Indeed for fans only/ Version of song corrections
B. Whitt | 11/19/2004
(3 out of 5 stars)
"I think everyone so far has summed up this buy well when saying it is for fans only. The purpose of my review will to go a little more in depth as to what these tracks actually are. Many of the parenthetical mix names at the end are misleading, and so, in order to see if you already have these versions, I will make it clear as to what the tracks really are.
1. Shout (Beatchuggers Remix) - yes, this is a new mix that is sped up. It is to my knowledge not present on any other cd.
2. Change (New Version) - This unlike what many believe is not the Single version of Change. It is really not any of the other previously released versions of Change but a new remix. Most versions of change have some 4 bars cut out of them somewhere but this one is complete without cuts. That being said like the other review said, it is basically Change. In fact it is almost identical to the Change of of The Hurting, so I am not really sure why it was put on here. It should definately not be confused with the Change (New Version) off one of the old singles because that song is a completely different remix of Change or the (Single Version) off the same single.
3. Woman In Chains (Mix 42) - Unlike what the last reviewer said I can find no structural difference between this song and the Woman In Chains off of The Seeds of Love. In fact it is one second shorter than that version. To my best guess, the only difference is that this version may have a different timbre for some of the parts, more lush, but I am not really sure about that. If anyone can find any structual differences in the song I would like to know ie parts that have been changed, added, ommitted or anything else.
4. Sowing The Seeds Of Love (Wen's Overnight Mix) - This is a new version of the song. It is longer than the album version by 29 seconds and is basically the length of the (Full version) off the 12" single. It is basically the (Full Version). The slight difference, besides the timbre, that can be found between the two is if you listen to the "Feel the pain" part of the song, you will hear an added echo, which is remeniscent to how the song is being performed live on tour right now by them. This echo is in no other version of the song. I personally don't like the echo but whatever.
5. Pale Shelter (New Extended Version/ 12"Mix?QC) - This is the Pale Shelter (Long Version) which can be found as one of the bonus tracks of the Hurting Remastered released a few years ago. It is longer than the (New Extended Mix) off of the original single as it ends on the drum flourish rather than fading out and is basically around 20 seconds longer than that one. This is though identical the the (Long Version) on the Hurting Remastered unless anyone else has found a difference.
6. Head Over Heels (Dave Bascombe's 7"N.Mix) - I am not positive about this but I do believe that this is the Head Over Heels Remix off of the singles like everyone else says. This means that it is Head over Heels exactly with a slightly different timbre.
7. I Believe (A Soulful Re-Recording) - This track is correctly labled and is the rerecording of I Believe issued on the Single. It is different than the album version.
8. Tears Roll Down (U.S. Dance Mix) - This song is just Tears Roll Down, the b-side off of the Sowing the Seeds of love single that was later made into a single song Laid So Low by Roland to Promote the Greatest Hits album created right when Roland and Curt split. I cannot find any difference between this song and the song on both Saturnine Marshial and Lunatic or the Seeds of Love Remastered Cd so why they put (U.S. Dance Mix) beside it is a mystery. Probably to sell more cds.
9. Everybody Wants To Rule The World (Urban Mix) - This is probably just the (Urban Mix) that was released on the single version when it came out. It it is any different, it is longer. If it is long though, it is longer because of an addition of 4 or 8 more measures at the end of the annoying repetitive drum beat that has already been repeated needless for one minute before. Thus if you have the orginal urban mix in pretty good quality, then this song is not worth fretting over.
10. Mad World (World Remix) - This is a correctly labled track. This version was off of the original singles and can also be found on the Hurting Remastered cd.
11. Mothers Talk (Beat The Drum Mix) - This is the Mothers Talk (Beat of the Drum Mix) that was released on a single when Mothers Talk came out. Why they omitted the "of" we will never know.
12. Johnny Panic And The Bible of Dreams (Unstable Mix) - This is the same version as the Fluke Remix off of Saturnine Marshial and Lunatic and (Mix One) off the Johnny Panic single released. The (Unstable Mix) is tacked on I guess to make it clear it is different than the original Johnny Panic Mix off of the Advice for the Young at Heart single, but it is not a new version as I had hoped.
This version analysis was performed by me with the help of the websites, Memories fade and the fantastic Tears for fears page.
All and all this Cd is a big dissappointment and really a rip off. Hardly any of these are different from versions found on other cds and it boggles the mind why they changed around the names of them. Only 4, maybe five of these are new remixes and of these only 3 are really discernably different from a structural standpoint, the Shout, Change, and Sowing the Seeds of Love remixes. And as you read only the Beatchuggers of these three is really interesting. Check to see how many of the songs they randomly renamed you already have before you consider to buy this album. On the other hand the sound quality of the Cd is good and some of these tracks, although on other cds, are rare to find. In conclusion, again, only get this if you are a TFF fan and only if you are collecting all of their music. That is unless you want to spend so much money on around 5 discernably new remixes and a bunch of stuff you already have."
Proceed with caution...
Alan Taylor | Chicago, IL United States | 10/09/2002
(3 out of 5 stars)
"This release seems a bit of a desperate attempt at a compilation that the artist didn't have enough material for. I love TFF, but this CD, apart from a few select tracks, leaves you with tracks that are called "remixes" but are nearly indistinguishable from the album and single versions of the songs. The first track, however, is a great recent dancefloor filler reworking of the classic "Shout". This is an "OK" compilation, but buyers should beware though, this compilation isn't exactly what the title leads you to expect. If you are a TFF collector and/or completist you'll probably want this CD, otherwise, get the greatest hits compilation instead."
For serious fans indeed...
Glenn David Torres | Des Plaines, Illinois | 03/04/2004
(3 out of 5 stars)
"i kinda notice that there was only one very encouraging review for this cd, that of antonio cruz. laurent of australia may have a point here. it is indeed quite expensive and too close for comfort from the original album/remix version. but then again, as cruz have said, money is no object for the serious fans of tears for fears. i should know, i went all the way to atlanta, georgia to join a bidding for a very rare 4cd demos and remix compilations of the group. it cost me a fortune but i diddn't mind at all. after all, i am not just buying a group's effort. i am also buying a part of history i grew up with.my $50 suggestion is, if you have the moolah, go splurge on this one. if you don't, wait 10 more years when they start playing these tracks in a vintage show dedicated for 80's pop greats. your choice..."
Track Listings (12) - Disc #1