Search - Motels :: Essential Collection

Beautifully Remastered Collection -- But Still Missing Chart

Jason W. Bellenger | Byron Center, Michigan, USA | 05/03/2005

(3 out of 5 stars)

"Yet another compilation from The Motels! EMI/Capitol does it again -- that is, milking cash out of them as much as they can. Instead of giving their albums a proper update and remaster treatment, Capitol throws out yet another collection. Yet it still isn't right!



Notable U.S. Billboard Hot 100 entries are still missing:

"Forever Mine" (#60 in 1982). Only it's b-side, "So L.A.", makes an appearance.

"Shock [7" Remix]" (#84 in 1985). It would have been nice to have this rarity in remastered form on CD finally. Why it was left off again I'll never know.



The Motels also scored a couple of minor U.K. hits. These two singles were their only charting singles in the U.K., and unfortunately they are missing from this "Essential Collection":

"Whose Problem?" (#42 in 1980).

"Days Are OK" (#41 in 1981).



Keep in mind that much of the Motels' back catalogue remains out of print, so these lost charting singles remain on those hard-to-find albums.



On the positive side, all tracks have been 24-bit digitally remastered very nicely! The sound is absolutely stunning thanks to flawless work by Capitol's professional mastering engineers! Besides the classic music, the remastering is the real advantage of this collection and reason enough to buy it. Evren Goknar gets the mastering credit here, whereas Robert Vosgien received the credit on the excellent 2002 24-bit remastered, Classic Masters. Regardless, this release sounds just as good as the 2002 collection!



Unlike the 'Classic Masters' collection, the single versions of both "Shame" and "Total Control" are included. The latter track is nice having in it's edited form for a change even if I don't like how it was edited. It does get chopped quite a bit, removing many key parts of the track and going from 5:54 on 'Classic Masters' to 3:52 here.



I think that the main problem with this so-called 'Essential Collection' is the failure to fill the disc with 79 minutes of music. There's easily enough room for at least another 6 tracks here. The disc only clocks in at just over 52 minutes of playing time! That leaves another 27 minutes of space! Capitol could have easily squeezed in those missing chart entries in addition to other radio/single highlights and b-sides. Even the gorgeous "Some Things Never Change" would have been a welcomed addition.



I suppose the label was trying to present something different to the 1990, solid yet flawed, 19-track 'No Vacancy - The Best Of The Motels' release. But this compilation simply comes across as inferior with the skimpy tracklisting and song choice. Perhaps it would have been best to have just reissued the now out-of-print 1990 collection with a slightly altered tracklisting, including the Billboard Hot 100 entries "Forever Mine" and "Shock [7" Remix]", with a fresh 2005 remastering.



Despite my complaints, this 15-track release isn't really a bad collection for the casual fan. Most people may be picking this up for the classics "Only The Lonely" and "Suddenly Last Summer". Hopefully, those fans will discover much more from the band like I did. Overall, I have to give this package 5 stars for the remastering and 1 star for yet another mediocre attempt at compiling Motels' classics on CD again. Maybe next time Capitol will offer us all those charting singles on one disc? I look forward to a singles compilation with other key tracks."

Very good compilation of an underrated band

Alexander | Hobbytown, USA | 05/15/2005

(4 out of 5 stars)

"I hadn't heard a Motels song in like 15 years until 'Only the Lonely' played last week on XM Radio. I was instantly reminded of just how much I enjoyed listening to the band back in the 80's.



Unable to locate the 'No Vacancy' CD (it's apparently out-of-print), I purchased this compilation instead. It is very, very good - not great as I really prefer their later material over the earlier stuff.



Few vocalists can belt 'em out with the raw energy of Martha Davis - she's terrific, as is the rest of the band.



The music of the Motels has aged very well, and in a business overloaded with hype and hysteria, I can honestly say that this group is (for the most part) underrated. 'Suddenly Last Summer' is one of the best ballads to come out of the 80's, period.



Recommended, and well worth the price of admission."

Nobody can do it quite like The Motels.

Meet Ze Leslie | 11/03/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I was actually quite thrilled to see that The Motels had come out with an Essential Collection cd. They were one of the best bands to come out of the 80s, yet still they were SO underrated. Sad to say, but I had even forgotten about them until 2 years ago when VH1 did a "Where are they now?" on different bands. But then it struck me...MARTHA DAVIS!!! (And the Motels of course.)



"Only The Lonely"...which is my personal favorite and may be one of the most remembered..was absolutely one of the best songs straight out of the 80s. "It's like I told you..Only the lonely can play".



"Suddenly Last Summer"....as another user added, this was also a great song to come out of the 80s..I'd say it was the 2nd biggest hit of the band.



Other songs you might be vaguely familiar with.. "Shame" and "Remember the Nights". If you were EVER fan of the Motels, pick up this CD and get interested again! And if you aren't familiar with the band but you like other bands such as Quarterflash, Blondie, Berlin or Missing Persons..then check this out. You won't regret it!"