Customer Reviews

Platinum & Gold Collection

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

 

 

After listening to the recent 2008 reissues and remasters of both Quick Step & Side Kick and Into the Gap by Demon-Edsel I was tempted to revisit this 2003 compilation released by Thompson Twins' head label Arista/BMG Heritage and see how it held up as a hits package. I bought this disc back in 2003 shortly after it's release and have greatly enjoyed the music for nearly 5 years.

BMG has been flooding the market with various types of Thompson Twins collections over the years, some of them good and some of them bad. So how does this one hold up? All in all, it's an excellent one-disc retrospective of the band with better sound quality than on the 2008 reissues and previous collections.

Arista/BMG went the extra mile here by including a few hidden gems in both rare UK single versions of "Lay Your Hands On Me" and "Sister Of Mercy" in addition to single edits. Since neither Amazon nor the back sleeve list which versions are included of each hit, I've included a more informative tracklisting:

01 In The Name Of Love [Single Version] 3.19
02 Lies [LP Version] 3.12
03 We Are Detective [LP Version] 3.07
04 Love On Your Side [US 'Side Kicks' Version] 3.31
05 If You Were Here [LP Version] 2.58
06 Hold Me Now [LP Version] 4.47
07 Doctor! Doctor! [LP Version] 4.39
08 Sister Of Mercy [UK Single Version] 4.55
09 Lay Your Hands On Me [UK Single Version] 4.10
10 King For A Day [Single Version] 4.12
11 Nothing In Common [LP Version] 3.29
12 Get That Love [LP Version] 3.56

As you can see, most of the band's Billboard Hot 100 hits are included. Notably missing are "You Take Me Up" (#44 in the U.S. and #2 in the U.K., their highest-charting single there), "The Gap (#69 in the U.S.), and "Sugar Daddy" (#28 in the U.S., and their debut on the Warner label). Since this is an Arista release one should excuse any missing latter Warner cuts. "Love On Your Side" is the US 'Side Kicks' version, not the original UK mix, which clocked in at nearly 4 minutes.

The booklet includes informative liner notes by Bill Pitzonka and rare photos in addition to publishing credits and US Billboard peak chart positions on the Hot 100, Club Play, Album Rock, and Adult Contemporary charts. Remastering credits go to Emily Lazar at The Lodge, New York. Emily has really brought out the sonic dimensions in these recordings! Hits like "In The Name Of Love" and "Doctor! Doctor!" light up with clarity, punch, and crispness. Both "Lay Your Hands On Me" and "King For A Day" are anthemic, classic tunes, in my opinion, and shine like never before. "Lies", the band's first U.S. Top 40 hit, sounds absolutely incredible! In fact, all the recordings have never sounded better! I have yet to purchase a Twins release with audio quality that beats the remastering featured here!

For the casual Thompson Twins fan, this 2003 release may be all that you ever need. I would have given this 4 stars, but the good price, solid tracklisting, and stunning remastering easily make up for the missing hits. Highly recommended.

This is one of the best greatest hits compilations I have bought in years. All fans will love this one. It takes me back to high school, when times were great and easy. This is for sure a feel good cd. Take about an hour and enjoy this one again and again.

I wonder why it is that the Thompson Twins are virtually forgotten. Granted they were not as big as say the Police. But they made quite a few big hits and they have been virtually ignored by radio stations that purport to play 80's classics.
Oingo Boingo also comes to mind.

So once again we have another THOMPSON TWINS gr-8est hits album. "Why should i buy this 1" i hear u ask!
2 reasons.....SISTER OF MERCEY & LAY YOUR HANDS ON ME both pop up in their original uk single formats 4 the 1st time on cd!
The liner notes are fun 2 read & the photos used are not the everyday TWINS photos that seem 2 pop up all the time!
TOM BAILEY IS GOD & all collecters of THOMPSON TWINS need 2 lay their hands on this!!!
I now await the day when WARNER get their act 2gether & release their own gr8est hits featuring the TWINS finest moments-BIG TRASH, QUEER, & BABBLE.........PLEASE SOMEBODY, PLEASE!!!

THE THOMPSON TWINS HAVE GOT TO BE THE MOST UNDERRATED BAND-EVER. OBVIOUSLY JUDGED BY THEIR QUIRKY LOOKS AND FASHION SENSE, THIS BAND BARELY MADE IT OUT OF THE 80'S. BUT NO ONE HAS EVER COME CLOSE TO SOUNDING ANYTHING LIKE THEM. UNDER ALL THE POP LIES ONE OF THE BEST LYRICISTS EVER- ALLANAH CURRIE. JUST LISTEN TO THE WORDS TO "NOTHING IN COMMON" - ONE OF THE BEST POP SONGS EVER AND UNFORTUNATELY ONE OF THE TT BIGGEST FLOPS. ALL THEIR ARISTA HITS ARE INCLUDED HERE, EXCEPT FOR THEIR GEM, "THE LONG GOODBYE". HERE YOU'LL FIND ALL THEIR 80'S HITS INCLUDING THE SIXTEEN CANDLES SOUNDRACK HIT, "IF YOU WERE HERE". AND RARE VERSIONS OF "LAY YOUR HANDS ON ME" AND THEIR SPOUSAL ABUSE ANTHEM, "SISTER OF MERCY". THATS THE THING ABOUT THE TT- THEY NEVER RECEIVED THE CREDIT THEY DESERVED. THEIR SOUNGS WERE VERY DEEP. EVEN UNDER ALL THOSE SYNTHESIZERS, THEIR WAS A MESSAGE BEHIND "LOVE ON YOUR SIDE" FOR EXAMPLE. OK ,ENOUGH OF THE GREATEST HITS- THERE'S BEEN 3 ALREADY NOW CAN WE HAVE OUR DVD?

After listening to "The Thompson Twins Platinum & Gold Collection", I feel that they are a really good band. They are strong singers and the base and melodies are very well done. Although I was disappointed by a couple of songs, this album is still a keeper.