Quick Step & Side Kick [IMPORT]

Thompson Twins

Product Details

• Audio CD (March 18, 2008)
• Original Release Date: March 18, 2008
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Import
• Label: Edsel Records UK
• ASIN: B0012PK04S
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #35,441 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

Track Listings

Disc: 1

1. Love On Your Side

2. Lies

3. If You Were Here

4. Judy Do

5. Tears

6. Watching

7. We Are Detective

8. Kamikaze

9. Love Lies Bleeding

10. All Fall Out

See all 16 tracks on this disc

Disc: 2

1. Lies (Single Remix)

2. Love On Your Back

3. Lucky Day

4. Dancersaurus

5. Lies (Bigger And Better) (12" Version)

6. Beach Culture

7. Love On Your Side (No Talkin') (12" Version)

8. We Are Detective (More Clues) (12" Version)

9. Lucky Day (Space Mix)

10. Watching (You Watching Me) (12" Version)

See all 11 tracks on this disc

Editorial Reviews

Product Description

2008 deluxe two CD edition of the UK trio's hit release features the complete 1983 album plus all the remixes from the original cassette edition of the album as well as the extended mixes and the non-album b-sides, the majority of which appear on CD for the first time. Newly slimmed down to a trio from the seven-piece collective that had hit the charts in 1982, The Thompson Twins were set to conquer the world of Pop. With Island Records producer Alex Sadkin (Bob Marley, Grace Jones, Robert Palmer, Joe Cocker, Marianne Faithfull, Duran Duran, Foreigner, Simply Red etc) at Compass Point Studios in Nassau, they recorded Quick Step & Side Kick, which peaked at #2 in February 1983. Features the hits 'Lies', 'Love On Your Side', 'We Are Detective', 'Watching' and 'If You Were Here'. Edsel.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Deluxe 2-CD Reissue!, March 13, 2008

By	Jason W. Bellenger (Byron Center, Michigan, USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

(Edited March 19, 2008 in order to reflect a changed opinion on the sound quality).

Finally, a record label that invests some time and effort in order to correctly put out a reissued album ... well, almost. I'm talking about Edsel Records, a division of the independent U.K.-based Demon Music Group. Licensed from Arista head Sony BMG Music Entertainment, Demon-Edsel went the extra mile by compiling a 2-disc collection of the Thompson Twins' 'Quick Step & Side Kick' project with extensive liner notes and great packaging to top it off.

I must admit that I never thought I would add a Thompson Twins studio album to my collection. The list price and excellent b-sides, cassette remixes, and 12" remixes are the real incentives here, since I do not own the majority of this music in my collection. I was only a couple years old when this album was released, so I have no memory of the time of the release of this album. However, I grew up with the hits from this album on the radio, so I was curious about the album tracks and bonus tracks which I haven't heard.

The remastering here is okay, adding clarity to the recordings. I must admit that the remastering treatment is not among the best upgrades that I've heard. In fact, it is rather disappointing. Most of the tracks sound good, but personally I think that they could have benefited from a little extra kick and bass. The mastering volume is rather low by today's audio standards, which may or may not be positive, depending on your own music tastes. Personally, I'll go for the punchy, wide sound, but if you're looking for that kind of mastering here you will be let down. Furthermore, a few of the bonus tracks sound like they could have been pulled from vinyl sources, perhaps do to the original master tapes being lost. However, most of the 12" versions sound fine and don't appear to be pulled from vinyl. CD mastering credits go to Alchemy Soho.

(In order to test to see if much could be done about the sound I worked a few of the tracks in an audio editing program. I was able to give them the "lift" that they so deserved. Perhaps that's the problem here -- that is, most of the songs were simple transfers from the original master tapes without an actual professional "remastering" upgrade, hence why they sound limited in their sonic dimensions. It's worth noting, too, that this release fails to mention any remastering in either it's product description or on the outside of the package itself.)

With liner notes by Damian Thomas, the booklet extends to a fold out double-sided poster, highlighting the band's single sleeves, vinyl pressings, cassettes, and other memorabilia from the era. Album credits and the original single and promo releases from which the bonus tracks are pulled are stated as well. This isn't just a simple straight reissue but rather an enhanced version of the project.

Usually when I see these types of reissues the record companies tend to mess up something by leaving out an essential b-side or a hit 12" mix. Fans may then have to wait several more years before the missing tracks appear on yet another reissue. Some of the best material may remain in the vaults, for whatever reason, and never see the light of day on CD. For the very first time, all the mixes from the cassette and 12" singles are available on this deluxe 2-CD set.

Again, I'm not the biggest Thompson Twins fan, but I can see when a reissue is done right in terms of packaging and tracklisting. The sound quality, in my opinion, could have been much better, so that's my only complaint. Despite this problem, the bonus material is still too good to be true, so I hate to rate it fewer than 4 stars since the booklet and overall design is still fantastic. It's really a shame that Demon didn't bother with a professional mastering engineer in order to give this release the audio upgrade that it so deserved. If you are concerned that this release won't meet your audio quality standards you may wish to skip this purchase. However, the tracklisting itself may be too hard to resist!

P.S. The Into the Gap 2008 Edsel reissue is available as well.

5.0 out of 5 stars It's about time!!, April 22, 2009

By	S. Halverson (Seattle WA USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I have this album on cassette tape and was kind of bummed when it finally came out on CD, they didn't put the 12 inch mixes on it,which were on side two of the tape. This CD release is just awesome,not only are the 12 inch mixes on here but other mixes are as well. All for under ten bucks!!
I highly recommend this to anyone who likes the Thompson Twins or just GOOD 80's music in general.

5.0 out of 5 stars Extended Mixes of Classic Album FINALLY on CD !!, April 22, 2009

By	James D. Duddy (Saco, ME) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I have owned the European cassette release of "Sidekicks" since 1982. One side was the original album, the other side was the remixes of some of the songs on side one. The cassette has gotten old and I had longed for a CD release of the whole cassette. Finally it is here with even more original remixes than I had ever known existed. I feel this is Thompson Twins greatest effort and I thoroughly enjoy it. Now I can listen to it in crystal clearness, instead of the hissing and warping sounds of my aged cassette. THANK YOU !!