Back To The Light

Alternate Versions

Demo
One of three tracks on a demo tape played by Brian to friends in 1988 as a "preview" of his first solo album (this one). This is apparently very similar to the finished version, but then I suppose there's not that much to change. This track was largely written in 1980 anyway, so by 1988 it would have been pretty close to finished.

Radio Edit
Available on the UK "Back To The Light" promo CD single and promo 7". Edited from five minutes down to 4:12, but not particularly memorable. The promo CD also has the album version and "Nothin' But Blue (Guitar Version)".

Live Version
(From "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno")
Complete with the show's intro theme and announcer, this is not a wonderful sounding recording. Which is strange, as it's official and is on the "Resurrection" CD single (Japan, and the UK Part 2 CD single). A nice version though. Even including the show's intro, its shorter than the album take. Its also slightly faster, and a bit "rougher", both of which count in its favour. Not bad, but had they recorded it properly it could have been so much better. Time 4:51

Explicit Version
Given away on a free CD with "RCD" magazine (Vol 4, no longer available). Few people seem to have heard of this, and there is no mention of it being different to normal in the magazine. However, some of the lyrics in the middle section (the "argument") are a bit more colourful than usual ("you put fat in the fire, you got s*** for brains", "Well, f*** you"). It also ends, though perhaps "stops" would be a better word, with the piano fade. Very minor changes, but fun. Known most commonly as "Explicit Version", but "Uncensored Version" and "Rude Version" have also been used to describe it.

Single Version
The B-side to "Resurrection", on 12" pic disc, cassette and CD single (Jap, UK Part One). The only difference here is that it doesn't segue into "Resurrection" at the end, but finishes with the piano fade. Useful if you want a "stand-alone" version, for inclusion on compilations etc., though the "Explicit" version is more fun.

Note the US CD album has the track marking between this track and "Resurrection" in a slightly different place, giving slightly different running times for the two ("Love Token" is longer, "Resurrection" shorter). The actual music is unchanged though, and so they are not worth describing as "different versions".

Album Version
Mentioned only so the descriptions of the other versions make sense. On the album this superb track is 5:27 long, and has a long intro, of approx 35 seconds including the last few notes of "Love Token" (the two tracks segue together on the album). It also has a short outro, approx 12 seconds, in which what I can only describe as "faint whooshing noises" can be heard. The actual "song", from the first crash of drums to the last guitar chord, is actually 4:40 long (give or take a second or two). This is slightly different for the US CD album, which has the mark between "Love Token" and "Resurrection" in a slightly different place, probably due to a mastering error. "Resurrection" starts slightly later on the US CD.

Single Version
On CD single (Jap, both UK), 12" pic disc and cassette, and also a US promo CD. The single mix is actually an unlisted edit of the album version. The intro is missing, and about 15 seconds has been cut from the "song" part (mostly instrumental, cut mainly from near the start), which here is 4:24(ish) long. Curiously the outro has been retained, and is actually a few seconds longer than the album mix, at around 15 instead of 12 seconds. Not that you'd know without timing it, of course. Time 4:39

Sampler Version
From the promo CD "Too Much Love - The Pill Sampler". The intro has been edited off, as for the single mix, but the "song" part seems to be the full album version at 4:39. The outro however is now 21 seconds long! That makes this version 5:00 long exactly. As the outro is almost inaudible anyway, the extra length doesn't make much difference, but its still a strange change to make. Maybe Hollywood Records mixed it.

Instrumental Version
On Cozy Powell's "The Drums Are Back" album, titled "Ride To Win". The instrumentation is the same as Brian's version, and Cozy did help write it, so I think this qualifies as a different version and not a cover. Sounds the same as usual, but with no vocals. Still damn good though.

Live Version, With Spoken Intro
Recorded in the US at a live show broadcast on US radio, this track was included on the "Resurrection" CD single (Jap, UK Part 1). Its a solid enough performance, but not particularly different to the version on "Live At Brixton". Before he starts to sing, Brian can be clearly heard introducing Spike Edney on keyboards (starting with the line "Before we get into this..."). There is also a 3-mix US promo picture CD of "Too Much Love Will Kill You" that includes this track, but it isn't quite the same (see below).

Live Version, Without Spoken Intro
Only on the above-mentioned US 3-mix promo CD. This is the exact same live version, taken from the same performance, but with Brian's intro for Spike edited out. The music is untouched. The whole of the concert this track was taken from (well, the 8 tracks that were broadcast) can be found on the bootleg "Out On His Own", and the intro is also missing from this! It looks like this was cleverly edited out by the radio station.

Guitar Version
From the normal CD single, also on the Japanese CD album as a bonus track. A very nice instrumental take, with some really good guitar work. Also listed as the "Instrumental Version" on the 3-mix US promo CD - usually! (see below).

Piano Version One
This is another good instrumental, and it's a great shame this didn't get a proper commercial release. The origins of this mix are down to a simple mastering error by Hollywood Records (what? never!). When the first few copies of the "Too Much Love" promo CD were pressed, they cleverly forgot to add the guitar part to the "Guitar Version". The piano etc. was left on though, and the result was this "piano version". Only a very few copies were distributed before being corrected, but it is also included on the "Demories Please Majesties" bootleg. It is a very nice version indeed, but a better description would be an "Instrumental Version", as it is simply the standard single mix without any vocals.

Piano Version Two
Another piano version comes from a different source. A "proper" piano version (i.e. with some extra piano providing the lead melody) was recorded when Brian etc. were still writing the song, possibly even as a guide for the lyrics. A tape containing it (the only legitimate tape containing it!) was given away by Elizabeth Lamers (co-writer) to a bell-boy at the hotel she was staying at. It has since been sold to a private collector, but before that there were a very few illegal pirate copies made (and not by the bell-boy either). This version is quite different to the one on "Demories Please Majesties", with the vocal intro missing. It also fades out at the end, and doesn't appear to have any guitar at all in it (the "Demories" version retains some acoustic guitar). The lead melody is distinctive, and in all its a nice alternative. Time 4:40

Extended Version
Sometimes referred to as "Alternate Take" or "Demo Version". Also taken from the "bell-boy" tape, this version is not likely to become widely available. It has a different vocal from Brian, particularly at the beginning and end. Has a running time of 4:50, but doesn't have the vocal intro.

Duet Version
The female vocalist accompanying Brian on this version is strongly rumored to be Anita Dobson (!), but thankfully not. It is actually Elizabeth Lamers, who co-wrote the song. Similar vocals to the "Extended" version. Again, this is from the "bell-boy" tape. Time 4:50

There are a large number of "different" versions of this, almost all of which are simply edits (not remixes). I have listed all the versions I know of. The first four mixes are from a UK promo CD, which is almost impossible to get hold of now. This promo also exists as a 7", but it is very expensive and rarer than the CD (mainly due to the promo's unique sleeve, which has made it a highly desirable collectible).

Edited Version
(for DJ's in something of a hurry)
With a running time of 3:37, the difference between this and the album mix is surprisingly negligible, considering how much has been cut. The most distinguishing feature is that instead of the usual vocal outro, this version finishes on the final "Yeah!". This edit also appeared on a US cassette single described as the "CHR Edit", and on a 2-track US promo CD (numbered 10322, see below) under the name "English Edit". All three names refer to the same version however. Note the UK promo CD appeared first though, and so "Edited Version" is probably the original name for this mix.

Pollarded Version
(for DJ's under pressue)
Noticeably shorter than usual (some guitar is absent), this has a time of 3:22. A much more significant edit than the "Edited Version" mentioned above.

Special Version
(for DJ's under extreme stress)
The edit to end all edits! A mere 5 seconds, this is simply a burst of guitar and the words "Driven By You" at full volume. Good to frighten the neighbours with.

Proper Version
(for connoisseurs and relaxed DJ's)
At 4:11, this is presumably the album mix - it certainly sounds identical.

Next up is a two-track US promo CD, numbered 10322. This contains the album mix and the "English Edit". The "English Edit", at 3:37, is actually identical to the "Edited Version" described above. This even makes sense if you look at the names - the "English Edit" is the "Edited Version" from the UK. So there's nothing unique on 10322.

There is however an identical-looking 3-track US promo CD, that has the same labels and lists the same two tracks on the disc itself. When you play it though, it actually has 3 tracks, not two. This CD is numbered 10319, and thats its only distinguishing feature. A correction sheet with the real track listing does exist, and the correct listing is as shown below.

CHR Edit Shorter
Track one, and an edit unique to this promo CD. Similar to the "Edited Version" (or "CHR Edit", or "English Edit", depending what you want to call it), but less has been cut this time. This edit is 3:57 long, and its hard to spot the editing. Odd that this "CHR Edit Shorter" should actually be longer than the "CHR Edit" though, but that's Hollywood Records for you.

CHR Edit Shortest
Track two. Another edit unique to this promo CD. A slight variation on the "Edited Version" this time, but with the usual vocal outro ending. At 3:34 it has a unique running time too.

Radio Mix
Track three. A remix by Brian May and Brian Malouf. Sounds almost exactly the same, but if you listen hard you can hear a slightly stronger drum sound. The guitar solo could be mixed differently too, but it needs a few listens to really spot the differences. Same length as LP mix, 4:11. Drums by Cozy Powell, bass by Neil Murray. This mix was later re-named as the "New Version" and released officially (see later), so its not particularly rare.

A third US promo CD also exists. This is another 3-track disc, correctly labelled this time, and is housed in a hexagonal cardboard box with a working compass in the middle, and comes with a colour insert. This is a superb item, and well worth finding for the packaging alone. It contains the "Radio Mix" mentioned above, the album mix, and yet another unique edit, described below.

Rock Radio Edit
An edit of the "Radio Mix" by Brian May and Brian Malouf. This is much more noticeable than the other edits, as the sections that have been omitted are the introductory and closing vocals. It starts with the first bang of drums and ends on the last guitar chord. This can sound a bit abrupt the first time you hear it, and it makes the track sound a lot more powerful. Length 3:47, and only on the compass-box promo CD.

In addition to all the promo edits, the following versions have been made available commercially.

New Version
(Featuring Cozy Powell On Drums)
On the "Too Much Love Will Kill You" CD single, the US album CD as a bonus track, and a 4-track promo sampler CD for the album ("Too Much Love - The Pill Sampler"). Not particularly different to the album mix, but more so than most of the edits listed above. Also has Neil Murray on bass, and mixed by Brian Malouf. Originally known as the "Radio Mix" on the US promo "compass box" CD (see above).

Ford Ad Version
(for collectors only)
A ninety second take used in the original set of Ford car adverts. Only on the 12" (not the CD single). Different vocals and lyrics, and no vocal intro. Actually sounds like a weaker arrangement as well, though it could just be the odd lyrics.

That makes a total of thirteen different names, for nine different versions (including the album mix). And to own all nine you would need the following:

UK 4-mix promo CD
US 3-mix mis-labelled promo CD 10322
US 3-mix compass-box promo CD
UK official 12"

Although apart from the "Radio Mix"/"New Version" all the "different" versions are simply edits of varying length. Much more interesting is the instrumental "Driven By You Two" (see later).

Guitar Version
The B-side to "Back To The Light", on the 7", the second UK CD single, and on the 3-track "Back To The Light" promo CD. A superb instrumental, in my opinion far better than the album version. No Brian fan should miss this one, and neither should anyone else really. An absolute classic guitar track, up there with the best ot them. Also on Cozy Powell's "The Drums Are Back" album, under the title "Somewhere In Time".

Original Version
Sharp-eyed fans may have spotted that the album version of this is referred to as "Justin's Mix '92" in the sleeve notes. It appears the song was remixed for the LP, as a different (presumably earlier) mix can be found as a B-side to the single of "Too Much Love Will Kill You" (all formats). Most notably, this mix does not have the "chaos karaoke" section found on the LP mix. There are other differences as well, but that's the most distinctive.

Demo
On a 3-track demo tape only, together with demos of "The Dark" and "My Boy". Given that this track was changing even between its release as a B-side (see above) and the album mix, its unlikely the demo is particularly close to the album mix, although I doubt the actual structure is any different. No other details yet, I'm afraid.

Radio Edit
A 3:07 version, found on the CD single. A rather abrupt edit, which seems to start part way through the song. A bit brutal really, and quite unnecessary.

Live Version
From "The Ultimate Collection". Recorded live from UK TV in 1991, from the Richard Digance Show, a while before the album was released. Reasonable sound quality, but not significantly different to either the LP take or the version on "Live At Brixton Academy". On the same show, Brian also played on a Richard Digance track called "She's A Lady" (see Miscellaneous Brian tracks for more).

Guitar Version
On the "Driven By You" CD single and 12", also the Japanese "Back To The Light" CD album as a bonus track. As with all the "guitar versions", this is an impressive instrumental. Recommended.

B-sides & Bonus Tracks etc.

Original B-side
An instrumental version of "Driven By You", as featured in the second set of Ford TV adverts. Superb guitar work, and well worth getting hold of. From the second UK "Resurrection" CD single (sadly not on the Japanese CD). Only 90 seconds long though.

Unreleased
Also referred to as "Untitled Blues Song" and "Drunken Blues", although the "correct" title is actually "Sleepy Blues". This is just Brian in the studio, a capella for about five and a half minutes. A mumbled introduction states it is a song intended for "my solo album" (presumably "Back To The Light"), though it obviously never made it. The lyrics are incomplete to say the least, and mostly incoherent as Brian "sings" the instrumental parts as well! Worth listening to, however, for Brian's harmonica impression alone.

Unreleased
An unreleased demo track recorded for "Back To The Light". Two other early demos were "I'm Scared" and "The Dark". Nothing is really known about this track except its name, and it is assumed it was either dumped or lost (though Brian undoubtedly has a copy). A song by the same name is strongly rumoured to be appearing on one of Brian's forthcoming projects, so I guess we will know soon enough.