Album Details

Ltd.edition(5000 Pcs.) Incl. Three UK-REMIXES/ K-klass and Klubbhead Remixes ... Read more

Reviews (1)

"ecuador"
nice song - i just wished they would of printed more than 5000 copies. & think another dj/remixer should remix this song again ... Read more

Album Description

German reissue of the classic dance single (a cover of the old Captain & Tennille hit) from the artist best known for her huge 1999 hit, 'Sexual (Li Da Di)'. Tracks, 'Do That To Me One More Time' (Video Edit, Jiggy Remix, Radio Cut, Snapshot Remix and Brooklyn Funk Express). 2000 release. Slimline jewel case. ... Read more

Album Details

Asian Exclusive Remix Album. ... Read more

Reviews (5)

Bubble Mix (With Bonus Video CD) [IMPORT]
ok so it is stupid, not witty or anything close to sumblime. But I don't care. This album, i.e., Bubble Mix (With Bonus Video CD) [IMPORT]~ Aqua is made in all good fun and that is all that matters.

The Ultimate Aquatic Adventure
A must have for any aqua fan. This alblum is one of the best aqua remaix alblums. It competes with Aqua mania remix because of The great Barbie Girl remixes, Dirty Rotten Scoundrel is one of the best Barbie Girl remixes I've ever heard. The alblum also has A Twisted MegaMix a very cool mix including some of Aqua'a hits, such as Dr. Jone's, Barbie Girl Lollipop (CandyMan) and Roses Are Red. The only Aqua song that comes close to it is The Offical Mega Mix. This Alblum is well worth the money I spent for it. I'd recommend it fully.

Clubbing fun!
This is a great CD for all those kandy kids out there. Fun, fast paced, hard-hitting, raver-licious. Now, from a critical aspect, this is little more than some producers eating too much sugar. But then again, you can't take this album seriously. The beats are big, the samples are fun. A must have for all the kandy kids!
BEST TRACKS: My Oh My (spike, clyde n eightball mix), Barbie Girl (perky park mix), Doctor Jones (adrenaline mix)
WORST TRACKS: Lollipop (extended) is pointless, and i feel ruins the original.

cool
this is a very cool cd. I actually bought it for myself but my nieces which are 10 & 11 years old really enjoy it too.

It's a great album! You must get it!!
It's a really good album with remixed versions of Aqua's great successes!Try first the songs number 3(My oh My), 8(Dr Jones) and 12(Twisted Megamix):these are the best best ones! :) ... Read more

Album Description

Limited edition pressing of the hit pop/ dance duo's highly anticipated 1999 outing. 12 tracks, including the singles 'I Don't Know What You Want But I Can't Give It Anymore' & 'New York City Boy'. Comes packaged in a double gatefold slipcase with a 24 page booklet within a clear plastic slipcase cover. 1999 release. ... Read more

Reviews (137)

The best PSB album? No, but close.
Look, this Cd is very good, but is it a masterpiece? I don't think so. Bilingual and Very are both better than this one in some ways. In all fairness though it is useless to compare their CDs because each has its own unique style. In any case, there are no bad songs as such on this CD. Tracks 1,2,3,7,and 11 are fast dance numbers (all very well done). Happiness is an Option is Pet Shop Boys doing R&B, and they succeed brilliantly (who knew they could pull this off?). You only tell me... is a georgeous slow song. Vampires has simple lyrics combined with effective very relaxing melody. The Only One is a pleasant ballad. Footsteps is sort of similar. Boy Strange is certainly a very strange song: it very effectively uses an acoustic guitar and combines it with weird disorganized sound effects during the chorus. The result: weird but good. Now, In Denial I had a problem with. I have nothing against gays but I wish the song would be a little more subtle.... Another thing, the words did not seem to correspond to the music. The music had a very serious tone but the words seemed too simplistic and almost funny at times. In other words, the lyrics just did not work for me. But, again, I may be wrong. In its defense, the song has an awesome music, so I listen to it anyway.

Somewhere in the world it's NightLife right now
Neil Tennant and Chris Lowe have been sweetly filling my ears for a good twelve years.

For a group that has always been ahead of it's time, the Pet Shop Boys have scaled the wall of adversity enough to make a permanent home on it. I don't think I've ever been disappointed with a PSB release, and 1999's NightLife is certainly plenty to rage about. From its driving introduction "For Your Own Good" to its sentimental outro "Footsteps," this album delivers classic Pet Shop Boys with a nice bite. The first three tracks introduce this fine PSB installation with punch. And "Radiophonic" reminds you why God put PSB on Earth in the first place.

Even though I would classify the overall feel of this album as dark, one could argue that its effects are quite manic at times. It seems as though throughout the album clearly emotional melodies drive a dark body of lyrics (with, of course, the exception of "New York City Boy" - the campy gay classic from decades ago).

I had the fortune of picking up the special collector's edition which includes "NightLife Extra" - a pleasant jumble of B-Sides, future rarities and club mixes. Even though I would have liked to hear club mixes from a larger variety of tracks, the Bonus CD added to the overall triumph of my purchase. I even picked up one as a gift for a friend!

When I left the store, jumping up and down and raving for PSB, someone asked me what my problem was. I told them to leave me alone - that I was going to my apartment to be sullenly glamorous with my Pet Shop Boys.

The boys still got it!
The Pet Shop Boys have been my guilty pleasure since 1986, when I was still in middle school. There is just something about them that screams talent. Their lyrics speak to me, their melodies touch the heart. Their songs prove that pop music doesn't have to consist of only three chords and silly, redundant, repetitive lyrics. They have always had their very own, unique sound, and even though it may not be for for everyone, their striking originality and brilliant songwriting cannot be denied. Play me an N'Sync song and I wouldn't know which one of the multitude of boy bands it belonged to. Play me a Pet Shop Boys song, and I will know from the very first chords who the songwriter and the performer is.

Pet Shop Boys prove that dance/electronic music can actually be moving and intelligent. "Nightlife" only further proves that. After the disappointment of just abour every album that came out after "Very" I was not particularly thrilled about "Nightlife" coming out, fearing another disappointment and feeling that perhaps indeed, nothing lasts forever and the Boys' have lost their touch. I'm SO very glad to admit I was wrong.

"Nightlife" is the come-back-with-a-vengenace type album. There are few tracks that did nothing for me (for example, "New York City Boy" while being a fluffy and pleasant dance song is also a quite average dance song). But for the most part the album is a delight and there are some real gems rivaling the brilliance of Behavior and Very (my two other favorites).

It's a bit strange to me that so many people consider this their "coming out" album. To me, they've always been out, what with the frank confession of "It's A Sin" and all the subtext in so many other songs. Even though I preferred it when they were subtle about it, the sincerety of the songs soften the blatancy of the lyrics. "In Denial" actually made me choke up.

The album is a winner, no doubt about that. Even though the Boys are nearing 50 they show no sign of slowing down. I can't wait for their next album.

Play It at Night
The Pet Shop Boys are famous for dance music, but show they can write slower material like "You Only Tell Me You Love Me When You're Drunk" and "The Only One." Faster numbers include "Closer to Heaven" and the disco single "New York City Boy." There are, moreover, three excellent tracks. "In Denial," in addition to the expected synthesizers, uses--like some of the other songs in this recording--strings along with an ethereal choir and is a duet with Kylie Minogue about a daughter confronting her father with his drug and drinking problems and homosexuality. Fans of pounding bass will get a kick out of "Radiophonic" and especially "For Your Own Good"--the CD's best cut. Interesting lyrics, tasteful synthesizers, matter-of-fact singing, danceable music, memorable melodies--_Nightlife_ brings nights to life.

For your own good...
...buy this album. The Pet Shop Boys have roared back with a vengeance, after a so-so showing with their last album, _Bilingual_, which took the running joke of a trip to Spain a bit too far I think. This album, backed up by their first tour to include USA dates in half a decade, is sharp, clean, fun, witty, poppy, dance-filled -- all the things the PSB are known and loved for. I've collected almost every disk they've ever put out -- this one ranks up there with 'Actually' and 'Behaviour' as the trinity of the best. What a shame that MTV won't show their videos, being dominated by rap groups or boy bands. The Pet Shop Boys are most definitely 'out' now, too -- no surprise to those of us who have been avid fans for (gulp!, could it be?!) a decade and a half since their first singles came out under the tutelage of Bobby O., but perhaps a reason why in the USA they have become more of a cult-following band rather than a generally popular one. Even their old number one singles don't seem to get much air time any longer. Oh well, that just makes it all so much nicer for those of us who have discovered their enduring talent.

I guess the rest are just 'In Denial' ??

Get this album, read the lyrics as you listen to them, contemplate their meaning and tap your toes. Good fun all around.

The videos to I don't know what you want but I can't give it anymore and New York City Boy are available on the single releases which accompany this album. These are interesting and innovative, as are many things PSB.

The music is varied but consistent through the album. In Denial, with guest artist Kylie Minogue (not well known to American audiences since the mid-80s, but still popular in Europe and Asia), is an interesting psychological song, with so many layers of meaning (given the proclivities of the PSB) that it ends up being quite dazzling. The simple strands and disappointment in You only tell me you love me when you're drunk are interesting, strangely dance-able while being introspective and darker.

Backed up by a world tour, Nightlife has become a well-received if not major seller throughtout the world. Even as Neil Tennant approaches the age of 50, he shows no signs of slowing, and, unlike much of the pop-py music around today, the lyrics and strains that Tennant and Lowe produce are not age-specific; one might gasp at the idea of a 60-year-old Brittany Spears doing anything, much less belting out Do that to me one more time; but the Pet Shop Boys can sing their songs without fear of physical betrayal for decades to come. ... Read more

Album Details

A Selection of Remixes of the Original Recording of the Pet Shop Boys Classic Hit Single, as Produced by Bobby "o". ... Read more

Reviews (5)

tight Song&cool Re-mixes
I use to really dig this Jam back in the day&it's so cool that it was released with all of these Mixes to add to His depth.Pet Shop Boys had some jams back in the day&this is the One that truly blew them up.

Pet Shop Boys - Montreal mixes - 7 total by XYZ Records
A couple mixes (the Monreal ones) are okay. The cd was recorded VERY badly. The volume level of each song is dramatically different and needs to be adjusted for each song you listen to. There is also a distinct muted quality - songs sound muffled and lack any warmth, fullness or richness. Bobby O was involved in these mixes (He really knows what he's doing and is responcible for lots of great stuff)so I think that the majority of the problem is not the mixes themselves but with quality control of XYZ records. Re-released stuff like this by small companies with unknown audio recording equipment can be a crap shoot but its often the only way to obtain these mixes. Just getting a bad cd is very very unusual and since a cd is an exact copy I'd be leery of ordering. I did turn them into mp3s and was able to dramatically improve their sound and level out the volume. You could do this or save money - get a used copy.

From Lake Geneva to the Montreal station?
Well, what should I say? I guess this record has just 'historical' value, because it contains the earliest versions of WEG the boys had done with Bobby O. The original mix is interesting, obviously, as well as the acid house mix. But the James Brown mix and Montreal mixes seems to me as total crap and just a few people would be able to listen this CD from start to end.

Timeless Classic top 80's Tune Re-visited
What can i say? Classic tune from 1985 appearing at last on it's own cd. Great remixes which were only previously available on vinyl. Worth buying if your a psb collector or have never purchased an original copy

Unbelivable, the as usual
What can one say. The Boys are back in town. Nothing more could be pleasing than to listen to music that sounds as fresh as the first day it was released. These mixes are superb as what you would always expect of such true tallant. One can only wonder about what goes on in the minds of these people. Writing catchy song lyrics and tunes that rattle around in your head forever. The best just got even better. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

Roxette Forever
Roxette is the best in my opinion, always an anticipation for this groups work. I must say, A Thing About You is incredible. Roxette delivers a simple, yet haunting tune with this release. Found only on CD Maxi and The Ballad Hits. If you aren't a Roxette fan, you should be. BUY ROXETTE, you deserve to hear them. Yes americans, this is the group who sang "It Must Have Been Love", not Berlin.

A THING ABOUT ROXETTE
great song, smooth, modern, but very roxette, with superb backing vocals by marie which makes the song what it is. video is included and its wonderful to watch, sets the mood for the song! need is a must

A Thing About Roxette
Maxi Single includes 2 brand new songs plus a video to "A thing about you", directed by the famous Jonas Akerlund. This CD opens a door to an amazing world of love and beauty, pictured by Per Gessle and Marie Fredriksson... ... Read more

Album Description

Japanese 24-bit K2 remastered reissue of the Swedishdance-pop act's sophomore album, originally released in1995, includes two bonus tracks, 'Beautiful Life' (VissionLorimer Club Mix) & 'Lucky Love' (Armand Van Helden HouseMix). BMG. 2003. ... Read more

Album Description

1997 EMI reissue of their '86 debut with eight bonus tracks:'Pearls Of Passion', 'It Must Have Been Love (Christmas For The Broken-Hearted)', 'Turn To Me', 'Neverending Love' (Tits& Ass Demo 1986), 'Secrets That She Keeps' (Tits & Ass Demo 1986), 'I Call Your Name' (Montezuma Demo 1986), 'Neverend- ing Love' (Frank Mono - Mix 1987) and 'I Call Your Name' (Frank Mono - Mix 1987). 20 tracks total. ... Read more

Reviews (9)

THIS ALBUM ROX!!!
I have listened this album over and over and I absolutely LOVE IT... It has two of my favorite roxette songs on it, 'Neverending Love' and the title track, 'Pearls of Passion' are to die for... I also like the songs 'Soul Deep' and 'Secrets That She Keeps'...

I am an avid Rx fan and have been since I was 12. If you love Rx and want a taste of the 80's I recommend this item..

Showing promise, but not there yet.
It's always a crapshoot when you go back to find early works by artists you like. More often than not, they simply don't measure up to their later efforts. Once in a while, however, you uncover a gem that's as good or even better.
Pearls of Passion, unfortunately, isn't one of them.
Oh, it shows definite promise of what was to come. The voices and production values are pretty much the same. However, the caliber of the writing just doesn't measure up. It might be because Per wrote most of these for his own third solo album and then recorded them with Marie.
In any case, I just didn't find they same quality as subsequent efforts. Also frustrating is the fact that most of the songs I DID like were released on other CDs, albeit not necessarily the same mix. And why the heck is the title song considered one of the "Xtra Trax"?
An interesting note is how subdued the guitar work is here. I guess it wasn't until Look Sharp that they started to "love the sound of crashing guitars."

Except for "Must Have Been Love," which I don't believe has ever been on a Roxette CD before, the bonus tracks are throw-aways. It's somewhat interesting to hear different mixes, but it would have been much more so if the songs were good!
I'm a completist, so I'm glad I bought PoP. Even though I didn't add too many good new songs to my Roxette collection, even one is more than I had before.
I obviously didn't really care much for this CD. If I was only comparing it to this duo's other works, I would have only given it two stars. But hey, this is Roxette. I can't possibly give them less than three!
But all this doesn't mean you won't like PoP. If you're a big Roxette fan, I would give it a shot.

Music's Version Of Bubblegum
Yeah I can really relate this album to eating bubblegum. Tastes sugary and sweet but loses its charm after a few minutes and definately something you could live without.

I know many fans love this album, but like Look Sharp! Roxette of the 80s was really little more than a trite pop group. Musically this album can be categorized alongside Bananarama, Wham, Debbie Gibson, Paula Abdul...hardly a compliment. Bright, sparkly keyboards merges with the occasional guitar and a slightly danceable drumbeat. Lyrically Pearls Of Passion consists almost entirely of cliched of love metaphors, that becomes trite very quickly, especially when the line 'my heart is spinning round the wire' is repeated more than too often.

PoP is rescued by several VERY good songs, however, that at least make this a more stronger offering than Look Sharp. Surrender and Call Of The Wild are two of the most seductive and atmospheric tunes ever made, perfect background music for some serious pashing. Voices is Roxette's most haunting offering ever, also offering some of their smartest lyrics ('I've closed the last picture/and painted the windows inside and out.) So Far Away, the album's best track, perfectly evokes the anguish of post-love loneliness. This SERIOUSLY should have been a single.

Secrets That She Keeps and Neverending Love, while nothing special, at least are infectiously catching and hummable, the remix version of the latter song being a perfect candicate for the retro dancefloor.

Then there are the stinkers...I Call Your Name is an uninspired rehash of Martha and the Muffin's 'Echo Beach'... VERY boring. 'Goodbye To You' is in the same league as Wham's most notorious number 'Call Me Up' while Joy Of A Toy and Like Lovers Do are just downright annoying. Don't get me started on 'Soul Deep.' Soul music with the soul surgically removed.

The Xtra tracks on the album are a mixed bag. The Remixes generally improve upon the original songs (hey there's a first time for everything) and while Pearls Of Passion (the song) is nice in a wistful bittersweet style, Turn To Me is just awful.

Yeah, I'd chose Pearls Of Passion over Look Sharp any day, mainly because of several fantastic songs, but it also contains the worst material Roxette have churned out, and the general flavour of the album is sugary and trite. I can only barely reccomend it.

One great album!
I've been a huge fan of Roxette for years, and I just recently purchased "Pearls Of Passion." I have to say, I was really impressed.

This album is a must for any Roxette fan, but it's also a great album to have for any fan of the eighties. It features some great songs such as "Secrets That She Keeps," the upbeat "Pearls Of Passion," "Neverending Love," "Joy Of A Toy," my personal favorite, "Like Lovers Do," and many other outstanding tracks.

Roxette's subsequent albums do show an elevation in music-writing talent, but "Pearls Of Passion" is still one great album.

The one that started it all for Per and Marie
Secrets that She keeps is such a great song that I can't get it out of my head. The songs may sound dated but it's great to see this album finally re-released. Look Sharp is a natural progression from this album. It's a shock to see Marie Fredricksen with long hair after all these years. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

great ballad, it can't be compared, with any other song
this is roxette doing what they are best at. This a comming back to the felling of songs in the past like "it must have been love" and "listen to your heart". Marie Fredrickson's voice sounds better than ever on the new record, and this song is just one of many examples. j.b ***** ... Read more

Album Description

Long awaited fifth album for the Swedish pop-dancesuperstars, their first in four years. 12 tracks includingthe first two hit singles, 'Beautiful Morning' &'Unspeakable'. Edel. 2002. ... Read more

Reviews (48)

An excellent Ace of Base album
If you like Ace of Base, you will like this album. If you are like me and were a little disappointed in the "Cruel Summer" album, this might help revive the band in your eyes (and ears).

The album title "da capo" is the musical term for "return to the beginning" and you will find, as I have, that Ace of Base has returned to what they do well - up beat, fun and dancable songs. In a lot of ways, you might think this is "The Sign" remade.

Their last album, "Cruel Summer" (and called "Flowers" in Europe) was a little too much of a new sound for me. It was cute, but I wasn't looking for a new Ace of Base.

I listened to "Cruel Summer", but only got into a small handful of the songs. This album is the opposite - only a handful of songs don't resonate well.

The fact is, we in the United States are unlucky when it comes to Ace of Base. They don't get the radio time to become familiar and this album might not even make it at all - so buying the import can be smart this time.

Ace of Base's Best Yet...
The album title "Da Capo" is a musical reference to return to the beginning. Ace of Base has definitely done this with their first full-length studio album since "Flowers". "Da Capo" contains the uplifting lyrics that is standard, but with this album the group incorporates the different styles of the last three albums ("Happy Nation", "The Bridge", and "Flowers") and it blends together to form one of the best Ace of Base albums yet. Of course, Linn has stepped back as far as lead vocals is concerned, but Jenny has improved greatly in her vocal range, and has proven that she can lead the group into the next decade. Another thing that has been lacking in the last two albums is the Ulf (Buddha) "rap", but this album has the title track with him and Jenny doing a sort of "spoken version" of the lyrics, which brings back the styles that was evident in "Happy Nation". This song, Da Capo, is one of the best of the album, as it has the up-tempo Euro-pop that has made Ace of Base who they are. Linn does have a lead vocal track entitled "Ordinary Day" and it shows that she still has the voice that made Ace of Base a success in the first place. Track 10, "Change With The Light", was written by all four members, and shows the group still has cohesiveness to make albums for years to come. I would recommend this album to anyone who misses the original sound that came from Ace of Base like "All That She Wants" (the first track, "Unspeakable", will take you back), but overall this is one of the best pop albums that has been out in a long time.

Da Capo [IMPORT]
Da Capo [IMPORT]~ Ace of Base is a good 5th album from this fun group. They have defenitely grown up and it feels allot better then their previous efforts. Highly Recommended.

Da Da Capo once again!!! Best Ace of Base Album
This is the best Ace of Base album, it have great songs and production! We can hear the tipic ace of base sound but more modern! The wonderful ballads, "Ordinary Day" and "The Juvenile", pop reggae songs like "World Down Under", "Unspeakable", "What's The Name Of The Game", pop songs "Beautiful Morning" and "Hey Darling", Two covers "Show Me Love" and "Wonderful Life" and the powerful dance track "Da Capo" are a good reason to buy this cd!

Sharper Than Ever
I must confess to having had some trepidation over going to the effort of importing this CD, especially given the relative weakness of their prior "Cruel Summer (Flowers)" release. Not that their last album wasn't good, but it felt like a lot of filler thrown around a few very good songs, and clearly wasn't up to the level of their first two releases. On "Da Capo", the band really returns to top form, and sounds absolutely fantastic.

The first two singles "Unspeakable" and "Beautiful Morning" are both beautiful pop songs, but that's really just the beginning. Other top notch songs include "Remember the Words", the bouncing title track "Da Capo", the softer ballads like "Ordinary Day" and "Hey Darling", and my personal favorite "Wonderful Life." My only knock on the album is its length. It clocks in at about 42 minutes, but it's a SOLID 42 minutes, with zero filler, and well worth the expenditure/hassle of importing it.

For my part, I can't figure out why there has been no US release of this great album. Properly promoted, "Da Capo" could have been an enormous hit, as the album is vastly superior to the majority of pop music that's was released at the time and since. Fans of classics like ABBA, as well as old Ace of Base music will not be disappointed. This is the one that you've been waiting for. ... Read more

Album Description

The third single from the hit British dance/ pop duo's highly anticipated 1999 album 'Night Life'. Tracks on #2 are3 mixes of 'You Only Tell Me You Love Me When You're Drunk' (T-Total, Brother Browns Newt & Atta Boy Still Love Me When We're Sober). 1999 r ... Read more

Reviews (3)

one of the best pet shop boys remixes ever?
Unlike most generic club versions the Attaboy remix (3rd here) is not so much a dance mix more a complete reworking, & that rarest of creations- possibly even better than the original. This dreamlike country & western flavoured production is reminiscent Abba's Name of the Game on Ketamine & when Neil finally slips into the 2nd verse with the words 'better than nothing i suppose..' I defy anyone not to melt. Peerless.

PSB pick great remixers :)
i LOVE these remixes--the are so different than the ones in clubs in the USA. this is NOT a bad thing...my favorite is the t-total mix! :) it has the best uptempo beat, and repetitive percussion in the background..i luv it! :) the brother brown newt mix on this cd is afull-lenghtrh remix--around 10 mins or so :) its very good too :) the attaboy mix is a 'downbeat' mix rather..it has a slower disco beat than the others..it still retains that club mix feeling though! :) please get this where ever you can find it..you wont regret it :) love ya bellas and beaux! --gabriel :)

PSB get mixed well.. ;p
If you Love PSB, and you don't mind their tracks being molded into new creations, with still a hint and taste of them, then you should enjoy this! Some people never understand why a song is remixed, but let's hope you're not one of them. Give a listen , and you'll probably understand sooner or later, but hopefully sooner! buy it! =) ... Read more

Reviews (21)

The QUEEN Of Their Albums
One of their finest albums, with their most famous song (Dancing Queen) on it. Bjorn and Benny had a firm idea of how to use musical hooks and there are a number of catchy songs on here, particularly When I Kissed The Teacher, Knowing Me Knowing You, That's Me, and Dum Dum Diddle. One of Agnetha's finest vocal performances is on here (My Love My Life). This is a good album to explore after buying the two Gold collections.

ABBA's True Arrival
This CD is the "Arrival" of ABBA into the world at large. "Dancing Queen", one of the top ten songs of God knows what period of time, as well as one of my all-time favorite songs, "Dum Dum Diddle", are on this CD. Also on this CD are "When I Kissed The Teacher", "Why Did It Have To Be Me", "Knowing Me, Knowing You", and many others too. The title track, "Arrival", isn't that great, but it's OK as well. A must have for any ABBA fan. Fave Tracks: Dum Dum Diddle, Knowing Me, Knowing You, When I Kissed The Teacher

Some of the best underappreciated tracks
"My Love My Life", "Dum Dum Diddle" and "That's Me" - this album has THREE superbly crafted tracks that almost never make their way into compilations, for reasons that are beyond me.

"My Love My Life" is a bittersweet farewell ballad not inferior to "One of Us" (also a rather poor scorer in compilations, for some reason) or "Knowing Me Knowing You".

"Dum Dum Diddle" is perhaps the strongest example (along with "I Do I Do I Do I Do") of ABBA's formidable skill of matching a perfect melody with its crystal female vocals. The ultimate in ABBA's feelgood factor delivery.

As for "That's Me" - it will be a revelation for anyone who had too much of compilation diet. It is a true gem - melody and rhytm blended into a real hit, powerful and tender, forward and sensitive at the same time.

For these songs alone, the album is worth buying. You know all about the remaining tracks already - check other reviews.

Buy me! Buy me!
Buy this cd! It is soooo good! I bought it for the Dancing Queen, (duh!) but the other songs are really cool too. Like Dum Dum Diddle, Knowing me Knowing You, That's me and Tiger. Money, Money, Money and Arrival are the best though. ABBA uses a variety of song styles and instruments, a mark of true artists in my opinion. The only thing that would make this cd complete is Mama Mia, but hey, you can't have everything!

ABBA's Glory Day
This album is class from the first word. The brilliant album cover, "the one with the helicopter" many people know it by. This pentultimate pop album starts with a bang: 'When I Kissed the Teacher' is amazing: what backing vocals! 'Dancing Queen' - nothing needs to be said about this one. 'My Love My Life' is a sumptuous ballad. 'Dum Dum Diddle''s lyrics leave a little to be desired, but it is the fun that counts. 'Knowing Me Knowing You' redefines class: this track is super. 'Money Money Money' is dramatic bliss. Tracks seven, eight and nine are less worthy of a mention but all are tuneful, full of fantastic seventies beats. 'Arrival', an atmospheric instrumental, finishes the album on a Celtic instrumental note. Marvellous. Buy it! ... Read more

Reviews (21)

The first great album from PSB.
"Introspective" is a one-of-a-kind release from Pet Shop Boys. Is it an EP? A remix album? Or is it a new studio recording? It is all these things and more. The album contains remixes of previously released material, newly recorded songs, and a couple covers to boot. Although "Introspective" is a grab-bag of an album, it's by no means a throwaway record. "Left to My Own Devices" is a stomping disco number, replete with a full orchestra and Neil Tennant's spoken vocals. "I Want a Dog" is a funked-up remix of the original b-side, while we're treated to a housed version of their No. 1 "Always On My Mind." In addition, there's "I'm Not Scared," which Patsy Kensit would later record, and they do a decent cover of Sterling Void's "It's Alright." Though the record is only 6 tracks long, "Introspective" is a triumph of quality over quantity, and at the time, it was the most disco-centric release of their catalogue. If "Very" or "Behaviour" is the duo's best album, then "Introspective" ranks a close second.

More interesting, still, is the second disc, which has rare remixes, demo versions, and songs they originally recorded for Dusty Springfield and Liza Minnelli. The song of note is "I Get Excited (You Get Excited Too)" which was a b-side to the single "Heart" but is strong enough to be released as a single.

Excellent Deep-Eighties-Disco
The third proper album from the Pet Shop Boys finds itself firmly entrenched in dance club land (at least for 1988, anyway). The disc is a full-length fifty minute LP, comprised of six long-play songs. The concept was to start out with 12" (or extended) mixes of songs, rather than producing four minute pop songs, and *then* having them extended afterward. The result is, for the most part, marvelous.

All of the songs on 'Introspective' are beat-driven dance numbers. What makes them extra special is that they are superbly structured, and actually contain lyrics of great depth and insight. Some of the songs are political, some scathing, one is a cover song, and more than one of them deals thoughtfully with loneliness. I am not fond of the last track, but it is not enough for me to detract much enjoyment from the listening experience.

The Pet Shop Boys re-issued their first six albums in the summer of 2001. Each album now comes with a 36 page booklet of "behind-the-scenes" insight and information, as well as a bonus disc of material recorded from the same era as the album which it accompanies. 'Introspective' has been wonderfully re-mastered, and sounds much more deep, lush, and alive. The effect the re-tooling has had on the beats is superb, and gives the songs a richer tone. There are five previously unreleased tracks on the bonus disc, as well as alternate versions of songs from the album, and b-sides from the singles.

'Introspective' is a solid dance album from the eighties, which contains some of the Boys' best work. The 2001 re-issue version is most definitely an enrichment for the original CD, and is recommended for the serious collector.

Introspective
Introspective~ Pet Shop Boys is just plain terrible. I used to like it in the 80's and then tried it this year (2004 Ad) and realized to my horror and bemusement that it sucks. There is nothing really that redeeming about. The songs are way to long. The tracks just plain suck.

Color Bars In The House!!!
In the golden age of the #12 inch single the Pet Shop Boys deliver an album consisting of six house/disco grooves-always excellent,often extatic!"Left To My Own Devices" and "Domino Dancing" manage to be great extended mixes AND great tunes while
"I Want A Dog" pulses and gooses along nicely.The Pet Shop Boys
continue to give dance music a good name with their classy writing,witty lyricism and clever arrangments so even the mechanical nature of the synthesized music sounds pretty cool.
Highly recommended!

Can it be introspective?
The Pet Shop Boys have a habit of releasing 'minor' albums between their major releases. Between their first and second albums, Please and Actually, they released Disco, a six-track piece which featured no real new material, but rather remixes of previously released tracks (some primary, some B-side works).

Between Actually and Behaviour, the Pet Shop Boys released this album, Introspective, another minor album, with six tracks. However, this time there was new material--remixes of two previously released pieces, and four new works. This was done in an interesting format--each of the tracks on the album were in the form of 'extended dance versions', usually the kind of thing one gets when purchasing the single apart from the album. However, to get the tradition 'album' version of songs such as Domino dancing, Left to my own devices, or It's alright, one had to purchase the singles. This was an interesting marketing ploy, and extended the sales and life of this small album far beyond what it otherwise would have had.

Domino dancing was released first, and a classic Pet Shop Boys sound took over dance floors worldwide, combined with a Latin rhythm which was also in vogue during the fall of 1988. This had also perhaps the last MTV-hit video for the Pet Shop Boys; after this time, the videos released by the Pet Shop Boys no longer fit the game-show-and-rap-video dominated MTV schedule, although their videos continued to be played extensively on Euro-MTV.

Left to my own devices features more of the signature obscure-intellectual lyrics that Neil Tennant has been noted for:

I was faced by a choice at a difficult age,
would I write a book, or should I take to the stage,
but in the back of my head, I heard distant feet
Che Guevara and Debussy to a disco beat.

Simple music tracks backing introspective lyrics (perhaps this is how the album came by its title--Introspective).

I'm not scared was actually written for Patsy Kensit and Eighth Wonder (not so much of a wonder, in fact!), and was produced as a single for them by the Pet Shop Boys, before Eighth Wonder decided they did not care for the collaboration. (Take note--where are they today?) The Pet Shop Boys did their own version on this album which, while it was not released as a single, fared rather better than the Eighth Wonder version critically and in radio playtime.

It's alright was released immediately prior to their tour in the summer of 1989, actually long past the 'hot' time of the album, but served to show the enduring value of the Pet Shop Boys--that their albums can sit on the shelves for some time and lose none of their luster. Originally written by Chicago-House artist Sterling Void, this song was revitalised, had some new lyrics inserted, and became a hit for the Pet Shop Boys, their last for over a year, until Behaviour and its attendant singles began to be released late in 1990.

This is an album really for fans, but it is, like most of their albums, remarkably consistent in the look-and-feel of all songs, high quality and interesting to the ear. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

CRUCIFIED MANY TIMES OVER!
Army of Lovers have produced many great songs, but one in particular, "Crucified", became an instant cult classic. The first time I heard it I was in a New England disco with friends. When the song began the dance floor flooded with people. Amidst the mayhem of the lights and music a group of six dancers raised a man above their heads and supported him throughout the entire number as if holding a crucifx. It was the first of many such instances I witnessed in clubs up and down the east coast. On this CD single you get the original, plus "Crucified" many times over. Check it out. It's worth every penny you'll pay to own this item.

Revisiting a Dance Hit from the 1990s
Campy dance act Army of Lovers won't ring any bells to mainstream listeners, but they did have an infectious club single in 1992 called "Crucified." Silly if not borderline blasphemous, "Crucified" is a definite guilty pleasure of a song that was well embraced by clubheads back in the day. Imagine Andrew Lloyd Weber set to a drum machine, and you may get the general idea. On this single, we get a variety of mixes; the best of these is the DNA remix, which gives the original version a welcome disco thrust. Add Army of Lovers to Technotronic, Robin S and Right Said Fred to the list of guilty pleasure dance acts of the 1990s.

Look at that, it's a CD single of Crucified!
This cd single contains the original song as well as some fun and festive and frisky remixes of this classic song.

Certainly you could download some of the mixes from napster, or winmx or any number of online music sources, but then you would have to have a cd burner, and burn them to a cd in order to play them in your car and enjoy them on the way to work.

Or you might have an mp3 player in your car in which case you still have to have a cd burner and burn the mp3 to the cd to play it in the car.

Or you might have an mp3 player, but it's illegal to wear headphones while driving a car so forget that.

Just get the cd, support the artist and enjoy this song from the early 90's, which used to be fun to dance to, but now you need one of the remixes if you want to get your groove on :) ... Read more

Reviews (2)

beautiful song beautiful extened version
the extended version of MIRACLES is around 5:46. really beautiful song and mix. that's all for the single. forget about the jelly mix.
looking forward for the US version to be released in the future (if any).

Good Remixes and New Song
The latest single from the Pet Shop Boys is MIRACLES, a danceable song from their new career-spanning greatest hits set, PopArt. This CD includes two remixes of MIRACLES as well as a new b-side, TRANSPARENT.

The MIRALCES remixes are fairly good, although neither one deviates much from the original. The extended remix is pretty much as you'd expect, although it unfortunately ditches the beautiful opening of the original version. The second remix was done by hot UK act, Lemon Jelly. The remix begins with some interesting background talking, sounding somewhat like Neil and Chris in the studio, and strips the song of most of its lyrics, concentrating on its groove. I like this remix, although quite a few fans have trashed it on the PSB official site.

TRANSPARENT is a very good b-side with minimal and somewhat simplistic lyrics ("Wish I were transparent/ You could see right through me"). Much more trance-like in nature than Miracles, the song reminds me a bit of their earlier efforts, One of the Crowd and Samurai in Autumn.

Overall, this CD is a good collection, likely to please PSB fans. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Nineteen seventy-nine was a year of tremendous change for Abba. Agnetha and Björn had separated, their incredibly popular Abba: The Movie had consolidated their worldwide success, and as if all that weren't enough, they "went" disco. Songs like "Voulez-Vous," the upbeat "Angeleyes," and more throwaway "Does Your Mother Know" embraced the style wholeheartedly, leading some fans to worry about Abba's future for the first time. Where had the pure pop thrill gone? they mourned. "I Have a Dream," meanwhile, with its choir of children singing (recorded live at Wembley Arena, at the final concert of Abba's last world tour), was possibly the most saccharine song they had yet produced. Yet any disc that contained the majestic "Chiquitita" couldn't be completely written off--and the awesome Super Trouper was only a year away. --Everett True ... Read more

Reviews (19)

A flirtation with disco, maybe, but still irresistable...
"Voulez Vous," recorded in 1979 has long been deemed ABBA's disco album or their "flirtation" with disco. In some ways, throughout all the tracks, there is some disco influence, yet in songs such as "Chiquitita," ABBA still manages to demonstrate their knack for beautifully flowing songs. And, truthfully, what's so bad about them flirting with disco? Other artists such as Dolly Parton(!) did it at the time (Dolly's "Heartbreaker" and "Great Balls of Fire" were certified Gold), so it really just means that the album is rather trendy. This is just one time where ABBA really sort of "gave in" to mainstream disco, and slightly shied away from the irresistable pop formula of their earlier and later records. However, this is still a wonderful album, as are all ABBA albums I've ever heard. Every track stands out in my mind, and even for all its saccharine sweetness, "I Have A Dream" can be considered sweet and uplifting. If you're a disco fan or just an ABBA fan, give this album a try.

Highlights: "As Good As New" (Agnetha's voice soars beautifully here) "Voulez-Vous" "Angeleyes" "If It Wasn't for the Nights "Chiquitita" "Lovers(Live A Little Longer)"

ABBA's "Voulez Vous"
This is certainly a good ABBA album. However, new fans should not start here. Their 'Gold Greatest Hits' album is more winning. This album does contain some of ABBA's tracks, as follows:

"Voulez Vous" "Angeleyes" "Chiquitita" "If It Wasn't For the Nights"

But it also has "Kisses of Fire" and "Lovers Live a Little Longer" which are both sort of flimsy and outdated. The rest of this fine album is better. However, get the essential 'Gold' CD and you will not be dissapointed. But this one's still a winner.

Sub-average disco.
First off, this LP contains "Chiquitita", easily ABBA's best song. Therefore any review of "Voulez-Vous" must take into account this fact, before continuing on to deride its disco content. Also let me say that I am a true disco fan. Donna Summer, Gloria Gaynor, Village People, all share a hallowed place in my CD collection. However, I'm not sure that ABBA was wise to jump on the bandwagon. Their music up to this point had always been pure pop, somehow rising above the muck of most other 70's Top 40 music. "Voulez-Vous", however, in some ways brought ABBA down off the mountaintop and placed them amongst mere mortals, musically speaking. Of course, the LP also includes "I Have a Dream", complete with children's choir and a beautiful lyric, a song that only gets better with age. These two outstanding tracks do a lot to overcome the rest of the album's disco sludge, but still cannot save it from being the weakest album in the ABBA canon.

Abba's best? Definetely!
I've heard Waterloo, I've heard Ring Ring, I've even heard The Album, but none of them have kept my CD player on repeat as long as Voulez-Vouz. From the the funky As Good As New, to the relaxing Chiquitita, to the all-time ...shaking hand-clapping Voulez-Vouz and the groovy Does Your Mother Know, this was the swedish pop phenomenon's best. I don't know how I discovered Abba, all I know I was going through some boxes in the garage looking for some video game stuff, I uncovered a box of old tapes. I found a tape with a faded cover with a strange word on it that had a backwards B. I decided to pause my search and play the tape, because it had a picture of two pretty women and two handome men on the front. After popping it into my stereo, I heard a string section playing followed by a groovy beat. I looked at the back of the box to see what the name of the song was, and it said "As Good As New". And then after listening to the song once I rewinded the tape, started it again, and started dancing to the irresistible beat of As Good As New. I later learned that the tape was not an Abba album, it was some strange Abba bootleg mix from Egypt (I later realized that because it didn't have Voulez-Vouz or Does Your Mother Know on it), which is easy to understand beacuse that's where my dad grew up in the 70's and 80's. Since the tape was so old the sound quality was really bad, and I longed for it on CD. And until about a week ago my dream came true. I walked into a Tower Records store in Harvard Square (which is in Massachusetts) with my dad, and I went over to the computer database thing and typed in "AS GOOD AS NEW". I hit enter, and suddlenly a big list of songs with the title As Good As New appeared. I clicked on the one that said "ABBA" next to it, and on the screen it said "AS GOOD AS NEW- ALBUM-VOULEZ-VOUZ- ARTIST-ABBA" I ran over to the Abba section, went through the CDs, and pulled out Voulez-Vouz. I ran over to my dad with the disc in my hand and begged him to buy it for me, and he agreed. And so in the car I was holding a little bag with Voulez-Vouz inside, and some (heh heh) Beatles Cds. I kept thinking, "I've got As Good As New on CD at last!!" As Good As New was the only reason I got the CD, but I didn't care. When we got home I put the bag on the table, and took out Voulez-Vouz, leaving the (heh heh) Beatles Cds inside. I put the disc into my CD player, and immediately began grooving to the sweet sounds of As Good As New, and after playing and dancing to it three times I sat down on my bed, out of breath. I decide to let the CD run so I could hear the other songs, and not making myself feel guilty for making my dad pay ... for one song. After hearing As Good As New again, something made me jump off the bed and begin dancing to the super disco beats of Voulez-Vouz. When Voulez-Vouz was finished (I played it 5 times) I made myself promise to let the CD run without repeating a song, unless of an emergency. It turns out I had one more emergency, this time with Does Your Mother Know. After playing it twice, I thouroughly enjoyed every other song on the album, with the exception of I Have A Dream. Since then I have copied As Good As New and Voulez-Vouz into my MP3 player, and have listened to them on a daily basis. So, this ends my review. But if you haven't got this gem, GET IT NOW!!

Take it now. Don't leave it.
Voulez Vous is one of the best, if not the best, ABBA album. I know everyone says "Super Trouper" is the best, and "Super Trouper" (the song) is great too, but this transcends it completely. "Voulez Vous", "As Good As New", "Angeleyes", and "Lovers (Live A Little Longer)" are all excellent. Also "The King Has Lost His Crown" is great. Get it, and I really don't care voulez-vous (would you like to) or not. Get it anyway. Fave Tracks: Voulez Vous, As Good As New, Angeleyes. ... Read more