Reviews (14)

Not Perfect, But Close
If you're looking for a Cheap Trick primer, this proabably your best bet. Out of all the odd-ball hits collections that CBS/Sony dumped on the market, this is the only one that the band had a hand in. With the exception of the remastered version of the original "The Greatest Hits," those other CDs were, anyways, pretty much junk. The sound upgrade makes it worth having over any of the other budget line discs glutting the market. "Authorized Greatest Hits" also boasts a beefier song selection than the 14 to be found on the remastered "Greatest Hits."

BUT.......

It is a well established fact that Cheap Trick HATES "The Flame." But did they have to substitute a lackluster live version for the superior studio one? And even if "That Seventies Show (In The Street)" is driving us crazy on TV, it is not a very inspired recording. Still, you get "Surrender, "I Want You To Want Me (Live)," and "Dream Police," three of the best songs to rock a radio during the seventies. Plus, there are a couple overlooked goodies here, such as "She's Tight," "Walk Away," "Stop This Game," and "Everything Works If You Let It" to make you covet this CD. Had the single version of "The Flame" been included, this would have been the 5-star retrospective of Cheap Trick that we've been waiting for.

Who "Authorized" this release?
Made in USA in 2000, Serial# EK-66015, Playing Time 66:22

Cheap Trick left the Sony Music stable back in 1990, after the release of "Busted". Since then, as is usually the case when a band switches recording company, the former company releases various items so that they can sell their "catalog".

Remember 1991's "The Greatest Hits", which was also released in Japan as a 2-disc set; how about "Budokan II" in 1993? And 1996's "Sex, America, Cheap Trick" 4-disc set, as well as the double set from 1998 "At Budokan: The Complete Concert"?

This latest offering follows in that tradition; and, as usual, they include 1 or many "previously unreleased" tracks to lure the consumer into buying the album. In this case, there's "That 70's song" from "That 70's Show", plus a live version of "The Flame" recorded during the "Busted" tour, as well as 2 other tracks (#7 and #9) only available on the 4-disc set mentionned earlier. Which also explains why any material from the "Woke Up With A Monster" and "Cheap Trick (1997)" are completely absent from this retrospective.

Bottom line is: "Is this disc any good?" - Yep!; and does such a scheme from record companies work? I bought it, didn't I!

And guess what? "Silver", a new 2-disc compilation from their latest record company (Cheap Trick Unlimited), is just about to come out! Maybe they should call that one "Really Authorized Greatest Hits"...

Kings Of Power Pop
If The Cars, The Knack, Bazooka Jones and The Romantics are princes of power pop, then Cheap Trick are the Kings. This is a great 'sampler' of some of their most popular tracks. I would have preferred the studio version of "The Flame". but this rare live offering is a nice variation. If you don't have any Cheap Trick (why, you wouldn't I don't know) then this would be a good segway into one of the greatest powerpop bands of all time.

The best single disc collection.
"Cheap Trick" seems like one of those bands like "The Cars" that doesn't get much credit, but are totally awesome! This basically is a great collection. The big hits "I Want You to Want me", "Dream Police", and "Surrender", along side favorites like "Tonight it's You" and "Southern Girls". PLUS a live version of "The Flame" and the theme song from "That 70's Show". Even though others don't like "Mandocello", I really like it. Being a child of the 80's, I would have liked "Ghost Town" on here, but at least it doesn't have "Magical Mystery Tour" like the other collection does. Overall a great cd, and not getting it right now would be "cheap".

I Want You To Want This!!!
It pretty much stands to reason that most everyone is going to find faults with ANY Greatest Hits package. For everyone complaining about missing tracks, I offer this solution: Get a copy of this AND a copy of "The Greatest Hits"... sure there is some overlap, but the tracks that DON'T overlap cover pretty much everything you would treasure by this cool band, and ultimately both collections compliment each other nicely. Big pluses for this CD include "Stop This Game" (from the ALL SHOOK UP album), "Everything Works If You Let It" (from the ROADIE motion picture and soundtrack) and "That 70s Song" (from one of the coolest shows on TV today... I swear I actually went to high school with those people!!!). Anyway if you're not ready to dive into the box set, I would highly recommend having "The Authorized Greatest Hits" and "The Greatest Hits" CDs side-by-side in your collection. ... Read more

Reviews (46)

A great comeback for a classic group!
"The Wedding Album" signifies a listenable return for Duran Duran, with the ensemble being (at that point, 1993) Simon, Nick, John, and Warren. "Too Much Information" begins the album, which is fast, and begins to show the senior DD members' political side, i.e. "Destroyed by MTV, I hate to bite the hand that feeds me." Next up is the romantic ballad (but not too slow) "Ordinary World". Then "Love Voodoo", a mysterious song. "Drowning Man" isn't very good, to me at least. Ditto with "Shotgun". "Come Undone" is up next, a moody song, but is addictive. "Breath After Breath" is interesting, in that some of the song is sung in Portugese. Next, my personal favorite, "UMF", which is the sexiest thing I've ever heard! Fellow female Simon LeBon fans, this is worth the album alone. Lyrics like "Put it to me baby, you can feel love tumblin' down," and "I just wanna wrap myself in ya baby, we can tell the world we're foolin' around" really prove that Simon is totally irresistible. A cover of "Femme Fatale" follows up next, which is pretty good. "None of the Above" is all right, and "Shelter" is good, another sweet wanting song. "To Whom it May Concern" and "Sin of the City" are strange, the former being almost completely awful. The latter is alright, but I don't particularly prefer listening to it. Another political song, about a New York nightclub going up in flames. BUY THIS ALBUM, if you're a long-time DD fan, or even if you aren't. Even if you just got into them, as I did, this album is a MUST! *By the way, to set you straight (DD haters) Duran Duran were the second most popular "Teeny bop" group (besides the Beatles). And besides, "Teeny bop" is an okay phrase to use with them, though not accurate. It better describes a singer/group who COULDN'T play an instrument, a.k.a. Debbie Gibson, Menudo (Ricky Martin when he was a teen; awful, just like he is now), and of course, the unforgiveable Osmonds in the '70's. At least most of DD could play an instrument. And the "Boy Band" title for them makes a bit more sense, mostly attributed to their looks. (Come on, would YOU say that Justin Timberlake is hotter than Simon LeBon?!)...Not to mention that Simon can sing one hell of a lot better. But I don't know why people call N'Sync and BSB "Boy Bands" when none of them can play an instrument. Sure they can sing...just not that well, and like girls. Simon has a sexy, MASCULINE voice. Unlike Justin...but I'll stop comparing now, though I've gone on a rant. Anyway, just keep in mind that Duran Duran set the stage for classic music videos on MTV, and awesome fast pop songs.

Wow. What A Comeback. What Happened?
This album surely deserves a place with the few 80s artists who managed to make a 90s comeback (some of the few others who come to mind include John Mellencamp's surprising 1994 top 5 hit with "Wild Night" and Adam Ant's almost hit in 1995 with "Wonderful"). "Duran Duran" seemed inspired! "Duran Duran" was catchy and emotional! "Duran Duran" was actually quite the album!

"Come Undone" is truly the centerpiece of the album and even people who hadn't much cared for them previously were into this song. It's moodiness and darkness was ironically a bright spot on radio. First single "Ordinary World" was a close runner-up with it's sweeping guitar work that was nearly as affecting as the guitar solo in Guns N Roses' "November Rain".

"Drowning Man" was an interesting idea... and though I like the "Na na na"s that sound like something off of a Halloween CD you use to scare kids away from your door... the words were lacking a bit. 3rd single "Too Much Information" also fell into that line... a great sounding track, and while the insightful lyrics were plainly about the band "Destroyed by MTV/I hate to bite that hand that feeds me/So much information", they kind of obscure what might have an excellent instrumental. But the song is still considerably better than average. "None Of The Above" is also a pretty good song.

Oddly enough, though... everything else is borderline average. Which is why this is a 4-star album. With the obvious powerhouse singles really showcasing the album well... everything else is decent, but not to the same magnitude. But it's a hell of a lot better than everything else Duran Duran came up with post-Wedding Album.

Let's just say "Thank You" and "Medazzaland" didn't exactly post similar figures to this set... and the songs therein really reflected that.

I hesitate to use the word "comeback"
I have not listened to all the songs on this album but I've listened to most of them. This includes Come Undone, Ordinary World, Drowning Man, Love Voodoo, Shotgun, Too Much Information, To Whom It May Concern, Breath After Breath and Femme Fatale. That's nine. There can't be too many more. Anyway just about all of these songs were good. Femme Fatale was annoying but that's the exception.

Come Undone-Classic. One of their best. Great lyrics. Great music that has that sound that makes it seem as if you're hearing it while underwater and this goes along with the video that takes place in one of those aquarium rooms with a woman singing underwater (something I wouldn't actually think you'd want to try). But it's a beautiful song.
It's played on the radio still. It's that song "Who do you need, who do you love when you come undone".

Ordinary World- I think this was even more loved in its time than Come Undone and it is great. Not very catchy or upbeat, and I don't like the tune as much, but the lyrics are beautiful and uplifting.

Drowning Man- I actually thought the lyrics of this song were very interesting (and I had a sense of dejavu actually) which is why I got hooked on the song. I believe that if you like the lyrics of a song enough that's really all you need. But that just might be me. Anyway it reminds me of this piece this girl once did for Speech when I was in high school about this guy who made a living by putting on a show each day where he'd pretend to be a "drowned man". I say this because the song is really freaky and includes lots of background vocals that conjure up the image of a man drowning (which is the metaphor of the song, basically anyway but the background vocals in DD's songs are always great).

Breath After Breath--Most of it is in another language but the chorus is in English. It's a beautiful song, doesn't sound at all like Duran Duran. The lyrics are great. The words "Alone we live and die, we love and fight. Breath after breath we carry this mortal coil" says it all for me.

Too Much Information--Basically Simon says "Destroyed by MTV, I hate to bite the hand that feeds me". It's about consumerism. Great song. Catchy and full of sharp insight. Well, obvious insight but still, stated in a witty way.

Love Voodoo---Not as good as some of the others but freaky. A toss-up.

To Whom It May Concern--The beginning reminds me of Crank-Yankers with the dial tone and the "Telephone call for Mr. Bones" said in a cartoonish way. But the rest of the song is very good. Great lyrics. Catchy tune.

Femme Fatale--Don't like the tune but the lyrics are pretty good.

Shotgun-Not about riding in the passenger seat, which I assumed when I first saw the title. So take a wild guess what its theme is. Only 54 seconds. I like it all right.

I've also read the lyrics for Sin of the City. Looks interesting. Like I said before, lyrics are one of the most important parts of a song for me. UMF looks interesting too and the title (I figure I know what it stands for) is edgy without going over, I think. Shelter doesn't look too spectacular (the words don't speak to me), but oh well.

So overall, this is a great collection from what I've heard of the songs. It's the only album of Duran Duran that I think people can admit to being a success (even if it's grudgingly). I think even DD-haters have a hard time saying anything really negative about it. I hesitate to call it a comeback album though because though it helped Duran Duran regain success, they'd still been around for years before this and I felt that their earlier albums were very good as well. It helped bring them back in the public's eye (favorably perhaps) so in that way the word "comeback" does fit. I'd call this record "proof" that they have talent.

The comeback kids
Duran Duran bombed quietly with 1990's "Liberty" and then disappeared for three years, leading many to think their careers ended with the Eighties. So everyone was shocked when in 1993 they stormed back to the top of the pop charts. Their comeback success was deserved: "The Wedding Album" is Duran Duran's most colourful, dynamic and diverse offering, and ranks with 1982's "Rio" as one of their best.

I can't quite describe my feelings upon hearing the dreamy, soaring ballad "Ordinary World" for the first time in early 1993. It was like an old friend had returned after an absence of many years. Over ten years later, this first single from "The Wedding Album" retains all its anthemic power.

And then a funny thing happened: the second single, "Come Undone," was just as good! For the first time in nearly ten years, Duran Duran had two hit singles from the same album. The comeback was complete.

Fortunately "The Wedding Album" is more than just a "singles" album. As they did with "Notorious" (1986) and "Big Thing" (1988), Duran Duran continues to break new musical ground. Standout tracks include the Latin-tinged Milton Nascimento collaboration, "Breath After Breath," the Prince-style funk of "U.M.F.," and the hip-hop/ambient fusion of "Come Undone" and "Love Voodoo." More than just experiments, these songs are thoughtful compositions that successfully synthesize diverse genres with Duran's inimitable melodic sensibilities.

A minor complaint about "The Wedding Album" is that the weakest tracks, "Drowning Man" and "Shotgun," appear early on, disrupting the record's consistency. But the album quickly recovers with "Come Undone" and never looks back. "The Wedding Album" ends with a bang: the incendiary "Sin of the City," an epic tune about the tragic Happyland dance club fire, is an angry and passionate statement about urban exploitation. It's a scathing social comment that dispels the notion of Duran Duran as self-absorbed pretty boys.

More than merely a commercial comeback, "The Wedding Album" reaffirms Duran Duran's place among the premier pop bands of their generation. The wait was worth it.

this album is great
DURAN DURAN'S THE WEDDING ALBUM IS ONE OF THE GREATEST ALBUMS OF ALL TIME. THIS ALBUM WAS A GIGANTIC SUCCESS IMMEDIATELY UPON ITS RELEASE. THIS ALBUM CONTINUES TO BE A GIGANTIC SUCCESS. THIS GREAT ALBUM SPAWNED 3 AMAZING GREAT SINGLES- ORDINARY WORLD, COME UNDONE, AND TOO MUCH INFORMATION. ALL 3 SINGLES WERE MASSIVE SUCCESSS STAYING IN THE TOP OF THE BILLBOARD POP ALBUM CHART FOR A LONG TIME. THESE GREAT SONGS ARE TIMELESS. DURAN DURAN'S TREMENDOUS SUCCESS WAS VERY OBVIOUS THE YEAR THIS GREAT ALBUM CAME OUT, EITH THE BAND RECEIVING A STAR ON HOLLYWOOD WALK OF FAME THE SAME YEAR THIS ALBUM CAME OUT. THIS ALBUM IS GREAT. ANYONE WHO LISTENS TO THIS GFREAT ALBUM WILL SEE WHY DURAN DURAN ARE ONE OF THE GREATEST BANDS IN HISTORY, AND ARE LEGENDS AND SUPER LEGENDS. ITS EASY TO SEE WHY DURAN DURAN'S POPULARITY KEEPS GROWING YEAR AFTER YEAR, DECADE AFTER DECADE, CONSTANTLY BECOMING MORE SUCCESSFULL, AND MMORE POPULAR, CROSSING OVER TO ALL GENERATIONS. I HIGHLY RECOMEND THIS GREAT ALBUM TO EVERYONE. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Before he wrote half the soundtracks in the world (Pee Wee's Big Adventure, Batman, The Nightmare Before Christmas) Danny Elfman led himself an eccentric little rock band called Oingo Boingo. Actually they weren't so little; in fact, the eight-man band boasted one of rock's finest horn sections in addition to Elfman's devilishly good, often humorous songs. Dead Man's Party is Boingo's finest hour, melding their whacked-out mix of XTC, Frank Zappa, and Tower of Power with a genuine pop sensibility. Elfman is in perfect vocal form here, leading the combo through their biggest hit, "Weird Science" (which put Elfman on the soundtrack path) as well as Boingo chestnuts "Fool's Paradise" and the infectious, macabre title track. --Michael Ruby ... Read more

Reviews (23)

Long time fan's opinion
Dead Man's Party is indeed their finest hour, too bad it comes in rather short. Even the non-album B-side 'Mama' should be sought after. DMP boasts a wild and frenetic energy notably lacking most of today's music. Elfman who was always a undiscovered gem until his soundtracks took off (except to us So Cal die hards) really shows off his composition talents to make no mention of the fact that he is an awesome singer, capable of a wide range of vocalizations. One of the superb facets of Oingo songs was Elfman was always able to incorporate every element of the band and let them shine. All members really get their chance here: Steve Bartek's distorted feedback riffs infiltrate every song, Avila's bass is a lovely gem buried in the mix too (see the track 'Help') and the horn section also gets their kicks in almost every track. What your left with is an intelligent, intriguing, edgy and very fun album with never a dull moment.

Bottom line for the uninitiated: start here and work your way backwards through the Oingo Boingo discogprahy. The three previous albums deserve much more notice for their influence and originality.

oingo's most definative effort
This probably one of my favorite mid 80's albums. Perhaps a close second to Peter Gabriel's So album in 86.

To me, Oingo Boingo is a weird / funny name. In fact I think there was a pair of jeans of the same name in the 80's.

Arguably, this is one of their best. In fact, I believe there may be some kind of underlying theme here. I think this is more of a focused / concept type of album (though only Danny Elfman probably knows what the specifics are to this theme). Many of the tracks don't necessarily deal with a dead man's party, but they do include mentions of ghosts, souls, and death. The lyrics are morbid / mordant. Songs like the title track, "no one lives forever", "same man i was before", and "heard somebody cry" all deal with similar anthems. Not that this initially would seem like fun material, but lead singer Elfman seems to poke fun at himself in the process, which lightens the sometimes errie tones.

If Oingo's morbid lyrics aren't appealing though, DMP keeps itself interesting for a plethora of other reasons. Sounds of trumpets, bells, xylophones, and synthesizers create a noisy and strange atmosphere, yet they're set with ingenious juxtapositions with some funky rythyms. It's a driving album and perhaps Oingo did accomplish more with Only a Lad, but from a commercial perspective, this was the peak of their success.

Great album!
A great listen from Oingo Boingo.

Just Another Day - 7 out of 10

Dead Man's Party - 10 out of 10 - I absolutely love this song. It has a great sound to it.

Heard Somebody Cry - 8 out of 10

No One Lives Forever - 10 out of 10 - My favorite on the album. There's really no words to describe how much I love this song.

Stay - 10 out of 10 - A great ballad-type song.

Fool's Paradise - 7 out of 10

Help Me - 9 out of 10

Same Man I Was Before - 8 out of 10

Weird Science - 10 out of 10 - This song has great parody potential. ;)

Yet another great album released by Oingo Boingo.

Also Consider THE CRAZY 8's!
I'm a big fan of Oingo Boingo, and I really like this album. However, I just realized that another favorite band, The CRAZY 8'S (now defunct) would be popular with Boingers. If you like OINGO BOINGO and FISHBONE, you'll LOVE The Crazy 8's! (...especially "Big Live Nut Pack!")

dead man's party
oingo boing was the best band of the 80's...it's the perfect 80's sound.
my favorite songs are "dead man's party" and "stay"

i love danny elfman's voice too. ... Read more

Reviews (19)

Fan-tastic album!!! Needs a sixth star !!!!
I remember screaming along to "Mexican Radio" with a carload of fellow teenagers in early 1987 listening to the shortlived WXXP in Pittsburgh. I bought the album for the "...barbequed iguana!!" but soon found that every song on the album became a favorite. I can quote every word to every song even now twelve years later. The feeling of alienation and being lost in a sickening depraved West that barely had anything in common with TV matched my own feelings about life at the time. I was nineteen and seriously ******* up. Wall of Voodoo was a bitter cynical comfort that helped leech the pain of the world's snakebite on my soul. Oh yeah, it was funny too. One of the best albums I ever owned. The cassette tape didn't leave my car 'till the early '90's when it wore out...

Saddle up and let's ride!
This album is cool and in listening to it you are thereby cool as well. By reading this you are either already a fan looking for yet another review lauding the praise of this album or are unacquainted with the band and are curious. If the latter, in all likelihood you've heard "Mexican Radio" and you're thinking of buying this just so you can put the actual song to the vague memories you have of the tequilla saturated night you heard this. If this is so, I was like you (minus the tequilla...I was a young un when this was released). Though "Mexican Radio" is still one of my favorites from this release I was thoroughly impressed by this album as a whole. In fact, there are no weak songs at all. It's simultaneously quaint and timeless. Quaint in that the drum machine sounds ancient and clunky and that the synths sound like the toy synthesizer you always wanted as a child. Timeless in that the lyrics are hilarious and depressing at the same time. The American dream and all its pitfalls and dead ends are portrayed for the myth that they are with no short amount of irony and tongue in cheek humor. Anyone who's lived in a small town will definitely appreciate this, unless its your buck toothed cousin Leonard who thinks moving to LA and buying a rubber swimming pool for the kids sounds just dandy. This would do well as the soundtrack of a John Waters film. And lest you think this is an electronic album the twangy (saddle up cowboy!) guitars will surely appease you. Be cool and lets ride into the smog choked sunset.

Saddle up for a good ride
I bought the LP version of "Call of the West" when it first came out. Pumping it through an upper level Technics turntable/Shure cartridge, Kenwood amp and Soundcraftsman EQ back then, digital CD is better. Oh, technology!!! NO, the LP is NOT for sale.

You can't talk about this CD without mentioning the flagship song, "Mexican Radio." It's a fun song, plain and simple. What other lyrics of the time are better known than "I wish I was in Tiajuana, eating bar-b-qued iguana"? Some scratch their head, others don't have a clue as they look for a mystical, deep, dark meaning. Listen just to have some audio fun and you'll get it.

My single complaint is track 9, "On Interstae 15" -- it's too short at 2:44 - it should be twice as long. Sharing Mojave Desert turf with Stan to the west, I-15 connects Barstow with Los Angeles and A&M Records in Hollywood through Victorville. The song is great road music, especially out here in the open desert where there's mile after mile of sand and Joshua trees. I can imagine Clint Eastwood, Colt six gun strapped to his side, his trademark cigar stub clintched between his teeth, cruising I-15 in a Porche convertable doing 120 mph when I hear the song. Yeehaaaaaa!

"Call of the West" is a decent mix of tunes. It's as fun now as it was when it first came out, maybe even more so now that audio detail and clarity are much improved.

son, this ain't no western movie matinee...
If you've heard the hit "Mexican Radio" (which I'm sure you have if you're looking at this), in a way it gives you an idea of what this album sounds like, but it's also kind of misleading. All the other tracks have the same sort of intriguing combination of twangy spaghetti western music and synth-based new wave. However, most of the record utilizes this combination to more moody and alienated effect than the quirky comical pop of "Mexican Radio"; aside from the equally uptempo and almost as poppy and funny "Spy World" and the bouncy Ennio Morricone goes dance instrumental "On Interstate 15", things tend to be considerably more bleak and paranoid.

The songs tend to work best when vocalist Stan Ridgeway is working the character study angle: The couple hopelessly chasing get rich quick scheme after get rich quick scheme in "Lost Weekend", the increasingly stressed and monotonous life of the disallusioned assembly line worker in "Factory", the naive young man looking to start a new life in the west who finds things considerably tougher than he thought, heck, even the comically confused tourist of "Mexican Radio"; all are very well fleshed out and believable. Songs that try to voice similar themes in a more general sort of way are a bit less effective, but even when there isn't much of a real hook, thanks to the band's previous history of soundtrack work there's always at least an intriguing mood to keep your attention. If you're looking for the lighter weight side of new wave, look elsewhere, but there's a compassionate, if bitter and wounded, intelligence to this material that's definitely worth a listen on it's own merits.

The American Dream Turned to Dust
Whatever you do don't limit the power of this CD to the MTV-staple "Mexican Radio" which shot Wall of Voodoo into the stream of pop consciousness in the mid-80's. Past that popular diddy, which I ironically first heard on a Tijuana radio station while vacationing in San Diego, this entire album is a postcard of the American Dream turned to dust in the heat of the desert Southwest.
In a departure of most of the happy-go-luck party tunes of the 80's this CD is dark and depressing throughout. Stan Ridgeway's twangy vocals, reminiscent of a new wave Johnny Cash, creates a soundtrack of richly illustrated characters lamenting the fall of the common blue collar man into a pit of hopelessness and despair once he has come face-to-face with the harsh realities of his dead-end trailer park existence.
One of the first cassettes I turned over to CD, this album has a solid place in my Top 100 as a time capsule of 1980's angst. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Art, craft, fashion, and commerce, despite widespread presumptions, have hardly been synonymous in the record business. A prime example is Squeeze, one of the U.K. new wave's most traditional-minded bands and largely the conceit of songwriters Chris Difford (words) and Glenn Tilbrook (music). Despite glowing critical comparisons with Lennon and McCartney, tireless touring, initial successes in Britain, and a perennially popular hits compilation (45's and Under), Squeeze's fortunes were mixed. Even their hard-won status as mid-'80s MTV sensations seemed to evaporate overnight. Perhaps they were just too smart for their own good. Tilbrook's hooks and melodies comfortably recalled the Beatles and the Kinks, but with ever surprising and sophisticated twists, while many of Tilbrook's cinematic lyrics were Broadway-sophisticated in their scope. "Up the Junction," "Pulling Mussels from the Shell," and "Tempted" (the latter burnished to perfection by the production of Elvis Costello and the vocals of veteran Paul Carrack) paint remarkably robust portraits of romantic tensions set in contexts so rich with detail you can almost smell and taste them. This 20-track compilation effectively expands upon 45's and Under by appending the best of the band's final three '80s albums, even if a few provide discomfiting evidence that the band was being positioned as the English equivalent of Huey Lewis and the News. But like its effervescent early singles, what would the Squeeze saga be without a compelling twist or three? --Jerry McCulley ... Read more

Reviews (7)

Not the definitive summary
This collection was first issued in the UK back in 1992, to relaunch the band's career after their return to A&M records. The first 12 tracks are copied from the UK edition of "45's & Under" (which differed slightly from its US incarnation), whilst the following eight are culled from the band's three eighties albums for A&M - there's nothing from 1989's "Play", recorded for Reprise to no great commercial success. At the time, this album contained all but one of the Squeeze singles to hit the UK chart ('Bang Bang', since you ask!).
At the time, this album served its purpose well and sold brilliantly. But why it was issued in the USA as late as 2001 is hard to understand, since it fails to include the American Top 40 hit '853-5937', and much of the other mid-eighties material, though well-written, sounds over-produced. As others have noted, this is only exacerbated by the now-outdated CD mastering.
In Britain, this CD has now been superceded by stupidly titled "The Big Squeeze", which drops most of what was added to this in favour of five minor UK hits from the 1990s and the title track of their farewell album "Domino", as well as massively improved sound quality. If you can't stretch to that, you're probably as well making do with "45s and Under" - but you should buy a Squeeze singles collection of some sort, since they were among the great masters of the format.

Missing one song from Singles 45s and Under
FYI: Actually this has 11 of the 12 songs from "Singles 45's and Under." Missing is "If I Didn't Love You" from Argy Bargy and substituted from the same "era" is "Labelled With Love" from East Side Story.

CHEAP, RECYCLED HITS PACKAGE WITH NO REMASTERING
Although this CD was released in 2001, it is simply a recycled "Singles 45's & Under" CD with new packaging and added tracks. The tipoff is the 1992 copyright date on the back of the CD.

The reason I'm giving it the lowest rating is that Universal chucked this one out there without updating the audio quality over the older (and BEWARE, still available, RIPOFF!) package. The masters used for this CD date from the late 80's.

All of the content of this CD exists in remastered form on many other Squeeze CD's. It's a great collection of songs, but from an audio standpoint, there is no bottom end to this CD at all; it sounds like the music is playing thru an AM radio.

A big "BOOOOO" & "HISSSSSS" to Universal for being so lazy. Maybe this is why the president of A&M hung a black arm-band over the L.A. A&M company sign the day they closed up shop after being sold to Universal; A&M would never have done something like this in its heyday as one of the great independent record companies.

Slap Happy Fun For Everyone
Squeeze's upbeat songs never cease to amaze me. In this album it highlights their diversity in 80's pop music. There is definitly something for everyone in this compilation. My favorites being Black Coffee In Bed, and Is That Love. MY only regret is that the band faded out with the 90's and I no longer hear them played on radio.

80s pop at it's best!!
Anyone who watched MTV in the 80s will remember most of these songs upon hearing them, even if you think you only know 'Tempted'! Squeeze were a fantastic band that always managed to hover just one step shy of becoming hugely famous. This album is a great introduction to their most popular era (the 80s), and with 20 tracks on it it's a bargain. I also highly recommend the new solo album by Squeeze singer/songwriter Glenn Tilbrook, 'The Incomplete Glenn Tilbrook'. It sounds similar to Squeeze of course (no mistaking that voice!), but has a fresh, contemporary sound that is slightly funky and extremely infectious! In whichever decade, Glenn Tilbrook writes pop music at it's best. ... Read more

Reviews (14)

MISSING PERSONS--THE ULTIMATE BAND OF THE 80'S
THIS CD IS A MUST HAVE FOR ANY MISSING PERSONS FAN...ALL THE GREAT SONGS THAT MADE THIS BAND ONE OF THE BEST OF THE 80'S NEW WAVE BANDS..DALE CAN REALLY SING UP A STORM..LISTEN TO THE SONGS--WORDS--DESTINATION UNKNOWN--MENTAL HOPSCOTCH--WINDOWS--TEARS--RIGHT NOW--AND THE EXPLOSIVE VOCALS & DRUMS OF WALKING IN LA--A COLLECTION WELL DONE--MISSING PERSONS"ONE OFTHE BEST OF BANDS OF THE 80'S--ALSO RECOMEND..ROMEO VOID 'WARM IN YOUR COAT---QUARTERFLASH"THE BEST OF..THE MOTELS-THE BEST OF"NO VACANCY AND THE DIVINYLS--ESSENTIAL-A COMPLETE COLLECTION OF THE GREAT LADIES OF ROCK....

Nice Collection of Songs
Missing Persons released some pretty good music and this hits album is not a disappointment. Best songs are "Windows," and "Destination Unknown." It would be nice if they would re-release the '86 album "Color In Your Life." That's got some great tunes on it, and having it on CD would be nice. That aside, this is a good hits collection.

terrible
i am having a bad headache after i listened to this lousy crap at the bar yesterday.music this bad should come with a health hazard warning.not recommended.at all.

missing who???????
does anybody listen to such fogie bands anymore nooooooo.it is a lousy joke to call these bunch of lousy songs as a greatest hits which to me sounds more like worst songs.chuck this crap in your trash can now and get essential blue oyster cult instead.

If for no other reason...
Get this cd for the drumming. Bozzio is just one of those stickmen who can play perfectly on the beat while smashing the holy fire out of his tubs. The first 4 songs in particular are absolutely ablaze with the ferocity of the musical movement that swept the late 70s and early 80s. Dale is one sexy singer, too. ... Read more

Reviews (5)

Hey Chel you know it's kind of funny...
But you still sound freakin awesome after all these years. This new edition is the best. That voice still breaks my heart and the extra cd makes this worth every dollar. Chel, keep writing and singing.

DOUBLE THE PLEASURE
( THE PACKAGE ) - The re-release comes in a mini-box set format with a 52 page booklet, plenty of pictures and a good introduction by producer Pete Anderson. The album cover is misleading, but then again her last name is Shocked. So maybe it makes sense. If you're wondering about the orIginal cover with the policeman, don't worry none because he can be found on the backside. ( DISC# 1 ) Spanning the rock era for almost 50 years from Bill Haley to Dave Matthews, "Short, Sharp, Shocked" is one of the 5 best albums of all time. The songs range from rockabilly, folk, blues, country rock, and punk folk with superb continuity. The bluesy "Graffiti Limbo" is my personal highlight with Rod Piazza playing great harmonica complimenting Michelle's distinctive vocal style about a poor man who got no justice. The only lowlight on this album was the last song, the original hidden track "Fogtown". It's a straight punk number that didn't fit now or then. A better version can be found on "The Texas Campfire Takes". The sound quality on the 1st CD is a medium improvement from the original release. ( DISC #2 ) A very good selection of almost all acoustic live songs from festivals, shows and home recordings. The sound is 90% professional. The length - 79 minutes. Michelle shows off her down home side with fun conversation and stories between songs. The performances have a hootenanny feel more like "Arkansas Traveler", my favorite cut being "Stawberry Jam" which captures what a brilliant live performer Michelle Shocked is. ( CLOSING ) This woman from Texas has always challenged her fans by releasing something different. ( folk, roots, swing, bluesgrass, dark and gospel CD's ) "Short, Sharp, Shocked" is the definite starting point.

Worthy reissue, good price, bur flawed packaging
I missed out on the original issue, but as "Arkansas Traveler" is
a favorite of mine, I picked up this reissue. Very good album, &
some interesting stuff on the bonus disc. Great price, too, but
the packaging is lame. It is in a paper covered, cardboard
clamshell box, like boxed-set LPs used to come in. This is sealed closed with a round, transparent sticker, which, in my case, tore the paper off the box when I tried to remove it. Inside, the two CDs are stacked on top of each other on a single sponge hub that is glued to the inside of the box. It tore loose the first time I tried to remove the CDs, leaving a sticky, gummy residue inside the box, which would, no doubt, stick to the CDs or booklet if you put them back in loose. You could transfer the CDs into jewel cases, but the booklet is too tall and thick to fit in with them. Very annoying.

Not Short, and Definitely Sharp, Shocked
Got this last night at her show at Harlow's in Sacramento, and had a chance to chat with Shel briefly. Her music begs to be performed live; each tune grows and changes, and like watching your own children, each stage seems like the best they've ever been, until you see the next. Wrote a bit more at my weblog .....

This one's long overdue. We've missed you, Shel.

A CLASSIC CD RETURNS!!!!!!!
This is my all time favorite Michelle Shocked cd. I have the original, but just had to get this one. The second cd is great fun to listen to, with live performances and chat.

Michelle is one of America's treasures! I wish I could see her in person, but she rarely comes close to Alabama. ... Read more

Reviews (8)

You Gotta Look Sharp!
It's easy for many -- especially music industry writers -- to dismiss Joe Jackson as a pop musician who possessed nothing more than delusions of grandeur, due to his forays into jazz and classical shortly after his first two smash albums. A pompous musician, or a true artist? Regardless of what side you're on, there's one thing you can't deny: Joe Jackson was/is one crafty, talented S.O.B., and I feel he's a force to be reckoned with.

_Look Sharp!_ is a smash album with ridiculously catchy tunes, infectious melodies, cynical and ambivalent lyrics, and snappy rhythms that'll be impossible *not* to bop your head to. There is literally not one boring, unlistenable tune to be found here: every track is jam-packed with energy, taste and charisma. While the lyrics are quite sarcastic (and hilarious in spots), the music is impossibly upbeat, and refrains from depressing wallowing: leave it to wisecracking Joe to turn something so self-deprecating and sarcastic into something peppy and upbeat -- it almost makes you wonder if Joe is celebrating his own dissatisfactions with love and life. Either way, infectiousness and intelligence are so rare to come by in one package. But Joe Jackson delivers big-time in this department. "One More Time" is a perfect example of how Joe makes something miserable sound so peppy and fun: listen to those ironic, almost masochistic lyrics. Yet the music is so driving, tasty and energetic. Of course, many already know "Is She Really Going Out With Him?" featuring those semi-hilarious, yet reflective lyrics, and the muted riff on the verses. "Throw It Away" is a fast-paced, energetic rocker, with Joe howling in certain parts of the track. The title track many may have heard as well: a snappy, tasty number exhibiting excellent musicianship. Listen to the sophisticated arrangement in the vocal harmonies during the closing parts of the chorus. "Fools In Love" is a reggae-rock number that pretty much speaks for itself, title-wise: the lyrics and Joe's vocal delivery crack me up hysterically. Hilarious stuff. And later, to close out the album, "Got The Time" is a fast-paced, energetic rocker in the style of "Throw It Away."

Want something ludicrously catchy and snappy? Want something subtly sarcastic and sneering, but at the same time, utterly reflective, moving and funny? Want some upbeat music good for cruising with your girlfriend, or otherwise? Pick this album up, along with _I'm The Man_. Both are essential Joe Jackson albums.

Looks sharp, sounds sharp
Joe Jackson's first two albums have always represented, to me, what was good about the New Wave/No Wave splash of the late '70s to early '80s. LOOK SHARP was Joe Jackson's impressive first dive into those waters. Although not as consistently engrossing as his next album, I'M THE MAN, this album was a great introduction to the contradictory, self-conscious attitude of late '70s pop. Alternating between comic and pathetic, like "Is She Really Going Out With Him?" to "Fools in Love", the album does have an interesting range. The title cut is probably the most self-conscious in the sense that it figuratively asks, "How should I look and/or behave in this post-punk world? What is the new attitude?" I had just turned twenty when this album came out and, for that reason alone, this cut spoke to me. I worried about having to look "over my shoulder" too.

The DVD has a great sound and the accompanying goodies make it well worth the very reasonable price.

Been there...
This record is sharp and energetic, cynical and angry, insightful and perceptive, all tightly-wound frayed nerves. Think a bad night plus too much coffee in the morning for a smart misfit with a gift for melody. It can be a bit much at times but when I'm in a certain mood I put this on and it hits the spot. Most people who do "breakup music" like slow, sad songs from what I can tell. Well, this is what I go to at those times. It reminds me that the world of romance, indeed the world in general, is taken too seriously. People will be people. Girls will continue to go out with big apish guys for no apparent reason. The newspaper will continue to report on all kinds of useless [junk] and neglect real problems. And no matter how cynical you get or think you are, you're still gonna fall prey to love. This album laughs at the world, at itself, and turns the mirror on all of us. It's a classic, timeless, and I'm amazed more bands don't cover these songs. Especially after one of their members has gone through a breakup or divorce, has stayed up all night, and has imbibed too much coffee.

Look Sharp... SHARPER THAN EVER
Back in the late 70's when I was a teenager, I purchased this record due to it's unique packaging... A 2 disc 10" "sandwich" album with cool cover art and even a "LOOK SHARP" lapel button. I was shocked to find that the music was incredible as well! Needless to say, even though I still have the record, I haven't heard it in years and stumbled accross it on Amazon. Boy am I glad I did! The album is a total classic that is as fresh as when released sounding even better on compact disc. A MUST FOR EVERY COLLECTION.

Classic New Wave Album
Joe Jackson's debut album is one of the greatest debuts of all time. Before you even pop the CD in to your player, you can look at one of the greatest album covers of all time. It shows two shiny, white shoes, casting light upon the sidewalk in front of them. Incredibly cool. Then, the music. "Look Sharp" is filled with varying musical styles. Punk, reggae, pop, and even jazz can be heard at different points on this record. Another achievement of Jackson's on this record is the songwriting. Much of "Look Sharp" conveys Jackson's cynical views on relationships, dating, and love. This often is presented in a humorous manner, which makes it that much more entertaining to listen to. The album kicks off with "One More Time," one of the more punkish tunes on the album. It goes on to classics such as "Sunday Papers," and "Is She Really Going Out With Him." The latter is arguably the strongest song on the album. It is Jackson's observations on the men he sees the women around him dating ("pretty women out walking with gorillas down my street..."). Other standout tracks include "Fools In Love" ("fools in love, are there any other kind of lovers?") and "Look Sharp." Overall, a classic new wave-period album that is both emotional and humorous at the same time. One of the talented Jackson's crowning achievements. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Armed Forces was the last title in a trilogy of albums that rank with the greatest three-LP series in pop-rock history. In retrospect, it also now appears to be the one on which the young Costello's pop tendencies peaked, right before they began to "mature" and grow less accessible. "Accidents Will Happen" features a melody line as beautiful as any ever written; "Oliver's Army" easily competes with the best of Abba and Brian Wilson among pop masterpieces. This is also where Costello's early themes--most notably romantic rejection equated with the horrors of neo-Nazism and modern politics--came together most precisely (the album's working title was "Emotional Fascism"). Rhino does its usual superb job, with wonderful remastering, in-depth liner notes by Costello himself (including a catty paragraph about famous groupie-author Bebe Buell, who often claims this album is about her), and a second disc of concurrent singles and alternate versions. Best of all are nine live tracks from the legendary June 4, 1978, Hollywood High School show, fully documenting that Costello & the Attractions were once among the all-time dynamic live rock acts. --Bill Holdship ... Read more

Reviews (9)

OH, I JUST DON'T KNOW WHERE TO BEGIN....
Elvis was at the top of his game from day one.After this album,
his third, he created a flawless trilogy. Costello's songs
are full of emotion - anger, bitterness, jealousy, but also
deep thought and honesty, even beauty.Every track is a classic. The bonus disc is also full of gems, some great demos,
and a brilliant live set. BUY THIS NOW!!!!!!!!

One Of The Greatest Albums Ever
There is no question that this is EC's best album. Arguably, this is the greatest Pop/New Wave album ever. Just about every song on this album is a masterpiece. Even if you look beyond the radio-friendly "Goon Squad", "Accidents Will Happen" and "What's So Funny About Peace Love and Understanding", you still have classics like "Green Shirt", "Oliver's Army" and "Big Boys". These are not only the catchiest melodies that EC ever recorded, but they contain some of the smartest, wittiest lyrics ever heard in this genre.
I bought this album a long time ago. It has since been rereleased as a 2 disc set. My comments apply only to the first disc - I have not listened to the second. I am sorry that EC's record label felt they needed to squeeze out a few extra bucks by tacking on an extra set of songs to RC's most satisfying piece of work.

Elvis completes his trifecta.
"Armed Forces" was Elvis and The Attractions' claustrophobic pop masterpiece, loaded with melody and paranoia, fueled by cramped touring vans, hotel rooms and long stretches of listening to ABBA, Kraftwerk, Bowie and the Beatles while driving between gigs. It was also the last of the Elvis albums that mirrored the tightly wound image/cliched "angry young man" singer-songwriter of the new wave world. It also happens to be one of the most indispensable albums of the 70's.

Songs like "Oliver's Army" and "Two Little Hitlers" brimmed with neo-fascist imagery and highly charged sexual/emotional content, yet flourished with pop-hooks. "Accidents Will Happen" portrays a barely apologetic philanderer as he tries to explain the infidelities of his life, and uses one of early Elvis' frequent descriptions of romantic partners as a "victim." (Think of how many times that word appears on his first three albums.) Many of the songs bear unmistakable ominous threatening qualities, like the roar of "Goon Squad," the hushed fear that underscores "Green Shirt" and the implied threat of "they took me in the office and told me very carefully, the ways that I could benefit from death and disability" (from "Senior Service").

Nick Lowe deserves a good deal of the credit for keeping this album in check (and when is he going to get into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame?!?!). It is likely his pop sophistication that gave some of "Armed Forces" levity in its darkest points. It is also Lowe's one song - and the first cover to appear on a proper EC album - that brings the relentlessly downward outlook to a more optimistic close. "(What's So Funny About) Peace Love and Understanding" was the kind of song that, once Elvis claimed it as his own, provided a banner to his part during the formation of Rock Against Racism.

This is also the CD that most justifies Rhino's double disc reissues of Elvis' work. "Armed Forces" is the kind of album that more than holds its own as a singular entity, and the Ryko release that tacked the bonus selections on the same disc distracted from that sense of "piece" to me. So to have some excellent material on a bonus disc is just cream on the berry. Especially since it includes the entire "Live at Hollywood High" recording as opposed to the three song bonus vinyl that was included in the original album. If it was possible to add a bonus star to an already 5 star album, Rhino managed that trick here. This is the essential "Armed Forces."

Who Put These Fingerprints on My Imagination?
A definite high point from the EC "Golden Age", 1977-86. EC gives due notice of his ambition, and the Attractions respond in kind with a highly stylized, nuanced tour-de-force that still hits where it hurts. Not unlike the woefully underrated Trust. Although the "Golden Age" contains a few missteps (Almost Blue, King of America, the 2 notorious "L&W" albums), this is prime-time, "Prince Charmless" EC before middle age (and believing his own press clippings)ruined him.

Armed Forces
"Armed Forces" was the album that threatened to his breakthrough to massive commercial success- the ABBA-influenced "Oliver's Army" just screamed 'hit single' and if that wasn't enough, there were other classic tunes such as the incredibly melodic "Accidents Will Happen" and Nick Lowe's song "What's So Funny 'Bout Peace Love and Understanding". Most of the album, in fact, marries the then trendy 'New Wave' style with Costello's pop songcraft in such a way as to transcend that musical style. If "This Year's Model" was Costello's 'rythm record' of the era, then this was his 'melody record'. But while the album did- just-reach the US top 10, Costello's drunken taunts about Ray Charles one night during a slanging match with Stephen Stills resulted in his American record company backing off promotion of the album.

I should note here that I don't yet have the CD reissue, though I hope to get it at one point. However, another review has noted an apparent 'skip' (repeating the word 'action') in the middle of the song "Chemistry Class". Whatever flaw this is, it's not a manufacturing flaw of the CD, because my used vinyl copy also has it. In fact, up to the time I read his review, I had thought it was a manufacturing defect of the record. Perhaps it is a flaw of the source copy of the recording used earlier to master the record and more recently to master the CD. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Distilling Iggy Pop's work down to 17 songs is nearly impossible. Anyone with an interest in Mr. Pop should first pick up the Stooges albums before exploring his later solo years. This collection, however, includes enough highlights to satisfy a casual fan. The Stooges are lightly covered with the essential punk anthem "I Wanna Be Your Dog" and the manic "Search and Destroy."The inclusion of the slinking "Sick of You" is a nice touch.Pop's pop leanings pop up with "Nightclubbing," "China Girl," and "Lust for Life," tracks in which the guitars are toned down a notch and Iggy exhibits a slightly more mellow side. Of course, he ultimately returns with a vengeance befitting one of rock's original wild men. --Rob O'Connor ... Read more

Album Description

Reissue of Canadian new wave band's 1980 debut album with five bonus tracks added, 'Right To The Top', 'If The Stars Come Out Tonight', 'Unstoppable', 'Shoulda Been Me' and 'If WeDon't Belong Together'. 15 tracks total, also featuring the modern rock hit 'This Beat Goes On/ Switchin' To Glide'. 1999 release. ... Read more

Reviews (18)

A Sure Bet for you 80's Music Fans
I've looked high and low for the CD version of "The Kings Are Here"(my album got trashed during my college years). I finally found it with two clicks of a mouse. And I wasn't dissapointed. The Kings sound as fresh as they did back in 1981. The songs "The Beat Goes on/Switching to Glide" and "Partyitis" are worth the price of the CD alone. They contiue to be great party songs. The rest of the CD has some hidden gems which I forgot about, but they are great toons ("Run Shoes Running", "It's Okay" and "Right to the Top"). I would recommend this CD to anyone who loves 80's alternative rock like "The Romantics", "The Kingbees" and "The Knack".

I enjoyed this CD as much as I enjoyed the album in 1980
The Kings' first album was released when I was a college freshman, and one of my roommates bought it. I recall that he told me they were going to be the biggest group since the Beatles (with that kind of talent for prediction, I hope he never became a stockbroker). The album was played often in our room, and I really liked it. I had not thought about it in years, but for some reason the group came to mind recently, and I was glad to find this CD on Amazon. "The Beat Goes On," "Switchin' to Glide," and "It's Okay" have held up well. The group had a lot of energy and a sense of humor.

This Beat Goes On/Switching to Glide!!!!
This Beat Goes On/Switching To Glide has to be one (two?) of the greatest songs ever. Seriously. It's up there with Cheap Trick's "Surrender." Really. That's all you need to know to make you buy this cd. I'm not kidding.

Formula Band???
Maybe they are, and maybe they were somewhat influenced by the other popular bands of the time, but The Kings have an excellent sound. Their flagship song, "Switching to Glide/This Beat Goes On", is one song that totally blew me away in the 80's (And I never forgot it either). Amidst all of the sound-alike techno-trash that was rampant in the 80's, Switching to glide stood on it's own. And this, in spite of the fact that the song uses a lot synthesized sound. The reason is simple: It's good music.

Crunch can be good, but music would be boring if all songs had guitars running through fuzz pedals, sustainers and overdriven tube amps. Although the original incarnation of the group used keyboards, the fact that the lead singer has an awesome voice, all of them are great musicians, and that they made a song that I could never forget, makes the whole issue of *which* instruments they used, pointless.

I haven't purchased the album yet, but the price is well worth just the one song. And I am very thankful that their website has the lyrics for 'Glide on it - I have been trying to figure them out since I first heard the song.

Eh...pedestrain fomulae rock. What's the big deal?
I didn't rush out and buy it when the ads hit Rolling Stone. I waited until a few years later & scored a used copy. I see now why they didn't last. Shoot, the guitars don't even have any "crunch" to them! This really might be fun if played overly loud & you are half-snockered...but other than that it's pretty much formula rock. So were the Ramones. But there was a reason why THEY were around a few more years! ... Read more

Reviews (21)

My name's Mark Ardelean and I've heard of Los Lobos.
I don't have the soundtrack of "La Bamba", but I have seen the movie. I was watching VH-1 one day and I saw Los Lobos on TV performing "La Bamba". When I watched "La Bamba", Los Lobos played a Tijuana group playing a different version of "La Bamba". Lou Diamond Phillips and Esai Morales, who played Ritchie Valens and half-brother Bob, took a trip to Tijuana. That's where Los Lobos played their different version of "La Bamba". I like the song "La Bamba". It's my favorite song.

The greatest soundtrack ever!
Ever since I was a little kid, this has been my favorite CD. It is clearly the best soundtrack of all time. Los Lobos does a great job of redoing Ritchie Valens' classic rock songs. Marshall Crenshaw, who plays Buddy Holly, also does a great job with his song. If there is one CD to buy, this is it. Every song is great. Watch the movie also.

RnR Reverence
Los Lobos got their big break when they were asked to re-record (and mime for the movie) a number of Ritchie Valens' biggest hits for this soundtrack, and the production and performances are nothing short of fantastic.

I give it only 4 stars however, because they are covers, and respect must be paid to those stars who came up with them in the first place. But Marshall Crenshaw, who's presently one of rock's premiere songwriters, ably tackles Buddy Holly's "Crying, Waiting, Hoping", while Brian Setzer (wayyy before swing came back in a big way) seems the natural choice to cover Eddy Cochran's "Summertime Blues".

Weight is lent by having Bo Diddley's "Who Do You Love" performed by the man himself, but cover versions or not, the ripped-up, crumpled dollar-bills I used to pay for this album way back when was one of the best investments I ever made.

To Nathan
Great movie/soundtrack. Nathan, you refer to 2 different songs. "Over the Mountain, Across The Sea" by Johnnie and Joe, and "Sleepwalk" by Santo and Johnny. Why "Sleepwalk" wasn't put on the sountrack, considering it's relevence in the movie, I haven't figured out.

GILLSWEET...
The name of the song is "Sleepwalk" by Santo & Johnny. I don't know if you'll remember that you ever asked this question but there's your answer. ... Read more

Album Description

Digitally remastered reissue of the hit English new wave/ pop duo's huge second album, 1985's quadruple-platinum 'SongsFrom The Big Chair', which topped the charts for five consecutive weeks when originally released. Features the #1 smashes 'Everybody Wants To Rule The World' & 'Shout', plus the #3 'Head Over Heels' and the top 30 'Mothers Talk'. Also features seven bonus tracks, U.S. remixes of 'Mothers Talk' & 'Shout', along with the B-sides 'The Big Chair', 'Empire Building', 'The Marauders', 'Broken Revisited' and 'The Conflict'. 15 tracks total. 1999 release. ... Read more

Reviews (22)

Tears For Fears as its Best
The original album 'Songs From The Big Chair' features the worldwide smash hits 'Shout', 'Everybody Want To Rule The World' (No.1 in the USA) and 'Head Over Heels'. However, it was only eight-track long and didn't fully showcast Roland Orzabal amazing talent at writing meaningful and out-of-the-mainstream compositions. The extra tracks on this re-release of 'Songs From The Big Chair' paints a better picture of what the duo was about. All the extra tracks were available on the b-sides of the singles when they first came on vinyl. Most can also be found on the brilliant Tears For Fears collection of b-sides 'Saturnine Martial and Lunatic' album. If you don't own a Tears For Fears album this is the one to get. Overall it's a good blend of pop chart hits and soundtrack quality b-sides. And the mind-addictive 'Shout' will have you muttering the lyrics to yourself for weeks.

Roland Lets it all out
Not as raw and emotional as their debut "The Hurting", "Songs From the Big Chair" is the album that catapulted Curt and Roland into the international consciousness and captured them a place in music history.

Big Chair gave TFF two #1 hits, one for the primal "Shout" and the second for the pop perfection of "Everybody Wants to Rule the World". My personal favorite on the album is the dark and thrashing combo of "Broken" and "Head Over Heels/Broken (Live)", which is every bit as good as the chart topping singles. Other standout tracks include "The Working Hour", "Mother's Talk" (which also placed on the charts) and "I Believe". All of the eight original songs are of exceptional quality, and highlight the songwriting and vocal talents of these two young artists. The remastered version also offers an additional seven bonus tracks, which aren't strictly necessary, but add a great glimpse into their creative process. Even if they're not up to the level of the original cuts, the bonuses are definitely enjoyable to listen to, and I'm not one to complain about getting extra TFF music.

Overall Big Chair is a phenomenal release from a pair of artists whose angst and raw energy permeates their work. It's unfortunate that this is the only Tears for Fears album that receives significant attention, as their entire catalogue is of exceptional quality. This is one of those rare albums that is able to transcend its origins ('80's pop), and it belongs on any list of all time classic albums.

Songs from the Big Chair
Great album! I don't have this remastered version, but I'm speaking for the original. Only complaint: it could be longer

Most people know it for the chart-toppers "Shout" and "Everybody wants to rule the world", as well as "mothers talk," "i believe", and "head over heels."

Ironically, I think my favourite songs on here are 2 of the 3 non-singles: "The Working Hour" and "Listen". Funny how it always seems to work out that way

A great album

CLASSIC ALBUM WITH FANTASTIC RE-MASTERING & EXTRA TRACKS
The original album 'Songs From The Big Chair' features the worldwide smash hits 'Shout', 'Everybody Want To Rule The World' (No.1 in the USA) and 'Head Over Heels'. However, it was only eight-track long and didn't fully showcast Roland Orzabal amazing talent at writing meaningful and out-of-the-mainstream compositions. The extra tracks on this re-release of 'Songs From The Big Chair' paints a better picture of what the duo was about. All the extra tracks were available on the b-sides of the singles when they first came on vinyl. Most can also be found on the brilliant Tears For Fears collection of b-sides 'Saturnine Martial and Lunatic' album.

If you don't own a Tears For Fears album this is the one to get. Overall it's a good blend of pop chart hits and soundtrack quality b-sides. And the mind-addictive 'Shout' will have you muttering the lyrics to yourself for weeks.

In terms of production, this re-mastered collection is amazingly well 're-mastered'. The sound that comes through my hi-fi system is crip and clean, and at least twice better than the original album version. It worth noting that Chris Hughes was the producer of the original album, and he is also involved in the re-mastering of this new collection -- the result is one of the best re-mastered albums in my collection.

Simply astonishing
This was one of the most moving albums I have ever listened to. ... Read more

Amazon.com

The second in the Hip-O imprint's series of '80s box sets, this three-CD compilation collects 42 hits from the decade of decadence. For those who want to shake their booty, they can get their freak on to Rick James, "Jump" for the Pointer Sisters, and do a little "Safety Dance" to Men Without Hats. Love new wave? Indulge in Flock of Seagulls, Duran Duran, Devo, and Adam Ant. And for those who want to rock--although not too hard--there's Billy Idol, the Pretenders, Rick Springfield, and Scandal. Yes, many of these cuts are predictable, but there are some surprise entries, like Rockwell's "Somebody's Watching Me," Greg Kihn's "Jeopardy," Peter Schilling's "Major Tom," and Jan Hammer's "Miami Vice Theme"(!).Given this set's diverse artist roster, it's doubtful that you'll love every song; and, truthfully, the third disc is weaker than the others. But as a throwback for the music-video generation, Hit Me with Your '80s Box! makes a hip retro compilation that may finally get pop-culture snobs to admit that they liked many of these songs a lot more than they were willing to let on back in the day. --Bryan Reesman ... Read more

Reviews (8)

Great Collection, But ...
This is a great collection of awesome 80's music, but I feel that each disc should have had about three more songs on them. Also, I think the title refers to Pat Benatar's HIT ME WITH YOUR BEST SHOT. Strangely enough, the song is nowhere to be found on this set???

I don't understand...
...Why does this box set not contain the very song its title is a reference to? If it were to be truly complete, it would contain: HIT ME WITH YOUR RHYTHM STICK, by Ian Dury & The Blockheads.

Huge collection of 80s hits
Some of them, I am so tired of hearing, and others I'd love to hear again! Nice mix

A great by for Any fan on Eighties Music
Hit me with your 80's box is great box set for anyone who likes eighties music. While it not as good as "Like, Omigod:The 80's pop culture box" It still will take the listener back to a great time in the music industry.

What a great 80's Box Set!!!
Some of the greatest songs of the 80's are on here! I listen to it in the car all the time! Great for 80's lovers!!!! ... Read more

Amazon.com's Best of 2001

Though a well-publicized marriage did much to raise his celebrity profile, Guy "Mr. Madonna" Ritchie's claim as one of the world's most promising young filmmakers was already secure. Extending the gambit he began on Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels, the English director's handpicked collection of pop songs for his jewel heist romp Snatch is a dizzying delight that eschews era and genre concerns in favor of flavorful character and loopy fun. Though his musical sense is one of the elements that have inspired Tarantino comparisons, Ritchie is clearly a league of one here. With a little fresh input from musical ally Klint, this anthology score ranges from the electro club mixes of Overseer and Mirwais to the vintage R&B workouts of Maceo Parker, Huey "Piano" Smith, and Bobby Byrd, with some pop kitsch of the 1970s (Johnston Brothers' "Hernando's Hideaway") and '80s (the missus's "Lucky Star") to keep the proceedings ever fresh and askew. Ritchie's pop choices are no less inspired, from Oasis and Massive Attack to the Specials' classic, "Ghost Town," and The Stranglers' own underrated jewel, "Golden Brown." --Jerry McCulley ... Read more

Reviews (28)

Among the top ten CDs in my collection
This album has easily made it into the top ten spots of my 800+ CD collection. It contains the most eclectic blend of music I've heard in quite a while. I guess the other album that comes to mind is "Pulp Fiction" - no wonder Guy Ritchie is being considered the successor of Quentin Tarantino's movie-making style, where music plays a key role.

Musically, the tracks "Diamond", "Golden Brown", "Hot Pants" and... basically the entire album, get you in the Snatch-groove even if you haven't yet seen the movie.

To make the soundtrack even better, four excerpts from lines taken from the movie are included, among them one by un-understandable Brad Pitt and another from Dennis Farina ("I'm coming to London!")

Believe me: this one's worth having!

Great movie....GREAT soundtrack!!!
I saw the movie last night and thought it was just tremendous! Brad Pitt was hilarious in it (for the most part) with the thick accent of GIBBERISH that you can't even understand a word he is saying. The plot was tremendous and very funny! And another thing struck me when I was watching the movie...THE MUSIC! They mixed nearly 30 years of music in one movie. And each song served a purpose and it was outstanding. My favorite track, by far, is Oasis' song...lets just say its called (something) in the bushes. After that, the song Golden Brown by the Stranglers (must be an English band because I've never heard of 'em, which is sad to say that I haven't heard them before here in the U.S. cuz they rock). Other than that, the dialogue tracks are part of some of the funniest parts of the movie. I don't want to give anything away, but if you haven't seen the movie, think about what Avi says on track 20 and when you see the movie you'll see what I'm talking about. =P This is a must-buy soundtrack for 2001 with all genres included!!!!