ABWH—“Quartet (I’m Alive)” single edit

[patrickq]

https://youtu.be/Mnly2nTBsj8

So it is a dopey music video, but I still remember being blown away when I heard this version on the In the Big Dream VHS for the first time. In this edit, the first three parts of the interminable “Quartet” of the Anderson Bruford Wakeman Howe album are excised, and the somewhat catchy last section (“I’m Alive”) is presented in a Very Different Version, an adult-contemporary ditty with an entirely new verse, all-new, extra-cheesy trumpet keyboards from Wakeman, and a very nice Wakeman/Bruford/Howe buildup leading to a magnificent Jon-Anderson-choir climax and fade. If they’d pared down a few more songs like this, the album would’ve been shorter but richer.

A forgotten gem, in my opinion.

[Yesed]

I dont like the single version of Im alive, as much as the album original version of that section. Jon has a way of ruining perfectly good song lyrics by changing them. I think of Boundaries, from Animation and other versions with bluebirds.

[patrickq]

^I’ll admit it’s hokey, even by Andersonian standards. But I can’t lie. I love it.

[luvyesmusic]

I love this video of the song so much more.

https://youtu.be/OlGHklW_ZII

[patrickq]

I love this video of the song so much more.

Had you ever seen it before? I know I hadn’t.

[Yesjim]

I remember getting a CD single of Brother of Mine that had this and Vultures on it. Never cared for the album version of Quartet that much but loved this alternate version! And always thought Vultures was an overlooked gem in the rough.

[luvyesmusic]

Had you ever seen it before? I know I hadn’t.

One of my favorites. Why I wanted to share. Kind of a hidden gem, and something different. Just like this song.

I love kids, and Jon’s voice and this song go great with them and this video. Makes me sad knowing it wasn’t that long ago my own daughter was young and little, and now she’s eighteen and off to Pharmacy College this fall.

[patrickq]

I remember getting a CD single of Brother of Mine that had this and Vultures on it. Never cared for the album version of Quartet that much but loved this alternate version! And always thought Vultures was an overlooked gem in the rough.

The 3” CD single?

[clos2thedge]

I did not like that

[Yesjim]

The 3” CD single?

Yes! Curious item, found it in a box of 3" CD's on the counter of our local Tower. Same day I found the regular CD single with Quartet omitted. Had the radio edit of BOM instead.

[True]

I'd forgotten about this one. I think I have a wav file of it somewhere but I don't remember where I got it. I'd like to find an official audio version if there is such a thing.
I vaguely remember some comments from that time about how ABWH were encouraged to come up with some sort of additional single after the album had been finished. Wouldn't it be fun if someone could find the film/video they had shot of ABWH for that promotional video, and re-cut a new video today, replacing the original 80's video effects. Love Bill Bruford's coat.

[Grey Wolf]

I'd forgotten about this one. I think I have a wav file of it somewhere but I don't remember where I got it. I'd like to find an official audio version if there is such a thing.

It's on the bonus disc of the remastered/re-issued versions of the ABWH album.

[patrickq]

Yes! Curious item, found it in a box of 3" CD's on the counter of our local Tower. Same day I found the regular CD single with Quartet omitted. Had the radio edit of BOM instead.

I special-ordered three of the ABWH 3” singles. Spent a fair amount of 1989 US dollars lol. But yeah. The edits were fun. “Vultures” was pretty good too.

[Close to the Edge 72]

I love it. I heard it played it once on air in Philadelphia and I tracked it down. It's on the video I have but don't believe I have an audio version of it.

[patrickq]

^That’s awesome. I remember hearing “Run With the Fox” as I was driving past Cleveland once. That, and the ending of “Tempus Fugit” in the early 90s on a Hartford station, is pretty much the extent of my 🤯 Yes radio moments.