Customer Reviews

12 Inch Collection V.2

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If you are in your mid 30's like me or a little older and you are a Hall & Oates fan you most likely have all of their 33 1/3 long play extended versions of their big hit songs of the 80's. Of course a few years later, CD singles became popular and we all wish some of our long play records would be available on CD. Well today is your lucky day because here they are (along with volume one).
Whether you are a long time H/O fan or a new fan you will love this album that includes a very rare and rarely heard extended version of MANEATER. to be honest, I have heard the original version of this song so many times over the years that I was kind of sick of it, but hearing this new version of the song is like hearing and appreciating MANEATER all over again.

There is also a new and never released before dance version of KISS ON MY LIST !!!

My favorite though is the BEN LIEBRAND REMIX version of I CANT GO FOR THAT which could be re released today and shoot up the dance charts. The original extended version of I CANT GO FOR THAT is also included in this collection.

Hopefully there will be a volume 3 but in the meantime buy volumes 1 & 2

In Volume II of the "12-Inch Collection", we're treated to the following:

"Maneater", a new extended version.
"I Can't Go For That (No Can Do)" (1981 extended mix)
"Kiss On My List" (A previously unreleased mix)
"Adult Education" (7-minute France remix)
"Your Imagination" The 1982 remix finally on CD.
"Method of Modern Love" (Extended mix)
"Out of Touch" (The dub version here.... don't ask me why)
"Missed Opportunity" (Unlimited Mix)
"Downtown Life (Downtown Remix) (I like the Radio Version better)
"I Can't Go For That" (The UK mix by Ben Liebrand from 1990)
"Jingle Bell Rock" (From Daryl)
"Jingle Bell Rock" (From John)

These songs are all 24-bit remastered and the sound is perfect. The only criticism I can think of is that they leave the drum sound out at the end of "Jingle Bell Rock" and I think it's unnessecary to have the dub version of "Out of Touch" here (The vocal extended mix is on "12-Inch Collection" (Vol. I - but it doesn't say "Volume I" in the title). I think the next volume should have the remixes of "Don't Change", "I Don't Wanna Lose
You", "Talking All Night" (All versions) and some of Daryl's solo remixes from "Three Hearts In The Happy Ending Machine".

Make sure you pick up volume one also.

The two Japanese Hall & Oates CD's "12 Inch Collection" & "12 Inch Collection Vol.2" get nearly all of the duo's original RCA U.S.A. & UK 12" singles onto CD.Having these recordings on CD has been a long-standing wish for many of the duo's fans.The only RCA 12" tracks not included are "Method of Modern Love(dub)","Say It Isn't So(Dub)" & the extended & dub versions of "Some Things Are Better Left Unsaid".The sound quality on these two collections is outstanding.A few of the duo's later Arista 12" tracks are also included.These vintage RCA & Arista extended & dub versions were created the old style way:by extending the duo's original vocal & instrumental performances.Vol.1 has 1 newly created mix & Vol.2 has several.These extended versions were created by using contemporary digital sampling techniques,and generally use only the vocals from the original Hall & Oates recordings.Fan opinion will be divided about these mixes.Middle-aged original fans won't like them.However,in general,these collections succeed in what they set out to do.Too bad that RCA/BMG couldn't have released them in the U.S.A.,and spared us the expense of buying Japanese imports.

I collect different versions of "I CAN'T GO FOR THAT(NO CAN DO).

Ben Liebrand's version is fantastic. 18 times he repeats the major track,then adding a xylophone, a bass drum riff and synthesizer. The hairs on the back of my neck were tingling for the entire mix. I never heard of this guy, but his version is a real tribute to Daryl Hall's genius of creating this great song. The versions are:(1)Hoax remix(Volume 1).
(2)Original extended club version(on here).(3)Bent remix(Flowers in the Attic). The club version of "Method of Modern Love is excellent as well.
The rest of the album adds to the "flavor" of these 12-inch originals. Thank God, they were released on CD!!!

This volume is as equally excellent as the first. The thing that initially puzzled me are the two versions of the "Jingle Bell Rock." But I'm optimistic that I could have both versions in one album, so what more could I ask for? So far, I have vols. 1 & 2 but I'm still eager to see if there will be more volumes to come. I'm so happy about these albums.

Aside from the horrible cover art, this is a great collection of the 12" singles from Hall & Oates throughout the 80's.
The sound quality is great.

Sometimes you'd never know that Hall & Oates are the biggest selling duo in pop music history. With tens of millions of records sold there are still parts of their back catalog that are unavailable except on the original vinyl releases. The former US label RCA has released most, but not all, of their albums on CD and it's truly surprising this remix collection hasn't been released domestically considering how many Top 40, Top 5, and Number 1 singles are included here. Adding insult to injury Hall & Oates has been eligible for induction into the Rock N Roll Hall of Fame for ages and yet they're routinely passed over. Like the Rodney Dangerfield of pop Hall & Oates get no respect, largely because they were pop artists in an AOR era. Critically savaged on a regular basis Hall & Oates laughed all the way to the charts and the bank.

What was often ignored or forgotten was that Hall & Oates were often on the cutting edge of dance music from 1981's Voices up to 1988's Ooh Yeah! and churned out a sizeable number of remixed versions of the hits. Any club kid from the era will undoubtedly remember the Arthur baker remix of "Dance on Your Knees/Out of Touch" and countless other remixes collected here. Sonically the songs all hold up well rather than having a dated 80's feel to them. The songwriting also held up well and I guaranty hearing them will put a smile on your face and get your feet to tapping. Best still, these tracks don't have the pops, hisses, and crackle of your old 12" vinyl singles - the remastering is quite good here! If you were to try and track down all of these 12" singles you'd pay significantly more than even the steep price here. "Dance Essentials" may be more money than a casual Hall & Oates fan would want to spring for, but if you're a fan or fondly remember these remixes then you'll want to have it. Both CDs are solid from start to finish with no filler. Sure, there's a few remixes missing but perhaps that's for Volume III to remedy. My only quibble is that rather than moving in a chronological order the singles are randomly sorted. Chronological order would undoubtedly show Hall & Oates progression as dance artists and there's something jarring about hearing the cutting edge "Dance on Your Knees" followed by the smooth pop of "One on One". Minor quibbling aside this is 80's dance pop at its best.

Bought a rare CD in reasonal price and shipping charge. Smooth transaction, friendly emails on shipping/order status received. Most importantly, I was happy with the prompt arrival and careful packaging. Thank you.

this is a cool collection of Hall&Oats Material being re-mixed. "Your Imagination" was always my jam as is the Re-Mix for " i Can't go for that(no can do" I dig the mixes as they add another light to already tight Jams. Hall&Oats were tight back in the day.