> Anyone have it? It has a sound test in which there are 3 version of each music:
> "Ver B ORI", "Ver A ORI", "AB".
>
> And the legendary "after burner" theme is different between ver A and B. I
> remember debates around, "hey this is not the exact theme, it misses some
> instruments!!"; well B is like arcade, and A is the one with extra instruments.
> I still wonder where Ver A appeared, since it was not in arcades...

OK, lets lay this one to rest.

Whilst the game was in developement the Afterburner soundtrack was the "extra instrument" version with the full YM2151 melody.

During developement for whatever reason the soundtrack was heard without the YM running (just the SegaPCM) and the game designers liked the bass driven sound so much they decided to drop the YM2151 melody and use that version instead.

The reason people recognise the originals is due to the fact that these were the basis for most of the arrangements and mix's, and these versions allegedly appeared on some magazine cover cassettes,

Cheers,

Six...

System16 - The Arcade Museum