The Bangles Discography

The Real World

1) Remix
The lead track from the Bangles' debut EP was remixed for release as a radio single. It was issued as a promo single on Faulty Products in the USA, and in 1988 it saw the light of day on a 3" CD retail single. The remix features sharper guitar and louder vocals than the original, though in places the guitars sound a little clunky and odd. It is not however a major change from the original. This remix was produced by the band's later producer David Kahne. In a 1991 interview Susanna Hoffs said that it was through this remix the Bangles first met Kahne.

Hero Takes A Fall

1) Remix
Released on later single releases and also on the Greatest Hits CD, this version has louder intro backing vocals and a different drums.

2) Live In London
A rockin' live version released on the charity album "LIVE! For Life".

James

1) Live In Glasgow
One of the few officially released Bangles live recordings, this song was released with a live version of Walking Down Your Street on the Going Down To Liverpool 12" single in the UK.

I Got Nothing

1) Alternative Version

One of the pleasant surprises on the "Essential Bangles" compilation CD, this alternative take of the Goonies sountrack song features different vocals and a rawer, less polished guitar sound. There is no indication on the sleeve that this is an alternative version - some fans have even speculated that Sony have accidentally released the wrong version!

Manic Monday

1) Extended Version
This song is indentical to the album version until the final chorus, where instead of repeating the chorus the song ends in the normal way. There is then a beautiful, folky, acoustic guitar interlude, with harmony vocals. We then hear the familiar intro again, before going to the "out of my nights" verse again. The song then ends in the same way as the album version. The acoustic section in the middle adds another quality to the song, being so far removed from the faster paced keyboards in the rest of the song. It also gives us an opportunity to hear clear harmony vocals, something that has always made Manic Monday special.

2) Extended California Version
This version is the same as the regular extended version, except the acoustic folky part also forms the intro to the song. The intro is basically just a shortened version of the interlude in the above version, and after the "ohhhhh, it's just another Manic Monday" vocal the mix goes directly into the normal intro. This is the best of the two versions as the softer, gentler intro gives the song a unique quality before the manic monday starts. It also adds to the effect of the main acoustic interlude.

3) Alternative album version
There are also rumours of an alternative version on some early pressings of Different Light. According to Bangle legend it ends with the folky acoustic part described above, with the vocal leading into the regular Manic Monday intro. This album version intro then repeats and fades out.

If She Knew What She Wants

1) Extended Remix
Despite its name, this is more of an extended version than a remix since it sounds the same as the album version. The main difference is an excellent interlude of chugging guitar and Bangle harmonies. It's in the middle of the song and comes after the "and it;s nothing she can explain" line. Like the interlude in Manic Monday it adds a whole new dimension to the song, but unlike Manic Monday retains the same tempo.

Walk Like An Egyptian

1) Extended Dance Mix
A long version of the original, padded out at the start, middle and end with keyboards and drum programming.

2) Dub Mix
A reworked version of the above mix, unusually Michael’s verse is the first one to be featured rather than Vicki’s. Like the WDYS Dub Mix only parts of the vocal are heard on this mix.

3) Acapella Version
One of the most unusual of all the Bangles mixes, this has all elements stripped out except for percussion, allowing the voices to be heard virtually unhindered.

4) Ozymandias 7” Remix
The "forgotten remix", this mix was released only in the UK in support of the Greatest Hits album, and after the Bangles had split up. It came when the Madchester scene was at its height (a musical and cultural craze centred on the clubs of Manchester in north west England), and the Madchester influence was noticeable. A drum and bass reworking of the song, with some extra (non-Bangles) vocals and Arabic sounds, this remix has had very mixed reviews among Bangles fans. Certainly, it is completely unlike any other Bangles recording.

5) Ozymandias 12” Remix
The longest of all the Bangles mixes clocking in at nearly 8 minutes, this is a very padded out version of the above, particularly after the final verse.

6) Sanny X Remix
Released by the Disco Mix Club (DMC) as a DJ-only 12" rather than an official CBS release, this mix uses the Acapella mix as its basis. VERY early 90s-sounding drum program and keyboards are used, with a strong synth bassline. The vocals are largely untouched but the instrumentation is a new departure making the song sound completely different (and completely dated!).

Walking Down Your Street

1) Remix (Single Version)
Like many Bangles songs WDYS was slightly reworked for single release. The most noticeable change is the slightly altered arrangement at the beginning of the song.

2) Extended Remix
Also known as the Extremely Danceable Remix, this version consists of a long extended version of the album version. Starting off with just the drums, the guitars and vocals fade in in a similar way to the album version. There's also a long section in the middle of drums and a keyboard solo.

3) Dance Mix
Released in the USA instead of the above version, this is a proper remix with keyboard overdubs and drum program. It also has a few alternative vocal arrangements (a doo doo) heard throughout the mix. It's very pop, very 80s dance version and so not very Bangles. But it's interesting to hear a real bubblegum pop take on a Bangles track.

4) Dub Mix
Largely similar to the above mix, but with Susanna only singing the first word or two of each line. Slightly shorter.

5) Instrumental
From the same remixing session as the above mixes (rather than an instrumental version of the album version), it includes the keyboards, and also has a small amount of vocals.

6) Live In Glasgow
Just like the name suggests, not a remix but one of the few officially released live recordings of Bangles songs.

Bangles Hitmix

Originally released on the "Following" 12" single and several times since, this is the longest of the two Bangles megamixes, clocking in at over 14 minutes long. It starts with Manic Monday (California version with the acoustic intro) as far as the second chorus, before going into If She Knew What She Wants (Extended Remix) from the "chugging guitar interlude" onwards. The moment ISKWSW ends the mix jumps to Walking Down Your Street (part of the Extended Remix) before jumping into Going Down To Liverpool (as far as the second chorus). Finally the mix switches to Walk Like An Egyptian, with almost the entire 12" dance mix of the song closing the mix.

There is no real remixing in the Bangles Hitmix, and all the individual songs jump from one to the next rather than smoothly seguing. The most effective transition is MM to ISKWSW, with the line "just another manic" being dubbed over the "chugging guitar interlude" of ISKWSW, making the most natural sounding link.

Hazy Shade Of Winter

1) Purple Haze Mix
The standard 12” remix, this features some keyboard overdubs and drum programming. It also has louder and sharper guitar than the album version, and many fans agree that it rocks even harder than the original. After a long drum section lasting several minutes, this mix ends with a very cool echo of Susanna singing the word “ground”.

2) Dub Mix
Not a dub mix at all, but basically a 7” version of the Purple Haze Mix. The mix is slighty different and the keyboards are more prominent (particularly the synth bassline).

3) Shady Haze Version
Possibly the oddest “remix” in the history of 12-inch vinyl, this is just the album version, but backwards! So the song isn’t Hazy Shade Of Winter at all, it’s Retniw Fo Edahs Yzah!

4) w/o intro
Like the name suggests, this version cuts straight to the guitar, without the keyboard and “time, time, time/see what’s become of me” intro.

n.b. sometimes the original version is listed as a "remix", since the Bangles remixed the song after they disliked Rick Rubin's final mix. This song is not therefore a remix per se, since it does not differ from the version found on the "Less Than Zero" soundtrack.

In Your Room

1) Extended Version
With a slightly stepped up drum the beat to this version is a little different. It's extended throughout with longer sections of drum and rhythm guitar between the chrous and second verse and in other places throughout.

2) 12" Instrumental
Despite its name it has a similar running time to the album version. It does however feature the stepped up drum of the extended version. A straightforward instrumental version with no trace of vocals (unlike WDYS, see above).

3) 7" Remix
A slightly different alternative 7” version of the song. Throughout the song the percussion is louder, making it slightly more of a dance song. The most noticeable change however is the intro, which begins with a little of the booming bass drum heard throughout the song, before leading into the regular intro.

Eternal Flame

1) Acoustic Version
Recorded at the House of Blues in Los Angeles in 2000, this exqusite guitar and harmony-laden version was released as the gurls' first B-side in 14 years in 2003 on the Something That You Said single. Fans may want to note that Susanna Hoffs has also released several acoustic versions of Eternal Flame as a solo artist.

Be With You

1) Single Version
Just a slight difference in running time, also the single version has the keyboard sound removed from the bridge.

I'll Set You Free

1) Remix
A complete re-working of this song was created for single release. The sound is much fuller and richer, with a more orchestral and rich-sounding arrangement when compared with the album version. The intro is a vocal and drum rendition of the chorus (rather than the intstrumental intro on the album version) which helps make the chorus more anthemic and memorable, especially when it is repeated later on in the song.

2) Remix Edit
Just a slightly shortened version of the above remix for the 7" single, this version unfortunately cuts most of Michael's exqusite "all I want is you" line near the end, one of the many highlights of this song.

The Eternal Mix

Another Bangles megamix, and much more obscure than the Bangles Hitmix (see above), as this mix was only released on a promotional 7" in Spain. However, unlike the Bangles Hitmix there's an attempt here to keep the same beat throughout.

First, the drum program from the Purple Haze Mix of Hazy Shade of Winter is dubbed over the first few lines of Eternal Flame, making it a unique (albeit short) "dance mix" of the Bangles' biggest hit. Then the mix switches to the guitar solo of HSOW (the beginning of the Purple Haze Mix of HSOW, with the guitar only), with the drum line of In Your Room being overdubbed, to superb effect. Hearing HSOW guitar and IYR drums together is unique and effective. The HSOW guitar ends and part of IYR is heard, before smoothly seguing into part of the Extended Remix of Walking Down Your Street. A little more of the Purple Haze Mix of HSOW comes before Walk Like An Egyptian, with snippets of the Acapella Mix and the Dub Mix of WLAE. Finally, as WLAE ends Be With You starts up, and the first minute of this song closes the mix.

In many ways the Eternal Mix is more effective than the Bangles Hitmix, though it is much shorter (only 4.30). Although it does sound a little odd in places the mix is smoother and less abrupt, and much more imaginative, with bits of one song being mixed with another to create a new and unique sound. nb. Mixed produced by the Blade Runners.

Something That You Said

1) Jeremy Wheatley Radio Mix
Remixed for single release by one of the UK's biggest pop producers, the Bangles comeback hit has been given even more of a contemporary feel than the groudbreaking album version. Although not a radical departure, the drum program is quieter in the mix giving it a more trancey, chilled-out feel. The harmonies are slightly quieter but are layered with chilled keyboards to create a very lush and relaxing sound, with a little subdued electric guitar piercing the sound on the verses, used to great effect.

This mix has been released on the US version of "Doll Revolution", rather than the original Brad Wood/Bangles mix.

2) Taffy Radio Mix
This mix is really an extended version of the album version. It starts with a largely acapella performance of the chorus from Susanna, before leading into a stripped down and chilled out version of the keyboard intro of the album version. Elements of this build up until it becomes the same as the album version intro. From this point on the remix is the same as the album version. Having the chorus at the start helps make the repeat of the chorus later on more anthemic, and it's very interesting to hear the chorus performed acapella at the start.

3) Taffy Radio Edit
Almost identical to the above mix but about 1 minute shorter, due to the second verse being cut. After the first verse, the chorus ending with "something that you said got through to me tonight" is performed, leading into the intstrumental part with guitar solo. The mix fades out in the same way as the above mix and the album version. Additionally, the intro on this version is slightly longer, going on for a few bars longer than the Taffy Radio Mix.

4) Brad Wood Mix/Original Version
Released on all versions of "Doll Revolution" except in the USA (though it does appear on the bonus DVD). It sounds a little less trancey and chilled-out than the JW remix, and the harmony vocals are noticeably louder.

Tear Off Your Own Head (It's A Doll Revolution)

1) Radio Edit
A very simple edit, with Vicki's "one must tear off one's own head" line at the beginning being cut out. Otherwise, this is identical to the album version.

I Will Take Care Of You

1) Alternative Version - Extra Strings
So far this version has only appeared on a UK 5-track Doll Revolution sampler (BANGLES002) and the sleeve does not list it as an alternative version. The only difference between the two versions is the extra strings on this version. The album version has just guitar and vocals on the first verse and chorus, on this alternative version however the strings start immediately and can be heard in the background. From the second verse on both versions are identical. It makes the song "feel" quite different during the first verse, as the album version is so simple and beautiful, and on this version the strings soften the sound and add more melody.

2) Single Remix (Steve Power Mix)
Slightly remixed for single release, this mix by Steve Power features a slight echo on the guitar and vocals, effects on the harmony vocals and different drums, sounding more like real drums than the more programmed sound of the original. There are also strings during the first chorus. Also features on the US version of Doll Revolution instead of the original.

3) Brad Wood Mix/Original Version
Unlike the original version of "Something That You Said", this original version of IWTCOY has not been released at all in the USA. Featuring on all other versions of "Doll Revolution", this version differs by making less use of strings, fewer filters on the harmony vocals and having a different drum track - the drums on this version sound more like a drum program.

Ride The Ride

1) Acoustic Version
From the same 2000 recording session at the House of Blues as the acoustic version of Eternal Flame (see above).