Customer Reviews

Secret Wish-25th Anniversary

5 star:		(8)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

First of all, I love this album. To me this is the best mid-80s synth-pop album ever made. I have collected many of the original 12" singles, remixes and what not. This reissue was long overdue and is packaged wonderfully - with great liner notes and artwork. Received it from Amazon.co.uk last week.

What does this reissue include:

- The original (CD) album and the LP versions that were replaced on (most of) the CD issues. Nice inclusions include the mostly instrumental 3:09 version of "Jewel" (for those that get nervous listening to the vocal version of this song (I do) this could be a nice replacement for the CD version of "Jewel" in a playlist). Also included is the "First Cut" version of "Dr Mabuse", basically faded out at 5:00 and the standalone version of "Strength to Dream", which, though nice to have, does not hold its own to the version that was included in the 10:41 Dr. Mabuse album version.

- A selection of remixes and additional versions. Highlights include:

"Do Well", the 20-minute cassette version of Duel (in the 80s ZTT used the cassette format to create longer versions of their singles - Frankie Goes To Hollywood had some great ones too). Ultimately "Do Well" is not so much a giant remix as it is individual songs played consecutively. It includes the regular album version of Duel, a slightly altered full-length "Jewel", and a mashup of "Duel" and "Jewel" called "Bejewelled" (basically starts as "Jewel", switches to "Duel" for the chorus, then back to "Jewel" etc.). It also includes an instrumental passage called "Wonder" and a small excerpt from Duel called "The First Cut". Ultimately worth having, but due to its makeup of individual songs that are mostly represented in the same versions somewhere else, not as satisying (at least to me).

"Die Tausend Augen des Mabuse". This is one of the 12" versions ZTT released of this classic track. This version basically takes the 5:00 First Cut version (Disc 1, Track 14) and smears it out over 10 minutes. Please note that the "Strength To Dream" end-sequence of the original 10:41 version (Disc 1, Track 9) does not feature in this mix.

"Sorry For Laughing" - Great 12" - didn't know it even existed

"P:Machinery (Goodnight 32 Mix)" - alternative single mix - sounds great

"Chase" (Goodnight Mix) - alternative mix, which I actually like better than the album version

"Echo of Frozen Faces" - longer version of "Frozen Faces", basically an added 6 minutes of instrumental passage before going into the "regular" Frozen Faces

"P:Machinery (Polish) - the original 12". While I like it, the synthesizer sequence at the end of the "chorus" is repeated for about 2 minutes at the end of the song, which is a little too much for me to take. I created a "fade" version using editing software cutting it to 7:42 in length, but hey, everyone likes things differently.

The "Testament", and "Thought" tracks are not so much actual songs as they are (instrumental) interludes


What this re-issue does not include:

Disc 2 only contains a selection of Propaganda's 1984-1985 output. Most of the "missing" versions can be found on the Outside World release from Propaganda issued a few years back. This 2 CD reissue does not include:

"Das Testament des Mabuse (13th Life Mix)", 6:35. Another 12" of Dr. Mabuse, pretty similar to the "Tausend Augen" version, again no "Strength to Dream" sequence included
"Duel (Bitter Sweet)" - the original 7:38 12" Version of Duel - Great Mix
"P:Machinery (Beta Mix)" - the fantastic 9:33 alternative 12" Mix - quite different from the Polish mix on this release
"Frozen Faces (12" version)- this is the 5:30 version, different than the 10:20 "Echo of Frozen Faces"
"Jewel (Cut Rough)", basically Jewel with a-cappella intro. This version is included as part of "Do Well" on this release, but not as a standalone track
"Complete Machinery", 10:56. An odd one. "Complete Machinery", similar to "Do Well" was the cassette version of P:Machinery, but only two "parts" are included on "Outside World" as part of "Complete Machinery": an instrumental remix of "P:Machinery (Goodnight 32 Mix)", which sounds great and "Frozen Faces" - the 5:30 12" version.
"Das Testament des Mabuse (DJ Promo Version)", 9:57. The third 12" of Dr. Mabuse. This one is the closest to the album version and does include the "Strength To Dream" sequence. The outtro is a little shorter and different instruments are being brought to the front throughout the song compared to the album version. The 10:41 album version does remain the definitive "Dr Mabuse" in my book however.

Other 1984-1985 tracks not on this release include "Lied" a short remix of "Chase", "The Lesson" a short (pointless) remix of Dr. Mabuse, and "Femme Fatale", a Lou Reed cover that seems completely out of place. All three of these are on "Outside World" as well.

90% of the "Wishful Thinking" remix album released in 1985 is not on this release either, but these remixes, while nice for completists are easily trumped by the 12" versions of each of the tracks

Hope this helps "shine a little light" on Propaganda circa 1984-1985. This is all great classic stuff!

First, the negatives (niggles actually :-)):

1: This remastered CD renders my German 1985 release (catalog # 610540 CID126) and 1990 US re-issue (catalog # 422-842 496-2) practically useless now.

2: I'm not really a fan of Digipak CD packaging. Besides from Digipak not fitting in my CD rack, it's not as durable as a regular CD case. And since it's mostly paper-based, it's flimsy and tends to tear easily.

Now for the positives:

This is a treasure trove of previously unreleased Propaganda material!

DISC 1 is a contains all the tracks from the 1985 CD and 12" analog long-playing album version of A Secret Wish, all remastered to perfection.

DISC 2 contains the rarities and remixes not found in their Outside World and Wishful Thinking CDs.

The DO WELL is particularly interesting. This is a 20-minute rare (previously available in cassette-only) "mix" in ONE CD track (The First Cut, Duel, Jewel [Cut Rough], Wonder, and Bejewelled). Calling it a "mix" is a stretch because it's not. Maybe they could have cut it down to 5-tracks since there are five separate cuts (pun intended) of "Duel" and "Jewel" here. "The First Cut" is a short but fitting intro to this "mix". "Wonder" could've been a new "Duel" version if they had expanded on it further. "Duel" and "Jewel (Cut Rough)" is essentially the same versions of the two songs we all know and love. "Bejewelled" sounds like a simple cut mix between "Duel" and "Jewel" (and vice-versa). This is pure nitpicking since I love everything "Jewel" and "Duel". This was a rarity, so might as well enjoy it!

One last thing... Uhmm, please bear in mind that this 25th Anniversary re-release DOES NOT contain all of Propaganda's extended mixes. That is why Propaganda has other CDs...Outside World and Wishful Thinking (Reis).

If you're a Propaganda fan, it's definitely an essential re-issue.

If you're an 80's/New Wave/Synth-Pop fan, it's definitely worth taking a look at this import.

I'd rate it 5-stars...nuff said!

Finally, a gorgeously restored, masterfully produced, lovingly detailed account of the Dusseldorf band's epic slice of dark, yet beautiful synth pop. It's truly a shame that this record was largely overlooked in the United States. In the US, you'd think that Depeche Mode had singularly invented this particular style of emotional, deep, brooding, dark electronica... not so, friends. Even what later became Depeche Mode's graphic and photographic style is taken for a test drive here. This was the first release on which now famous photographer Anton Corbijn was allowed to design the entire visual presentation. This album should have been HUGE. One is left to wonder what might have been if the record label, ZTT, weren't entirely consumed by their Frankie Goes to Hollywood craze at the time. This is recommended listening to any child of the 80's that was into alternative, new wave... the stuff that MTV's 120 Minutes was made of. Thankfully, the album retains it's brilliance even 25 years on. It's a calling card from another time.

"A Secret Wish" is one of those maddening ZTT releases that was released in many different versions over the years. Different mixes, different edits, different running orders... finally, after 25 years, all of the incarnations of all of the albums tracks are presented in one complete edition. Lovingly packaged, with detailed liner notes (to help you make sense of all the tracks), and immaculate audio remastering. I couldn't recommend this album more. As ZTT used to put in the runout groove of their records and other odd places on many of their releases, "For Those of You with an Eye for the Finer Detail, We Salute You."

For completists, I also highly recommend picking up Outside World and Wishful Thinking, both of which include many remixes and tracks from this same era, but not found on this release.

I got this in the mail this week and saved it for Friday night. That's now....
The sound quality is all there. I'm impressed. I was into this mid-eighties and
own the first generation CD. It always sounded good, but this is a step up. Way up! "The Murder of Love" is on right now. Bottom end, big time. I have my favourites on the original track listing but this has 2 1/2 hours of music. I'll keep an open mind and listen to it all. This gets "Two Ears" up. If you like this band...buy it. If you don't know them...buy it.

Propaganda's masterwork "A Secret Wish" still retains its edge 25 years on. Having owned all of its previous incarnations at one time or another, I'm looking forward to having this definitive work in my miniscule library of CDs that includes: Al Di Meola's "Soaring Through A Dream", Underground Resistance's "Rings of Saturn", Tony Drake's "Texture" among other hard to find works.

File under: Rare, Classic and Timeless.

ZTT Records from this era were immersive and subversive in their presentation. Always much to read, ponder and read again if not for the lunacy of ZTT svengali Paul Morley. Always much to look at when having none other than a young Anton Corbijn shaping the early ZTT aesthetic and creative direction. Of course, much to listen to with maestro Trevor Horn and his production unit, led by Stephan Lipson on this outing, overseeing the shape and sculpture of the music. A complete multi media presentation, for the time.

One can always wonder what could have been had ZTT given its full weight and strength to this release had it not been immersed in the whole Frankie Goes To Hollywood endeavor. (No, disrespect to FGTH, either!) Like many early acts on ZTT, careers were cut short, opportunities squandered, lawsuits filed.

...so, I'm look forward to having this obsession put to rest. Once and for all, at least for the original vinyl mix of 'Jewel', which does sound much better as the lead up to 'Duel'.

I've never had a bad experience at Amazon, either directly or from a reseller. This is no exception. Good service, arrived on time and the item was exactly as described. An excellent and easy transaction.

For an album that was not particularly popular, Propaganda's A Secret Wish certainly has had legs.

Now, for my money, this is possibly the best album of the 1980's. It's a grand slice of high-brow yet trashy, epic, orchestral and bubblegum synth-pop. The contrasts and contradictions keep this album sounding as fresh as the day it was released while sounding like the perfect mid-80's time capsule.

And speaking of 'the day it was released', I first heard this on LP sometime around that day and bought the cassette immediately, which I wore out. A few years later I bought it on CD and was confused as to why the tracks didn't quite match up to the tracklist but kept it in regular rotation for the next 10 years or so.

Enter the 20th anniversary edition. What a revelation! So many remixed tracks, I was ecstatic. Obviously, I had owned the US edition of the CD which duplicated the LP/tape release, why would I have guessed that there was an almost completely different album out there? So now with the 2 remix CDs (Outside World and Wishful Thinking) there were 4 CDs worth of prime Propaganda.

And now here's the 25th Anniversary Edition, the definative version of A Secret Wish containing both the LP and CD versions along with yet another disc of remixes (with only a slight overlap with the other 2 CDs of remixes) from an album that was 'not particularly popular'. Not too shabby.

5 stars+

Go check out the youtube video of their performance of Dr Mabuse at Wembley 2004.

In my memory, included a handful of good songs Propaganda, although the radio always used to issue them. Now why have always been sounding the same themes of Propaganda, and the reason is simply to have no better subjects than they sound on the radio.

When I heard, I felt disappointed, even cheated, and have been laughed at me because it's lower quality disc I bought in my life. Without any doubt, this album does not deserve to be with the other albums in my collection.

I warn you not buy some, because I regret it.

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A la meva memòria hi figuraven un grapat de bones cançons de Propaganda, tot i que a la radio sempre hi acostumaven a emetre les mateixes. Ara se per qué sempre han estat sonant els mateixos temes de Propaganda, i el motiu no és altre que no tenen més bons temes, que els que sonen a la radio.

Quan l'he escoltat, m'he sentit decebut, fins i tot enganyat, i que s'han rigut de mí, perque és el disc de més poca qualitat que he comprat a la meva vida. Sense cap tipus de dubte, aquest disc, no mereix ser amb els altres discos de la meva colecciò.

Us aviso, no el compreu, perque us en penedireu.

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En mi memoria figuraban un puñado de buenas canciones de Propaganda, aunque en la radio siempre acostumbraban a emitir las mismas. Ahora se por qué siempre han estado sonando los mismos temas de Propaganda, y el motivo no es otro que no tienen mejores temas, que los que suenan en la radio.

Cuando lo he escuchado, me he sentido decepcionado, incluso engañado, y que se han reído de mí, porque es el disco de menor calidad que he comprado en mi vida. Sin ningún tipo de duda, este disco, no merece estar con los otros discos de mi colección.

Os aviso, no lo compréis, porque os arrepentiréis.