When I'm gone is a well known Motown tune that has always got people on the dance floor going back to the first decade of Northern Soul, but I have questions.
It has two different numbers, 114312 and 118209, both pressed on a Tamla label as 54111.  I've noticed lately that sellers are claiming both numbers to be the alternative mix, or the rarer take etc.
What is the actual difference when you listen to the two, is there an obvious way to tell which version you are listening to ?
Is it known which version got released in other countries? which mix came out on UK TMG ?
Seems to be both different numbers can be found on the WDJ releases, do both numbers appear on the stock copies?

If of any help, both US Stk copies of the two different numbers are exactly the same and time 2.05, the  US Demo copy is listed at  2.10, but I'm sure it is the same  at 2.05,  anyway all sound same to me? but maybe I'm deaf!

2 hours ago, purist said:

When I'm gone is a well known Motown tune that has always got people on the dance floor going back to the first decade of Northern Soul, but I have questions.
It has two different numbers, 114312 and 118209, both pressed on a Tamla label as 54111.  I've noticed lately that sellers are claiming both numbers to be the alternative mix, or the rarer take etc.
What is the actual difference when you listen to the two, is there an obvious way to tell which version you are listening to ?
Is it known which version got released in other countries? which mix came out on UK TMG ?
Seems to be both different numbers can be found on the WDJ releases, do both numbers appear on the stock copies?

 

When I'm Gone (William Robinson) published Jobete 01-Jun-64

Brenda Holloway; recorded Hitsville, completed 12-Jan-65 ; produced by Smokey Robinson ; [2nd odb, odb on Mary Wells]

unreleased; LP (M): Tamla T263 Hurtin' And Cryin'
Feb-65; 45 (M): Tamla TM 54111 A [1st pressing] [1st mix]
09-Feb-65; 45 (M): Tamla TM 54111 A [2nd pressing] [2nd mix]

courtesy of Don't Forget The Motor City

http://www.dftmc.info/index.html

 

According to Manship's 6the edition price guide, the 312 mix is harder to find on stock copies versus the 209 mix which is commoner.

       I just listened to both versions back to back and can't  notice much of a difference between the 2 mixes.

 

Whichever one I own or am trying to sell is the rarer, more disable, a "holier" Holy Grail, the  demo that's rarer than the issue / the issue that's the demo,  etc etc etc..............................

 

Is it really? On Ebay  there are a number of both different numbers, I also have quite a number of  other Motown 45's with differing numbers. When I'm Gone was a big seller, is it really rare? I picked up several copies for both, albeit a long time ago.

 

RELATED QUESTION ... what was the Brenda Holloway dance cut on the BBC's 'MY GUY' radioplay LP that was a totally different recording / mix to the original released version ?  (used to know, but at 75, the memory is shot).

After listening to both versions back to back on "The Complete Motown Singles...1965", I did find one difference between the 2 versions. On the original mix (...312), Brenda ends the song by singing "What Are You Gonna Do When I'm Gone" four times. On the 2nd version (...209), Brenda ends the song by singing "What Are You Gonna Do When I'm Gone " five times. This version did last longer- some copies have the time as 2:05, some as 2:10- maybe Motown didn't want to have to re-do the time on the labels and left it as is?

     "When I'm Gone" was a big seller for Brenda- it went to #25 Pop and Soul -#12 on the Billboard charts.