Rivkah Maccaby | Bloomington, IN United States | 11/22/2001
(5 out of 5 stars)
"I'm so in love with Debbie Harry, that if she recorded "The best of Burl Ives," I'd buy it. That said, this isn't the ESSENTIAL Debbie Harry. It's still great. For one thing, it has an all French "Sunday Girl," which I've never heard before, and as far as I'm concerned was worth the price of the CD. It's also got seven minute versions of "Call Me," and "Rapture."This is a fun CD; a terrific romp through songs that have the stamp of Deborah Harry on them. People who are hearing her for the first time probably don't want to hear seven minutes of "Call Me," but true fans do. This is a CD especially for hardcore fans. As such, it's a joy to have and hold, like that something in "Dreaming." It's a gift, as though she's thinking of us, those of us who have been listening for a long time, and rewind "Atomic" over and over, and want a four and a half minute version.That's what's new here, the feeling. If you're a fan, this CD will really make you feel good. "Once more into the bleach"-- come on-- you get the joke only if you've been a fan for years and years. If you're a fan, you need this CD."
What's missing from the 2001 re-issues is HERE.
sillindr | San Francisco, CA USA | 09/27/2001
(4 out of 5 stars)
"OK folks, let's get one thing straight. This is a mix of old and new. The versions of "atomic", "heart of glass", and "sunday girl" are the ORIGINAL (ie 1978-9) disco versions (ok, so "sunday girl" is just in French, but it WAS on the 12"), "denis", ""call me", "rapture", "the tide is high", and "backfired" were not only REMIXED (remember this is a 1988 concept of a remix - which, quite frankly - I find more rewarding than 2001's 'remix' concept...but I digress), but Debbie RE-RECORDED vocals for these tracks as well! All other tracks are her random solo 12" mixes and soundtrack contributions (eg "feel the spin" - produced by Jellybean "I discovered Madonna" Benitez- from Krush Groove ; remember THAT one?).
Anyway, a pretty cool mix of stuff. Worth it ALONE of the original "atomic"
12" mix and the Giorgio "call me" Moroder-produced "rush rush" (NOW I know where he got those cool sounds for Berlin's "no more words"!) Not to mention what could be COLDCUT's first remix ("the tide is high")!
Good stuff - some filler - but 80% good stuff."
Worthwhile and fun
Pink Champagne | New Lenox, Illinois | 06/25/2006
(3 out of 5 stars)
"This is a Blondie, Debbie Harry, remix and rarities collection rolled in one. It was recorded in 1988 and released in 1989, im guessing as a stop-gap for Debbie's solo career. There are 7 Blondie songs and 6 of Debbie Harry's. Denis, Call Me, Rapture, The Tide Is High, In Love With Love, and Backfired are all heavily remixed, and sound very late-80's. The Jam Was Moving is also techincally remixed, but it just sounds as if certain parts were taken out, and others made longer. Rush Rush and Feel The Spin are from the soundtracks to Scarface and Krush Groove, both done solo by Debbie. Heart Of Glass, a "special disco mix", and Atomic are really just longer versions of the originals, not that they needed remixing in the first place. French Kissing in the USA is partly sung in French, while Sunday Girl is a full French-launguage version. With the exception of the really, really awful version of Denis and the bland discection of The Jam Was Moving, these remixs are shockingly pretty good. Call Me and Rapture are the best of these. The originally very dull In Love With Love sounds great and has benefited the most with its remix. Rush Rush is better than anything Debbie has done solo, and I think could have been a big hit had its airplay not been so limited. Although im not sure just who this collection was intended for or why it was made in the first place, it's a worthwhile compilation with only those two missteps."
"AWASH with Classic Tracks Revamped"
Reginald D. Garrard | Camilla, GA USA | 09/22/2000
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Many may find the reworked hits slightly sacrilegious; I, for one, find these retooled versions serve to only enhance the already magnificence of Debbie Harry and company. Highlights are "Rapture," "The Tide is High," "Atomic," and Harry's solo efforts "The Jam is Moving," and, yes, "Backfired" with its playful piano accompaniment.This along with the remix album released some years later are great additions to any collection of the best of Blondie."