Question about 'Straight back'.
 

Maybe this has been discussed before, but I'll ask it anyway.

The original version of 'Straight back' was released in 1982 on the vinyl 'Mirage' album (LP). This version does not have (amongst other things) a guitar solo by Lindsey at the end.
On every other version...

-the original CD (from ~1988 or so)
-the 2016 vinyl version
-the 2016 remasterded version on CD 1
-the 2016 DVD mixes

...there IS a guitar solo at the end.

Does this mean that the original version of 'Straight back' is not available on CD?

My original cassette DID NOT have the guitar solo at the end on it. I was shocked when I bought the CD, years later, and lo and behold, there it was!

Is IS available, actually. It's located on the disc of outtakes and demos on last year's Deluxe Edition.

But I've wondered this for years....WHY would they originally release it one way, then remix it a year or two later(or was it maybe done when it was first released on CD?? - that would be my guess, but IDK)?

As an 11 year old kid, I rode my bicycle to the mall record store and bought the cassette version of "Mirage" the week it was released in 1982. My 1982 cassette does not have the guitar solo version of "Straight Back". I'm assuming that those who remastered the CD in later incarnations decided that the version with the guitar at the end was the superior take.

I guess it's been discussed how this song is largely about John Lennon...

I thought that was Edge of 17.

Of course it is... I totally forgot, thanks!

I have to say - Lindsey's solo is subtle enough that with out without doesn't HURT either version but ... I'd rather WITH the solo, it helps drive the fade out more powerfully.