Customer Reviews

12" Collection Plus

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There are two versions of this Collect compilation and this one is the better of the two. The other version has a different cover a full length photo of the band with faded and destorted version of the same photo in pink, blue, and purple in the background. This version has "Black Money" off Colour By Numbers that almost everybody already has and does not include "Murder Rap Trap," "Mystery Boy," and "Gusto Blusto." This CD is an interesting set of songs for Culture Club fans who did not collect all the B-sides and 12" singles. Some of the remixes are excellent, especially "It's A Miracle/Miss Me Blind" and "I'll Tumble 4 Ya." Captain Crucial appears on the "Do You Really Want To Hurt Me" 12". The B-sides are also quality material. "Colour By Numbers" is rather drab yet pleasant and "From Luxury to Heartache" is excellent (better than some of the tracks that made the album by the same name). Backup singer Helen Terry kicks big time fanny on "Man Shake." "Love is Love," which was released on the Electric Dreams soundtrack, is wonderful and if you have never heard the instrumental version of "Time," you need to buy this CD right away. That track alone makes this collection worth your time. It is absolutely beautiful. Unless you already have all these tracks on their original records, this CD is a must for any Culture Club fan. The CD booklet also includes interesting notes on each of the tracks. Note: I've noticed some of these B-sides are being released on the remastered versions of the albums so you may want to consider going that route for these tracks before buying this collection.

Since Boy George is mainly a DJ these days, he uses 12" singles regularly (never his own!). Loyal CC fans will want this. Released here on Virgin's step-sister indie label Caroline, elsewhere with the colourised "3-D glasses" effect on the front. "Love is Love", appears on a few other comps. "Everything I Own" is his biggest solo hit in most countries, yet it sometimes gets thrown in thinking no one would know the difference. I have some of these singles on UK vinyl. Like any die-hard fan of any big act, I found me the import and sold the boring US version!

Great mixes of some of their best hits. The bigger benefit though is the mixes of the lesser known and b-side songs. If you even liked them a little, this is worth adding to your CD collection. The 80s were all about feel good music. The sound of dance music really changed then and Culture Club's sound embodied heart and soul (wiggling hips and snap-happy feet) the sound of that time, BUT the songs still hold up today. They embodied the 80s temperament but were distinct enough (and maintained some classic rock elements/sound) that like so many other 80s bands they don't sound so outdated when you listen to them nearly two decades later.... has it really been that long?

Then I suggest you move on to their 1999 reunion album "Don't Mind If I Do" - every song is fantastic lyrically and musically.

What I'd love even more is a disc of modern remixes of Boy George, Culture Club, This Way Up and the other groups that Boy George mixes. His DJ Mix cds are fantastic. I think he could totally reinvent all of their songs if he were in remixing them for a new DJ Mix cd.

Although, I not a huge fan of Culture Club, I think this is the best CD I have heard by them. I think the mixes are well done and actually are a lot more pleasent than the original versions.

Fine mixes! Great beats! Only problem: no Karma Chameleon and Time.

If you already own "12" Mixes Plus - Collect" or "Remix Collection",
you may not want 12" Collection Plus, unless you want the 3 tracks differing from these albums. Note the similarity of the titles.

1. Move Away
2. It's a Miracle/Miss Me Blind Medley [US 12" Mix]
3. God Thank You Woman [Extended Version]
4. I'll Tumble 4 Ya
5. Love Is Cold (You Were Never So Good)
6. Do You Really Want to Hurt Me
7. Everything I Own [Extended P.W. Botha Mix]
8. Color by Numbers
9. From Luxury to Heartache [Extended Mix]
10. Love Is Love
11. Murder Rap Trap
12. Man Shake
13. Mystery Boy (Suntori Hot Whiskey Song)
14. The War Song [Ultimate Dance Mix]
15. Gusto Blusto [Rock Mix]

12" Collection Plus has the above additional Gusto Blusto [Rock Mix],
but drops the "Time (Clock of the Heart)" Instrumental, and "Black Money",
replacing them with "Murder Rap Trap" (Available on the "Culture Club" 4CD box set) and "Mystery Boy" (Available on the "Colour by Numbers" remaster, as a bonus track).
It seems this is the only CD to contain the "Gusto Blusto" Rock Mix.
Gusto Blusto (Single Version) is available on the "From Luxury to Heartache" album,
available at Amazon UK.

I own this and love, but...as a true CC fan, no CD collection is complete with the 12" 10-minute remix of SEXUALITY from the Luxury to Heartache album - produced by the late ARIF MARDIN and sounding like latter day SCRITTI POLITTI, "Sexuality" was the overlooked B-side to their 1987 "comeback" single MOVE AWAY - too bad, it's one of CC's BEST dance tracks ever, complete with sexy, open-minded lyrics, a playful vocal delivery from the Boy, and killer 80s-funk/soul grooves - amazing it's NOT on this CD as the cover of the CD is actually a reproduction of the MOVE AWAY 12" which included the elusive 10-minute remix of Sexuality as a bonus - oh well, maybe someday??!!

Boy George has very distinctive vocals very comparible to Freddie Mercury(maybe if he cleans his act, he could front Queen-much better music than Culture Club)