Customer Reviews

The Very Best Of (Collectors Edition)

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

 

 

Sure, you have every single Jimmy Sommerville related CD, and probably all the 12 inch singles on vinyl. So, CD1 is all repeats of the songs you have on CD already...but all your favorites are compiled on one disc on the bright side. But disc two is the real charm. Yes, these are the full 12 inch versions you've been wanting on CD, including the 11 minute version of Don't Leave Me This Way with the hot 2 minute orchestral arrangement in the middle--unfortunately, this amazing version fades about 20 earlier than the on the vinyl 12"! Still, this is a must have for fans of the 12" singles. Pick it up while it's still available.

A great collection of hits with a terrific bonus disc of 12" mixes. There will be arguments about what is missing here, but some of these mixes have not seen the light of day on CD in a long time (if ever).

Would love to see a double disc of all the collective 12" mixes someday - but this is great until then.

I am slightly disappointed to find out after unwrapping the parcel, that the CDs were made in Hong Kong to start with. The first disc which is the 7" single compilation is just fine. However, I am quite disappointed by the second disc which features 12" version of all the hits. This is because some big hit singles such as Never Can Say Goodbye, Comment Te Dire Adieu were not of original extended mix but they were remixes. Especially, the Madame Tata mix version of Comment Te Dire Adieu, which was labelled "remixed" is in fact a dub version. The version I expected is actually the "Commercial Mix". Otherwise it is a worth collected discs though not of top class as it seemed to be called"Limited Edition"

Jimmy Somerville is a very lucky artist in that he has been a success in all three ventures of his musical career. Blessed with a true, unique pop falsetto voice, he came to fame with Bronski Beat, split them after one album to form The Communards, then segued into a successful solo third act. This 2002 best of gathers 17 songs from all three periods and holds together very well for the fact that Somerville was working with three different guises.

Because his voice is such a signature, even the variety of styles all sound like Jimmy Somerville. Since the album runs the songs in no particualr sequencew, this is trait is to his benefit. His in-your-face attitude about things, didn't hurt, either. Here was a kid who, in 1984, blasted down barriers by writing songs about being a confused gay kid trying to come to terms with sexuality, not masking the gender or being cute about it, and scoring an international hit. To this day, both "Why" and "Smalltown Boy" have no equal in gay pop.

Then he was off to even gayer things by forming The Communards, who pushed both their sexuality and Somerville's socialist beliefs front and center. After all, who would have couched a cover of Gloria Gaynor's "Never Can Say Goodbye" next to one of the first AIDS tributes, the beautiful "For a Friend." (And although none of the sharper political songs are included, this was also Somerville's most biting period lyrically.)

The Communards made it through two albums before disbanding, and Somerville solo is represented with songs from two albums. His voice has gained a little more depth through the years, but that doesn't stop him from tearing into yet another disco classic, Sylvester's "You Make Me Feel Mighty Real." There's also a reggae-fied cover (a trend all too common at the time) of The Bee Gees' "To Love Somebody" and the danceable original, "Read My Lips."

Overall, Somerville maintained is identity throughout. It even makes a couple of clinkers (hit or not, his pairing with Marc Almond on Donna Summers' "I feel love" is a joke that wears out quickly) worth sitting through. After thus, everyone should still own "Age Of Consent," which still maintains its shockingly groundbreaking relevance nearly a quarter century later.

It has all the songs I had wanted to listen to for a long time. Even my American husband loves it as well as my kids.

i had forgotten about Jimmy Somerville, used to listen to him in the 80's.
This CD has some of my favorites, its a good one.

This CD is outstanding, some music just never gets old. A Shep Pettibone remix is always a treat. I'm am glad to hear Shep is getting back into music.