Customer Reviews

Very Best of

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Most people think of Johnny Hates Jazz as a one-hit wonder, so the idea of them releasing a "Best of" set sounds like a joke. But even if the band never again matched the success of "Shattered Dreams", that doesn't mean they didn't record other great songs. "Me and My Foolish Heart", "I Don't Want to Be a Hero", "Heart of Gold" and "Turn Back the Clock" are all terrifically fun and hummable.

The problem with this particular CD is that it's a compilation of songs from two incarnations of Johnny Hates Jazz. The first JHJ, featuring lead vocalist Clark Datchler, put out the album TURN BACK THE CLOCK, a great 80s pop album with no bad songs, including all the tracks mentioned above. But Datchler quit the group after this initial success and was replaced by Phil Thornalley, a fine producer and songwriter (he was the mastermind behind Natalie Imbruglia's hit "Torn"), but a rather flat and uninspired vocalist. The Thornalley-headed incarnation of JHJ put out the album TALL STORIES, which never got released in the U.S., and probably for good reason. With the exception of the catchy "Last to Know", Thornalley's songs just don't match up to the music on TURN BACK THE CLOCK.

The rest of THE VERY BEST OF JOHNNY HATES JAZZ consists of some completely pointless and uninteresting b-sides, which are mostly instrumental, and a couple of equally unnecessary remixes. There's enough great music on this album to recommend it, but for a more consistent and rewarding album, I recommend you buy TURN BACK THE CLOCK instead.

You can replace your vocalist and keep the same band name, but that doesn't mean it's the same group.

Most of the other reviewers have done a good job writting about this compilation. I would further have to add that the b-sides contained in this compilation are on par with the singles, specially the lovely instrumental "The Cage". About the second era of JHJ album, even though that album wasn't as good as the first one, the songs from the second album contained here are in the same level than the singles of the first album, the beautiful melodies and fine arrangments are all here. JHJ were perfectionists and very demanding to themselves. When they saw that the sales of the second album weren't as good as they expected they call it a day and dissolved the band. Maybe it was harder for them to aknowledge that the commercial demands of the time weren't looking for that kind of sound even tough it was a superior offer to many of the "hits" of the era. Or maybe they just ran out of the fuel for their creativity, who knows...
My advise: if you just gotta have one JHJ go buy the Turn Back The Clock album. Overall it provides a better experience than this compilation. If you already have the "Turn Back The Clock" album and want more from JHJ I'm sure this compilation won't dissapoint you. VERY IMPORTANT: Don't think that because you have their first album half of the songs contained in this compilation will have the already you got for this compilation have the singles (radio edit) versions that actually are quite cool and add new arrangments to the album versions.

Personellement, j'adore la musique des années 1980 et Johnny hates jazz en particulier. Don't say it's love, shattered dreams, des tubes superbes que vous adorerez. Go and get it.

It's one of the few out there that's all good listening. Every cut is worth hearing - at least I think so. :c)

The songs you'll find here will sound perfectly clear and whith great sound , typical of this band. Great music, specialy the slow songs.

Shattered Dreams is the only song I've heard, so I don't know if its a 5 or 4 etc.

Cd de bom gosto, principalmente para os amantes do pop 80's. Destaque para a música Shattered Dreams.

I love the sound of Johnny Hates Jazz & this CD. They have a magical, timeless sound. Beautiful* songs esp shattered dreams, turn the tide & turn back the clock.

Nem precisa ser dos 80's para se apaixonar pelas músicas do Johnny Hates Jazz . Quem não ouviu a música Shattered dreams ? "And now you've given me , given me / Nothing but shattered dreams , shattered dreams / Feel like i could run away , run away / from this empty heart ... " , D+ !!Até hoje toca nas melhores rádios 80's( RJ - antena 1 , JBFM e Nova Globo FM ... ) Amo e escuto todos os dias esta música !!!! ;) shattered dreams - the best !!