Customer Reviews

Best of Miami Vice

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This compilation is better than previous attempts in capturing music, the memories, from key scenes. But as others also note, there are major omissions. Phil Collins' "In the Air Tonight", obviously. And what "Vice" junkie could forget the memories evoked by "Brothers in Arms" by Dire Straits, "Cry" by Godley & Creme, "Dead or Alive" by Bon Jovi, "Bad Attitude" by Honeymoon Suite, "Tell Me" by Terry Kath, or even Sheena Easton. Russ Ballard is hard to find anywhere.

Because individuals decide which "Vice" scenes, which music (from a huge cross-section of music from a five year time span during which Jan Hammer and Tim Truman, both magnificent, ran the show), mattered the most, no single collection will be definitive.

In the end, people are best off getting Jan Hammer's "Miami Vice: The Complete Collection" sountrack compilation, and making one's own "hit" collection using song lists from the various "Miami Vice" web site.

As others have noted, the exclusion of Phil Collins' "In The Air Tonight" is ridiculous; It's not a 'Best Of' if one of the most iconic songs ever used in the show isn't included! There's plenty of other odd exclusions, too: Russ Ballard's "Voices", Honeymoon Suite's "Bad Attitude", Dire Straits' "Brothers in Arms", and Terry Kath's "Tell Me" are the most notable songs absent from this release, and I would have gladly subbed any of them for Pat Benatar's "Hit Me With Your Best Shot", The Pointer Sisters' "I'm So Excited", George Thorogood's "Bad To The Bone", Autograph's "Turn Up The Radio" or Sheila E.'s "Glamourous Life". Are those good songs? Sure. But, they don't really come to mind when I think of Miami Vice, not to mention they're all over other 80's compilations and the radio. If we're going that route, at least include Rockwell's "Somebody's Watching Me".

Even lesser known songs from the show's run would have sufficed: Tommy Shaw's "Girls With Guns" and "Dangerous Game", both of which are excellent songs (and luckily, finally recently reissued on their respective albums: "Girls With Guns" & "Ambition"). Ditto for The Nobodys "No Guarantees", a hard-to-find track. Speaking of rare, Miami Vice's own Don Johnson sang "Streetwise" for his "Heartbeat" album, but cut it from the LP. It's a good song, and was used in season three's also-named "Streetwise". That would have been a great addition. Genesis' "Land of Confusion" used in the final episode, would have been great, as well.

But, even though this disc fails to truly be a "Best Of", it does feature some great tracks. Both of Glenn Frey's oferrings are true MV classics, as is Jackson Browne's "Lives In The Balance". Jan Hammer's instrumentals are cut to three tracks (couldn't have thrown the "New York Theme" or "Candy" in, huh?), but they give a good view of his genius. The MV themes are just as cool as ever, and "Crockett's Theme" is out and out awesome. Steve Jone's "Mercy" is as great as ever. The more mainstream tracks here that I didn't mention above, Tina Turner's "Better Be Good To Me" and Foreigner's "I Want To Know What Love Is", actually work here, though again, why no "Voices"?

You'd be better off buying the official soundtrack and it's sequel (ignore the never-released-in-the-U.S. third soundtrack), as well as Jan Hammer's own "Best of Miami Vice" (cheap and easy to find, much more so that the complete collection) but this serves as a good introduction to MV's music, just not a definitve one. It's pretty obvious this was released to piggyback on the 2006 feature film version, and sadly it plays more like any 80's compilation album than an MV compilation album.

As others have noted, this is 'a' Best of album, certainly not deeply indicative of five seasons of this 80s show.

Yes, In The Air Tonight, as used in the first season, is often cited as the epitomy of the Miami Vice aesthetic, or 'thing'. And it's missing, as are plenty of other songs. Jan Hammer is only represented by three tracks--two versions of the famous theme, and Crockett's Theme, a rare instrumental hit single. But what about the countless other tracks and cues? The three tracks off the original Miami Vice soundtrack album (white cover) alone are a better value than this, plus you get the Collins track and other 80s time capsule material (Grandmaster Flash, etc). This kind of Best of soundtrack CD is really becoming obsolete in the downloading era--there's nothing special on here you can't find elsewhere these days, one track at a time.

Meanwhile, the Complete Miami Vice 2CD set (all Jan Hammer) is out of print and stupidly expensive, but it's got all of the score. The songs...just go find a listing online or go through the excellent DVD boxes and go find what you need online. There's just not enough on here to do justice to so many slo-mo scenes of Don Johnson in pastels, gun drawn, in a climactic showdown with various Miami druglords and dirtbags.

I have always enjoyed the '80s. Miami Vice was an hour-long music video of the latest and greatest. I started wearing t-shirts and sports coats!. This CD really helps bring the memories back. Now if only I could afford the car...

I like this compilation. Has lots of goodies on it. I like the original Miami Vice show. The movie doesn't seem as good; it's kinda confusing. I'm still a Miami Vice fan though & still give this 5 golden stars... :)

Brings back memories of the show that was a hit and everyone who is a Don Johnson fan or loved Philp Micheal Thomas this is a must have.

If you remember watching Miami Vice on TV and what was happening in the world in the 80's then you will love this CD, it takes you right back. Even if you didn't it's great music, well known artists, good listening, and it's edgy!! Love it!!

The tracks in this album are real good, but like someone mentioned before no "In the air tonight", the song that made Miami Vice famous in the first place (besides the theme). One other song that is not on any of the Miami Vice soundtracks is a song titled Voices by Russ Ballard. This song was played in the Prodigal Son episodes when Crockett and Tubbs were on their way in the speedboat to the Bahamas to arrest Caldarone. Great song but always omitted from any soundtrack.