Customer Reviews

Devil Made Us Do It

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

 

 

Made in GER in 2000, Serial# 549-154-2, Playing Time: 155 min.

This 2-disc set is perhaps intended at presenting a "best of" of the 4-disc "Best Of" of the same name; but which tracks to include when a band has released 29 albums (33 discs) in 35 years? Certainly not by making half the material included here from the first 10! I would suggest you take a few minutes and go read the reviews of the full-length 4-disc version of this album.

This 2-disc version contains 39 tracks, more specifically tracks 1 to 22 (16 and 21 are shorter),24,26-29,32-35,38,41-43,49,53-55 from the box set; we're getting all tracks from disc 1 (the first 10 years), about half of each of disc 2 and 3 (the next 25 years) but missing out on anything from disc 4 (rare tracks,solo material, unreleased material).

If you're seriously interested in this group, get the "real mccoy": go for the 4-disc version, crammed with over 5 hours of great stuff from this Dutch band. Just say I made you do it!

Growing up in Belgium in the seventies, I can't remember that the Dutch band Golden Earring was ever NOT big. That was 30 years ago! I left Belgium in the early 80s, and admittedly I've lost track somewhat of Golden Earring since then. When I saw this collection during a recent visit to Belgium, I looked at the tracklisting, and immediately knew this would be perfect for me.

"The Devil Made Us Do It: Golden Earring 35 Years" (39 tracks, 155 min.) is thankfully presented in chronological order. CD1 cover 1965-1975, and is by far the most interesting. From the very first single "Please Go" one can follow the evolution of Dutch pop/rock in the 60s, just fascinating. The band really starts to hit all cylinders on the hard-charging "Back Home" (from 1970) and "Buddy Joe" (from 1972), both big hits. The monster hit "Radar Love" is of course on here. CD2 covers 1976-2000, and contains big hits like "Bombay" and "Sleepwalking". As mentioned already, I lost track of the band in the mid 80s, after their last big international hit "Twilight Zone". But the band has continued to churn out hit after hit (and album after album) in their home market (Netherlands and surrounding areas).

This collection is highly recommended for the casual fan who just wants all the hits and best known tracks in one convenient place. As noted elsewhere, there is also a 4 CD box, issued at the same time as this collection, and (confusingly) also named "The Devil Made Us Do It", which contains much more.

This seller gave the best customer service I have ever had with any Amazon seller.

My big gripe with Golden Earring's well-known compilation album, The Continuing Story Of Radar Love, is that their second-greatest song ("When The Lady Smiles") after "Twilight Zone", is not included. It's unspeakable to issue a compilation album to US audiences and NOT include their greatest non-US hit. Luckily, you'll find it here.

To be honest, the first part of the album is pretty much throw-away. It's mostly their 60's material, and I don't find it that appealing. The exception to this is the beautifully sung ballad "Just A Little Bit Of Peace In My Heart". "Please Go" is interesting as it was the bands' very first in a long line of Dutch hits.

Things don't really heat up until the 14th or 15th track. Hits like "Radar Love", "Twilight Zone", "Quiet Eyes", and "Going To The Run" (the latter two are excellent power ballds that were hits in Europe but are completely unknown to American audiences). "Clear Nite, Moonlight" is a fun 80's dance song with a bit of disco thrown in, "Sleepwalkin'" is a jazzy, bass-driven song in the vein of "Radar Love", and "Yes! We're On Fire!" was actually used as the Dutch Olympic team's anthem.

Some of the choices, however, I don't agree with, but isn't that always the case with compilation albums? "Hold Me Now" off of the Face It album should have been replaced with the high-adrenaline rocker "Legalize Telepathy". "I Do Rock 'N Roll" is an embarrasingly mediocre song with idiotic lyrics that simply wastes time on the album and could have been replaced by more material from the Bloody Buccaneers. Also, we could have taken out of the lousy 60's music and replaced it with some live tracks (GE is truly a live band), or something from Bloody Buccaneers, Moontan, Together, Prisoner Of The Night, or The Hole.

"The Continung Story Of Radar Love" is a better, more common, and cheaper compilation, but it does leave out some outstanding material (no "When The Lady Smiles?!!). So, hell, I say start by picking up "The Continuing Story" (you won't need Moontan with this), Last Blast Of The Century, Blody Buccaneers, NEWS, Cut, Something Heavy Going Down. If you like 80's music you may also enjoy The Hole.

GOLDEN EARRING HAVE BEEN AROUND A LONG TIME AND HAVE A REMARKABLE CAREER..."BUT" I QUESTION THE RELEASE OF THIS BOX SET?? THIS COMPILATION MISSES THE MARK WITH A MIXED BAG OF HITS AND MISSES.THE SO CALLED RARE TRACKS RELEASED ON THIS SET ARE THROW AWAY STUDIO TUNES THAT SHOULD NEVER HAVE RESURFACED.WE "THE FANS" DESERVED A BETTER BOX SET THAN THIS.GOLDEN EARRING MADE TOO MANY EXCELENT RECORDINGS AND THIS C D HISTORY DOES NOT REFLECT THAT!!!!