Shove It

Alternate Versions

Extended Mix
A 5:00 version of the album's title track, very similar in style to the album mix. On the CD single and 12". Some nice Queen samples, but really just more of the same. If you like the album mix, investigate, but its definitely an "extended" rather than "remixed" version. Note it's also identical to the first 5:00 of "The 2nd Shelf Mix" (see later), so if you have that you probably don't need this.

Metropolix Mix
On the 12" only. Virtually identical in sound to the album mix (and identical running time), the changes here are really very minor. Very hard to spot any difference in a casual listen, although there is some extra echo and reverb on the drums. Don't expect anything special though. Time 3:28

Official Single Version
The first release by The Cross was this strong dance / rock effort. This fusion of styles is a trademark of Roger's. The officially quoted running time of this is 4:32, compared to the 5:52 album version (which also appears on the 12"). However, in reality the 4:32 mix is available only on CD (on the "Shove It" CD single, and the promo-only "Cowboys And Indians" CD). As edits go, its a good one, which makes it even harder to understand why it did so badly in the charts.

Actual Single Version
The actual 7" plays a version with a running time of 4:20, as stated on the label (which makes a change). Whilst the 4:32 CD version includes several seconds of silence, it is also audibly longer than this 4:20 mix (although you have to time them) by at least five or six seconds. Strange but true.

Full Length Version
This is the name of the version on the 12" (its also on the promo CD single), but it is in fact the standard album mix. Its mentioned here so people aren't misled into thinking the 12" has something extra on it. Time 5:52

Freddie Vocal Version
On the UK CD and LP. Not on the US album. The original version of this song is a gentle ballad, with Freddie ably backed by Roger. Quite different to the recent Queen version, with a distinctive intro and outro. Often regarded as "the best song Queen never recorded" - until they did, of course. Worth getting the album for this and "Love Lies Bleeding" alone. Note this is not the version released as a single, although it was AA-sided with the normal "single mix" in Germany only. Time 4:50

Single Version, Roger Vocal
Remixed for release as a single, lead vocals are handled by Roger and Freddie's voice is confined to backing vocals. Some slight lyric changes are also evident. Well worth a listen, especially to contrast it with the Freddie version. On 7" and 12", and a CD3 in Japan. Most easily found on the US album though. Time 5:07

Live Version, "Shove It" Tour
On live dates from the "Shove It" tour Roger shared the vocal duties with Peter Noone. Roger sang the main parts (Freddie's on the UK album mix) while Peter sang Roger's backing vocals. The arrangement is also slightly different, although it's Peter's vocals that stand out (particularly in the middle section - "at least you'll have cared" etc.). On later tours this part was dropped completely, so only early dates feature this version. Montreax 1988 is a good example. Peter's voice takes some getting used to at first, but its worth persevering.

Live Version, "Meltdown"
From the "Meltdown" TV broadcast. A very different sounding version, with some gentle keyboards giving it a much more subtle edge than the full-on album version. The guitars are also a lot less prominent, but this isn't just different, its good too. Highly recommended.

Original Version
One of the best Cross tracks. Funny, loud and a superb guest guitar solo from Brian May. The B-side to "Cowboys And Indians", on the 7", 12" and the promo CD single. Appears on the album in a very slightly modified form. You have to listen carefully! The guitar in this original seems more prominent at the beginning, and the mix doesn't sound quite so rhythm-dominated. There is an extra line of vocals too. Just before Brian's solo, Roger screams "I want you to burn!". Part way through, the word "Burn!" is heard again. This second "Burn!" is left in the LP mix, but the first line is missing. Honest! Possibly this is an earlier take, or the track was remixed for the LP. Again the running time here (4:14) is slightly shorter than the LP take of 4:25.

Live Version, Astoria 1990
On the "Astoria 1990" bootleg, originally made available through the Official Fan Club (but don't bother asking them about it now). This version has much less guitar than usual, especially at the start, where the initial guitar riffs are actually played on bass guitar (not lead). This makes for a much "funkier" sound, although the guitar soon kicks in anyway. Interesting.

US Version
On the US album, the time quoted for this is nearly a minute longer than for the UK equivalent. The song is exactly the same however. The extra time arises because on the US album "Rough Justice" is the last track, and has what is best described as a reprise of "Shove It" tacked on the end, as a sort of album "outro" (approx 50 seconds). Its very nice, even out of context, as it gives the song a more definite finish. Time 4:14

UK Version
On the UK album, and the UK "Shove It" single (7", 12" and CD). The same as the US version but without the "reprise" at the end. Which means this is a "stand-alone" version, although technically the reprise isn't part of the song anyway. Time 3:22

B-sides & Bonus Tracks etc.

Album Version
Available only on the US version of the album. Good song, and a real shame it wasn't released in the UK as it would have made a great B-side. The restrained intro grabs your attention, but the rest is only slightly less deserving. Time 3:25.

Live Version, "Meltdown"
From the "Meltdown" TV broadcast. Performed at the very first Cross show, this was played but had very different lyrics to the album version. Either it was unfinished at the time, or Roger just changed his mind about the words at a later date. Either way its quite different. The first verse is fine, after that it gets very different in places. The musical arrangement is quite different too, being more restrained (and I think better for it). Very interesting indeed!

Bonus Track On UK CD Album
On the UK CD only, this track is a remix of "Shove It". In fact it sounds identical to the "extended mix", with the "reprise" from the US "Rough Justice" mentioned above added on the end (the reprise seems to be the last thing on both versions of the album). If you have the extended mix already, you won't find anything new here, unless you really want an edited version. Personally I'd go for this over the extended mix though.

Swedish-Only Remix Double Album
I confess I've never seen this, but have heard of it several times, usually selling at extortionate prices. It is a Swedish-only version of the "Shove It" album, but is a double LP not the usual single. I don't have a track listing, but it is always described as a "remix LP". I expect the extra LP is simply a compilation of existing material (most likely the mixes of "Shove It") rather than anything new, but when I win the lottery I'll buy a copy and find out. Best guess is that it contains at least one exclusive mix, probably of "Shove It". If anyone out there has this, or at least knows what's on it, please let me know.