I have a1986 Motown "2 All Time Great Classic Albums" Commodores release with the album Heroes and the self-titled debut on it, and the interesting thing is the version of "Zoom" is not the same one as is on the original self-titled debut. The one I have is around 3:40 and is a live version, whereas the one that is supposed to be on there is around 6:40 and not live. Don't know if that's what's supposed to be on mine or not, maybe they did it due to time constrictions?

I'm pretty sure that self-titled album is their 4th or 5th record, not their debut. I think the debut is "Machine Gun" with that great instrumental title track. Interesting about that live version being substituted, but that would tick me off for sure.

I read that Polygram's reissues of the first KISS album on LP and cassette substituted the live version of "Nothin' To Lose" from Alive! for the studio version. Polygram really butchered the KISS catalog in the '80s with shoddy reissues (including a few of the original CDs).

On the original version of the Commodores' "Commordores" album, 'Zoom' is a studio track that runs 6:40. When Motown put together the 2 albums on on CD packages together back in 1986, they probably put the shorter live version of 'Zoom' due to time constrctions. But, it's a compromise and not the one that's supposed to be on there.

The proper studio Zoom is on the 1995 best of (Anthology series).
It's a pity as that's a great sounding version otherwise.

1977's "Commodores Live!" (the same 2-LP set with the single "Hot To Trot") - for better or for worse - is considered a part of their formal discography. They just used an edit of that version. Another good example of Motown substituting with a live track would be Marvin Gaye's "Distant Lover." NEVER will you find the studio version (from "Let's Get It On") on a comp, but rather the boisterous version from the Oakland Coliseum 1974. Suffice it to say, all Commodores LP's during the "Richie Years" should be owned individually.