Some rareties, some oddities, some missing stuff
Daniel W. Kelly | Long Island, NY United States | 07/20/2005
(3 out of 5 stars)
"How I live for these compilations of 12" singles from the 80s. But they're never everything we can hope for. I got some goodies, like the US 12" mix of Promised you a Miracle, Our Lips are Sealed, and Money's too tight to Mention. But then there is what is actually the ALBUM Version of Situation by Yazoo, so we didn't need it here, the US remix of "shout", while I'm still waiting for the UK mix from the 12" to make it to CD for a change, a really odd mix of Kiss Me rather than the original 12", a 12" of Fade to Grey that STILL isn't the one I have on vinyl, and a version of Honeythief that also doesn't match my 12" vinyl. But there are still some good hard-to-find mixes on here, and you're sure to find something to please you. Track times for those seeking that exact version they want are:
CD1:
1. a forest (4:43)
2. walk out to winter (7:41)
3. tainted love (8:54)
4. tears are not enough (7:31)
5. promised you a miracle (6:00)
6. to cut a long story short (6:27)
7. never stop (4:42)
8. love is a wonderful colour (6:44)
9. Our Lips are sealed (6:04)
10. Precious (5:52)
11. Spellbound (4:39)
12. she's in parties (5:46)
CD2:
1. love action (5:11)
2. wood beez (5:54)
3. fade to grey (5:36)
4. situation (5:43)
5. quiet life (4:48)
6. it's my life (6:08)
7. kiss me (5:30)
8. my ever changing moods (5:41)
9. money's too tight to mention (8:36)
10. obsession (5:35)
11. wordy rappinghood (6:28)
12. I'm in love with a german film star (3:58)
CD3:
1. pull up to the bumper (7:17)
2. I'm a wonderful thing (6:09)
3. digging your scene (6:25)
4. my bag (6:37)
5. honeythief (4:25)
6. sinful (8:05)
7. shout (7:59)
8. hip hop be bop (5:23)
9. ever so lonely (6:20)
10. down to earth (6:00)
11. wonderful life (4:58)
12. dr. mabuse (6:33)"
Vinyl, Wax and Plastic!
Mars Velvet | Green Tree, Blue Earth...Deep Space | 11/10/2005
(4 out of 5 stars)
"According to a British study of music buying trends during the mid 1980s, 12 inch singles were mostly bought up by boys who didn't want to fork the money for an album when they could have countless mixes of the same song! I am afraid I fell into that category. I loved my 12inchers... great mixes, cool covers and bsides... brilliant!
I wasn't put off much by the shoddy packaging.... life is imperfect...and the music is what counts......although a booklet with the covers of the original 12"s would have been nice. Most of the music is a cross-section of what was popular in the UK from 1980-1986.
There was quite a variety. The proto-ska percussion of Fun Boy Three's "Our Lips are Sealed" an instant classic and a fine mix. The over the top Soft Cell hit "Tainted Love" attached to their version of "Where Did Our Love Go" which is so hard to find and it really makes the song to have these two melodies welded together!!
The gold lame slickness of ABC with great brass and bangs on "Tears are Not Enough", the quiet dark whisper of The Cure in the atmospherics the mix to "A Forest" provides. Yazoo who blended soul with electronics on the US hit "Situation" with extended keyboard styling. Animotion's killer hit "Obsession" is longer and sexier in the mix!
That crazy bird that came to be known as Kid Creole with his funk fusion fun in the mix to "I'm a Wonderful Thing Baby"! The arty dance party of Japan's mixture of "Quiet Life". The musik electro of Propaganda's "Dr. Mabuse". The party is not a party without Grace Jones' purring dancefloor mania of "Pull Up to the Bumper" 12"mix style. And the primal scream of Tears For Fears' "Shout" US mix which has that great accapella bit at the beginning. Great!
If you used to pile up your 12inch singles before going to any party then you will enjoy this set as much as I did....great tunes, brilliant mixes, fab memories!
Enjoy!"
Track Listings (12) - Disc #1