Originally Posted by: Mr Discography Originally Posted by: perspexorange I have to say, I really liked the 2002 remixes. They were mostly great!
I've never been 100% sure on whether Bernard recorded any new vocals for the song around the time. There were mixes that used the original '83 vocals, mixes that used the '87 vocals and ones that combined the two. But I also think that there were some some mixes where it sounded like there were even newer vocals on them. I can't remember which ones now.
If anyone knows...
Many of the 2002 mixes used Bernard's original 1983 vocals. On the CD single and Retro edits of the Koma & Bones mix, newly recorded vocals were added by Bernard. The Koma & Bones remix included in the 12 x 12 set of twelve inch remixes released to support the 'Singles' compilation also added the new vocal.
On the CD single, all but the 'Asto Dazed' edit featured the newly recorded vocals. All the pre-release promo 12 inches features the original vocals, but the Larry Tees and Outputs mixes had the new vocals added on the final 12 inch releases.
All the different releases and versions and which vocal they feature are listed at
https://www.niagara.edu/neworder/singles/confusion2k2.htmlThe 1987 vocal was not used in any of the 2002 remixes. In fact, the 1987 'Confusion' is in a completely different key (A flat minor, as opposed to the original's D minor).
I've read a few times Barney didn't like his original 1983 vocal - apparently he had a cold the day they were recorded - so guess he intervened and provided a new vocal track in time for the official release..? Glad he did too, as his original '83 vocals always were pretty ropey.
Thanks for this clarification.
Actually, I was misremembering (old age, eh?). I've just noticed on one of my spreadsheets that I had logged that new vocals were recorded for these 2002 mixes, but I've also noted a couple of mixes where it was possible that the '87 vocals were used. I think that was what I was remembering. Apologies. That'll teach me to go into something like this half-cocked.
I've used that excellent Niagara resource before and I think I may have used it when I made a note of the various variants for the 2002 release.
As regards the two mixes that I thought used the '87 vocals, these were:
Larry Tee's Electroclash Mix (New & Old Vocals) (from (Whacked Records WACKT002))
Larry Tee's Electroclash Mix Edit (New Vocals) (from (Whacked Records WACKT002CD))
The reason I thought this was the case is that these mixes contain the lines:
"You're hiding from feelings, you're
searching for more"
"Searching" was only used in the '87 version, I think. In the original version it was "You're hiding from feelings, you're
caring for more") and this was also repeated in the 2002 version (see the Outputs Nu-Rocktro Version (New Vocals) mix).
However, I've just had another relisten.
In the '87 version, it's "You're hiding from feelings, searching for more"
In the 2002 "new vocal" versions, it's "You're hiding from feelings,
you're searching for more"
Listening back now, the 1987 vocal delivery of that line is nowhere near the delivery of the 2002 (new) vocal line. They're quite different and I don't know how I didn't spot this earlier.
So, I'm guessing that either a) Bernard recorded multiple takes in 2002 with different variations of the lyrics or b) he had previously recorded a version with "you're searching" in it, and the remixer dug out this old vocal take.
To sum up:
Original 1983 version: "You're hiding from feelings, you're
caring for more"
Substance 1987 version: "You're hiding from feelings,
searching for more"
2002 new vocal line: "You're hiding from feelings,
you're searching for more"
Opinions? Anyone know what happened here?
I'd also appreciate opinions on the two Electroclash mixes, also. In my opinion, they both use the old vocals as well as the new vocals, not just the extended version on the 12". Specifically on the chorus ("you just can't believe me"). According to Dennis' site, the Edit only uses the new vocals.
Just as an addendum to this, here is what I have logged on my spreadsheet for 2002 variants (WARNING - Trainspotter territory!):
Koma & Bones Vocal Version (Old Vocals) (08:11) (From 'Confusion Remixes '02' 12" (1))
Koma & Bones Version (New Vocals) (03:50) (From 'Confusion Remixes '02' CDS)
Koma & Bones Remix (New Vocals) (08:11) (From '12"x12 New Order Vinyl Campaign' (NSER009))
Koma & Bones Vocal Mix (New Vocals) (06:02) (From 'Retro' box set)
Koma & Bones Dub (07:54) (From 'Confusion Remixes '02' Promo 12" (1))
Larry Tee's Electroclash Mix (Old & New Vocals) (05:20) (From 'Confusion Remixes '02' 12" (1))
Larry Tee's Electroclash Mix Edit (
Old & New Vocals) (03:44) (From 'Confusion Remixes '02' CDS)
Outputs Nu-Rocktro Version (Old Vocals) (05:50) (From 'Confusion Remixes '02' Promo 12" (3))
Outputs Nu-Rocktro Version (New Vocals) (05:54) (From 'Confusion Remixes '02' 12" (2))
Outputs Nu-Rocktro Version Edit (New Vocals) (03:45) (From 'Confusion Remixes '02' CDS)
Arthur Baker 2002 Version (Old Vocals) (06:42) (From 'Confusion Remixes '02' Promo 12" (2))
Arthur Baker 2002 Version Edit (Old Vocals) (06:18) (From 'Confusion Remixes '02' 12" (2))
Arthur Baker 2002 Version Edit (New Vocals) (03:13) (From 'Confusion Remixes '02' CDS)
Arthur Baker 2002 Instrumental (05:47) (From 'Confusion Remixes '02' Promo 12" (2))
Asto Dazed Mix (Old Vocals) (07:31) (From 'Confusion Remixes '02' 12" (2))
Asto Dazed Mix Edit (Old Vocals) (04:23) (From 'Confusion Remixes '02' CDS)
Acapella & Parts (Old Vocals) (06:05) (From 'Confusion Remixes '02' 12" (1))
Acapella (Old Vocals) (01:47) (From 'Confusion Remixes '02' Promo 12" (1))
Any errors/omissions?