Customer Reviews

12"/80's 2

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These collections are becoming more and more popular, and now, we're getting to that point where there are a lot of repeats, a lot of songs you've never heard of before, and a lot of mess ups in actually bringing the true 12". This collection is a perfect case in point. Amongst the problems I noted were: 10 seconds shaved off the opening of Love Comes Quickly by the Pet Shop Boys; 2 minutes chopped off Siouxsie's Peek-a-Boo; The edit of Love on Your Side used on the Thompson Twin's greatest 12" collection ages ago rather than the full 12"; a minute missing from Tears for Fears Pale Shelter; a horrible mix of INXS with a slow house feel; the BBG remix of Life's What you Make It from the Talk Talk History the Remixes CD rather than the original 12". At the same time, there are some treasures here. The 12" of Visage's Night Train, the real US 12" version of Axel F, and some others. But where are so many other new wave tracks that still haven't made it onto any compilations? For instance, Love Tempo by Quando Quango. This is Not a Love Song by PIL. Some People by Belouise Some rather than the usual Imagination. What You Need 12" by INXS. The Detroit mix of When Smokey Sings instead of the Miami mix, which is available on ABC's original CD. Horror Movies by the Bollock Bros. And I could keep going with a huge list of vinyl I'm still holding onto in hopes these 12" mixes will some day find their way onto one of these compilations. Anyway, here is a track listing with times:

CD1:

1. new gold dream (6:49)
2. penthouse and pavement (6:20)
3. sound of the crowd (6:25)
4. labour of love (4:25)
5. papa's got a brand new pigbag (5:55)
6. party fears two (5:09)
7. when smokey sings (7:03)
8. need you tonight (liebrand mix) (7:14)
9. imagination (5:27)
10. brand new friend (5:31)
11. life's what you make it (6:12)
12. night train (6:08)

CD2:

1. love comes quickly (6:40)
2. the reflex (6:16)
3. two tribes (9:06)
4. chant no 1 (5:42)
5. love on your side (5:34)
6. bedsitter (7:49)
7. don't talk to me about love (6:51)
8. peek a boo (8:11)
9. trampoline (5:41)
10. pale shelter (5:56)
11. bid decision (4:37)
12. the killing moon (7:12)

CD3:

1. oblivious (3:50)
2. favourite shirts (6:53)
3. I'll tumble 4 ya (4:36)
4. long hot summer (6:58)
5. soul train (6:31)
6. boops (5:21)
7. genius of love (5:34)
8. annie I'm not your daddy (6:24)
9. mr solitaire (5:55)
10. axel f (7:10)
11. the race (13:23)

Not only is the music market currently flooded with dud bands offering sad pastiches of 1980s synth rockers, there's also a glut of bad compilations that habitually gather together the decade's worst sonic offenders. Praises to the compilers of 12"/80s/2 are in order, since this three disc set gathers together over 30 remixed cuts only vinyl conneiseurs will have heard before. Generally drawing from the UK's best in New Wave and New Romantic, highlights over the three hour compendium include obvious 12" mixes from New Order, Duran Duran and Frankie Goes To Hollywood. Less obvious tracks that offer flavour include Echo & The Bunnymen's The Killing Moon (Up All Night Mix) and the forgotten Belouis Some's Imagination (12" Mix), although Spandau Ballet's Chant Number 1 and Yello's The Race are truly awful. Both seen as touchstones to the later hip hop renaissance, Tom Tom Club and Malcolm McLaren each present tidy and uncomplicated beats, while moody old friends The Cure and Siouxsie & The Banshees prove Goths aren't afraid of a solid dance overhaul thanks to the excellent sounds of The Walk (Extended Mix) and Peek A Boo (Silver Dollar Mix) respectively. Neatly providing an aural history of the remix phenomenon in its infancy, 12"/80s/2's more than three hours of massive hits and glorious misfires from the era of denim skirts, E.T. and Cabbage Patch Kids.