11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
An Excellent U.S. Ace of Base "Best Of" Compilation, June 29, 2003
This review is from: Platinum & Gold Collection - Ace of Base: The Hits (Audio CD)
The Platinum & Gold Collection series is a great idea. The biggest hits by Arista-BMG artists collected on one CD with a detailed biographical history of the group and chart positions for each of their hits.
Let's get the only "negative" out of the way from the get-go: the first beat of the group's biggest hit, "The Sign," is missing. This was also the case with the Arista-released "ACE OF BASE: Greatest Hits" which means they are using a master or submaster with a glitch.
That aside, you get to trace the history of the group - as it played out in the U.S. anyways... which is where Arista/BMG sold 10,000,000+ copies of Ace of Base albums from 1993-2001.
The history of the group is the most comprehensive and thougthful writeup on Ace of Base by an American music aficionado in years.
We even get an acknowledgement of the mysterious circumstances surrounding the band's original lead singer, the blonde-haired Malin Berggren. Brunette, Jenny Berggren, now does a superb job of steering the group with their European music focus.
Whether Ace of Base ever have another new release in the U.S. is up in the air.
In the interim, take a trip down memory lane and enjoy the highlights of Ace of Base's American run... mega hits like "All That She Wants," "The Sign," "Don't Turn Around," "Beautiful Life," and "Cruel Summer."
And in between are the modest Top 100 hits like "Whenever You're Near Me," "Lucky Love," "Living in Danger" and also the songs that started the Ace of Base phenom - "Wheel of Fortune" and "Happy Nation."
There are also some interesting versions of songs with notable remixes like the D-House mix of "Living in Danger," the Metro Mix of "Everytime it Rains" (Metro was the team that produced Cher's mega-hit "Believe") and the original mix of "Lucky Love" that was released in Europe. [Arista had chosen to originally released an acoustic version of this song on the groups "The Bridge" album in the United States].
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9 of 10 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
POP PERFECTION!!!, May 22, 2005
This review is from: Platinum & Gold Collection - Ace of Base: The Hits (Audio CD)
Words cannot describe how good Ace of Base is. No one can make pop/dance music like they can. This collection is incredible. In only 12 songs they have covered all of their megahits, and then some.
1) THE SIGN
This song is incredible. It went to No.1 for 6 weeks. I love the way they mix reggae with pop. It is their biggest hit and was also No.1 on the airplay chart for an incredible 13 weeks.
2) CRUEL SUMMER
This brought Ace of Base back to the top 10 after 4 year hiatus from it (It hit No.10 on the Hot 100). This song is much better then the original by Bananarama. AofB's version has a really good beat which makes the song so much more catchier. Great Song.
3) DON'T TURN AROUND
This was originally done by Tina Turner as a B-side on her "Typical Male" single. It was also covered by James Ingram, Neil Diamond and Aswad (who hit No.1 with it in the U.K.). This song was never a hit in the States until Ace of Base recorded it. they changed the key from a major to a minor, so it sounds different then all of the other versions by other artists. It also made it to No.4 on the Hot 100, but No.1 on the Hot 100 Airplay list for 2 weeks.
4) LUCKY LOVE (ORIGINAL VERSION)
Thank God this version is on here. I really am not a fan of that bland acoustic remix that is on the North American verison of "The Bridge" Album. This is actually the version that I always heard on the radio anyways. This original one is great. "Lucky Love" made it to No.30 on the Hot 100.
5) ALL THAT SHE WANTS
This is what made Ace of Base wrold famous. After they hit it big in Europe, they released this in North America and it exploded. It made it to No.2 on the Hot 100 and No.1 on the Hot 100 Sales Chart for 3 weeks.
6) EVERYTIME IT RAINS (RADIO MIX)
This was originally a ballad on the "Cruel Summer" CD, but on here it is a dance remix. It's good.
7) WHENEVER YOU'RE NEAR ME
This song is a remix of "Life is a Flower" from their "Flowers" album (The International version of "Cruel Summer"). It has the same melody, but different lyrics and it is in a higher key. I prefer this version better. It appears on the American verison os "Flowers" (Cruel Summer). This song got moderate airplay in the fall of 1998. It made it to No.76 on the Hot 100.
8) LIVING IN DANGER (D-HOUSE MIX)
This was the fourth single from "The Sign" album. It made it to No.20 on the Hot 100. It appears in remix form on this collection. It is a dance remix by David Morales. It has heavy piano on it and it is very different than the original. It's on here because this is primarily the version that radio stations chose to play. This is the version that I always heard on the radio.
9) HAPPY NATION
This song was written after the Swedish press found out that Ulf was a skinhead when he was a teenager. It was not realeased on the States but was an international hit. I love this song, nad it has a very positive message.
10) WHEEL OF FORTUNE
Like Track No.9, this song was not a hit in the staes but it was an international hit. In fact it was their first single ever to be released.
11) NEVER GONNA SAY I'M SORRY
This song was the third single released from "The Bridge" album. It wasn't a big hit, and it only charted on the Bubbling Under Chart. I think it's a fantastic song though. It' classic Ace of Base.
12) BEAUTIFUL LIFE
This is very fast compared to their other songs. This is one of my favorteis from them. The video is amazing. It made it to No.15 on the Hot 100.
Overall this CD is pop paradise. They are in my opinion, the best pop group of all time. If you want all of their hits in there most popular forum, then this is the album to get. It's Awesome!!
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10 of 13 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
The Real Best Of Collection! Better Sound!, May 24, 2003
By A Customer
This review is from: Platinum & Gold Collection - Ace of Base: The Hits (Audio CD)
Platinum & Gold Collection of Ace of Base is Digital Remastered and has far better sound quality than their other best of cd.
1.The Sign
2.Cruel Summer
3.Don't Turn Around
4.Lucky Love (Original EURO Version) better than the acoustic!
5.All That She Wants
6.Everytime It Rains (Dance Radio mix)
7.Whenever Your're Near Me
8.Living In Danger (D-House Radio Mix) One most radio played
9. Happy Nation (Radio Mix)
10.Wheel Of Fortune
11.Never Gonna Say I'm Sorry
12.Beautiful Life
Also has rare photos, informative liner notes, Billboard Chart info.
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