Search - Hall & Oates :: 12 Inch Collection

4+ stars and a great addition for hard-core fans of this duo

guillermoj | Washington, DC United States | 07/28/2004

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Although this Japanese import is not cheap by any means, it's a good addition for any hard-core mid-1980s Hall & Oates fan. Since I am a HUGE Hall & Oates fan, I had to take a chance on it. There is not a dud in the 11 song collection and that is saying a lot as remix/extended mix efforts are usually a hit or miss, usually a miss. The collection opens up with extended versions of Out of Touch and Say It Isn't So, which bring the respective bass to the front of the mix and both have instrumental interludes that are very strong and not just filler. Not very different from the originals, but quite fun and serve as documents as to what 80s mixes sounded like.



My favorite remix here might be Possession Obsession as it is given new life with additional bells and whistles and a strong sax addition that makes the song even sexier than in its original form. Family Man and Private Eyes are not too different from the originals (maybe a stronger echo on the former and a voice isolation in the latter) so even though I like the songs, they lacks 12 inch treatment as per the title of the CD. Dance On Your Knees just rocks and I am so glad that they made a full song out of it as I always hated it when Out Of Touch was played without this killer intro. The remix screams 1980s but somehow sounds perfectly even today. Note that the extended Dance On Your Knees is almost entirely an instrumental, as you try and weigh out whether this purchase is for you. One on One has never sounded sexier, but the extended treatment does not help as it repeats a chorus that was perfect in shorter form.



Everything Your Heart Desires is an underrated song from the duo's 1988 Ooh Yeah. A great song is made even better by incorporating some cool echos and whistles (literally), and then permuting into a harder edge 1980s dub. Something Are Better Left Unsaid is great and digs deeper into its rock than any other song in the CD.



The gospel-infused remix of Daryl Hall's Everytime You Go Away is worth the price of admission. Daryl's voice is so crisp and alive. It's has been stripped of externals except an organ and a killer guitar accompaniment worthy of Stevie Ray Vaughn. This song is one to listen to over and over again. I Can't Go For That (No Can Do) has been given a an 1990s house treatment that does not quite do it for me as it's repetitive and strips the songs of the magic of this duo's melody.



All in all, a great addition for any hard-core fan but not essential for the casual fan. The 24-bit remastering makes it sound great. Two songs out of the set are amazing and hard-core fans will love the differences, eight others are at least almost as good as the originals, with the only let down being the HOAX remix (not making the title up) of I Can't Go For That (No Can Do). This volume easily earns 4+ stars and I am off to buy volume 2 and will tell you all about it as you guys here at Amazon really are the best. Thanks for helping me and I hope that this helps you.

"

More Like "Fantastic" 12" Collection"

TomAzon | United States | 06/13/2003

(5 out of 5 stars)

"After a year of waiting, the "12" Collection" is finally available. I must say it was worth the wait as all the songs were 24-bit remastered. Now I don't know a lot about the 24-bit process but my ears tell me it's a huge improvement over 'normal' compact discs. I directly compared some songs by playing the same song from another disc simultaneously on another player and there is a lot more detail and prescence on this disc.I was skeptical about "Some Things Are Better Left Unsaid" because when the vinyl 12" single of this "New Mix" came out in 1985, it turned out to be identical to the LP version. Here, there is (only) a slight difference in Daryl Hall's vocals in the first minute of the song.All the remixes are very well done except for the Hoax Mix of "I Can't Go For That" which I would gladly trade for the "Don't Change" remix, or "I Don't Wanna Lose You" or.... Make sure you play "Dance on Your Knees" backwards to hear Daryl singing "Swept Away" (use a DVD player).The next logical step would be a COMPLETE collection of Hall & Oates' remixes (not to mention videos, but that's another story).Track Listing:
1. Out Of Touch (Extended Version)
2. Say It Isnt So (Special Extended Dance Mix)
3. Possession Obsession (Special Mix)
4. Family Man (Extended Dance Mix)
5. Private Eyes (UK Mix)
6. Dance On Your Knees (Extended Version)
7. One On One (Club Mix)
8. Everything Your Heart Desires (54th Street Extended Remix)
9. Some Things Are Better Left Unsaid (Special New Mix)
10. Everytime You Go Away (Remix Version)
11. I Cant Go For That (No Can Do) (HOAX Remix)"

Finally! The First Volume of Hall & Oates Remixes on CD

TomAzon | United States | 12/20/2003

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Here are the tracks, the music speaks for itself."Out of Touch" (Extended)"Say It Isn't So" (Extended)"Family Man" (UK Extended Mix)"Private Eyes" (UK Mix)"Dance On Your Knees" (Extended Remix)"One On One" (Extended Club Mix)"Everything Your Heart Desires" (54th Street Remix - also available with other versions on a CD single)."Some Things Are Better Left Unsaid" (A genuine new mix here. The original vinyl 12" single was identical to the album)."Every Time You Go Away" (Remix)"I Can't Go For That (No Can Do)" (Hoax Remix)The only disappointment here is the Hoax Remix of "I Can't Go For That" (The original extended mix is on "12-Inch Collection Volume II" which I also recommend).The sound is superb with 24-bit remastering."