Essential Bangles [Original recording remastered]

The Bangles | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (March 30, 2004)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Original recording remastered
• Label: Sony
• Copy Protected
• ASIN: B00008PX8T
• In-Print Editions: Audio CD  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 3.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (10 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #129,495 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Japanese Blu-Spec CD pressing of this classic album. The Blue Spec format takes Blu-ray disc technology to create CD's which are compatible with normal CD players but provides ultra high quality sound. Sony. 2009. --This text refers to an alternate Audio CD edition.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Confusing, April 26, 2006

By 

Michael K. Allen (Jim Thorpe, PA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Essential Bangles (Audio CD)

Instead of a pure greatest hits package (which has already been done), or a collectors disc to clean up the odds and ends from the Bangles discography which haven't been released on disc yet, this set offers falls short on both.

As stated before, "Going Down to Liverpool" is missing. And that fact alone would make the "average" fan opt for the 1990 Greatest Hits package. Which I would recommend over this if the goal was to have all the singles.

On the other hand, if Sony/Columbia wanted to satisfy the die-hards they would have cleaned the closet and gave us all those rarities. While its great to have "What I Meant To Say", why would they exclude "Getting Out of Hand" while its B-side "Call On Me" is presented? Very odd. What's even more frustrating is that only one cut from the Bangles 1982 EP is featured ("I'm In Line", probably the weakest track.) If they wanted a singles compilation, they should have included "Real World" instead, which was released as a remixed 12-inch. "I Got Nothing" is a pleasant surprise, however it's been dramatically remixed so anyone who wants the original still has to hunt down "The Goonies" soundtrack.

For an odds and ends disc other possiblities would have been "Mary Street", "Want You", "How Is the Air Up There", the rare "Bitchin' Summer (Speedway)" instrumental and the mega-rare live version of "Hero Takes a Fall". And while "I'll Be Your Mirror" and "I'll Keep It With Mine" are solo Susanna songs, they were made during her Bangles tenure. We also know that a live version of "Tell Me" was recorded in 1985 but is still sitting in the can. Let's not also forget "Get The Girl", the 1999 "Spy Who Shagged Me" cut, and the UK B-side edit of "In Your Room". Bonus or hidden tracks could have included the No Magazine ad (set to the tune of "Getting Out of Hand") and Michael's spoken word "El Polo Loco".

So you see there was enough obscure material for a 2-disc Bangles anthology which would have kept everyone happy.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Better than Greatest Hits, but what about 1st album's tracks, June 12, 2004

By 

Matthew Anderson "Music Fan" (Dallas, TX) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Essential Bangles (Audio CD)

I basically agree with everyone else who reviewed this CD: "Going Down to Liverpool" is missing, but my complaint goes further than that. The 1990 Greatest Hits album contained 2 tracks from their first major-label album, 'All Over the Place' ("Liverpool" being one of them). Even on the 1990 CD, the first album was barely represented. WHY? Sure, it was before they started cranking out hit singles, but it's arguably their best album of original material. On the upside, 'Essential' has included two "pre-record contract" songs, a great 1988 B-side, and a rarely-heard song from the "Goonies" soundtrack (!!) All four of these additions rank among their best work, and help give the casual listener a more well-rounded impression of their work. Also, the songs are not in order of release, which makes one better appreciate each song. On 'Grtst Hits,' you couldn't help but notice how increasingly slick, and occasionally bland, their sound became towards the end of their run. These are the reasons I rate 'Essential' higher than 'Greatest,' even though "Hero Takes a Fall" is the ONLY representaion of 'All Over the Place.' Get 'Essential,' and seek out their first album....and good luck, because it's now out of print! Such injustice!!!

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Almost Essential, April 7, 2004

By 

Jason W. Bellenger (Byron Center, Michigan, USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Essential Bangles (Audio CD)

Like another review pointed out, this 5-star collection is missing "Goin' Down To Liverpool." Luckily, I have that track on another compilation by Sony Music. Why wasn't it included here? Sometimes I wonder if record company executives just throw things together without checking things over first. There's easily enough room to squeeze several more tracks on here!

Besides the mistake of leaving out "Liverpool," this collection is very well done for an "Essential" collection. All tracks have been digitally remastered for the best sound - and one can really hear the difference in listening to such tracks as "Hazy Shade Of Winter." It sounds crisp! That's how I like it!

It would have been nice to get the extended versions/mixes of their singles as well. Perhaps someday Sony Music will issue their catalog remastered with these tracks. Yet for the price and for an essential collection of hits, this one meets my standards.