Paul's forty-third single.
Credited to "Paul McCartney".
Here is where Paul really went to town, and I'm sure there was a certain mischievous bit of fun being had by Paul here at the
fans expense ! ... a plethora of versions and "remixes" !!
"Figure of Eight" had appeared on "Flowers In The Dirt" five months earlier, but that version was the only one NOT to come
out on these versions ! ... The initial 7" had a different version of the song (not just remixed) which was over 5 minutes
long and re-recorded by Paul on 1st September 1989.
The B-side "Ou Est Le Soleil?" was unreleased on vinyl from December 1987 although this released version was marked as
mixed by top DJ remixer, Shep Pettibone.
The same day a CD single was released, this was an edited version of the A-side, and did NOT carry "Ou Est Le Soliel ?",
instead coupling "Loveliest Thing" an unreleased track from June 1987, and the version of "Long And Winding Road"
identified on Paul's previous release, "This One". Their were even two versions of this CD release on the same day, one
having a gatefold sleeve and numbered CDRS 6235.
Also the same day a 12" with the same "Figure Of Eight" A-side, but (bizarrely !), a "Club Lovejoys Mix" of
"This One" running to over 6 minutes. This is the cover you can see at the top, above.
Next, one week later a 12" with the standard "Figure OF Eight", and the same original 7" mix of "Ou". This was numbered
12 RS 6235.
A further week on, and this time a 3" CD release, containing the usual two tracks, but this time adding "Rough Ride",
which once again is a different version to that found on the album.
And finally one final 12" ... standard "Figure OF Eight", but an even longer Pettibone remix of "Ou" running at over 7
minutes, plus a "Tub Dub" mix of it at 4 and a half minutes (The other 12" pictured above).
Paul did produce a video clip for "Ou Est Le Soleil?" on July 14th 1989, but I don't recall there ever being a vid for
the A-side.
The single was released in a picture sleeve.
I also have an American Import version of "Ou Est Le Soleil", which only contains three mixes of that track, without any
"Figure Of Eight". The mixes are the 7 minute pettibone mix, the "Tub Dub" mix, and an instrumental mix. This is pictured
below.
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