Customer Reviews

Glitter Years: Rarities & Gems

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

 

 

I love the Bangles, so i couldn't rate them less than 5 stars, the songs themselves are great, but the title is a little misleading.....

Glitter Years: Rarities and Gems has the following tracks:

Eternal Flame (single version)- Now this always bugs me....this is no different than the version we have on the album it originated from. So using the album title's designations, this must be a Gem.

Watching the Sky- Gem.

Walk Like an Egyptian(extended dance mix)-Now this is a rarity in this country, unless you are a major Bangles fan and own every import you've ever seen....(like me). In fact, I believe this may be the first CD release of this version of the song in this country.-Rarity.

Glitter Years-Gem.

Hero Takes a Fall(single version)- Yes, there was a different album version, so the designation is correct.....however, the original album version is now rarer than this mix which is on the Greatest Hits- Gem.

James- Gem.

What I Meant To Say(single version)- Um....yeah this was on a single, but it was a B-side that wasn't included on any album and didn't get a widespread CD release in the U.S. until 2004's "The Essential Bangles"-Rarity.

I Got Nothing- This one was from the LONG out-of-print Goonies soundtrack, while we did get this song on the previously mentioned "The Essential Bangles," this is the original mix of the song, which was inexplicably NOT on that disc, we got a remix of the other song that no one even knew existed. This version of this song hasn't been released on a CD in the U.S. since 1985/6, so....Rarity.

Everything I Wanted- Only released in 1990 on the "Bangles Greatest Hits", then left off of "Essential Bangles"- I guess if you don't have the 1990 release, then this = Rarity.

Some Dreams Come True- Gem.

Interesting to note that there are four potential "Rare" tracks on this disc, but if you have every US release from the band, including all the Greatest Hits collections, then you have all of these songs already. "The Essential Bangles" has two tracks that should have been included on this release, which are "Getting Out of Hand" and "I'm In Line." What would have REALLY been nice for this CD would have been the remaining four Bangles EP songs and the B-side to "Getting Out of Hand." This could have been a great companion to the Essential Bangles with a different track list. Even extended versions of Manic Monday, Hazy Shade of Winter, etc. would have been welcome.

So...I recommend this to those who just have to have EVERY Bangles CD(like me) or to a casual fan who doesn't own every Bangles album.

For a cheap-o compilation I almost passed over, this is a easy way to pick up some hard to find and out of print Bangles rarities from their Columbia records days. The rest are tracks from "All Over The Place" and "Everything".

The single mix of "Hero Takes A Fall" adds some nasty slapback echo/delay to the lead vocal. I used to play the 45 as a college radio DJ and always thought it was annoying, and not an improvement over the LP version on "All Over The Place".

"What I Meant to Say" was the flipside of "Eternal Flame" and wound up the 45, the cassette single and on a super rare 3 inch mini CD here in the USA. I always liked this track, to me this and "Everything I Wanted" could have easily replaced some of the weaker tracks on "Everything".

I will have to dig out my LP of the Goonies LP and compare the mixes of "I've Got Nothing", right now they sound very similar.

As for the Dance Mix of "Egyptian" its fun, but kind of boring for sit-down listening. I kind of wish Columbia would have dug up the 12-inch dance mixes of "In Your Room" and "Hazy Shade of Winter" and added them. Its not a bad comp, just try to get it cheap. I just wish Sony would have done some more vault digging and made a nice comp of everything the Bangles didn't put on their 3 Columbia albums.

And I wish Sony or another company would get the rights to reissue all the early Bangles Faulty Products/IRS material! We need to have this stuff back on the shelves!

Okay, I'll admit off the bat that I'm a collector of the Bangles material, and pretty much own everything one could want as far as music collectibles go.

So, when I heard this CD was coming out, I was very excited, because some of the songs in my collection came from scattered sources including CD's, vinyl, and a bit of swapping over the internet. I thought, maybe FINALLY, the rare tracks would be on one CD to provide a companion to the main releases.

Nope. What you get here are only a couple of items of interest, well documented in other reviews. But some of these, like the remixes, are really only novelties and for the hardcore collector only.

Far more important and interesting would have been inclusion of the songs from The Bangs single, before they had to change their name, and the songs from the Bangles EP, released prior to their first LP. These 6 songs added to the other few rarities on this album would really have made a GREAT collectible.

2 stars for content as we collectors go...this was a wasted opportunity.

Other than the extended dance version of "Walk Like an Egyptian," these tracks can all be heard in lots of other places. This means they aren't rarities like the title of the compilation says, but they are still good songs.

I recieved the right product, in good order and in a speedy manner! I can't ask any more of an online retailer!

I bought this CD to get some more songs that I didn't already have from the Bangles. I have five of these songs on the other Bangles CD I own, which is The Definitive Collection 2 Disc set. That CD covers Susanna Hoffs solo work as well, which I enjoy having. I'm not a die-hard fan of the band as you can tell, but it was great hearing some other songs from them. "Watching The Sky" was a rocking song, kinda reminded me of Led Zep in a strange way, probably cause of the drums. The song "Glitter Years" was good. I really liked the fun song "James". "What I Meant To Say" was also good, done in that classic Bangles style. The song from the Goonies soundtrack "I Got Nothing" was great. Now I'll have to go back and watch the film and see where the song plays. The other songs I didn't mention are good, just not favorites of mine. I prefer the original "Walk Like An Egyptian" over the dance mix. And "Eternal Flame" is another classic that plays a lot on radio today. I just wish they would've included some live versions of some of their favorites on this collection.
If your a fan of the Bangles, this collection is pretty good to own. Many die-hards may already have most of these songs though. Me being the casual fan, this CD fits well with my Bangles collection.

a good cd, for fans but not only. songs are well played, better sung and very joyful to listen. susannah hoffs is sunny and nice as well. the cd is not too long, so the listener doesn't bore. there are rare songs and rare versions of well known pieces. a cd for everybody loving byrds, the heartbreakers and the sound of 12 string electric Rickenbacker.

I love anything that is Bangles, and I glad I found this CD. That is because There is something unique about the Bangles, and owning this CD and others brings this out. I love their Harmony that they do so well. I love Susanna's music and songs.Her voice is the best music I have ever heard. I will always be a top fan of the Bangles, especially of Susanna Hoffs.

This album could've have more gems like the 12" versions of "Walking Down Your Street," "Manic Monday," "Hazy Shade Of Winter" and "In Your Room." That's the reason I bought the "Definitive Collection" album, which was a definitive ripoff by not having that second CD with those remixed versions. Fortunately, the "Rarities and Gems" CD includes the 12" version of "Walk Like An Egyptian," which is very good.