Customer Reviews

Retro Active 3

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

 

 

It's especially good to find some gems never before on CD, like the 12" of "Have in Mind" by Cetu Javu (synth pop dance perfection), the 12" mix of "Witchcraft" by Book of Love (although the very different album version is still better), and the 12" of Peter Schilling's "Different Story." Some bad choices include the annoying "popper mix" of big pig's "Breakaway" rather than the slammin 12" extended version, the 89 remix of Cruel Summer, and another remix of When in Rome, since the good mix was on another volume in the series. Let's just hope Hi Bias keeps the good new wave 12" compilations coming, because there's a whole list of stuff i still want on CD. Track times:

1. the promise (6:29)
2. someone somewhere (6:05)
3. breakaway (6:02)
4. one thing (6:08)
5. have in mind (5:34)
6. romeos (5:57)
7. witchcraft (5:17)
8. soft core (4:23)
9. cruel summer (5:18)
10. take me to the girl (6:35)
11. save a prayer (7:20)
12. wanting (5:41)
13. different story (6:39)

I have this volume and volume 6. Great to get some of these old 12" singles back as I lost my vinyl collection of around 80 singles years ago in a flooded basement. The Promise (Coloseum Mix) is a hard one to come by these days....(still looking for the O.N. Mix). My only complaint is that they should offer this series in MP3 format so you can get all the mixes you want instead of buying each CD for 3 or 4 great songs. Still recommended for anyone who likes different versions of the classics from the 80's.

This project is excellent! Putting 12" extended versions from the 80's on CD with remastered sound quality is an idea who's time has finally come.

Some of the selections on this volume are exceptional versions of the songs. (someone, somewhere in summertime and one thing for example).

Some of them, however are terrible and should have been passed over for better versions or other songs. The versions of breakaway and cruel summer, in particular are terrible versions of what were two excellent songs.

I'm on my way towards owning this entire series. I just got the third installment and am quite dissapointed. The tracks don't sound as good as the others. It sounds as if the needle needed to be cleaned. The track selection isn't quite as good either. You do get several good ones: cetu javu, book of love, when in rome, duran duran and peter schilling are the best ones, the others seem to be fillers. When you FINALLY get them on this cd you'll still need to find the originals and transfer them yourself because of the sound quality. I also hate when they put together a synth pop electronic album they always throw in INXS and Simple Minds. As an 80's club guru they never played any of their tracks. They seem to be more alternative than synth or electro so why do they always include them here. The dreaded DUB mixes are usually horrible as well. It's very rare that you find a good DUB version that includes the entire vocal and sounds close to the original. Usually their so re-worked they stray from the original and that's why you liked the song in the first place so you end up hating all or most dub versions. I wish they would have stayed away from them. Someone in the transfer process dropped the ball on this one and whoever picked some of these selections and/or certain versions must be a pretty lame person.

THIS IS AN AWESOME COMPILATION OF '80s CLASSICS, IN REMIX or EXTENDED VERSIONS. [I SPECIALLY LOVE, WHEN IN ROME - THE PROMISE]
ALSO, DON'T FORGET TO CHECK OUT THE PREVIOUS VOLs [1 &2]...
[MxMallo]