Customer Reviews

Hits

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

 

 

Mike + the Mechanics' "Hits" does a great job living up to its name. This disc provides the listener with 64+ minutes of the band's most popular songs from their first four albums (1988-1995). The selection is excellent and includes one song not listed in amazon's track listing above (Track 14 is "You've Really Got a Hold on Me" from 1995's "Beggar On a Beach of Gold").

A few minor complaints are all that keeps this highly enjoyable collection from 5-stars. First of all, the cd booklet (if you can call it that) contains no information at all. In fact, it's solid white on the inside (I mention this so you won't be surprised and irritated like I was upon opening it for the first time). Secondly (and this is really a minor quibble), the songs are not presented in chronological order. Lastly, the price (as currently listed) is rather steep. Since there is only one song (or version of a song) included on this collection not available on the regular cd releases--"All I Need Is A Miracle '96"--and, since it's not even as good as the original version, you'd be better off collecting the individual releases starting with the debut.

As much as I like Phil Collins (a lot) those in the know realised that Mike Rutherford was an even greater talent and that Mike and the Mechanics are even better than Genesis! I don't understand how they never won any awards and never top any of the lists of the greatest songs and albums ever made. There must be a conspiracy!

Back in 1996, there actually wasn't that much when it came to conjuring packages of greatest hits. Nevertheless, it is definitely a down to Earth expression. However, for Mike & The Mechanics, that is just another story. Back in the 80's, they were made as a spinoff group with Paul Carrack from Squeeze and solo efforts, and Mike Rutherford from Genesis, and his own arrangements on solo works. The songs that they made were just full of pop life, and the heart and soul that a lot of acts these days really don't have any expression of with manufactured imagery. Now, there is a remarkabel collection of their music all in one.

Mike & The Mechanics 1996 greatest hits album Hits is a very unique reflection of one of the more lesser known acts of the 80's. The songs on the import edition, the original edition have been remastered graciously well, and without almost any missed opportunities of feel good music. The collection includes so many great guilty pleasure classics like The Living Years, Taken In, the deep and dark Silent Running, Over My Shoulder, and Everybody Gets A Second Chance. While the album has been assembled well, there is only one disadvantage with this package, and that does mount with one of their biggest guily pleasure tracks All I Need Is A Miracle. On this package, there is a more recent version of this song here, than the original pop gem from 1985.

Nevertheless, Mike & The Mechanics Hits is a nicely assembled package for any fan of the guilty pleasure act. Thankfully, this edition is not copy-proof, where the recent U. S. editon which just finally made it into america nearly 10 years after this was made is encrypted, and it is a whole lot cheaper too.

Album Cover: B+

Songs: B+

Price: A-

Mastering: B 1/2+

Overall: B 1/2+

A trend that emerged in the mid 1980s was the emergence of the Supergroup. The term Supergroup refers to a group that is formed by multiple members that have achieved success in other groups. Probably the most popular of the Supergroups was The Power Station (Robert Palmer, Tony Thompson of Chic, John and Andy Taylor of Duran Duran). Other examples included Asia and the Traveling Wilburys. However for all practical purposes, it was The Power Station that put the term Supergroup on the map. Supergroups are formed for many reasons: Supergroups such as The Power Station and The Traveling Wilburys were basically formed to be (originally) one time efforts. Other groups such as Asia were formed following the demise of other bands. And yet others are formed as "side projects". Some people tend to forget when it comes to Mike + The Mechanics that they are a Supergroup. The band was formed as a side project by Genesis Guitar and Bass player Mike Rutherford. This side project would lead to commercial and critical success. Mike + The Mechanics first album, the self-titled album "Mike + The Mechanics" would have some commercial success - including three Top 40 hits. Their second album "Living Years" produced a #1 song and Record of the Year candidate in the title track - as well as commercial success. However, Mike + The Mechanics would run into the problem that many artists have when they try for that third consecutive commercially successful album - they strike out. "Word of Mouth" and "Beggar on a Beach of Gold" would be the two albums that followed "Living Years". Despite continuing to live up to the high musical standards set forward by Mike + The Mechanics, both of these albums would be commercial failures. The four albums released would still produce a nice portfolio of songs, thus Mike + The Mechanics were ready to release their first greatest hits album - simply titled "Hits".

One thing I like about "Hits" is that it does distribute the songs evenly among the four albums: "Mike + The Mechanics" ("Silent Running", "All I Need is a Miracle '96" - a remix of the song from this album, "Taken In"); "Living Years" ("Nobody's Perfect", "The Living Years", "Nobody Knows"); "Word of Mouth" ("Get Up", "Word of Mouth", "A Time and Place", "Everybody Gets a Second Chance"); "Beggar on a Beach of Gold" ("Beggar on a Beach of Gold", "Over My Shoulder", "Another Cup of Coffee"). I'm especially pleased that "Word of Mouth" has more songs over the first two albums.

While I realize the title of this album is "Hits", this does contribute to some of the album's weak points. The album definitely focuses on those songs that were either hits or singles released by the band. As a result, there are several omissions of songs that do stand out. Here are five glaring omissions:

- "My Crime of Passion" ("Word of Mouth"): This is as good a Mike + The Mechanics song as there is by Mike + The Mechanics and features some tremendous harmony blending by co-lead vocalists Paul Carrack and Paul Young.

- "A Call to Arms" ("Mike + The Mechanics"): This is a song by Genesis and also features some good blending of vocals by Carrack and Young.

- "Going Going ... Home" ("Beggar on a Beach of Gold"): Great song as it deals with someone who has left his family behind, but realizes he can't run away from his problems and yearns to go home.

- "Why Me?" ("Living Years"): An intense and dark song. This shows a lot of the versatility that this band can perform.

- "The Way that You Look at Me" ("Word of Mouth"): This might be more of a synth-pop song, but it is still classic Mike + The Mechanics. Personally, I question why "A Time and Place" was included over this song.

On a positive note, I'm pleased by the inclusion of songs such as "Nobody Knows", "Word of Mouth", "Everybody Gets a Second Chance", "Over My Shoulder", and "Another Cup of Coffee". Many mainstream fans who have heard the more popular Mike + The Mechanics songs (i.e. "Living Years", "All I Need is a Miracle") probably have not heard of these five songs I listed. These five songs definitely represent some of the stronger material in the Mike + The Mechanics portfolio.

Normally when an artist releases a greatest hits album, I prefer the artist to order the tracks in chronological order that they were released. This allows me to hear how the artist has progressed over time. Unfortunately, "Hits" does not order the tracks in chronological order. In the case of Mike + The Mechanics "Hits", I think this is a major weakness because if you have followed this group over time, you will notice that later in their careers, the band definitely slanted away from a harder sound to a more adult contemporary style.

I happen to like the remix of "All I Need is a Miracle '96" much better than the original version. In addition to the song sounding clearer, it does have a better beat. I always thought the original was an average song. This version gives this song that shot in the arm that it needed back in 1986.

Overall, while I do enjoy the music in this album, I still almost feel it will benefit getting the four individual albums. The serious Mike + The Mechanics fans will most certainly want the four albums. I firmly believe that the casual Mike + The Mechanics fan can still get a lot of good music by picking up the four additional albums. However, if they don't choose to get the four albums, this album represents a good starting point to gain some of the lesser-known material - particularly on the "Word of Mouth" and "Beggar on a Beach of Gold" albums.

I love this album, but there are only 13 tracks, there is no 14th track as the review below states.

Released on Virgin except in the U.S. and Canada.

I just got this online. This is all the songs released as singles around the world (except an obscure soundtrack cover of "Revolution" and the original "All I Need is a Miracle", as well as anything from the last CD I got here). This comes to me before the first anniversary of the death of singer Paul Young (not to be confused with or related to the other one). That's what made me get the last one, though I paid more. He would have wanted it that way. Only a few of these were hits here. This CD wasn't released here so I had to get the import. I hope their whole catalogue is remastered and rereleased (or released for the first time) in this country.

great songs the best of them