A sample pack of some of the best versus the longest cuts of
John J. Martinez | Chicago, Illinois United States | 12/22/2009
(5 out of 5 stars)
"This CD primer of some of the more essential breaks and extended versions of favorite songs from the UK was created in the UK, which goes to show the lack of real deep breaks or extended cuts from the "other side of the pond", but at least whoever it was that created it had a passion to put together a wonderful collection nevertheless.
The first CD is classic UK hits interspersed with 12" extendeds, like Simple Minds' "I Travel" and Franke's "Relax," but then to include such rarities like Landscape's "Einstein A Go Go" and Japan's "Life In Tokyo" and even some Heaven 17! This is pure early 80's UK craft, and is wonderful.
The 2nd CD is a basic helping of classics: The Sugarhill Gang, LL Cool J, Afrika Bambattaa, but then to throw in next to it Gwen Guthrie's "Seventh Heaven" and even to toss into the mix New Order's "Confusion"? This eclectic mix is also a rocker, and it breezes along with some pure energy.
The 3rd CD is unbelievable: Soft Cell's extended "Torch" rolls into The Cure's agonizing "Why Can't I Be You?" which for some reason kinda go together here. The whole tone is one of the alternative bands in the mid- to late-80's who began to rule the UK airwaves - Art Of Noise, Propaganda, etc. Most of these are also 12" cuts, and they play well.
All in all a very well done collection, and as a earlier written review on Amazon has commented, although some of the songs have been repeated on other compilations, but they're all here on this one now, and this was an obvious labor of love for someone who really remembered the obscure sounds from the club late that one Friday and Saturday night long ago when the DJ's used to spin the vinyl all night long and not just used a pre-programmed collection that's on their laptop.
Speaking of which, the music's sound is crystal clear, the CDs are well packaged and to be honest, this collection is pretty good, but the import price is a littl pricey.
However, if you get a copy, be assured that you will enjoy them as much as I did as you take a small hop down memory lane.
Please check out my other reviews, and thanks for reading..."
Lots of repeats from other compilations, but a handful of tr
Daniel W. Kelly | Long Island, NY United States | 11/15/2009
(4 out of 5 stars)
"Some standouts on this volume that I've never seen on CD before include the 12" version of Einstein a Go Go by Landscape, street dance by break machine, the longest version of Close to the Edit by Art of Noise that I've found on CD, the 12" of Club Country by The Associates, and bassline by mantronix. Other than that, I've found every single other 12" mix on other compilations, but if you've missed some of those in the past, and many of them are now out of print, than this disc might offer you some much sought after mixes on CD. Sound quality is excellent, although in a few cases, the songs may have been mastered from vinyl (I noticed some pops on the Pete Shelley track). Track times:
CD1
1. relax...frankie goes to Hollywood (7:25)
2. I travel...simple minds (6:13)
3. hard times/love action...human league (10:09) (simply the segued versions from the band's Love & Dancing remix album)
4. life in Tokyo...japan (7:05)
5. such a shame...talk talk (6:54)
6. nobody's diary...yazoo (6:09)
7. kiss me...stephen tin tin duffy (7:33)
8. Einstein a go go...landscape (5:28)
9. change....tears for fears (5:55)
10. play to win...heaven 17 (7:24)
11. wishing...a flock of seagulls (9:12)
CD2
1. confusion...new order (8:14)
2. the message...grandmaster flash (7:12)
3. don't stop the rock...freestyle (5:28)
4. planet rock...afrika bambaataa (6:22)
5. al-naayfiysh....hashim (6:41)
6. bassline...mantronix (6:01)
7. you'll rock...LL Cool J (4:30)
8. apache...sugarhill gang (6:13)
9. street dance...break machine (6:27)
10. seventh heaven...gwen Guthrie (7:24)
11. don't stop the music...Yarborough and people (7:53)
CD3
1. torch...soft cell (8:28)
2. why can't I be you...the cure (8:07)
3. pleasure boys...visage (6:55)
4. close to the edit...art of noise (7:39)
5. club country...the associates (6:46)
6. duel...propaganda (7:37)
7. da da da...trio (6:35)
8. change your mind...numan & sharpe (8:30)
9. homosapien...pete shelley (4:17)
10. white horse...laid back (3:55)
11. wheel me out...was (not was) (7:03)
"
Almost....
muzikfan | 01/24/2010
(4 out of 5 stars)
"...As in almost 5 stars. It's called 12"/80s electropop, and it does contain electropop. And, it's quite good.
Disc 1 starts us off with the interesting New York mix of "Relax" that doesn't really have any vocals, and goes for about 4 1/2 minutes without vocals, but starts us off with a bang. The 10 minute segued "Hard Times/Love Action", which was an okay choice, could have been a bit better.
Disc 2 isn't really ELECTROPOP, but HIP-HOP. It contains mainly hip-hop oriented songs, which can work, but it's only mildly electrop at best. Some songs work really well, while others probably belong elsewhere. The one's that work, though, are slammin' e.g. Seventh Heaven, Bassline, among others.
Disc 3 continues, more strongly, the electropop theme, with good songs.
Since it's called 12"/80s, you would expect that these be the long versions; they are. Save, literally, just 1 or 2 that are less than 5 minutes in length; maybe 3 or 4. Basically, you'll get some good electropop (and some hip-hop), if it's not just a bit quirky, or more pop, and it works VERY well.
"
Track Listings (11) - Disc #1