Turn Back the Clock

Johnny Hates Jazz | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (June 29, 1992)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Virgin Records Us
• ASIN: B000007O09
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  Audio Cassette  |  Vinyl  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (27 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #84,185 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. Shattered Dreams

2. Heart of Gold

3. Turn Back the Clock

4. Don't Say It's Love

5. What Other Reason

6. I Don't Want to Be a Hero

7. Listen

8. Different Seasons

9. Don't Let It End This Way

10. Foolish Heart

Editorial Reviews

2008 digitally remastered and expanded edition of the debut album from the '80s pop trio responsible for the huge hit 'Shattered Dreams'. Led by vocalist Clark Datchler, JHJ were an instant hit with their slick hook-filled late '80s Pop, best experienced on this album, originally released in 1987, Once the band had achieved worldwide success, Datchler left the band for a solo career and the other two members recruited a new singer and continued on. This 16 track edition features the entire 10 track album (with two 'alternate' mixes replacing original versions) plus six extended mixes of their singles including 'Heart Of Gold', 'Turn Back The Clock', 'Foolish Heart' and 'Shattered Dreams. EMI. --This text refers to an alternate Audio CD edition.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

28 of 28 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars MISSING THE POINT, February 28, 2003

By 

Michael Butts (Berkeley Springs, WV USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Turn Back the Clock (Audio CD)

When we look back at the music of the 80s, it's easy to snub our noses at them and say, what mindless pap! Well, if you do, you're missing the point. For instance, Johnny Hates Jazz offers nothing spectacular and certainly they won't be included in the hall of fame. What they did offer us on this CD is melodic tunes, songs that one can hum along with. Their arrangements were imaginative for that period, and their songs stay in your head. Today's music is so non-musical (on the large part) that one forgets what true melodies are like. "Shattered Dreams" is pop gold. What a neat little hook and an energetic, lovely arrangement. All of the songs are enjoyable to listen to and a refreshing change of pace from today's boy bands who made every song sound like they were in the middle of orgasm. These guys knew how to do it right and further evidence how we managed to overlook a lot of these guys from the 80s.
RECOMMENDED.

14 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Highlight of 1988, January 10, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Turn Back the Clock (Audio CD)

This album is like the novel TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD (or Salinger's THE CATCHER IN THE RYE) in that one product is sufficient to convert and leave you wanting more. TURN BACK THE CLOCK is frequently outstanding, always charming, and bears testiment to the consistent and coherent songwriting sensibility of lead singer Clark Datchler.

Erasure deservedly won the BRIT AWARD for best group of 1998. If not them, it should surely have been a tight finish amongst Johnny Hates Jazz, Fairground Attraction and Fine Young Cannibals. Each collaboration possessed an individual and infectious pop quality all their own and each group produced a strong, accessible and popular LP that year. Unlike Erasure, the latter three were not prolific.

Unbelievable, singer Clark Datchler wrote all the hits! The smart lyrics are warm, gentle and sincere. The title track "Turn Back the Clock" declares a touching duality about the emotional satisfaction of visiting the past. The experience is a memory of better times and a reflex comparison to the present; we are moved by all the differences between now and then, yet our recollections though full of longing enables appreciation and then a moment of happiness because of it in the present. What is so appealing is Clark's confident, likeable and understated vocal which hints of American and British accents. He manages his versatile range and articulation to each song's benefit. "Shattered Dreams" remains a radio favourite and JHJ's biggest hit.

Many interesting people became involved in JHJ. Listen carefully for Kim Wilde in "I don't Want to be a Hero". Anne Dudley, formerly of Art of Noise and recent Oscar winner for THE FULL MONTY, arranges strings. Other notable helpers included Julian Mendelsohn and Bob Kraushaar mixers for Pet Shop Boys and The Communards.

Johnny Hates Jazz put out one more original album and some singles but without Clark. Expectedly, Clark Datchler followed up with 2 solo projects called "Raindance" and "Fishing for Souls". These, however, are more smooth adult contemporary outings. You'd think so with Humberto Gatica, currently working with Celine Dion, behind the production. Calvin Hayes and Mike Nocito made up the rest of JHJ. I think one of them appears in the credits of a Spice Girls' album. Phil Thornalley sang for the second JHJ album. He wrote the haunting JHJ track "Me and My Foolish Heart" which Clark used in wooing a record deal at the start. Thornalley is back in the limelight having teamed up with lovely Natalie Imbruglia for "Torn".

Although, we wait for something new from Clark, in the end, this one album is excellent value and unrepeatable.

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A fine and polished melodic album, June 11, 2003

By 

insoc (Miami, Florida United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Turn Back the Clock (Audio CD)

It just great this cd is still available for buying. I agree with the other reviewer about the MELODIES in this album. If you think about it, it is quite difficult to make a good melody, a kind of melody you can hum and that won't get out of your head. Nevertheless, this is not a simple album. The songs are very well polished and the production is great. What kind of music is this? I would say kind of new romantic with jazzy and easy listening with a pop flavor. Better then, it is refined pop. If you like Pet Shop Boys, ABC, Brian Ferry and in general good VERY MELODIC compositions with great style and a great voice, with no doubt buy this album. This is not a dancey album but it isn't also a boring album, it is an album for hearing and enjoying. You won't be dissapointed at all.