Which, if any, Extended versions of Prince tracks just seem like a waste to you, or worse, detract from the original?

I'm a fan of most of the extended or full-length versions, but I was inspired to ask this question after listening to one Extended version that...really doesn't add anything other than additional time, and quite frankly, less would be more in this case. For me, that's the extended 12" version of He's So Dull; it's utterly pointless and agonizingly repetitive during the inserted breakdown -- if it were 25% of its length it would be great, but as it stands IMO it just goes on way too long with a never-ending repeat of the title line of the chorus. It's 1:50 added to a song that only should have been 25-40 seconds, max. Contrast this to Drive Me Wild, which was nearly tripled in length for its extended version, yet doesn't drag because it is musically interesting and doesn't repeat the same line over and over for over a minute.

Any other Extended versions you think should have been left as their shorter originals?

The Screams Of Passion

Sister Fate

Baby Knows

America - I like some of what's going on in the extended version, but maybe at half the length.

I don't think any extended version is truly bad, but after a certain point, most of them do ramble on.

Did I Would Die 4 U really need to be 10 minutes? The second half is basically a sax solo alongside a couple extra vocals. Even my favorites like You Got the Look and Kiss have some kinda corny sections (the "whistle" section of Look always makes me cringe...but that intro is perfection!).

PurpleHigh said:

Did I Would Die 4 U really need to be 10 minutes? The second half is basically a sax solo alongside a couple extra vocals.

You should listen to the 35 minute uncut version.

Strive said:

FragileUndertow said:

Raspberry Barrette:
I love the extended intro, but it sounds a bit odd when it repeats itself near the end. Makes me wonder if the intro was really meant for the ending. I guess its more or e remix.
Never cared for the finger symbols and harmonica at the end either.

America:
The first 10/11 minutes are cool. There is the guitar solo, a lil more vocals. But after 12 minutes it drags on.. way too repeatative for me

I would die 4 U :
The extended portion goes on a bit

U got the look :
The extended intro and outro are great! But the middle section sounds out of place

Rave into the joy fantastic:
Some of the tracks have extended portions slapped on at the end. Cool! but not that cool

In hindsight I wouldn't change anything. We've been living with these tracks for years now. It is what it is

This might be controversial, but I personally never though the extended version of Hot Thing really added much to the original beyond it simply being a bit longer with certain parts elongated. It didn't really take off in a totally different direction like Mountains where I felt engaged the entire way through. The intro with just drums and the funky bassline though is cool

endiadj said:

I expect to be flamed into oblivion for my choice but I do not like Let's Work extended version.

Se7en said:

America - I like some of what's going on in the extended version, but maybe at half the length.

Me too is just to long and nothig really special.

FragileUndertow said:

endiadj said:

Freaking libel against Raspberry Beret extended version will not be tolerated! Happens to be my favorite long version of all Prince songs.😊

I'm really just nitpicking, But not a fan of the harmonica near the end

That's one of the best parts of the song.

Another Lonely Christmas...I've said it, previously. The extended version adds NOTHING interesting to an already great song.

Also, Feel U Up(long stroke) adds nothing to an already funky and long enough song.

[Edited 8/31/20 19:20pm]

Not surprised that America is too long for some people. For me, the America extended version is the single most played Prince song. I love it. I don't care for the I Would Die 4 U 12inch version, but it's a live take, not really an "extended" version.

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So, is this about extended versions or really any longer mix? I mean, starting with Hot Thing, the extended versions have had horrible mixes that didn't have Prince input. The extended versions I tend to like and generally that's how the songs were simply recorded.

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Looking at the songs that have had longer versions released, there's plenty of other songs that didn't get longer versions, but shouldn't have been released, or not in the versions that were released.

Thieves In the Temple extended is da bomb!

endiadj said:

FragileUndertow said:

Raspberry Barrette: I love the extended intro, but it sounds a bit odd when it repeats itself near the end. Makes me wonder if the intro was really meant for the ending. I guess its more or e remix. Never cared for the finger symbols and harmonica at the end either. America: The first 10/11 minutes are cool. There is the guitar solo, a lil more vocals. But after 12 minutes it drags on.. way too repeatative for me I would die 4 U : The extended portion goes on a bit U got the look : The extended intro and outro are great! But the middle section sounds out of place Rave into the joy fantastic: Some of the tracks have extended portions slapped on at the end. Cool! but not that cool In hindsight I wouldn't change anything. We've been living with these tracks for years now. It is what it is

Freaking libel against Raspberry Beret extended version will not be tolerated! Happens to be my favorite long version of all Prince songs.😊

The video mix is good. I have a ripped copy of this version.

I know most fans love the extended version of "I Wish U Heaven" but I hate the added stuff. Totally ruins the meaning of the song. The album version is pure perfection! That added stuff may have been better on a totally different song. I also agree with "America", I think a fade at 8 minutes would have been fine

PurpleHigh said:

I don't think any extended version is truly bad, but after a certain point, most of them do ramble on.

Did I Would Die 4 U really need to be 10 minutes? The second half is basically a sax solo alongside a couple extra vocals. Even my favorites like You Got the Look and Kiss have some kinda corny sections (the "whistle" section of Look always makes me cringe...but that intro is perfection!).

Isn't it really just a release of a studio session?

I look at some of these a little differently

As 'simplistic' as Erotic City is, I love all lengths

I thought the Pop Life (Extended Dance mix) took way from the original version

Escape, was already on the weaker end of 1980s b sides Escape (Free Yo Mind From This Rat Race) I'm still on the fence about.

I Wish U Heaven

I almost with Kiss / (Extended) were two different songs

djdaffy1227 said:

I also agree with "America", I think a fade at 8 minutes would have been fine

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<useless trivia>There is a reason that the America extended version is as long as it is. And no, I don't mean the length of the tape it was recorded on. The song America is in a tempo that one rotation of the album is exactly 4 bars. That means that if the record skips, you don't hear it (America doesn't have chord changes), you just miss a bit of the song, like one line of the lyrics. 12inches were generally 45rpm versus the 33 1/3 rpm of albums. So if the 12inch version was less than 15 minutes (roughly) it would have been pressed on a 45rpm 12inch. The mix being more than 20 minutes ensured that the 12inch would be 33 1/3rpm so that that effect would still be there. I first noticed this on a record player that wasn't adjusted properly and the needle was set very light. I played the album and kept missing lines of the song, but it was playing as per normal without the normal skip you'd have if the needle moved between grooves. I thought I was going crazy.

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The entire Around The World In A Day is full of little in-jokes like that. One of the reasons why it's my favorite Prince album.</useless trivia>

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Anyway, a fade at 8 minutes wouldn't have been fine!

williamb610 said:

Another Lonely Christmas...I've said it, previously. The extended version adds NOTHING interesting to an already great song.

Also, Feel U Up(long stroke) adds nothing to an already funky and long enough song.

[Edited 8/31/20 19:20pm]

Agree specially with Feel U Up it gets tiresome.

djdaffy1227 said:

I know most fans love the extended version of "I Wish U Heaven" but I hate the added stuff. Totally ruins the meaning of the song. The album version is pure perfection! That added stuff may have been better on a totally different song. I also agree with "America", I think a fade at 8 minutes would have been fine

IWUH was great as it was, the extended version is messy and awful. Don't like it at all, it takes away all the feeling.

djdaffy1227 said:

I think a fade at 8 minutes would have been fine

America. Because it nearly ruined the song for me entirely.