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In the decade of decadence, Duran Duran knew how to live the life. Itwas reflected in their videos (sailboats, silly white hats, tropical surroundings, grease-painted feral women) and garishly displayed in their public lifestyles. But if you can remove these connotations from the album that started it all, you'll be left with music that is anything but gaudy. For the most part, Rio is an eerie and sumptuous record. With their raspy, arpeggio synth sounds and Simon Le Bon's uninflected vocals, the misty ballads "Lonely in Your Nightmare" and "Save a Prayer" can still tear your heart right out of your chest and abandon it bleeding on a rain-soaked cobblestone street. With the dance-oriented singles "Rio" and "Hungry Like the Wolf," you dry out a bit, but the songs are far from airy or whimsical. One anomaly in this release, though, is the inappropriate prominence of John Taylor's bass lines. In every song, it sounds as if he is mixed more in expectation of a solo than as an integral part of the rhythm section. Ignore this technical distraction, however, and you'll enjoy rediscovering this gorgeous body of water-colored synthpop. --Beth Bessmer ... Read more

Reviews (53)

Video Glitch for Win2000 & WinMe
If you are running Win2000 or WinMe and you do not have QuickTime installed on your computer, DO NOT follow the link provided on the enhanced portion of this CD. If you do, you will be downloading an older version of QuickTime that is compatible only through Win98. The result could be severe audio breakup. Instead, go to Apple's site and download the current version of QuickTime [v.5.0.2] which is compatible with Win2000 & WinMe and follow the installation instructions. Then get ready to be disappointed with the notecard-sized videos. As for the CD audio...mastered much too bright. As for the failure to use the ALBUM MASTER to cut the CD...shame on EMI/Capitol. Very amateurish. This disc is a great disappointment. P.S...Where is the ZERO in the ratings system???

Rio - 20 Years Later.
Although it was originally released in May 1982, Duran Duran's second album, "Rio," didn't catch fire on these American shores until a year later, thanks to the breakthrough single and video "Hungry Like the Wolf." It was perfect timing for the British group: the year was 1983, during which MTV culture was taking shape and revolutionized the way we listen to music. That, coupled with the group's stylishly produced videos and new romantic-inspired pop, helped make Duran Duran such an important staple in 1980s music. Here, virtually none of the 80s cheese you find from trendier groups appears on this CD. There's the dynamic title track (replete with a sax solo from Andy Hamilton), the seductive "The Chauffer," the uptempo rocker "Hold Back the Rain," and the funkified "My Own Way" (which differs from the original mix on the 1981 single). "Rio" is one of the first LPs I ever purchased (I still have the original vinyl), and it gives me great teenage memories. On its own merits, the record really deserves 4 stars, but it gets an extra one for its sentimental value. (By the way, this remastered version is the original pressing of "Rio" that was released overseas, and not the remixed version that was once available in America.)

no not five stars,O-N-E STAR ONLY
I WOULD LIKE TO REMIND EVERYONE THAT THIS IS NOT 1982.NO ONE LISTENS TO SUCH SILLY FOGIE NEW WAVE DANCE MUSIC WHICH HAS BEEN FORGOTTEN FOR DECADES.AVOID THIS SLOPPY ALBUM AND GET SOMETHING NICE AND RECENT LIKE AUDIOSLAVE'S AWESOME DEBUT CD INSTEAD AND ENJOY YOURSELF.LET THESE OLD FOGIES LIE IN THE EIGHTIES WHERE THEY BELONG.

"Oh Rio, Rio, dance across the Rio Grande"
This is a good CD for fans of Duran Duran and is hailed as one of their best. I don't agree but it's still very good, I believe. The songs are entertaining, even if they aren't the best things ever written, examples being Hungry Like the Wolf, Hold Back the Rain, and a few others. I was quite impressed with New Religion. Very interesting song that is supposedly a conversation between "the ego and the alter ego". The chorus is great. The lyrics don't make a whole lot of sense but I think they can be understood on a gut level if you don't try to analyze them word for word. Lonely in your Nightmare, Save a Prayer and The Chauffeur are very pretty. I think I may have gotten more meaning out of the songs than was actually intended, or maybe not, but it doesn't really matter as listening to music is a personal experience anyway, and for me this album is a good musical experience.
So if you're not too proud to admit that you like Duran Duran, this might be a good CD to get.
Yes, a good CD but don't get it for the DVD-rom extras. You need a special computer for that. I don't know what the deal is.

For all of you complainers of the fact it's not the version
For all of you complainers of the fact it's not the version you had back in the 80's I know of a website that will straiten you up. There were 5 versions of the ablum made, and many of the songs have even 13 versions of the songs, only 1 song from the album is the same no matter which version you have or had for it is the only song that has 1 version that song is Last Chance On The Stairway. (...)

By the way stop your bitching about the album I have the US 1st version I LP, I have The US 3rd version on cd..with bonus tracks, the remasterd cd, plus I only the 81>85 box set, Night Versions, and Strange Behaviour, plus Decade, and Greatest, plus Decade on VHS and Greatest on DVD..so I have many versions of the songs, not all...I consider all versions to be a goal for me to have...so..read about the different versions before you complain! ... Read more

Amazon.com

Sam Harris has always had a powerhouse voice that raises the roof as well as an honesty that touches the soul, so it seems natural that the former Star Search champion should strike a winning note with his 1999 gospel/inspirational album, Revival.The album had its genesis when Harris's performance of "Bridge over Troubled Water" on The Oprah Winfrey Show prompted the host to declare, "Sam could make Jesus walk through the door!" That Paul Simon standard is included with other familiar tunes such as "Peace Train" and Rockapella's "A Change in My Life" (which features the a cappella quintet as Harris's backup band). "Love Letter" delivers a great funky beat, and "The Rescue" is a spare ballad that works beautifully in contrast to the high-energy tunes. Harris himself contributes two songs, the lovely, yearning "Holding On" and the rousing title tune, while David Friedman's "I'll Be Here with You" is Harris's tender farewell to his longtime collaborator Laurie Beechman following her tragic death from cancer. --David Horiuchi ... Read more

Reviews (109)

Revival Fever Runs Rampant!
Once in every generation a singer comes along that captures the pure emotion that music is! It requires a soulful presence, a mastery of control and emotion that is beyond belief. The singer for this generation is Sam Harris!

The way Sam interprets the songs on "Revival", is unparallelled, unequaled, in all of music. You hear the pain, the joy, the fear, the hope pouring from his heart and his soul in each note.

Over the course of 16 years we have been witness to the growth and maturation of this artist, from the Star Search stage to Internation Acclaim! His uncompromising approach of pouring his all into his music reaches the soul of listeners and pulls them into his joy, ecstasy and passion as he powers the soul through every emotion that God held in His heart at the beginning of time.

"The Cirle" is the epitome of this CD. It's message of new beginnings so appropriate for Sam's beginning again, "Revivalized" and bursting with the power and the splendor that we have come to expect from the Ultimate Artist. Excellent! A must have for any true music lover, and a standard by which all future artists will be measured.

No other entertainer can match the range of this talented young man. No one else can grip the soul of the listener and require him or her to touch the song in the ways that music has always craved.

A powerful and complete experience.

Good, but could've been better.......
Sam's latest CD, "Revival" is a mixed bag of songs that could have used a little fine-tuning. As evidenced on earlier recordings, Mr Harris has an incredible voice, but doesn't always pick the best material to showcase his talents. There are a handful of stand-out tracks here, ("Come to Me", "The Circle", and "Bridge Over Troubled Waters" being among them), but for every great song, there seems to be one of lesser quality thrown in the mix as well. "Giving It Up for Your Love" is one of those throw-away tunes that sounds like it was composed in 5 minutes or less. (featuring this Shakespearean-like lyric......"giving it up for your love, everything......giving it up for your love, right now......" (egad.....) "Love Letter" seems to suffer a similar fate, but I won't quote any of it's memorable lyrics here. Another oddity is "Holding On", written by Sam, himself. Long-time fans who own Sam's 1986 release, "SAM I AM", will remember the song, "Don't Wanna Give Up On Love", which sounds alarmingly similar to this song, right down to the high-sustained note on the end. (Can an artist sue himself for plagiarising his own song? ) At any rate, this is a CD worth picking up for the few truly great songs contained herein, but you'll find yourself wishing it was just a bit better. A voice this good needs better material. MUCH better material.

Preview of Revival
The man could be a preacher, amen this is a sampling that will have to do till I get my copy. WOW, he can bring me to tears, and take me to heaven. What a range he has, he continues to top each performance, better than the one before. Look out Broadway, HERE COMES SAM HARRIS!!!!

Simply THE BEST!!!
This CD personifies Sam Harris at his best. The wonderful piano accompaniment compliments his powerful voice. I highly recommend this CD set; a MUST for any Sam Harris fan.

Great CD-Let's hear something with VIKKI CARR
Sam, been a fan of yours since the 80's and you were recording for Motown...love Vikki Carr and you should record with this multi winning Grammy Award winning international superstar. I know it would be great and Vikki still rocks and so do you! Great job on this release SAM! ... Read more

Amazon.com essential recording

It's a simple concept--the first dozen singles by New Order collected, a couple of them rerecorded--but it's also a totally entertaining seven-year history of the band that married British post-punk alienation to the relentless hedonism of the dance floor. The band's hits were always deeply unconventional (like the haunting "Blue Monday," essentially a seven-minute drum machine test with a short lyric that alluded to the Falklands War), but they were brilliant productions, layering dozens of electronic countermelodies and percussion tricks over Barney Sumner's uncertain warble and Peter Hook's lead bass parts. Though they're audio snapshots of the dance beats of their time, they've held up both as club classics and as idiosyncratic rock songs. --Douglas Wolk ... Read more

Reviews (83)

Impressive New Order Compilation - some unnecessary tracks
This early new order compilation compiles the full length 12" singles from 1981 to 1987. The opening track "Ceremony" still sounds very Joy Division-like, tying perfectly into their past with Ian Curtis (Lead singer of Joy Division that took his life in 1980). This chronologically organized compilation shows the impressive string of singles new order released. The hypnotic "Everything's Gone Green", the moving "Thieves like us", the danceable "Perfect Kiss" and the classics "Blue Monday", "Bizarre Love Triangle" and "True Faith". The 2nd CD doesn't really cut the mustard fully, they are b-sides after all. There are some great tracks here though. "In a Lonely Place", the opener is the companion track to "Ceremony", very haunting. "The Beach" and "Kiss of Death", great instrumental remixes of "Blue Monday" and "Perfect Kiss" respectively and "1963", the b-side of "True Faith". All in all a worthwhile compilation. The 2-cassette version is also worth looking out for; it includes as extra tracks dub-mixes of "Subculture", "Shellshock" and "Bizarre Love Triangle"

Great compilation
Substance is a great compilation of singles and B-sides by New Order from the early years. Starting with the Joy Division song "Ceremony" they breeze through all the 12" singles in chron. order. The first disc is nearly perfect. Dance tracks dominate here: "Blue Monday", "Confusion" and "Perfect Kiss". There is a new "Temptation" which, even though not as good as the original, is good. This is a great testament to a band that mixed dance with rock instrumentation.

The B-sides are not everyone's slice of pie. Owning the LP i had to go out and get the CD version of disc 2. (Not hard to find in a used CD store). The instrumental versions of the dance tracks are ok. "Thieves Like Us" probably is more pretty as an instrumental. Remember it's use in Pretty in Pink? But the real gems of disc 2 are "Procession", "Lonesome Tonight", and even "1963". Fairly brooding tracks but that's what's so good about this collection and New Order in general. It's a band that mixed dance with introspection and isolation. Substance is essential New Order.

Quintessential New Wave Album
This album is gem, a diamond even, as amazingly beautiful tracks are compacted and fluff is really nowhere to be found. This is an album that doesn't require shuffling through tracks to find the ones you like. The sheer volume of talent on this single album is amazing, the essential album for any fan of New Wave and anyone looking to get a taste of the invigorating sound of New Order.

sold this in 1995 cause no Age of Consent....
now I realize the new one disc New Order best-of
CD does have the greatest (to me) New Order track,
"Age of Consent." Where the heck was it on this
otherwise solid collection? not sure if it was a single,
but for goodness' sake it should've been. My two stars aren't for the band or the music, cause I like it all, I'm even more
into Joy Division but that's another tale entirely,
as most New Order/Electronic fans know quite well.
This collection was lacking a lot of great songs,

so I ended up selling it for credit and got some
better CDs that held up better, like Julian Cope's
Floored Genius vol. 1 hits collection which I STILL play a ton more than stuff like New Order these days (being an older
punk/new waver now). I think if they'd included a few
better selections like "Consent" (a classic club dance
floor fave and my own fave NO song) this would be a stronger
collection. As it stands in 2004, it's at least a good intro.
to the band if you only know a few songs, but the new
Best Of New Order might serve new listeners better (and less of an initial investment).

Nothing like you've ever heard before!
New Order is definitely my favourite band. Substance is their best album as it brings all their early 80's work together, which in my opinion is New Order sounding their best. The best thing about New Order and this album is that it does not sound like any other band, they had a distinct sound that nobody else could even come close to replicating.
"Ceremony" is an excellent song. I particularly like 'Everything's Gone Green' for its drum machine beat and the guitar chords. 'Temptation' would have to be my fav song as its very melodic and hypnotic. I do prefer 'Temptation' being played live as it sounds much more like an anthem and more joyous. 'Perfect Kiss' would have to be one of the best electronic songs ever. 'Blue Monday' of course, one of the best dance songs. Bernards cold, deep vocals help make this song stand out from the rest.
The second cd which are the b-sides are also very good. I must admit it took me awhile to 'get' the songs but once you do they are fantastic. My favs from the second cd are Procession, Mesh, Hurt, The Beach, Lonesome Tonight and 1963.
If you like alternative music and not into the mainstream, then this album is certainly worth buying. Believe me you will be hooked! ... Read more

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Helen Fielding's popular Bridget Jones character--a hapless British single gal who spends her days obsessing over men, cigarettes, and calories--has been criticized by more than a few feminists for her Cosmo girl conformist mentality. Perhaps this thoughtful soundtrack, which launches with Grammy-winning ass-kicker Shelby Lynne's "Killin' Kind," will make up for Bridget's self-doubt. Sheryl Crow turns in her strongest single in years, the saucy "Kiss That Girl," while Chaka Khan's classic "I'm Every Woman" is enough in itself to make any single woman's Friday night complete--no date required, just a nice pair of dancing shoes. A weepy, straightforward cover of Eric Carmen's "All by Myself" by Jamie O'Neal is more hilarious than it is emotive; ditto for Robbie Williams's karaoke-style take on Frank Sinatra's "Have You Met Miss Jones?" Ignore former Spice Girl Geri Halliwell's tragic reworking of the Weather Girls' "It's Raining Men" at all costs; it's the album's regrettable one-night stand. The Beatles may have said all you need is love, but what Bridget Jones needs is a nice soundtrack to get her through a terrifying cesspool of womanizers and fruity alcoholic drinks. --Kristy Martin ... Read more

Reviews (84)

Bridget's Dear Diary
I'm a music person. Not really into movies (though I enjoy them), I do, however, go for the soundtrack album. This US release does lack a few songs from the UK version, and those tracks are - Aretha Franklin "Respect", Pretenders "Don't Get Me Wrong", Andy Williams "Can't Take My Eyes Off Of You", Artful Dodger "Woman Trouble", and Aaron Soul "Ring, Ring, Ring". Despite lacking these five powerful songs, this soundtrack can still stand on it's two legs.

1.Shelby Lynne - Killin' Kind (4:41) 5 of 5 stars

This is a absolutely lovely song, and appears to be the only US single off this soundtrack. (The UK variation has reaped five.) A beauty of a love tune.

2.Sheryl Crow - Kiss That Girl (3:15) 5 of 5 stars

A strong new one from the great Ms.Crow, a slow rocker, and has grown on me from first listen.

3.Rosey - Love (3:33) 4 of 5 stars

A good song, reminds me of the Lilith Fair wave of the mid-90s. Fiona, Alana, Paula, and so on. More appealing then some of those as mentioned artists.

4.Robbie Williams - Have You Met Miss Jones? (2:33) 2 of 5 stars

Robbie singing a shabby Frank Sinatra kareoke. Awful.

5.Jamie O'Neal - All By Myself (4:49) 3 of 5 stars

A bland Faith Hill sound alike doing a bland cover, of a previously bland song. Hmmm.

6.Tracy Bonham - Just Perfect (4:48) 4 of 5 stars

A bit of a sultry tune, with an enjoyable voice. A good song.

7.Shelby Lynne - Dreamsome (4:12) 5 of 5 stars

Another excellent track by the great Shelby Lynne. Beautiful.

8.Robbie Williams - Not Of This Earth (4:42) 2 of 5 stars

This soundtrack does not showcase Robbie at his best, another dismal song!

9.Gabrielle - Out Of Reach (3:15) 5 of 5 stars

A beautiful R&B song, I feel the longing Gabrielle feels when she sings it.

10.Dina Carroll - Someone Like You (3:22) 4 of 5 stars

Another lovely slice of emotional R&B, a great love ballad.

11.Geri Halliwell - It's Raining Men (4:14) 5 of 5 stars

I know, how can I give five stars? Geri may not have the vocal chops of Martha Wash, but she can whip this song into a frenzy.

12.Diana Ross & Marvin Gaye - Stop, Look, Listen (To Your Heart) (2:52) 5 of 5 stars

This is a classic song, with two amazing voices coming together. What else should I say?

13.Chaka Khan - I'm Every Woman (4:07) 5 of 5 stars

A disco-funk classic, Whitney never did this song justice when she covered it.

14.Alisha's Attic - Pretender Got My Heart (4:06) 5 of 5 stars

This has a bit of mystery to it, and a great chilled out song. The second song by this group I've heard, and liked.

15.Patrick Doyle - It's Only A Diary (4:26) 3 of 5 stars

A lovely instrumental, I'm not really too fond of film scores, so this gets a so-so three.

Many complain about what this soundtrack lacks, but I think this a fine collection, and deserves a good rating. This also contains an enhanced element, which features a bit of story and a Bridget Jones quiz. All the extras, and the wonderful songs actually make me want to see the film, something a good soundtrack should make you do.

a breath of fresh air!
i've been disappointed with many soundtracks lately because they don't include songs that are featured in the movie. this isn't a perfect collection- but come on- do we really need to have aretha's "respect" on here? i'm sure everyone's already got it in their CD collection, right?! and yes, van morrison's version of "someone like you" would have been a nice inclusion, but dina carroll's version is lovely- the girl can sing! if you're still hankering for van, buy the "french kiss" soundtrack- probably the last good soundtrack until bridget! this CD has made me a fan of both shelby lynne and rosey (she sounds like the offspring of poe & fiona apple,) and confirmed my feeling that robbie williams is the most talented unknown-in-the-united-states singer- his version of "have you met miss jones" leaves no doubt that he deserves to inherit harry connick, jr.'s throne as frank sinatra's heir-apparent. and i'm so glad they included the diana ross/marvin gaye song "stop, look, listen to your heart," (for all of us romantics who swooned over the scene in the film in which that song is played.) and what a nice touch to be able to hear bits of patrick doyle's score! the only low points are jamie o'neal's cheesy cover of eric carmen's "all by myself," and geri halliwell's rendition of "it's raining men." we always suspected she was the spice girl who couldn't sing, and this confirms it! if you loved the movie, the soundtrack is a welcome accompaniment! and one last thing- i wish there were more stills of colin firth in the CD booklet!

Those Funny Reviews
What a crackup! My favorite songs on this soundtrack are the ones the first reviewer trashed -- "Love" by Rosey and "Pretender Got My Heart" by Alisha's Attic. I'd never heard of either performer before but that's the great thing about soundtracks -- you get to hear new people and a terrific variety of music. And Sheryl Crowe is great. This is my favorite CD to listen to on my headphones while I'm doing housework. "Love" always gets me dancing around with the broom or the laundry, causing much eye-rolling by my teenagers. And I always sing along with "Pretender" -- the melody's great and the words are easy. Hey, it can be a great way to clear a room when you need to vacuum! But who cares what I think? Listen to it yourself!

Perfect album for people who don't like music
It tells you how bad an album is when even Shelby Lynne's contribution blows. This is a terrible half-baked soundtrack for people who like elevator music.

the song
the song from the market that a few people have asked about is by artful dodger and craig david- its called woman trouble ... Read more

Reviews (30)

Good idea that is poorly executed
A album including #1 hits in the US and UK should include ALL the number #1 hits although one can understand why "Say Say Say" isn't on the cd (bad blood between Michael and Paul). Instead this collection features some #1s and songs that didn't make it to that position on either the US or UK charts. A perfect track listing for a #1s set for MJ would consist of the following songs: Ben; Don't Stop Till You Get Enough; Rock With You; Billie Jean (12" version); Beat It; I Just Can't Stop Loving You; Bad (12" version); The Way You Make Me Feel (12" version); Man In The Mirror; Dirty Diana; Another Part of Me (US #1 R&B hit--12" version); Black or White; You Are Not Alone; Earth Song (UK #1); Blood On The Dance Floor (UK #1); One More Chance (New song) and another new song lifted from the vaults

Jacko Rocks - KING OF POP!
Here is the definitive collection of #1 hits by The King Of Pop, along with a few new recordings. Michael Jackson's reign as Tabloid Favorite only drew more attention to his work as singer, song writer, dancer, actor, all-around-super-talent. While the world is richer for the multitude of brilliant music, it is sad that Michael himself seems unable to truly enjoy his own giftedness; instead walking on the brink of insanity, plagued by unknown demons.

Easily ranking with the now famous Beatles ONE and the Elvis ONE & TWO, as well as Mariah's set of #1's, Michael Jackson will never be unthroned as the ONE and ONLY King of Pop! Come what may, we will always have the music.*****

"NUMBER ONES" REALLY ARE!
Michael Jackson is still #1 to a lot of music lovers, and "NUMBER ONES" quickly shows you why! His vocal versatility and unique creativity cannot be denied. This CD has something for everyone, and "One More Chance" is at the top of the list. Jackson faves like "Billie Jean," "Black or White," "You Are Not Alone," "The Earth Song," and "You Rock My World" are also included for good measure, and this Michael Jackson effort may be one of his very best yet. Buy it; you'll be glad you did!

Curse Epic and Tommy M
First, before I rip this album a new one I must say that I am a huge Michael Jackson fan/supporter and IF YOU WANT HIS GREATEST HITS YOU HAVE TO BUY ALL HIS ALBUMS :). Number Ones is a pathetic greatest hits collection. Most of the songs on here are cut short. Example: You Are Not Alone starts out with MJ singing on the first note which he does not do on the album version and it fades out way early. One More Chance (the only new song) is the worst song R. Kelly has written for Michael. It's not a bad song, but R. Kelly should have kept it to himself. Michael should have submitted one of his own songs. R. Kelly can write better songs, just look at Cry or You Are Not Alone. One More Chance has a one line chorus and it sounds like it belongs on an R. Kelly record. Another problem with this record is the name Number Ones. Most of these songs didn't make it to number one, in fact many didn't even crack the top 10. If you own all of the albums and you want the song one more chance, just buy the single. I own both, but most people shouldn't bother unless they care about a complete collection. This collection is a weak display of MJ's amazing talent. It basically contains radio versions of his songs so they can put more on the cd. I love michael and know that he is innocent. I can't wait for his new album. I think MJ released this just to fullfil his record contract. Now he can be free and actually get promoted :).

A Superb Collection From The No.1 King Of Pop!
As the first few weeks of 2004 are upon us, and I'm sure Michael Jackson will be hoping that this year will bring him better luck than 2003 did. Despite dominating the tabloids with his appearance, the baby-dangling incident and THAT Martin Bashir interview, Michael Jackson still remains the King of Pop. There's some people who are famous. There are some people who are superstars. There are some people who are icons - and then there's Michael Jackson. Arguably the most famous entertainer alive, Jackson's 30 years reign on the charts is unchallenged.

So that's precisely why Michael's latest release, "Number Ones," is essential for all fans of brilliant music. Since the early 1980's Jackson has captivated the world with his music. We've had fun dancing to his music and cried to his emotional ballads, and that's why he's the greatest male performer ever. His talent is undeniable, and even though he's gone a bit off the rails in recent years, the world and his die-hard fans have never forgotten the music which is what matters the most.

First off, Number Ones is a title that tricks the buyer somewhat. There are eighteen songs on this album, and Jackson has had no where near eighteen US No.1 hits. He's had a total of 13 US No.1 singles, and his last was in 1995. Michael has had 7 UK No.1 hit singles, and his last was in 1997. His first UK No.1 hit was in May 1981 with "One Day In Your Life," which isn't included on here strangely enough. Michael's sixth US No.1 "Say Say Say" is also not included, and I have the UK version which includes "Human Nature" instead of "Man In The Mirror." Silly different regions and record companies! What is the point? Why not just have a complete tracklisting?! Also, "Ben," Michael's first ever US No.1, is included on the US version, but not on the UK version. Instead the UK gets "Blood On The Dancefloor," Michael's last UK No.1 single.

Apart from these minor hiccups, all of Michael's biggest and most popular hits are included here. The album opens with "Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough" and "Rock With You." Both songs are from Michael's debut album Off The Wall and both hit the US top spot. "Billie Jean," "Beat It" and "Thriller" are up next and all from Thriller, Michael's signature album. 50 million copies shifted worldwide, and nothing's going to take over it any time soon! Up next, we have six songs from the follow up to Thriller. Bad was Michael's third album, released in 1987 and sold 25 million copies as well. The songs from Bad on here are "I Just Can't Stop Loving You," "Bad," "Smooth Criminal," "The Way You Make Me Feel," "Man In The Mirror" and "Dirty Diana." All these songs were huge hits and all were US No.1's, apart from Smooth Criminal.

After this we get "Black Or White," which was a huge US and UK No.1 hit. It's the only song on this compilation album from Michael's fourth album - 1991's Dangerous. "You Are Not Alone" was one of Michael's biggest hits ever, and is next on here, followed by Michael's biggest selling UK single, "Earth Song." No.1 for six weeks and shifting more than 1 million copies this masterpiece is a perfect world peace anthem. Michael's 2001 comeback single "You Rock My World" follows. It wasn't a No.1, so by rights it shouldn't be included here, but it's a great track, so why not? "Break Of Dawn" wasn't even released as a single, so it's got no excuse to be here! It's from Michael's trans-atlantic chart topping Invincible album from 2001. "One More Chance" is Michael's latest single, and will not top the charts by my 'expert' predictions. "Ben" closes the album, which goes back to the very beginning of his career.

OVERALL GRADE: 8/10

I think it was a wise move for Michael Jackson to release Number Ones. It provides new fans in their teens a chance to get to know Michael's best music, for those who were too young to be digging it when 1995's "HIStory" was released, because let's face it, even people in their early teens love Michael's music! I think some minor adjustments could have been made to the tracklisting to improve this album, but it's still not a bad collection and definitely worth the money. Upon its release this album didn't even crack the US Top 10 - Britney stormed to No.1 that week, but in the UK, Number Ones did just that, and went straight to the top of the charts! All in all a brilliant record to add to any Michael Jackson collection. ... Read more

Reviews (11)

GREAT BEGINNING SAD ENDING!
Lisa Lisa & Cult Jam, guilty pleasure of the middle 80's scene, she was the queen of Freestyle by that time, her music was around every club, and her style will remain in many people minds. Her sounds were extremely danceable, although some people thought that her voice was a little bit squirky and anoying, it fitted just great to the type of music she wanted to approach, even her hit ballad "All Cried Out" a bittersweet melody with amazing lyrics, that will be covered later by many, fitted her just great, but undoubtly her greatest achievment was dance music, "Head To Toe", "Lost In Emotion", where #1's the same year and make everybody love this, sadly she became lost in more pop oriented tunes with the next albums, saving only "Let The Beat Hit Em" that it's truly a comeback to the dance music scene, but too late, the magic was lost and we should point to "Little Jackie Wants To Be A Star" as guilty for throwing Lisa's career to oblivion, but if you forget that and concentrate on the early materials you will find an artist that surface out of the bunch, because they were talented and had a new flavor to offer to the public.

Take it Home
The queen of Latin Hip-hop soul, Lisa Lisa shines on this set of big eighties pop hits with her crew Cult Jam. The songs for the most part are all upbeat dance gems that are very influential (ask Jennifer Lopez or even Janet Jackson for the matter) and full of great beats. The set really hits is stride with ahead of their time early tracks like "Can You Feel The Beat" and "I Wonder If I Take You Home" which prove that the Latin grooves can make great dance music and are brightly vivid songs about young love. These tracks make some of the best pop around now very seem lacking. Big hits like "Head To Toe" and the sweet "Lost In Emotion" is excellent modern mid eighties pop productions with a little soul influence in the vocals. Pure magic on CD these songs are. Prom classic "All Cried Out" is a lot more innocent on here than the over produced Allure version ever could try to be. "Someone To Love Me For Me" is very beautiful. "Let The Beat Hit "Em" is a powerful club hit from the likes of Clivilles and Cole. Basically the rest of the set leads astray with the lame R&B of "Something About Love" and an unnecessary Full Force feature "U Never Knew How Good U Had It". The set is excellent but the weak songs drag it down ("Little Jackie..." is iffy pop, but cute), but I think we can credit Full Force with blessing us with this set of dance gems that are as good now as they were in the mid eighties.

1985- THE YEAR Lisa and her Cult Jam came out
True Lisa Lisa& Cult Jam fans know that Full Force produced the group. Everyone loves how they brought serious flava to the 80's
Lisa and Full Force did a great Job on "Someone to Love me For Me" Full Force was great, and Lisa added that special touch!!!!!
The cult jam added their good beats, and together they became Lisa Lisa and the Cult Jam...often featuring Full Force
I like "This is Cult Jam" it was original, it was fun, and it really showed how cult jam played part in the group.
"I wonder if I take You Home" was their first hit
next it was "Can You Feel the Beat" "All cried out" and"Behind My eyes"
On their 1987 album.... I like "Playing with fire" "A fool is born everyday" "Lost in Emotion" and "Head to Toe" very good
songs....
I forogt what album but "Little Jackie wants to be a star" is another good one!!!!
Who could forget...Someone to Love me for me
the duet with full force...very good!!!!!!
i like the part when lisa says " if your in love with someone, make sure they love you for who you are, and not for the material things that surround you" and full force says afterwards" enough said"
they kept it real during the 80's.
1991'S lET THE bEAT hIT EM
on their "Straight out of hell's kitchen" was also great!

tHIS IS WHAT i WOULD SAY TO THEM:

"BABY WE WERE WONDERING
IF YOU WOULD SING SOMETHING NEW FOR US
BECAUSE WERE NOT TOO SURE ABOUT HOW YOU FEEL
SO WE RATHER GIVE YOU AN IDEA
I KNOW THAT YOU KNOW THAT IF YOU SING AGAIN
YOU WILL DO A GOOD SHOW
BUT YOU MAY DO SOME THING YOU MIGHT REGRET THE NEXT DAY
AND YOUR FEELINGS WILL GET HURT
bUT i DONT KNOW....THE WAY THAT I FEEL
IM SO AFRAID....I
WONDER IF YOU WOULD SING AGAIN
WOULD YOU FEEL US WITH LOVE BABY
BECAUSE WE NEED YOU TONIGHT

-ML

*Sigh* 80's Nostalgia
Anyone who is familiar with mid/ late 80's pop has got to remember Lisa Lisa and Cult Jam and the great jams they cranked out. All of the big ones are here. You get both of their fabulous #1 hits. "Head To Toe" starts out like a Supremes song and then takes off with a terrific catchy chorus *instantly recognizable.* "Lost In Emotion" was the other #1 and is just as great. Then you have the slow song "All Cried Out" which is beautiful and although Lisa Lisa comes off as sort of whiny, it justifies the song so it's forgivable. "Youuuuuu you leave me so confuuuused, now I'm all cried out...over you." An 80's slow jam classic. Plus, you get the great free-style dance jams that put them on the map in the first place. Who can forget "I Wonder If I Take You Home" or one of my faves "Can You Feel the Beat." A MUST buy for 80's music fans. I don't care what people say about the 80's. Free-style dance music like Lisa Lisa and Cult Jam is awesome and music just isn't made this fun anymore. If you like this, I also recommend music by Expose and Debbie Gibson. Ear candy to help you forget about your troubles!

I REALLY like this album!
I got laughed at by the saleslady for buying this album. She looked at me as if, "What is this teenager doing buying a Lisa Lisa album?". I didn't care because I had grown up listening to Lisa Lisa on the radio when she was singing "Head To Toe" and plus I really liked her other hits like "I Wonder If I Take You Home" and "All Cried Out" so it was something I was willing to shell out cash for. I love this album because the music is pretty orginal, Lisa Lisa has a style that is unbeatable, the lyrics are catchy and those breakdancing beats are really danceable. My fave track has to be "I Wonder If I Take You Home" but I like the classics like "All Cried Out", "Head To Toe", "Lost In Emotion" and "Can You Feel The Beat". I also liked "Let The Beat Hit 'Em" and "Something 'Bout Love". This is the perfect dance album and one that you can play at parties, it's one of my personal faves and I recommend that anybody should buy this album and don't be afraid to just because it's old school! :) ... Read more

Amazon.com

The soundtrack to Disney's 2004 Cinderella sequel The Princess Diaries 2: Royal Engagement offers a wide variety of young Disney stars (Raven--who has a small part in the movie--Lindsay Lohan, Jesse McCartney, Christy Carlson Romano), hot vocalists (American Idol's Kelly Clarkson, Norah Jones), and head-banging rockers (Avril Lavigne, Pink).The best tracks are Clarkson's "Breakaway," Raven's "This Is My Time," Renee Olstead's Norah-esque "A Love That Will Last," and "Your Crowning Glory," a duet between Raven and Julie Andrews.It's not a flashy showcase for Andrews, who begins it in a half-sung, half-spoken style before Raven joins her to a funky beat.But just hearing the beloved film and stage star sing at all after the problems she's experienced following botched vocal-cord surgery in the late '90s... well, it might just bring a tear to your eye. --David Horiuchi ... Read more

Amazon.com essential recording

Never underestimate Madonna's power of persuasion: By nearly all critical accounts, Ray of Light, Madonna's first album of new material since 1994's Bedtime Stories, and her first since motherhood, is her richest, most accomplished record yet. While Ray of Light is being tagged as Madonna's big leap into electronica, it's important to note two things: First, her music has always had close ties to dance culture, and, second, her collaborator William Orbit is no Chemical Brother. Though it has all the latest blips, bleeps, and crackles electronica has to offer, Ray of Light is still largely an adult album, completely within Madonna's realm. Still, Orbit's tasteful sonic constructions provide Madonna with her most adventurous, hippest musical backdrop ever. What's more, the arrangements and production are understated enough to highlight an even bigger development: Fresh from singing lessons on the Evita set, Madonna's vocal range, depth, and clarity have never been stronger. But larger pipes don't necessarily make for deeper, truer music. Never a master lyricist, Madonna's words have worked best when they've practically been slogans ("Vogue," "Express Yourself"). This time she goes for more emotional depth, and even tries her hand at ethno-techno-mysticism ("Shanti/Ashtangi"). She largely stumbles, however. The tone conveyed on songs like "Nothing Really Matters" is a self-centered pat on the back that belies her claim to a newfound altruism. It's enough to make you wonder, now that Madonna's given up being our material girl, if maybe she's set her sights on becoming the center of our spiritual world too. --Roni Sarig ... Read more

Reviews (699)

The Most Brilliant Album of the 90's! An ansolute CLASSIC!
Ray of Light's excellence is hard to describe in words, it's so AMAZING. But let's start with the fact that this album is defenitely Madonna's critically most succesful album, and also VERY succesful commercially (almost 15 million copies sold). The greateness of this album is based simply on the fact that it combines Madonna's dance pop style (Patrick Leonard) succesfully with electronica (William Orbit), eastern rhytms and spiritual lyrics. Every song has meaningful and "deep" lyrics. In addition to the smash hits Frozen, Ray Of Light and The Poer of Goodbye, the albums includes many other masterpieces such as Drowned World/Substitute For Love, Candy Perfume Girl, Swim, Sky Fits Heaven, Little Star (dedicated to Madonna's first child, Lourdes)... In fact every song on this album is a masterpiece! This is a MUST for every Madonna fan, and VERY highly recommended also to others. This really is a CLASSIC MASTERPIECE OF THE 90's!

Ethereal Girl
I'm not a huge Madonna fan, and this is the only album of hers that I have, but it's beautiful beyond words. The music is haunting and quietly powerful. The lyrics are poetic musings on life. "Drowned World/Substitute For Love" isn't the strongest opening song, but it's pretty good. "Swim" has a definite message that she wants to convey about the modern world. "Ray of Light" is probably the best song on the CD, it's a great dance track but doesn't have dumb lyrics. "Candy Perfume Girl" is more in the dance/pop style, and I think it's just OK. "Skin" is more of a techno-style song. "Nothing Really Matters" is about how selfish she was in the past and how she's realized what's really important now. "Sky Fits Heaven" is about getting started again (Travelin' down this road/Watching the signs as I go ...) "Shanti/Ashtangi" is cool because it's completely unexpected, a yoga chant set to music. "Frozen" is one of my favorites, it's heartbreaking, deep and full of heart. "The Power of Goodbye" is a beautiful, moving song about unfulfilled love. "To Have And Not To Hold" is less powerful than the last two, but it's also about lost love. "Little Star" is a sweet, touching ballad written for her daughter. "Mer Girl" is mysterious and enigmatic, an appropriate ending track. You don't have to be a Madonna fan to love this CD.

Not an Album Its An Experience!
The electronic sounds the east indian sounds mixed in with her mature voice and meaningful lyrics. I think this is one of her best albums to date.

Overhype
Despite the album being overhyped, well extremely overhyped...there are tracks on this album that I still listen to 7 years after its release. Those tracks are Frozen, Swim, and Ray of Light as well as Candy Perfume Girl. The other ones are either poor or mediocre. (...)

(...)

Madonna's watery redemption
After the Erotica/Body of Evidence/Sex fiasco of 1992, even Madonna's diehard fans (myself among them) were a bit weary. We knew she was not "over" because we remembered that many had labeled her so since her debut in 1983. She had continually defied their predictions. We had faith that she could reinvent herself once again, but we knew it would be a difficult task, and we feared she might never recapture her former glory. Nineteen Ninety Two was the lowest her career had ever sunk, the first time since 1984 that a Madonna studio album had failed to top the charts.

Bedtime Stories set the path to Madonna's public redemption, yielding the #1 hit Take A Bow - her first in three years. But it is 1998's Ray of Light that put Madonna's career back on track, returned her to multi-million selling status, and finally - finally! - earned her a Grammy Award, several actually. It's a stunning reinvention, perhaps the most dramatic of any popular artist. Was this Yoga posturing, Sanskrit-chanting woman the same singer who only six years previous proclaimed she'd like to teach us how to ****? Was the world's most famous woman really saying that fame wasn't important? Yes, amazingly. What is most astonishing, however, is that she pulled it off. Ray of Light became perhaps the most critically acclaimed album of year, and it virtually erased the misadventures of '92. The Material Girl became The Spiritual Woman.

Water is the alchemical symbol of birth. So it is fitting that Ray of Light, marking the rebirth of Madonna's career and released shortly after the birth of her daughter, opens with two singles evoking water's imagery: Drowned World and Swim. "I'm gonna swim to the Ocean floor," Madonna sings. What a calm, peaceful, rejuvenating image. It permeates the entire album. Even where negative situations are confronted, such as in Frozen and The Power of Goodbye, there is an awareness of life's possibilities and a hint of awakening. You're in a negative situation - now leave it, and go find something else! Or rather, look within yourself for happiness instead the outside world.

Over the last few weeks I've become horribly nostalgic for the Ray of Light era. Ray of Light harkens me back to my introduction to Living Enrichment Center, which is a New Thought Church and retreat center I became involved with in 1996 when I was 21. The music of Ray of Light and the grounds of Living Enrichment Center were perfect mates. Statues from just about every major faith, including a statue of Krishna, Buddha, and a Peace Pole, were on display throughout the lush 90-acres. It was an otherworldly, infectious, beautiful atmosphere. And after a childhood and teen years in show business, always dreaming of stardom's redemption, I was starting to glimpse that perhaps fame wasn't the end-all, that maybe I should let go of my "substitute for love" and seek out the real thing. Who better than the world's most famous woman to assure me that fame isn't important? Maybe I wasn't a failure after all.

Lately, I am playing Ray of Light on a daily basis, sometimes twice daily - singing "traveling down this road watching the signs as I go" on my long bike rides on the local back roads. The motif of spirituality, forgiveness, and just a touch of Hinduism (her pronunciation ain't the best, but I still love Shanti/Ashtangi) is exactly what I need right now. Living Enrichment Center will soon move from its beautiful grounds, the church engulfed in a financial scandal that may mean prison time for the head minister. I long for innocence and rejuvenation once again. When is her next album due?

Andrew Michael Parodi ... Read more

Amazon.com

She may have played a teenaged girl mistaken for a pop star in The Lizzie McGuire Movie, but after releasing a Christmas album in 2002, and crooning two songs on the movie’s soundtrack, Hilary Duff looks like she means business. The only trouble is, she doesn’t sound like it. Although dubbing her first album Metamorphosis, the disc is anything but. Her singing is as coy and kittenish as her on-screen persona and she mugs her way through most of the 13 songs with charm and aplomb, but little natural singing talent. But to her credit, the actress has managed to cover a multitude of vocal sins by hiring a team of crack producers, who double her voice whenever possible, giving many of the tracks the rather anthemic feel of a cheerleading squad. The best songs on the disc are the three masterminded by the Matrix, the same production team that oversaw Avril Lavigne's hit disc and they give the lissome actress’s singing some attitude and grit, like on the infectious and spectacularly bratty "So Yesterday," and the cleverly conceived "Math," complete with heavy metal guitar riffs. But Duff is not inhabiting that saucy jailbait territory staked by Britney Spears. At the ripe old age sixteen, she’s much more Barbies than bustiers. --Jaan Uhelszki ... Read more

Reviews (2321)

It's not bad, it's just blah
I'm not anti-Hilary Duff and I don't hate her. I just can't believe she is in the music business!! Anyone could sing the songs she sings! They are pretty much all on the same tone and the same few notes. If you want to buy something phenomenal, I wouldn't reccomend this album.

Okay considering it's a debut...
After hearing pleasant songs like "So Yesterday" and "Come Clean" on the radio, and after hearing Hilary and her sis Haylie's take on "Our Lips Are Sealed", (even though the latter is not found on this CD), I decided to purchase this CD. I have to admit, I was a little disappointed, but I will give Hilary credit, since this is her first full-length album attempt. I do like the fact that she didn't go completely over-the-top popped out. She kept her sound more contemporary, versus too poppy, which I think was one of the keys to this album being a multi-platinum success, the fact that it was NOT a cheesy pop album (in terms of production.)

Really, the only songs I found enjoyable were the two tracks I mentioned earlier (Come Clean & So Yesterday). I was very surprised, because looking in the liner notes, there were plenty of great songwriters and producers on this album, like John Shanks, Kara DioGuardi, and The Matrix, (among others) and over half of these songs are filler-ish.

I did actually enjoy "Workin' it Out," one of the better songs on this album. "Little Voice" was a little too young for me, but I could see it being appealing to a younger crowd. "Where Did I Go Right?" is a sweeter, softer song. "Party Up" did appeal to me. "Inner Strength" was a big disappointment.. seemed like a good message, but it's basically a recited poem to music. It's only a minute and a half-- not much of a song.

I think this album was to really test the waters for Hilary as a recording artist. Even though her voice is very thin, it seems to work on most of these songs. I've heard some of her newer material and her voice has become stronger, so I think her second time around will be worth a listen!

Metamorphosis
01. SO YESTERDAY: First single and the best song on the album...really really cool -10-
02. COME CLEAN: Cool and cute...Hilary sound a little bit smaller than the other songs -10-
03. WORKING IT OUT: Cool, when it stars I didn't like but after it is so cool -10-
04. LITTLE VOICE: Cool and catchy, it means like the angel and the evil..-10-
05. WHERE DID I GO RIGHT?: Slow...but nice -9-
06. ANYWHERE BUT HERE: Cool ver very cool, one of my favs song on the album!! -10-
07. THE MATH: Rock song!! -10-
08. LOVE JUST IS: Aigh! I don't like i skip this song when I hear to the CD -6-
09. Sweet Sixteen: This song is for girls, and I'm boy, the music isn't the best, but it's ok -9-
10. PARTY UP: Cool, it is like "The Math" -10-
11. METAMORPHOSIS: Change! it stars like latin song, another of my favs! -10-
12. INNER STRENGHT: It is so short about 1 minute, but it is so cool, and positive -10-
13. WHY NOT: Cool, rocky, i love it -10-

PURE TRASH
Let's just start this by saying that I actually purchased this CD, so I'm a good judge of it. I have a very eclectic taste in music, so I thought, "Hey, her CD is doing really well, and I liked that one song 'So Yesterday,' it can't be that bad." So I buy it, listen to the entire CD, turn it off and go, (...) The lyrics were awful, the songs were incredibly childish and irritating, and all in all it sucked more than any other CD I've ever listened to before. I highly recommend you don't waste your money or time on this. You will regret it like I did.

great
this was such a great cd from hilary duff. and this cd is way better than beg for mercy from g unit. ... Read more

Amazon.com

The accompanying film recreates the original vibe of the '70s television show so brilliantly it's no wonder the producers decided to stick with the real thing for the soundtrack to Ben Stiller and Owen Wilson's hilarious remake of Starsky & Hutch. So no embarrassing contributions from Sugar Ray or OutKast (Anyone remember the unfortunate "Land of a Million Drums" from the Scooby Doo movie?), but a great if slightly used roller-disco soundtrack courtesy of the Jackson Five ("Dancing Machine") and KC & The Sunshine Band ("That's The Way I Like It"), balanced out by some marshmallow pop like Starland Vocal Band's "Afternoon Delight" and earnest country rock by Johnny Cash ("Folsom Prison Blues") and Waylon Jennings ("I'm a Ramblin' Man"). This is what the radio used to sound like before the robots took over. --Aidin Vaziri ... Read more

Reviews (9)

Good, but could have been better...
This soundtrack isn't a total loser. There are some definite highlights such as; "Dazz" by Brick an all-time favorite. Chicago's "Old Days" is a great 70's tune and a great way to open this disc. "Afternoon Delight" is truly is a delightful piece of pop confection. I always enjoy anything by Bill Withers. But the album would have been better without the cover versions by Owen Wilson, Dan Finnerty, and Brigette Romanek. The originals are far superior.
A few songs in the movie that were not included would have made the soundtrack much better. One is Aerosmith's "Sweet Emotion", a great 70's hard rock tune. The other is the Carpenters' classic "We've Only Just Begun". I'm sure though that royalties for "We've Only Just Begun" are very expenisve.

Disappointing
David Soul's version of "Don't Give Up On Us" was not included - to me, that would have been the ONLY reason to purchase this CD. David Soul has a wonderful voice, and shouldn't have been mocked by Owen Wilson's version. But after listening to this CD, if I were David Soul, I'd keep my version of the song off of this CD. There's only two original version songs that I liked. And the original Starsky & Hutch theme song should have been included on here. I know the movie's a re-make, but let's not forget the originals, they can never be replaced!

Worth it for Owen Wilson alone
When is Owen Wilson coming out with his own album?
He's tops in my book!

NOT ENUFF FUNK IN THE 70'S TRUNK
I listened to this CD, and I was highly disapointed! Why? because there was not enough funk in the CD trunk. Sure they had Brick doin' Dazz (which is available on every funk CD compilation on planet Earth). However, where's the rest of it? I mean, if you're gonna have Snoop Doggy Dog in a movie, and only have 1 funk song, to me, that movie is a failure! Anyway, the reason I am writing this review is to find out about the other songs that did not make it on the soundtrack. For instance, there was 1 instrumental 70's funk track that did not make it. I am currently looking for that group / track. If anyone out there knows the rest of the songs in the movie (that did not make the CD cut) please let me know. And for the record: Leon Haywood is funky; Bill Withers is funkier, and KC & the Sunshine Band is funkiest, however, the Jackson 5 is still considered pop to me, but Dancing Machine is an extremely infectious, and funky tune. As a final note, the reason I'm giving this disapointing CD 5 stars is because I liked the aforementioned 5 songs, and musical artists. And these days if you can get 5 good funk / funky / funkier / funkiest songs on 1 CD, then you found yourself a gem!

Nothing without Owen Wilson
Most of these songs are straight off of albums you can get at almost any thrift store for a buck or less.
Despite what other reviewers might have you think, the only reason to get this is for the Owen Wilson song-- it gets 10 out of 10 for hilarity. ... Read more

Amazon.com

A three-note horn blast, a disco groove calling from the dance floor, a woman's voice charging in to sing "never, ever do I feel discouraged."It's the '70s again. You're surrounded by freedom at its most complete, and trivial. This is how Boogie Nights, a film about the rise and fall of a porn star, begins. The soundtrack consists of dance and trash pop songs playing non-stop, forming a kind of historical narrative behind the action. Vol. I rescues some great nuggets of fluff, both black and white--"Magnet and Steel" and "The Best of My Love," for example. Then, it deliberately goes too far with Night Ranger's "Sister Christian." The song, defiantly candy-ass, challenges our capacity to recycle the pop culture past. Its earnest emptiness and lack of irony make it the most uncool, and fascinating, thing on the record. --Steve Tignor ... Read more

Reviews (21)

"Feel The Heat" With This Classic Disco Era Soundtrack!!!
From the first selection/snippet from the movie, "Feel the Heat" with actors, Mark Wahlberg & John Reilly, you know that you are gonna be in for a WILD and WEIRD ride, listening-wise. Followed up by disco tune "The Best of My Love" from The Emotions, the grinding, sexy, moaning "Jungle Fever" by Chakachas the sweet and sexy double entendre song, "Brand New Key" by Melanie and the weird, wild, dreamlike, drug induced "Spill the Wine" with Eric Burdon. This is a great disco/drug era CD soundtrack with many hits and little misses. Marvelous Marvin Gaye's "Got to Give It Up, Pt. 1" is certainly a highlight along with the love ballad, "Magnet and Steel" by Walter Egan and cool,"Livin' Thing" from The Electric Light Orchestra.

Misses are: the instrumental "Machine Gun" - The Commodores
the corny "Ain't No Stoppin' Us Now" - McFadden & Whitehead, and the embarrassing, Sister Christian - Night Ranger

God Only Knows by The Beach Boys and the eerily instrumental
Big Top composed by Michael Penn are fair.

Check out VOLUME TWO of Boogie Nights soundtrack also! It's great!

Happy Listening!

Great Soundtrack, but you need both...
There were so many great songs in Boogie Nights, and only 13 of them made it onto the original soundtrack. You really need this one PLUS the Boogie Nights #2 CD (which is just as good, if not better) in order to get all of them. However, this one probably has the songs most essential to the movie (including Mark Wahlberg singing that horrible, horrible yet funny song, Feel The Heat). My favorites are Best of My Love (The Emotions), Brand New Key (Melanie) -- it's hilarious, Spill the Wine (Eric Burdon), Sister Christian (Night Ranger), Machine Gun (The Commodores), the classic Ain't No Stoppin' Us Now (McFadden & Whitehead), Livin' Thing (Elo) and God Only Knows (The Beach Boys). If you like this one, I'd definitely recommend buying the Boogie Nights #2 CD as well.

Great album!
Boogie Nights is one of my favorite soundtracks of all time. It's so groovy and seventies, with a nice mix of disco tracks, and some mellower stuff like "Magnet and Steel" and the Beach Boys classic "God Only Knows". I could do without the score track at the end, although I adore Michael Penn. You have to go allll the way through it to get to the hilarious secret song. Night Ranger's "Sister Christian" is also pretty cheesy, but it does fit in well. All in all, a great soundtrack to a great film.

Feel the heat.
This disc will definitely remind you of the movie, but even better than that, it's just a cool bunch of songs. Besides the intro of "Feel The Heat" from Dirk, this has 70's classics from "The Emotions", "Marvin Gaye", "The Beach Boys", and "The Commodores". My faves would have to be "Magnet and Steel", "Machine Gun", and the track "Brand New Key", because it reminds me of "Rollergirl", played flawlessly by "Heather Graham". A few lines from the movie itself would have been cool too. Oh well. The only thing I really miss here is "Jessie's Girl", but that's on volume 2. Otherwise this is the best soundtrack for your next few "Boogie Nights".

Didn't feel it...
There are a lot of great songs on this CD, sure. But I only wanted one: Dirk Diggler's "The Touch". 'Nough said. ... Read more

Amazon.com essential recording

Amplified Heart marked a number of changes in Everything but the Girl's career, the most obvious of which was their sudden popularity when a Todd Terry remix of "Missing" became a dance-floor hit. But before the album was even recorded, Ben Watt--who with Tracy Thorn is EBTG--was hospitalized for a life-threatening intestinal disorder (see his book, Patient: The True Story of a Rare Illness, for a full account). His recovery invigorates Amplified Heart, making the love songs that much more passionate, the relationship songs that much more tender, and "25th December"--the one song in which Watt sings lead--that much more heartbreaking. Thorn's captivating vocals are the focus on the rest of the album, and she's as smooth as ever; combined with the focus that she and Watt share here, it makes for EBTG's best album. --Randy Silver ... Read more

Reviews (64)

Sell-outs may be disappointed.
I've seen firsthand the evidence that EBTG's "Missing" remix by Todd Terry was overexposed to the general public. And I can imagine the slight "disenchantment" of the throngs who ran out to buy Amplified Heart on hearing only the remixed track, thinking that the whole CD was full of those clubthumping beats. But as we know, instead of booming dance anthems, we're finding mellowed-out, inventive emotional pieces. When I bought it, I had no preconceptions of the album and I benefited immensely from that. I expected to be introduced to something new while still tasting the familiar EBTG flavor, and these two obvious expectations were met. The immediate atmosphere felt on "Rollercoaster" and "Troubled Mind" is undeniably late-night and is entirely mellow without being sedate at all. "Walking To You," "Two Star," and "25th of December" however show Watt and Thorn at their most placid. These three songs are minimal in production and orchestration, yet still maintain EBTG's trademark polished finish. Also of note, we get Ben's vocals on "Walking To You" and "25th" which sound as warm and emotional as ever (especially impressive considering he had recently been diagnosed with a life-threatening disease which, doctors told him at the time, would include loss-of-voice as a result). On the other end of the mood spetrum, though, you have "I Don't Understand Anything," "Get Me," "Missing" (both mixes), and my favorite "We Walk the Same Line." These gems rely mostly on gently programmed drums for ryhthm, and boast excellent melodies. Tracy's voice has never been this beautiful, Ben's guitar work has never sounded so accomplished and confident. Then they close (kind of) with "Disenchanted." It's a stripped-down vocal-and-piano piece with Tracy lamenting on someone else's behalf. It's emotionally authentic and EBTG show much restraint by not cluttering it up with unnecessary instruments or even background vocals. Then of course, you have Todd Terry's hidden track. Overall, Amplified Heart has thus far been EBTG's swan song of organic music. The contrasts are aplenty between this and Walking Wounded or Temperamental, the latter two being fully electonic with only sparse samplings of guitar, harmonica, and the like. Nonetheless, it serves as a fine mile marker separating the days of echoing piano pop from the present Lazy-Dog-esque mixed sets--both distinctly brandishing the Everything But The Girl signature.

Beautiful Adult Pop
I'm glad they had worldwide success with the remix of "Missing" but most listeners had no idea of EBTG's talent unless they bought the album. With Ben recovered from a near fatal illness, the songs on the band's seventh (I think) album are more heartfelt than ever before. The band pours intelligent, witty lyrics into gorgeous, innovative yet simple melodies that appeal to fans of all genres.

Tracey Thorn has one of the most beautiful voices I've heard and in it she exudes confidence and control. My favorite songs are "Rollercoaster", "Troubled Mind", "I Don't Understand Anything", "Get Me", "Missing" and "Two Star". The entire album is great but those songs are gems. If you're not impressed on the first listen, the songs will get better and better each time and the album will have a long shelf life in my home.

Everything But the Girl
Awesome cd to listen to when you want to relax! During dinner or on the ride home you will have no problem unwinding! We love it!

me like
Having become enthralled with EBTG through Walking Wounded and Temperamental I was not at first able to get my head around their earlier albums. On first hearing, Amplified Heart was barely above elevator music to me. But I find that many tracks have grown on me dramatically, so that now I listen to the album non-stop. Tracey Thorne's voice is like a balm to my troubled nerves. I could listen to her sing the phone book. One of the tracks that has particularly grown on me is Your Troubled Mind, particularly the lyric, "When you're dooooown you bring me down too-oo; and that is somethi-in' I would not do-o. You say its hard I know its hard; that is somethi-in' I don't dis-re-ga-ard."
My advice is, buy the album. If you don't like it at first, force yourself to listen to it over and over and you will come crawling on you knees begging the album to forgive you for ever having doubted it.

Better late than never.
Now that this has been out for 10 years, I thought I'd pick it up. God I hate it when I miss out on something this good for so long. "Amplified Heart" is refered to as their best album, and I can easily see why. Their biggest hit "Missing (Todd Terry Club Mix)" is on here, as well as the original, and though the whole album has an electronica feel to it, it's really not. Most of the rest is just kind of smooth acoustic pop, and reminds me a bit of "Sade". Anyway, it's very pleasing to listen to, and I find her voice soothing and comforting. The two songs I currently like the most are "Troubled Mind" and "We Walk The Same Line", both done very well. This album is a must for any collection, even if you have everything but "Everything But The Girl". ... Read more

Amazon.com

OhmygodtheBackstreetBoysrule!!!!!! OK, with that out of the way, let's review The Hits--Chapter One, which is one-stop shopping for the hunky pop group's three American albums--their 1997self-titled debut, 1999'sMillennium, and 2000'sBlack & Blue. The first disc really shines with "As Long as You Love Me," "Quit Playing Games (With My Heart)," and "All I Have to Give," capturing the Backstreet Boys' essence: sunny pop under the influence of blue-eyed soul. "I Want It That Way," from the second album, is an undeniable classic, while "The Call" has a deliciously frenzied sexual urgency and a strong, danceable beat. But the other tracks are uneven with the oddball fan-appreciation anthem "Larger Than Life" surrounded by somber, predictable ballads. The new single, "Drowning," is same-old same-old: lazy moaning over a drum machine. The Hits--Chapter One might be an optimistic name for this '90s retrospective. The future is cloudy for chapter two. --Courtney Kemp ... Read more

Reviews (175)

Pleasant set
The Backstreet Boys were the first of the boy bands of the late '90s/early 2000s to make it big. Their catalog consists of only three previous albums, so it does seem a big premature to have a hits collection out, but apparently the third release didn't perform to expectations, so a hits set was rush released with only one new song.

Even if it seems like a last gasp for success, this CD is a great summation of the group's work up to this point. It provides proof that the group wasn't just the best of their breed (boy bands, that is), but that their best moments transcend the the recent bugglegum pop music boom.

"I Want It That Way," "As Long As You Love Me," and "Quit Playing Games (With My Heart)," are lovely, timeless pop ballads, featuring great vocal performances. The dance numbers, like "Everybody (Backstreet's Back)" and "Larger Than Life," are clearly a product of modern music, but offer infectious rhythms that even early Bandstanders can dance to.

If most of the rest of the singles on this 13-track collection aren't quite as good as those afforementioned tunes (the midtempo "Show Me The Meaning Of Being Lonely" also certainly ranks with the Boys' best), they nevertheless are well-crafted. That the new single "Drowning" is the weakest track on the set may not bode well for the future however. But regardless of what the future holds for this group, this retrospective provides a strong look at what was popular in pop music around the turn of the century.

The Boys Hit the Big Time
I'm not a huge fan of pop music (you can gather that by reading some of my other reviews), but I have to admit, there's something very likeable about the Backstreet Boys. Their music offers a wide variety of melodies and styles, from dance to pop to R & B with a bit of techno thrown in for effect. "The Hits--Chapter One" is an ecclectic mix of music, illustrating exactly what makes the Backstreet Boys work in today's glob of music. The disc encompasses the Boys' three multi-platinum albums, so all the essential songs are here, from 1998's dance tune "Everybody (Backstreet's Back)" to the smash "I Want It That Way." Also included are the newer, lesser known tunes "More Than That" and "Drowning."

While this album is basically a greatest-songs package, the disc flows fairly evenly with its pure melodies and smooth harmonizations. Brian, Nick, Kevin, A.J., and Howie's voices blend together flawlessly on the sweet-not-sappy- "All I Have To Give." The five-some dive shamelessly into the rock/techno world on the dance hit "Larger Than Life" and explore the subject of infedelity on the epic song "The Call." However, the album gets bogged down with the slow, ho-hum ballads "Show Me the Meaning of Being Lonely," "I'll Never Break Your Heart," "Shape of My Heart," and "More Than That." If one can get over those slow moments, than this is a great disc to pop in the player when chilling out. With the various boy bands clogging the airways, it will be interesting what the Backstreet Boys decide to do in chapter two of their career.

The Hits
Has all the hits including the smash "I Want It That Way".

I love Backstreet Boys and I wont it that way!
I just got this cd for my birthday last year and I loved it when I played I wont it that way on my birthday and It's is my favorite song by Backstreet Boys! I recomened this CD for any Backstreet Boys fan in the world!

The thing to turn you off the radio for good
In the late 1990s, as the loud, tuneless alternative rock sound of such awful groups as Nirvana, Silverchair, the Presidents Of the USA etc. weakened, teen pop came to take its place.

Whilst as I was back then I would certainly have appreciated a softer sound controlling the airwaves than the hyperamplified grunge sound that in those days defined the word "alternative" for me, the fact is that the Backstreet Boys scarcely did anything that opposed the grunge sound in a new and serious way. Rather their music was basically a watered-down version of the sound with which such artists as Michael and Janet Jackson, Madonna and Simply Red had been having hits for a great many years.

There was some sort of familiarity to the sound of the Backstreet Boys, but at best it can only be described as annoying. All any listener is likely to remember is the ultra-catchy choruses with which almost every song they recorded (and had played on commercial radio) ended: there can never be any substance to songs that were written for what was/is by any standards an artificially promoted group.

Scarcely any better than most "hip" people will tell you, the Backstreet Boys were/are in no way anything worthwhile for a moment. More than that, the Backstreet Boys unlike any other group before them will have those listening to commercial radio questioning whether it is the best option even if they hate what is played on the noncommercial stations. This is the one thing notable about them, indeed. ... Read more

Amazon.com

The novelty was stripmined from ethnobeat pop long ago, and this skin-deep confection is surprising only in its lack of edge and invention. On the plus side, the melodies are textured and lush, the beats entrancing, and a parade of gifted singers--Kristy Thirsk, Jacqui Hunt, and Sarah McLachlan included--bill and coo impressively. Lead single "Euphoria (Firefly)" has spark and spirit, while "Enchanted" and "Duende" are strong vehicles for Thirsk and Camille Henderson respectively. --Jeff Bateman ... Read more

Reviews (158)

Karma is a Delerium Classic
Karma is a wide leap from the earlier albums from Delerium, such as Stone Tower, but it is excellent. I love the fact that Rhys and Bill decided to bring in phenomenal female singers such as Kristy Thirsk, Jacqui Hunt, Sarah McLachlan, and Camille Henderson. The enchanting rhythms and sounds create a beautiful sound scape for your mind to dive into. My favorite track on this album is Duende. I love the mid-eastern feel of it. Enchanted is another great one, Thirsk's voices is amazing, and the lyrics have a lot of meaning. The album comes together as a whole when you listen to it all the way through, as with most of the Delerium albums. Karma will enchant and move you to higher places.

I cannot wait for the next Delerium album to follow up this one. But for now, this along with other Delerium albums such as Semantic Spaces and Spiritual Archives are staying in my CD player.

Spellbinding vocals over surrealistic soundscapes
Wow! Wow! I can't hear this CD enough!

I started listening to Delerium through the side-door: I'm no fan of Front Line Assembly or much of Leeb and Fulber's other work produced under various names, including Delerium.

Then a friend leant me the awe-inspiring Semantic Spaces. Shortly, I got ahold of Karma. And it's been stuck in my Rio player for six months now, and I've no plans to remove it any time soon.

It's hard to write about something that sounds so beautiful: words don't do it justice. But imagine ethnic beats, electronic sophistication, angelic lamentations, and ethereal landscapes, and you might get an idea of what this album sounds like. If you're at all a fan of Semantic Spaces, or Enigma's early work, you'll definitely enjoy Karma.

Can't Get Enough Of This Disc
I just bought this CD yesterday and wow, there is nothing like this group in existance. Their music is so lush and haunting. I had used to think Enigma was the height of otherworldly music but Delirium outdoes them everytime. My favorites have to be Enchanted and Silence (featuring the lovely Sarah Mclachlan) A must for anyone who love ambient music.

Leeb, Fulber, you guys have changed man
If you are truely familiar with Delerium you know that it is the oldest and now (thanks to albums like this) the most profitable side project of "Front Line Assembly". That's not because this is their best album, it's because this is the type of music mainstream America wants. If your familiar with earlier Delerium then it's evident that this is not their true style. It sounds like an experiment done by Leeb and Fulber to milk the common American cd buyer of every penny so they can make improvements and upgades on their 2 million dollar homes. Having said that I'd like to reassure you that this review is not going to be all negative. There's nothing wrong with making money and capitolism is how our favorite groups become successful. Hey, I gave this album 4 stars. It's a good album for what it is. It's for a very specific mood. To me it's for getting girls in that 'specific' mood. Women seem to like this album more than us guys. Although us guys have a taste in softer music too even though we may try to hide it behind our heavy metal, beer drinking and love of boxing.

So Leeb and Fulber have a good idea here. As always they have a vision for creating a style of music unique for any type of mood. Using female vocalists such as Kristy Thirsk creates a sort of sensual feel to this cd. The entire album is solid, with no song sticking out as a best or worst. Like I said it's a cd designed for that 70+ minute mood that we all sometimes feel. It's not at all like early Delerium and certainly different from most Front Line Assembly. If you're a big fan of heavier FLA this album might dissappoint you. If you expect Delerium to sound like they did on "Faces Forms and Illusions" then this album is bound to raise a few eyebrows. But I gave this album a try and liked it. I guess I believe that all music has it's place and purpose.

My first delerium, my favorite delerium
This was my first delerium cd, and it served as an excellent introduction to new-era delerium. I like all the other cds of the duo, but this is still my favourite. it is probably the most tribal album of theirs, and it is vocal without being a cheap poppish attempt to make money. It has quite a variatey of styles, ranging from ethereal trance/new age (twilight) to ambient/dance pop (but not forced) songs like euphoria (firefly) and silence. the details are below.

1:enchanted- I LOVE kristy thirsks voice! it is so sexy, when she comes in with her oohs and aahs. this song is tribal, ambient, poppish, and a little ethereal. So angelic.

2:deunde- When I first got this album this was my favorite song. it has a great powerful beat, some sampled chants, and a great vocal job by camille. It almost makes you feel like you are in the aboriginal outback, but it is still pop influenced.

3:twilight- an ethereal tranceey instrumental track with some chants. very pretty and inspiring.

4:silence- outstanding song. it has monks in the bigenning but after about 1:30 sarah mclachlan comes in, and starts singing. piano is interlaced through parts of the chorus and there is a nice piano solo at the end.

5:forgotten worlds- very otherworldly, you can see why they put the title there. the song takes you to a long forgotten temple and awakens it and brings you inside. it only starts out dark, then it begins to glow. Chanting in this one too.

6:lamenation- definitley tribal, especially during the first three minutes or so. then it gets really pretty. too bad it has such a long introduction. a little weak, could have been on semantic spaces.

7:euphoria (firefly)- two slightly slow instrumental somgs make way for a dancey pop song. this was the first single from the album. it is catchy and danceable. if you heared and liked other poppish songs like silence or deunde you'd probably like this.

8:remembrance- one of my friends claims to have heared this on the radio, but I never knew it was a single. (or is it?) this starts out with some woodwinds, but about 1:00 in this song comes to life with chanting monks and then gets spacey and synthesized after about three minutes, and then the chanting comes laced in with the spacey sounds. very interesting.

9:wisdom- a short song, but still welcome. yay, more thirsk! This song is a little like enchanted, but less tribal sounding.

10:window to your soul- this is not at all even hinted with pop. it is a piece of mood music, very relaxing, and inspiring. and even though it's around 10 minutes, it dosent drag on. it keeps you listening. it starts out dark, but dont skip it, after about two minutes you will be on your way to a very peaceful place. this song has chimes, synthesizers (of course) and chanting. REALLY pretty.

11:til the end of time- this is probably the weakest song on the cd. it is a lot like wisdom, but slower. vocals, too.

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You need this in your collection! there is a little something for everybody, but you will probably end up liking it all. :) ... Read more

Reviews (23)

Stay with me
Erasure is definitely my favorite synth-pop group from the '80s. Their songs are fun and catchy to sing along to. It has been awhile since they released a best of collection. As much as I love "Pop!", it was horribly produced. I like this collection. Granted that whoever put this cd together didn't represent the group's legacy as well as s/he should have, "Hits" is still a good collection. I do wish that "Cracker International", "Cowboy" and "Erasure" were represented on this best of collection. That is my biggest gripe about this "Hits" but I am not going to slam this collection like other diehard Erasure fans are doing. Compared to the production on "Pop!", the songs on "Hits" are not hindered by the muddled production on "Pop!". Unlike "Pop!", songs from the groups more recent albums are included although not from "Cowboy", "Cracker International", and "Erasure". Whoever thought to not include songs like "She Won't Be Home", "Fingers & Thumbs (A Cold Summer's Day)", and "Don't Say Your Love is Killing Me" needs their head re-examined. Despite the lack of thought put into this, it is nice to have a collection of Erasure songs that are mixed better than what is on "Pop!".

Erasure's Best of CD
For those erasure fans out there that probably know that this is the second greatest hits that they have. It has a lot of there hits but obviously you cannot put every hit on a cd. It is a good selection of songs except that they should not have added 2 versions of O'lamour and could of put another song in it's place. Some of the songs that could have been added and are missing is: star, come and make me smile, Don't say your love is killing me, and drama. The bonus CD of the mixes of the songs was very good. Overall it is a CD that I recommend not only to the erasure fan but anyone that likes good pop music.

And the purpose?
While Erasure's a handful good songs are already collected in Pop Hits then what's the purpose of this money-steal item? Erasure have never been a high quality band but is rather doomed to be poor man's Pet Shop Boys with those awful lyrics and the same loops and rhythms all over the years. If you really wanna try Erasure go buy Pop and leave it there. If you really want to listen real good pop music, try Pet Shop Boys (Popart or any album of them) the overlooked gods of this kind of music, or New Order...

POP bops this off.
If you are contemplating a choice between Erasure's "Hits" album and the older "POP!" collection, I'd actually give the nod to "POP!" The new set adds more from the Abba EP and removes several of the songs from "Pop!." The dropped songs included some essential (in my opinion, at least) songs like "Drama" and "Who Needs Love Like That." You loose 8 songs from "POP!" here for 7 alternates plus one unnecessary remix of "Oh L'amour," and this collection has, simply put, a less concise menu of Erasure at their best.

Since Vince and Andy were better at the singles than at the albums anyway, the finest of their singles truly sparkle as gold from the eighties. Given that their later output was lackluster at best (save "Always"), this is a bland primer for a fun band. And Erasure is pretty much a fun sugar candy duo. With two notable exceptions, the best songs were campy or beat heavy hook records. Only with the environmental lyrics of "Chorus" or the call to arms of "A Little Respect" did the duo ever push towards anything really weighty. Not that there is anything wrong with that, mindless fun is better than no fun at all. But it was the early part of their career where Vince was still innovatively exploring the compositional range of the synthesizer. Which meant that, when he was on, he was brilliant, and Andy almost always found the kind of vocal exuberance to overcome any deficiencies (think "Love To Hate You"). It's also that, after the album "Chorus," the band began to bog down. So unless you feel that "Always" and a cover of Peter Gabriel's "Solisbury Hill" are worth having over the deletion of eight other, superior Erasure songs, I'd recommend "POP!" over "Hits."

Just buy the DVD
While most of this collection is a revisit of the old "Pop" disc, I decided to buy the DVD version and was glad that I did! Always known for their innovative, and sometimes campy, videos I had to get it. All of the hits are there, including many from the past decade. There are so many videos, that they put them on 2 disks! A great buy and a necessity for any fan. I say, skip the CD and get the DVD instead! ... Read more

Amazon.com

Is there anything that simply screams the 1970s' most indelible pop cultural clichés--the sunny romanticism, perfect vocal hooks, feathered hair, stacked heels, and flared sateen britches--more than the Swedish pop phenomenon Abba? And while many a pundit snootily dismissed them during their prime as some sort of prefabricated aberration, their worldwide popularity peaked somewhere just south of Beatlesmania. Indeed, Abba's music was as finely tooled and crafted as anything to come from a Volvo or IKEA factory--if occasionally more economically potent. This double-disc, 37-track anthology comes neatly on the heels of Mama Mia!, the smash, if unlikely, Broadway show based on the band's hits, and documents every single released by the band's Polar label in their home country as well as key tracks released internationally.

This is the canon from whence the term "Europop" sprang. With a continental sense of vocal neoclassicism, informed by just the right ethnic clichés (and oft wed to the era's insistent 4/4 disco beat) to make songs like "Mama Mia," "Fernando," "Chiquitita," and "Voulez-Vous" work on a global scale, the writing team of Björn Ulvaeus and Benny Andersson and their respective partners in music and life, Agnetha Faltskog and Frida Lyngstad, developed the seamless, wall-of-sound productions contained herein. The Definitive Collection features a rare single remix of "Ring, Ring" and a 1979 promo-only extended mix of "Voulez-Vous" as bonus tracks, as well as a concise, illustrated history of the band and each track. --Jerry McCulley ... Read more

Reviews (20)

All the singles in one double CD
This collection includes all the songs that were released as singles in Sweden, plus re-mixes of two of them. All their British and American hits can be found here, though some songs were not released as singles outside Sweden, while others were released in some other countries but not others.

The set begins with the pre-Abba track People need love - it features Benny and Bjorn but not Agnetha or Frida. The featured female singer is Svenska Flicka, who is otherwise unknown to me. Ring ring was Abba's first real single, while He is your brother is an interesting song, but Abba only really hit the big time with Waterloo, which was their first British number one and also reached the top ten in America. Subsequent singles met with varying degrees of success and it was not until Dancing queen was released in 1976 that Abba had another hit that could be called truly international. It went all the way to number one in Britain, America and many other countries.

Their other British number ones were Mamma Mia, Fernando, Knowing me knowing you, Name of the game, Take a chance on me, Super trouper and Winner takes it all. Many of their other singles went into the top five, including I have a dream, which spent a month at number two. In America, Take a chance on me was a huge hit but the others were markedly less successful.

This is a wonderful collection of Abba's music. If you only want one Abba collection, this is a good one to choose.

Admit it, they're good!
This greatest hit set blows away previous ABBA greatest hits sets. It has all their hits and great album tracks, thereby completely making "Gold" and "More Gold" obsolete. Most people still refuse to acknowledge ABBA as a worthy musical entity simply because their music is poppy and their lyrics aren't socialogically significant. However their tunes and carefully crafted productions are, and will be timeless. The songwritering team of Anderson-Ulvaeus are as strong as Lennon and McCartney when crafting melodies. The two female vocalists, Anni-Frid and Agnetha, do a superb job of layering their vocals to fit the song. From the excitment of "Waterloo" to the disco beat of "Dancing Queen," from the horn-driven "I Do, I Do, I Do, I Do" to the super-low bass synth in "One of Us" this two disc has it all. Put them in your CD and let it go. Don't worry if you can't "get" what other artists are trying to tell you or if their "angst" doesn't move you. Just put ABBA on and smile. Good music does that. You'll be singing these songs for days. Sometimes good music doesn't have to be about anything---and thats what makes it good.

ABBA rules!
I also was in Jr. High School and High School when Abba was cranking out top 10 hits. In those days I snuck into the record shop and hid my Abba albums under the cover of Led Zeppelin and then ditched the Zeppelin at the check out counter. It was imperative to hide your face while purchasing Abba albums. They were that uncool. To admit you loved this group in geometry class was to court disaster and be ostracized for the rest of your life.

Such nonsense mattered as a 14 year old, now I can openly say Abba's music is wonderful and their arrangements were as innovative as anything coming out of the 70's. It is simply impossible to listen to Dancing Queen or Take a Chance on Me and not want to hear the songs again and again. The vocal intricacies on Take a Chance are equal to the harmonies on most Beach Boys records. How about Waterloo? Three minutes of the most pulsing, catchy music ever put on a disc.

Abba's music sounds better today than it ever did, particularly when you know what dreck was produced by other bands in the intervening years. They might not have been Dylanesque lyrically, but few have ever written songs with such clever hooks, bridges and infectious rhythm. Thirty years after the fact, the impossible has happened: Abba has finally become cool!

Renders "Abba Gold" obsolete
this 2 disc set of Abba spanning 1972-1982 (their entire run) is worth getting, even if it costs a little more than the famous Abba Gold. Abba has too many good songs for just one measly disc. For those who want more than one disc, but don't want to fork over $60 for the box set (which is a great box set if you like Abba enough), The Definitive Collection is the title for you. The best part is that except for the two "bonus" tracks at the end (the 12" remix of Voulez-Vous and the US single version of Ring Ring), everything on here is chronologically. Spanning 1972's People Needs Love to 1982's The Day Before You Came. I prefer it when compilation cd's are in chronological order instead of in a mishmash.

For the 3 people who still hate Abba, GET OVER IT!!! To deny Benny/Bjorn as great pop songwriters (IMO, in a league with Lennon/McCartney, Taupin/John and Brian Wilson in terms of writing great pop songs) is showing that you still hold the image of Abba against them. Get over it. Abba still rules and people will be listening to them until the end of time.

Folks, This Is Just Abba
Abba, when I first heard them on American radio in the 70's were considered an insipid, sacharine joke. That is what they still are. I am dismayed by the "reassessment" of this group that has taken place recently. Who's next-the classic Carpenters or the essential DeFranco family? ... Read more

Album Description

You want your '80s! Fer sure! This is the mother of alltributes to the era of skinny ties, Reaganomics, andPac-Man! Seven CDs, 142 hit songs, from New Wave to Pop toR&B to Hip-Hop to Novelty, including an incredible 49 #1tracks! Starring Queen, New Edition, Duran Duran, RichardMarx, Daryl Hall & John Oates, Men At Work, Toto, The Cure, Culture Club, Cyndi Lauper, Bryan Adams, Simple Minds,Bangles, New Kids On the Block...and many more. Plus a90-page book with hundreds of historical photos, facts, and memories from the decade that wanted it all! Limitededition sculpted rubber cover! Approx. 10 x 8 x 3/4 inches. 2002. ... Read more

Reviews (39)

Doesn't compare to Rhino's 70's box
Okay, I'll concede this point: If you like a lot of 80's pop, from "new wave/new romantic/synth pop" to metal to plain-old top 40, you'll enjoy the music. I'll also concede that the art direction is both amusing and top-notch, in typical Rhino style. Their box sets are beyond compare in terms of presentation.

The problems: Almost all of these songs have been released on other 80's compilations, and many on Rhino's own product. Billy Crystal's novelty song is probably the rarest thing here. This is a general beef with Rhino, which reissues the same one or two tracks by a certain artist over and over as opposed to picking a lesser known hit. My guess is that most people likely to buy a package like this probably has at least some of Rhino's "Just Can't Get Enough" series, perhaps some of their Billboard 80's discs, and some other companies' compilations. I end up feeling like I pay $10 to $20 per song, or end up buying a package because I like the packaging! (It's true -- suckers are born every minute.)

What's most disappointing, however, is that Rhino did a much better job with their 70's box set. The 70's box set DID contain a few rarities from some big name artists. In fact, their "Have a Nice Decade" box is the ONLY place I'm aware of that one can buy the single version of David Bowie's "Fame" on cd. Similarly it was one of the first cd's to feature the single edit of Gladys Knight and the Pips' "Midnight Train to Georgia." These are just two examples. The only unusual sounding mix I heard on this box was the Romantics' "Talking In Your Sleep", and I didn't listen closely enough to be sure that there was something different about it.

The 70's box also had many interesting sound bites from the 70's (Nixon, Patty Hearst, etc) placed at amusing points during the program. The 80's box contains NO sound bites. This makes this box set more of a collection of tunes and less of an "experience." Sure, the music alone evokes nostalgia but sound clips from Reagan, Bush, Quayle, or "Murphy Brown" would have been interesting. Imagine a soundbite from the news of the shuttle exploding right before Peter Shilling's "Major Tom (Coming Home)". That's the kind of fun the 70's box provided.

I also thought the first essay in the booklet was lame, but that's neither here nor there.

I know that my critique may seem overly harsh to some. If I were reviewing this only for people who didn't have any 80's music on cd and wanted a great amount and variety of tunes, I'd certainly recommend this at the 5-star level. Somehow I don't think that is the primary market envisioned for this.

Is this enough '80s music for you?
My biggest gripe is this: there are seven CDs in this package, and my CD player only holds five CDs! :-(

OK, seriously, this is quite a comprehensive collection of 80's music, and just about every genre is represented to some extent. There's Eddie Rabbit, Blondie, New Edition, Dexy's Midnight Runners, Devo, Simple Minds, Duran Duran, just to name a few. Of course, though, it is heavy on the pop numbers, and it certainly brings back memories of high school for me, particularly since the collection seems to lean heavily toward early to mid '80s music. There's not much on it after 1987, which doesn't bother me personally, but I would have liked, for example, "We Didn't Start the Fire," by Billy Joel.

Indeed, that is the one problem with this collection, but that can be said for any collection. For all the wonderful songs on there, so many more were left off. There's nothing by A Flock of Seagulls, Journey, Michael Jackson, Madonna, and each artist that is there is represented only once. Why was The Thompson Twins represented with "Lies" and not "Hold Me Now" or "Doctor Doctor"? Where was Howard Jones? Still, it was well worth the money.

Now, I just need a CD player with more spaces . . .

Nice overview - may be addictive...
Be forewarned, the sugar-coated empty calories found in the LIKE, OMIGOD... box set from Rhino will just leave you wanting more. 142 tracks across seven CDs and it just scratches the surface on a shallow, yet oddly endearing decade.

LIKE, OMIGOD... hits almost all of the popularly acknowledged high points, including "867-5309/Jenny," "Tainted Love," "Girls Just Want to Have Fun," - as well as great novelty numbers and underground tunes like "Pac-Man Fever," "Da Da Da," and "Turning Japanese." While not in strict chronological order like Rhino's 70s set, HAVE A NICE DECADE, LIKE, OMIGOD... is well-sequenced and provides a relatively satisfying trip - as well as a great set for any party. No need for "random play" here - just load this set, hit "play" and dance away.

While this set is almost certainly a one-stop shop for the music fan simply looking for a well-balanced 80s collection, the completist and discerning collector will no doubt view this as the tip of the iceberg. Those such as myself, more enthralled with the simultaneous New Wave movement, will find lots more to love (approximately 300 tracks worth - with minimal duplication) in Rhino's 15-volume JUST CAN'T GET ENOUGH 80s collection. Even then, LIKE, OMIGOD... will spur you on to fill up your shopping cart with with entire albums by Billy Squier, Duran Duran, The Fixx, Pretenders and more.

The only downside to be found is that LIKE, OMIGOD... also forces the listener to take the bad with the good (or the worse with the bad?), presenting end-of-the-decade stinkers such as New Kids on the Block and Richard Marx toward the end of the seventh disc. For this listener, those musical tragedies are still too recent, too terrible to revisit with any degree of nostalgia.

As gaudily packaged as the decade it represents, LIKE, OMIGOD... is presented in a hardcover book format identical to HAVE A NICE DECADE and contains a similar full-color booklet complete with essays, trivia, 80s timeline and notes on each of the performers and songs included. The sound of the CDs, as with all Rhino product, is pristine. As for the sound of some of the music - well, you can't blame Rhino...

FREAKIN' AWESOME COLLECTION!
I can't tell you how many 80's compilations I have and, aside from each of them usually having the same couple songs, like The Fixx or Squeeze, (which isn't on here), you're always surprised when you listen to a compilation by which songs you hear that you never knew the name for and all of a sudden you're "like, omigod! (no pun intended) That's THAT song!?! I KNOW that song!" LOL...hearing a lot of these brought back some great eighties memories for me, even though I was only a kid back then. This compilation had most of my fave 80's songs on it, so I could just copy the one or two songs off my other compilations, make one CD out of them, and sell the rest. I advise anyone who's interested in this to do the same. But read Amazon's list of songs first, if you haven't already, to make sure your favorites are on here. Definitely worth the money, considering you're getting seven CD's, so it equals out to about ten dollars or so per CD, (I got mine for $73). As further proof, I'm letting my co-worker listen to disc 6 right now and she's so impressed, she's downloading it to her hard drive at work and will be purchasing it with her next check to bring it home! :-p If you love 80's, get this compilation. No collection is complete without it. Plus, the awesome booklet it comes with gives you a little info on each song, a historical timeline following the songs, and many many many colorful photographs! Impressive and worth it!

A must for any 80s fan!
Like, OmiGod! This set is awesome! It has almost every song that came out from any one hit wonder during the 80s like You Dropped a Bomb on Me (The Gap Band) and Turning Japanese (The Vapors). It's definitely a pop culture box with its songs on General Hospital, Pac Man and Valley Girls. This is a must for anyone who still dwells on the decade of E.T. and The Breakfast Club. Not to mention that I'm a huge Star Wars fan and it has a medly from The Empire Strikes Back. ... Read more

Album Description

Multimedia phenomenon Brandy rose to superstardom in the '90s while only in her mid-teens, and was one of the decade's most successful new talents. Her string of smashes soared to the heights of the R&B and pop charts, as did her top-selling albums. The young recording artist and actress also reaped major acclaim in the television world with her hit sitcom Moesha, and the starring role in Disney's beloved TV adaptation of Cinderella. ... Read more

Reviews (24)

ALL OF THE BEST OF BRANDY!
IT HAS ALL OF BRANDY'S GREATEST HITS! THESE ARE THE ORGINALS RECORDNGS. THIS IS NOT A REMIX ALBUM OR SOMETHING THROWN TOGETEHR. THIS IS A GREAT COLECTION FOR ANY BRANDY FAN. :)

{ HALF & HALF }
a 90's fan from (syracuse,new york)
BRANDY'S FIRST TWO CD'S WERE GREAT;HER LAST TWO WERE NOT!
BUT BRANDY DID PAVE THE WAY FOR PEOPLE LIKE BRITNEY SPEARS AND
PINK!
IF YOU (DO NOT) HAVE ANY OF BRANDY'S CD'S PICK THIS UP! IF YOU
HAVE ALL OF HER CD'S:OR EVEN THE FIRST 2 DON'T!

Full Circle
When you think about purchasing a "Greatest Hits" or "Best Of" CD, usually you may get some of the hits but not all, then you have to still search around and make up your own "hits" cd with all your favorite tracks.Well that is not the case with this package.This is one of the few compilations that give you the full picture and the complete story.Brandy has released several solid efforts over the past ten years and the best of the best is represented here in all her hits.They even included
"Brokenhearted" (w/ Wanya From Boyz II Men) "Sittin Up In My Room" "Rock With You" and the remix to "I Wanna Be Down" (w/ Queen Latifah, MC LYTE, & Yo Yo)This is one cd where you won't have to press the skip button even once.

It's about time for a Greatest Hits CD
Brandy has been great from the start, from "I Wanna Be Down" to "Talk About Our Love". I've been saying all along that her record company should do a greatest hits CD of her career. It should have been called "A Decade of Brandy (1994-2004)

Amazing greatest hits album...5+++stars
When I first found out that Brandy was releasing a greatest hits album last year I was sort of nervous seeing that she only had 4 albums...but I love her and I knew I had to get it...I couldn't have been happier.
MY RATINGS:
1. "Baby" (10/10)
2. "Best Friend" (10/10)
3. "I Wanna Be Down" (10/10)
4. "Brokenhearted (f/ Wanya Morris)" (10/10)
5. "Angel In Disguise" (9/10)
6. "The Boy Is Mine (duet w/ Monica)" (10/10)
7. "Almost Doesn't Count" (10/10)
8. "Top Of The World (f/ Mase)" (10/10)
9. "U Don't Know Me (Like U Used To) (f/ Shaunta & Da Brat)" (10/10)
10. "Have You Ever?" (10/10)
11. "Full Moon" (9/10)
12. "What About Us?" (10/10)
13. "Who Is She 2 U" (8/10)
14. "Talk About Our Love (f/ Kanye West)" (9/10)
15. "Sittin' Up In My Room" (10/10)
16. "Rock With You (Quincy Jones w/ Brandy & Heavy D) (8/10)
17. "Another Day In Paradise (w/ Ray J)" (9/10)
18. I Wanna Be Down (Remix f/ Queen Latifah, Yoyo & MC Lyte)" (10/10)
It's a great album thats shows her success well. In my opinion, They could've left out ROCK WITH YOU (which wasn't even that popular) and replaced it with MISSING YOU or AFRODISIAC. ... Read more