Customer Reviews

Thompson Twins - Greatest Hits

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This is the best non-import Greatest Hits collection of the Twins that you will ever come across. All of their dance & singles chart topping songs from the Arista age are included on this disc: The Billboard dance chart toppers "In the Name of Love" & "Lies". Their biggest U.S. singles -- "Hold Me Now" (#3, 1984), "Lay Your Hands on Me" (#6, 1985), "King for a Day" (#9, 1986), and "Doctor! Doctor!" (#11, 1984). The steps into movie soundtracks -- "If You Were Here" (memorably used in "Sixteen Candles"), and "Nothing in Common" (from the Tom Hanks' movie of the same name). Even the lesser-known gems like the anti-drug jungle grunt of "Don't Mess With Doctor Dream" and the Arabian flair of "The Gap".

The only drawback here is not covering the Twins' entire career... simply because their last 2 albums were released on Warner Bros instead of the Arista label. Regardless, this is a must-have for anyone that enjoyed the Twins in the 80's and beyond...

My first introduction to the Thompson Twins' was from the Ghostbusters Soundtrack, where their song and 1982 hit, "In The Name Of Love" from the album of the same name, was included. I was taken by the heavy synth emphasis and Tom Bailey's strong British vocals. Yet as the liner notes of the TT's compilation states, they were the anti-rock, riding the wave of Duran Duran, Spandau Ballet, and other synth-oriented British acts that comprised the Second British Invasion.

Most of their American success was on the dance charts, as evidenced by "Lies," an archetypal 80's synth pop tune with its "lies lies lies yeah" chorus, which was a dance chart #1 and their first US Top 40 hit. Quite a cynical line, with "Cleopatra died for Egypt, what a waste of time." The UK Top Ten "We Are Detective", like "Lies" on the Side Kick album, seems tepid compared to their other oeuvre. The mid-paced synth-heavy ballad "If You Were Here" also on the same album, was also on the Sixteen Candles soundtrack, though in terms of Brat Pack movie songs, it's probably overshadowed by OMD's "If You Leave," from Pretty In Pink.

Into The Gap is considered their best album due to five songs included here, three of which entrenched them as one of the UK's biggest acts then. "Hold Me Now" another #1 dance hit, was their biggest US pop hit, peaking at #3. "Doctor! Doctor!" and "You Take Me Up," with its harmonica bits, choral group, and light calypso riffs were the other big hits.

The material from Here's To Future Days coincided with my MTV days, and videos for two of the songs here, "Lay Your Hands On Me" and "King For A Day" were my proper visual introduction to them. Sadly, their rip-roaring cover of the Beatles' "Revolution" is excluded, a pity as it's the best song on HTFD. But "Lay Your Hands," wins with the strong gospel melodies from the Eastern Harlem Hobo Choir in the chorus. Also, the songs here benefited from Nile Rodgers' production genius. The idealistic "King For A Day," with its cool guitar intro, incorporated Beatles-like whimsy by its "love is all you need" refrain towards the end.

The inclusion of the catchy but reflective "Nothing In Common," from the Tom Hanks/Jackie Gleason movie of the same name, is notable not only as an underrated hit and one of my favourite TT songs but for Joe Leeway's last contribution to the band, which left Tom Bailey and Alannah Currie as a duo, true to their name. But the song about how two people have grown further apart, lead to the more introspective material of Close To The Bone.

"Get That Love" merely made it in the Top 40, and was a good enough tune, but maybe the average listener didn't care for Bailey's take on love: "when you're picking and choosing/you wind up losing" and the pre-chorus refrain "I won't give up on love." More serious material here for sure, as was the somber "The Long Goodbye," with the protagonist "seeing my future die, my whole past as well." "When your love has gone away, it's the long goodbye" was a sure far cry from their earlier upbeat days, but the song's title perhaps reflected that it was time for the Twins to say goodbye; two further releases, Big Trash and Queer made it clear that the Twins were as relevant as Rubik's Cubes and Pacman games to the 90's. Still, this greatest hits serves as a memento to a group who made a brief mark in the early to mid-80's.

Thompson Twins are the best the 80's music scene has to offer. They are my favorite group of all time. Their songs are filled with delightful hooks, melodies and great instrumentation. This collection features the track, "If You Were Here," which was featured in "SIXTEEN CANDLES." Other highlights include "Sister Of Mercy," "Don't Mess With Doctor Dream" and "Long Goodbye." One thing would make a Thompson Twins collection better, b-sides. If it were an instrumental version, an unreleased song or a remix; Twins fans around the world would sing and dance forever. Even though the Twins are "no more," we can enjoy this compilation and more recent recordings (known by the artist BABBLE). So, what are you waiting for? Let them get you!

Most of the compilations around nowadays are pretty good but far from the best, short of buying the actual albums themselves. I feel that this holds its own in terms of the casual listener is concerned, but an aficionado of the band would want a double disc or box set to be happy. It's organized chronologically which is a plus to me, with the all of good tunes here.
It has all of the classics from the band you'd want. In the Name of Love, Lies, Love on Your Side, Hold Me Now, Doctor! Doctor!, The Gap, & Lay Your Hands on Me. The album's major plus are the not-so-well known tunes to me like We Are Dectetive, Don't Mess With Doctor Dream, Nothing in Common, & Get That Love.
The booklet enclosed has some good info on the band, including their explosion onto the MTV scene, as well several photos, credits for each song. Too bad, they didn't fill out the album's time with some lesser known tunes not here or live tracks. They were phenemonal live & should've had some live tunes here to show it.
I love all of the tracks, but it's not complete enough to get a full 5 stars from me.

I was born 11-28-1959,so I was in my 20's during the 80's.80's music was FUN to listen to and the videos were just as much as fun to watch.I may be 51 years of age now but I still think I am 18 years of age and depending on my mood I can still believe I am in my 20's.This CD is GRREEAT.That is GREAT.You can understand the words to the songs and the CD has got me dancing in my car.It sounds GREAT on my car stereo.If you want to woo a girl,play "HOLD ME NOW".Regardless of your age,Buy this CD,listen to it,go back to a simpler time,daydream,and ENJOY.

This CD was worth every dime! It seems like just about every song is a hit.
Even songs that I was not familiar with grew on me so quickly, like 'The Gap'.

This music brings back great memories of the 80's for me.
Great dance & workout music.

This is one of the best!

Marketed with the casual fan in mind, this disc combines all of the band's most popular tracks from their commercially successful era on Arista Records. In addition to most of the singles they released from their hit albums, it includes the album track "If You Were Here", which featured prominently in the 80s teen comedy "Sixteen Candles". Everything else on here was a single in either the US or Europe, and the versions included here are as they appeared on their respective albums. None of them are the remixed versions released as singles, although the casual listener will probably never notice the difference. With that in mind, this collection should please anybody who remembers the Thompson Twins and wants to revisit their most familiar material.

For the fan and collector, there isn't much to be had here. The tracks are supposedly remastered, but there honestly isn't much difference. There are a few other Thompson Twins compilations out there that collect some rare tracks on CD, including one low-cost BMG marketing disc that includes some odd b-side instrumentals & remixes. A more carefully assembled "Greatest Hits" package released in the UK only is the best bet for fans looking for a more well-rounded collection, as it contains a number of remixed single versions, rare b-sides, and even a few unreleased mixes.

I had forgotten how much I love Thompson Twins, but boy, was I reminded. And even though I know that it's not complete with all their accomplishments, the greats are here. I was hesitant to purchase this album because I didn't think there was much on it that I knew, but I was wrong. As I heard each of the songs it was like "Oh, yeah! I remember now!" I love the different melodies and instruments that you don't often hear, especially how TT's put it together in their unique way. It is unlike any other sound. I love every track with the exception of "We Are Detective" which has taken a little getting used to. So fun to listen to for sure. You can't go wrong getting this album if you remember TT's at all.

When the Thompson Twins first released these songs, I loved them. I still love them.
I am as old as the Twins, but whenever I play this CD in the car, people with me of all ages say they like it.
Just look at the song list, if you are old enough you will remember them all.
If you have never heard of the Thompson Twins (no, there are no twins)listen to the samples, youtube them or whatever to get a taste.
These musicians used as much subtety as they used skill in writing these songs.
Gaps in the right places, moods lifted, dropped and raised again.
Lovely voices.
Buy it - you will like it

Every now and then I would hear a Thompson Twins song as an oldie - and it made me happy. They were in an odd category in their time ,looking very alt rock but performing the kind of upbeat danceable tunes that "cross over" to pop. In short, loved by no one but their legion younger fans. But the music stands up and is as much fun to listen to today as it was when you first heard it. Many of the production features that were considered controversial at the time are standard fare now. But you still want to hum or sing along and find your feet moving involuntarily, which is what it's all about. This is complete collection of everything you might remember and it is a well produced, solid package - if the Twin are for you.Thompson Twins - Greatest Hits