Customer Reviews

Mandy (Reis) (Spec)

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Although Mandy Smith wasn't even vaguely one of SAW's big hit makers, Cherry Red has decided to (thankfully) reissue most of her output on this disc. Fear not, this time, Cherry Red has done a great job with the mastering, and also managed to give us most of the remixes. I'd only gripe about the classic stock aitken waterman 12" version of Boys & Girls being passed over for the 'acid remix' included here. There is a spectrum of PWL sounds on here, not just the SAW hi-nrg formula, because this album gathers songs recorded by Mandy over a couple of years towards the end of the 80s.

It's not unusual for SAW to have several of their artists record the same song, so here, you have a recording of "Got to be Certain" which Kylie Minogue also recorded, and a downtempo version of "if it makes you feel good," which is much better as a hi-nrg dance track on Donna Summer's SAW produced album. There are also cover versions--a cover of the Human League's "Don't You Want Me" (with the 'baby' thrown into the title), and a surprising cover of the Propaganda track "Duel."

If you're a fan of everything Stock Aitken & Waterman, then this CD is a must.

Stay With Me Tonight (3:31)
I Just Can't Wait (3:24)
Victim Of Pleasure (3:29)
Duel (4:02)
Boys And Girls (3:41)
If It Makes You Feel Good (4:27)
Positive Reaction (3:24)
Say It's Love (Love House) (3:51)
He's My Boy (3:51)
You're Never Alone (3:32)
Don't You Want Me Baby? (3:27)
Got To Be Certain (3:35)
Terry (12'' Mix) (6:47)
Positive Reaction (Our Mandy's Extended Mix) (6:36)
Boys And Girls (Acid Remix) (4:54)
Victim Of Pleasure (Daize On Nights Mix) (5:04)
Don't You Want Me Baby? (Original Mix) (3:41)
Mandy's Theme (I Just Can't Wait) (Cool And Breezy Jazz Version) (8:14)

This is definitive edition of this rare album. It has almost all the right remixes,plus the photos and details are PERFECT. (Although I must mention that Victim of Pleasure(Justin Strauss mix) did reach #23 on the US Dance charts.)

The inclusion of the original mix for Dont You Want Me makes it a MUST HAVE. Now PWL needs to see about doing a reissue of Haywoode's 'Arrival' album next!

In the early to late eighties, there was an upswell of dance-pop divas hitting the airwaves and Mandy Smith aka Mandy was one of them. She was a PWL discovery and shared the limelight with other PWL stars like Kylie Minogue. IMO, even though she may not have been as popular as Kylie Minogue, Mandy has definitely left her mark in the pop arena. This was her first album and probably her strongest. So, if you happen to remember her and also be a fan of this type of bubblegum-pop music, this is a great collector's item.

I'm a huge Mandy Smith fan, and I can't resist the Stock Aitken Waterman disco-pop sound of the 80's and early 90's, so this is the perfect reissue of an already great album. The original 1988 album has been remastered and includes lots of rare bonus tracks and remixes, for example "Don't You Want Me Baby", "Got To Be Certain" and the previously unreleased "Terry".

I can't find the words to describe how much I love this reissue. Thank you Cherry Pop, for doing such a fantastic job!