Search - Paul Hardcastle :: Best of

For unconditional fans or curious people only.

Torquemada | Atlanta, Georgia USA / Madrid, Spain. | 09/22/2000

(2 out of 5 stars)

"Paul hardcastle can be defined as a man ahead of his time. He went very early into programmed and sampled music, much before many others followed the same path (yes, today everybody uses computers for music, from Depeche Mode to Phil Collins, from Steely Dan to Rashaan Patterson, etc...). Although the use of the machine is constant on this collection, you will find two types of tracks : the ones with vocals, and the instrumentals. The two vocals that open the album are the very famous and danceable "Don't waste my time" (what a fantastic vocalist he has on this one !!!), and "19" (the story of soldiers who died in vietnam at that age). That is to me the most attractive part of the album, because the rest of the tracks are mostly "documents" (more than one were used as tune for shows on the BBC, or programs on some radios). Besides, most tracks are from the eighties, and you know that in many cases, the sounds of machines used then sound now out of fashion (go to the first albums by Depeche Mode and tell me what you think).So, if you are looking for better, or more interesting albums by this whiz, go to the most recent period; Hardcastle 2 is a fairly good album for instance. Only if you are crazy about Paul Hardcastle's work and a collector might this one interest you."

Vintage Hardcastle

Alan Caylow | USA | 03/16/2004

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Composer/multi-instrumentalist Paul Hardcastle has been making awesome, smooth groove music since the 80's. Unfortunately, Paul's earliest albums from the 80's all appear to be out-of-print, but this CD, "The Best Of Paul Hardcastle," collects 14 tracks from Paul's early work, including the coveted *original mix* of his first big hit, "19," the classic Top 20 hit about U.S. soldiers who served in Vietnam (and whose average age was 19). Other goodies include the catchy "Don't Waste My Time," "Just For Money" (featuring spoken passages by actors Bob Hoskins and the late Sir Laurence Olivier), "The Wizard" (Paul's theme for the popular UK music program, "Top Of The Pops"), the jazzy "Walk In The Night," "40 Years," and the giddy instrumental, "Moonhopper." The only debits to this CD is that some of the other tracks don't fare as well---the polished 80's production kinda swamps the other songs---and the CD booklet gives no credit to the various guest performers on Paul's songs. Is the woman singing on "Don't Waste My Time" Paul's longtime vocalist Helen Rogers? Could be, but I can't be sure. And who's the guy singing on "40 Years"? Or the guy playing the sax solo on "Walk In The Night"? It's frustrating not to know! But for the most part, "The Best Of Paul Hardcastle" is an excellent, catchy, *groovy* slice of vintage Paul Hardcastle. I sure hope Paul's early albums will one day be re-issued, but this fine "Best Of" collection will do for now."