from the US? It was a big hit here.I feel I missed out on years of extra PopLife funk.....

I like that though. That's one of the things I love about how Prince sometimes operates. He leaves these semi-secret 'Easter eggs' for his fans to seek out. I guess you could include the Black Album, Tricky & Cnote in the same catagory.

I wish he did it more.

True!!!!! But I'm still mad...

rdhull said:

There are two extended versions of Pop Life right?

The wide release one that Sheila E did (fresh danc emix) and the other one that is tons better imo. No cruchy sounds and drop outs..just srraight across pop life beat bass etc

Was this one released only outside the U.S.?

From 'PrinceVault' (you know this, right?)-

Pop Life is the seventh track on Prince's seventh album Around The World In A Day, the second to be credited to Prince and the Revolution, and three months after the album's release, Pop Life was released as the album's third single (second in North America). In 1993, it was also included as the second track on Prince's first compilation album The Hits 1 (also included as the first disc of The Hits / The B-Sides). In 2006, Pop Life (Fresh Dance Mix) was included as the fourth track on the second disc of the compilation album Ultimate.

Initial tracking took place on 19 February, 1984 at Sunset Sound, Hollywood, CA, USA (after completing overdubs on Another Lonely Christmas). The recording session lasted until around 6:15 am the following morning, 20 February, 1984. Band overdubs were added later the same day. Prince worked on the track further in mid-April 1984, most likely also at Sunset Sound.

Rumors have suggested that the booing crowd sampled in the song is from Prince's infamous opening act for the Rolling Stones, from October, 1981, but the samples in fact come from a sound library set by the company Sound Ideas (Delirious, Lady Cab Driver, Something Funky (This House Comes) and Live 4 Love also use samples from this series, and the computer keystroke noises and computer confirmation beep, as well as the vault door sample heard throughout The Gold Experience are also from this series).

On 28 September 1984, Wendy Melvoin and Lisa Coleman oversaw the string overdubs (without Prince's supervision), at Sunset Sound (during the same sessions as string overdubs on Our Destiny). Sheila E.'s remix of the track was mixed on 22 and 23 June, 1985, most likely also at Sunset Sound.

Pop Life is the earliest track to be released with two different versions on 12" releases (albeit in different territories): The US and Europe received Pop Life (Fresh Dance Mix) (remixed by Sheila E., while the UK, Australia and New Zealand received Pop Life (Extended Version), which was Prince's own original version.

(all imho)

The original 9 minute version is great, but drags on towards the last few minutes.

The "Sheila E" (i don't believe it was her, either) version is a bit more quirky.

I'm glad we have both!

Prost!

I love the extended version! It's a lot more raw and less produced than the other version!

[img:$uid]http://i170.photobucket.com/albums/u257/djdaffy1227/PoplifeUK.jpg[/img:$uid]

This is the only time I'm mad @ Prince for me missing out on this estended "MasterPiece"....

I saw the U.K. 12" in stores shortly after it was released and when I saw that 9 minute time printed on the cover (almost three minutes longer than the U.S. mix) I had to have it. I always liked it better than Sheila E's remix.