Comments on: a few Perfect Ways

By: Keenan

Keenan — Thu, 12 Apr 2012 04:44:24 +0000

I just bought C & P on CD (says it’s a US Printing) and was puzzled by the different version of Perfect Way. The version I’m used to is the same as or similar to the ‘demo’ version above (I shall hereafter refer to it as such), and honestly I prefer it. The mix seems lighter and more open, and I like that pause after the intro, without the drum fill. The version on my CD is mixed louder than than the other tracks, and sounds mildly distorted and harsh. Green sounds like he’s singing in a tunnel and gets drowned out by the instrumentation in the chorus. The music video on Youtube uses this version, but what’s weird is that almost every other version I’ve found on the interwebs is the aforementioned ‘demo’ version.

So if any of you peeps have a CD (in good condition) with the ‘demo’ version on it and want the other one, I’ll swap ya for it :)

By: Mike N

Mike N — Wed, 15 Apr 2009 11:41:07 +0000

Hi Sebastian. As you can see further above, I’ve been working on this one too. I still don’t quite have it worked out but there are at least 8 versions.

The demo version you have found is likely to be the same one available for download at the top of this page – this excellent site is probably where the YouTube-user got it from! The debate about what this ‘demo’ actually is has still got me confused – seems to turn up on some 7″ singles and on some versions of the C & P album. I keep meaning to set aside an evening just to compare all the ‘undecided’ versions that I have.

The ones I know are…
Original UK CD version 4:43
Original UK LP version 4:31
UK 12″ 4:34
UK 12″ ‘Version’ 5:01
UK 7″ (and most other 7″) 4:02
US 12″ ‘Way Perfect’ 5:26
US Promo 12″ ‘Way Perefect Version’ 7:27
US 7″ ‘Way Perfect Version Edit’ 4:27
…but I don’t think the full list is as simple as that at all. Some mixes that happen to be the same length as each other are unlikely to be the same mixes (the UK 12″ b-side ‘Version and the US 12″ b-side Way Perfect Version are both 5:01). All the 7″ a-sides are the same length (4:02) but a lot of people seem to think the US, UK, German ones are different to each other. Meanwhile, the two versions on this site described as ‘promo’ and ‘remix’ are the same 7:27 US promo 12″ version but one has been recorded from vinyl in a way that’s left it a slightly different length and with rather different audio compression.

This is all very geeky, of course, but some of the mixes are much more fun to listen to than others!

By: Sebastian "Tré" Morgan

Sebastian "Tré" Morgan — Thu, 19 Mar 2009 23:45:25 +0000

I came across this “(demo)” version some weeks ago on YouTube as the soundtrack to some anime melodrama (natch!). So I just sort of assumed it was from a Japanese release of some kind. Obviously, this recording is from vinyl. Anyone have any idea what exactly this version is on? (I haven’t read the other comments yet; perhaps I’ll find the answer there…) I’ve been collecting every known mix of this song for many years, and I’m very intrigued by this!

By: Mike N

Mike N — Wed, 23 Apr 2008 11:45:24 +0000

Coming back to this discussion months later, when I’ve been trying to put together a complete ‘digital archive’ of my entire Scritti Politti collection, I’m struck by the fact that we haven’t resolved very much about what versions are to be found where. From recording and research so far, I’ve only really got as far as knowing that there are between six and ten versions of Perfect Way (look at http://www.discogs.com/artist/Scritti+Politti to find some fairly clear listings). I have five versions – possibly six – but I believe that the US 12″ A-side (Way Perfect Mix) and the US 7″ B-side (Way Perfect Edit) are also different from any I have. The bits above about different versions on different editions of the album are complex and don’t all agree with each other, but I’ll try to check the differences as my archiving continues…

Then again, has anyone actually already got a list of all the versions anywhere?

By: AAM

AAM — Sat, 14 Jul 2007 07:38:29 +0000

The demo version is an earlier version with several textural and harmonic elements missing that were eventually added into to final track/versions.
Also, Green’s vocal riffing (“Ooos”) are more rampant in the demo and only occur specifically and sparingly (on the 3rd beats, generally) in the later versions.

By: Marco Raaphorst

Marco Raaphorst — Fri, 27 Apr 2007 05:52:53 +0000

Perfect Way is a perfect song. I am sure it made Paddy McAloon crazy. In a positive way that is :)

By: Jimbo

Jimbo — Thu, 26 Apr 2007 19:34:24 +0000

I think the most obvious addition in the final mixes is the reverse gate effect on the Fairlight drums, which makes the lead in to the verse so dramatic and euphoric. Also, there are some major eq changes to the Fairlight bass, which may have been doubled up with a Yamaha DX7.

On my European CD copy of Cupid and Psyche, the bridge is not ‘broken down’, and the space created in the promo version is not there, which is a shame. Furthermore, on some single versions the dark guitar sample bars before the ‘happy’ fairlight piano sample middle 8 is missing, I am not sure if this improves the flow or not.

Perfect way really is a lesson in how to produce a great pop song, it has been a joy to rediscover the album, and appreciate the trickery in arrangement and production that accompanies the genuinely cerebral songwriting.

By: Roger Kirby

Roger Kirby — Tue, 04 Jul 2006 19:15:13 +0000

I bought Cupid & Psyche on cassette in 1987 and enjoyed Perfect Way as it was then. Bought it on CD in ’89 and detected no difference, apart from the sharper sound of CD. Still worth rocking too.

By: John

John — Tue, 27 Jun 2006 02:05:40 +0000

Thaks for posting these. I very much ejoyed them. Made the more poignant as I have just learned that Arif Mardin (Green’s “avuncular” figure from the C&P recordings) has just passed away.

By: Free Moral Agent

Free Moral Agent — Sun, 25 Jun 2006 15:36:34 +0000

I have the demo version on a Japanese pressing of Cupid. By far though, the best, absolute killer remix of perfect way is without a doubt the U.K. 12″ “version” remix. agree?