Customer Reviews

Classic Alternatives 1

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2 star:		(1)
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This is a compilation CD by various 80's artists...all songs (except for maybe one or two) are extended remixes. The "Classics Alternatives" series of CD's are so good, it's difficult to put into words. As the title implies, the songs lean toward the typical 80's alternative music scene, like the Human League, Bronski Beat, etc. and have a distinctive British flair. There are three volumes in this series that have been put out by SPG Music (a Canadian record company), and volume 4 is supposed to be out later this summer. The first three were released in 1994/1995 - if you can get your hands on these, you will not be disappointed.

SPG did this series right with some of the biggest new wave songs of the 80s in 12" format. If you didn't get any volumes yet, do yourself a favor and pick up "Classic Alternative: 12" Extended Rare Mixes [BOX SET]" and Classic Alternatives volume 4. BOX SET includes all 3 first volumes in the series, and volume 4 is a 3 disc set in itself!!! Selection here:

1. the promise (6:25)
2. love plus one (5:36)
3. electric dreams (6:25)
4. oh yeah (6:22)
5. dancing in heaven (6:07)
6. heartbeat (8:15)
7. I ran (4:55)
8. desire (6:15)
9. sound of the crowd (6:25)
10. eyes of a stranger (4:54)
11. sinful (7:58)
12. smalltown boy (9:05)

The good thing in this compilation is track 3. Together in Electric Dreams - Giorgio Moroder. It is a rare hard to find ( in fact, I can't find this song elsewhere) extended remix version on CD, more than 6 minutes compare to popular original 3 minutes version.
The minus side is the sound quality of this CD is inferior, it seem like SPG do nothing than compile this CD from cassettes or LPs, not from their master tape, very amateur. For example, check track 5. Dancing in Heaven (Orbital Be-Bop) - Q-Feel, the volume level (loudness) is low (soft) compare to other tracks, and the sound quality is dull, lack of bass.
Not all of this songs in extended remix, some track is just original short version (as my memory recall track 2, 7, and 9).
Track selection is mixed bag, after awhile you will feel boring. Some inferior remixes, some decent, I personally like track 2, 3, 5, 7, 9, and 12).
Overall, nice try but didn't work. I bought this CD just for the extended version of Together in Electric Dreams, forget this CD (and all the series, they are cheap amateur work). If you are after something, find it elsewhere.

If youre an 80s music fan, this is a must-have! I love tracks 1 and 3 and there are songs that I havent heard before but love them as well! Im so glad I bought this and havent lost it during one of our many moves here in England (I lost a bit of CDs over the years due to our constant moving)