Laughter, Tears and Rage: The Anthology [Limited Edition] [Import]

Disc: 1

1. Absolutely Immune

2. Chance

3. Laughter

4. I Can't Escape from You

5. Short Story (Thinker)

6. Poison

See all 22 tracks on this disc

Disc: 2

1. Snobbery and Decay (That's Entertainment)

2. Absolutely Immune [Extended Version]

3. Chance [Throbbin' Mix]

4. Winner 88 [Extended]

5. I Can't Escape from You [Love and Hate]

6. Snobbery and Decay [Extended]

See all 11 tracks on this disc

Disc: 3

1. Laughter [Seven Inch Mix]

2. Chance [Seven Inch Mix]

3. Heaven Knows I'm Miserable [Lucky Skank's 2]

4. Absolutely Immune [Take 4]

5. Alternative Gestures)

6. Under the Nights of Germany [Trial Edit]

See all 18 tracks on this disc

Editorial Reviews

Product Description
2004 reissue of 1988 album from Act, a short-lived collaboration between synthmeister Thomas Leer & German pop diva Claudia Brucken, includes 37 bonus tracks, 'Laughter', 'I'd Be Surprisingly Good For You', 'Snobbery & Decay', 'Absolutely Immune' (7 Inch Mix), 'White Rabbit', 'Dear Life', 'I Can't Escape From You', 'Snobbery & Decay' (That's Entertainment), 'Absolutely Immune' (Extended Version), 'Chance' (Throbbin' Mix), 'Winner '88' (Extended Version), 'I Can't Escape From You' (Love & Hate), 'Snobbery & Decay' (Extended Version), 'Strong Poison', 'Absolutely Immune' (Trevor's 12 Inch Mix), 'States Of Logic', 'We Give You Another Chance', 'Snobbery & Decay' (The Naked Civil), 'Laughter' (7 Inch Mix), 'Chance' (7 Inch Mix), 'Heaven Knows I'm Miserable Now' (Lucky's Skank #2), 'Absolutely Immune' (Take 4), 'Gestures' (Alternative Mix), 'Under The Nights Of Germany' (Trial Edit), 'Body Electric', 'Heaven Knows I'm Miserable Now' (Lucky's Skank #1), 'Laughter' (Instrumental 7 Inch Mix), 'Absolutely Immune' (Instrumental), 'Certified' (Instrumental), 'Under The Nights Of Germany' (Instrumental), 'Gestures' (Instrumental), 'I'd Be Surprisingly Instrumental For You', 'Winner '88' (Instrumental), '3rd Planet' (Altered Mix), 'Bloodrush' (Silent Mix), & 'Gestures' (Improvised Mix). 51 tracks packaged in a four-panel digipak & housed in a slipcase. ZTT.

Tracks:

Absolutely Immune
Chance
Laughter
I Can't Escape from You
Short Story (Thinker)
Poison
Under the Night of Germany
Heaven Knows I'm Miserable Now
3rd Planet
Gestures
Bloodrush
Friendly Warning
Certified
Where Love Lies Bleeding
Laughter (Theme)
Snobbery and Decay
I'd Be Surprisingly Good for You
Snobbery and Decay (Theme)
Absolutely Immune [Seven Inch Mix]
White Rabbit
Dear Life
I Can't Escape from You (Theme)

Tracks:

Snobbery and Decay (That's Entertainment)
Absolutely Immune [Extended Version]
Chance [Throbbin' Mix]
Winner 88 [Extended]
I Can't Escape from You [Love and Hate]
Snobbery and Decay [Extended]
Strong Poison
Absolutely Immune 2 [Trevor's Twelve Inch Mix]
States of Logic
We Give You Another) Chance
Snobbery and Decay [The Naked Civil]

Tracks:

Laughter [Seven Inch Mix]
Chance [Seven Inch Mix]
Heaven Knows I'm Miserable [Lucky Skank's 2]
Absolutely Immune [Take 4]
Alternative Gestures)
Under the Nights of Germany [Trial Edit]
Body Electric
Heaven Knows I'm Miserable [Lucky's Skank 1]
Laughter [Seven Inch Mix][Instrumental]
Absolutetly Immune [Instrumental]
Certified [Instrumental]
Under the Nights of Germany [Instrumental]
Gestures [Instrumental]
I'd Be Surprisingly Good for You [Instrumental]
Winner '88 [Instrumental]
RD Planet [Altered]
Bloodrush [Silent]
Gestures (Improvised)

Album Description

2004 reissue of 1988 album from Act, a short-lived collaboration between synthmeister Thomas Leer & German pop diva Claudia Brucken, includes 37 bonus tracks, 'Laughter', 'I'd Be Surprisingly Good For You', 'Snobbery & Decay', 'Absolutely Immune' (7 Inch Mix), 'White Rabbit', 'Dear Life', 'I Can't Escape From You', 'Snobbery & Decay' (That's Entertainment), 'Absolutely Immune' (Extended Version), 'Chance' (Throbbin' Mix), 'Winner '88' (Extended Version), 'I Can't Escape From You' (Love & Hate), 'Snobbery & Decay' (Extended Version), 'Strong Poison', 'Absolutely Immune' (Trevor's 12 Inch Mix), 'States Of Logic', 'We Give You Another Chance', 'Snobbery & Decay' (The Naked Civil), 'Laughter' (7 Inch Mix), 'Chance' (7 Inch Mix), 'Heaven Knows I'm Miserable Now' (Lucky's Skank #2), 'Absolutely Immune' (Take 4), 'Gestures' (Alternative Mix), 'Under The Nights Of Germany' (Trial Edit), 'Body Electric', 'Heaven Knows I'm Miserable Now' (Lucky's Skank #1), 'Laughter' (Instrumental 7 Inch Mix), 'Absolutely Immune' (Instrumental), 'Certified' (Instrumental), 'Under The Nights Of Germany' (Instrumental), 'Gestures' (Instrumental), 'I'd Be Surprisingly Instrumental For You', 'Winner '88' (Instrumental), '3rd Planet' (Altered Mix), 'Bloodrush' (Silent Mix), & 'Gestures' (Improvised Mix). 51 tracks packaged in a four-panel digipak & housed in a slipcase. ZTT.

Album Details

Digitally Remastered Expanded Edition of a Short Lived Project from Propaganda's Claudia Brucken and Thomas Leer. This Album Appeared after the Original Breakup of Propaganda.

Customer Reviews:

Absolutely The Best!.......2005-09-20

If you like Propaganda, Art of Noise, or Trevor Horn, this is definitely a must have record. Originally, Act only produced one album entitled "Laughter, Tears and Rage", around 1990, which was largely overlooked and definitely under-rated. This Anthology contains many of the same tracks as the original Act album, but includes tons of remixes and extended versions of many of the songs. It also includes some previously unreleased tracks that you've probably never heard, as well as instrumental versions of some of my favorite Act songs.

My favorite song from Act has always been "Laughter", and to my delight this new album includes the instrumental version as well. Another favorite is the well done "Absolutely Immune", which in my opinion should have been a hit song, with its catchy melody; most exciting is that you get no less than 6 different versions of it here! "Snobbery and Decay" is another favorite included here with several remixes. "Body Electric" is a tune that I had never heard before, also included in the album.

In my opinion, Act and Propaganda were way too sophisticated for any kind of broad acceptance, especially in the United States. They were ahead of their time. In Act's case, one of the problems was a lack of promotion and exposure, but even with that I don't think the majority of music audiences were ready for them at that time.

This album has been limited to 5000 copies worldwide. In my opinion, Act is the best kept secret in music, even if they did only produce these 2 albums. In this world of copy-cat and "cookie cutter" music, "Laughter, Tears and Rage: The Anthology" is a complete delight, and a very original treat. I hope you enjoy it as I have.

Claudia Brucken Is The Diva Of Germany.......2005-04-20

Fantastic album. Not quite as fabulous as Propaganda's cds but a very awesome, very interesting group. But with Claudia Brucken's vocals how could it be anythng but wonderful.

Winner!.......2005-03-20

This box-set is really everything what you can expect from a good anthology of a band. (Nearly) Everything is on here (except 2 remixes that came out of S&D in the same period, but they were on a white label, so no official one!) and I think it's a good choice to do the album with bonus tracks on the 1st disc, the remixes on the 2nd and the rarities on the 3rd. The 1st one is still available in stores and has the booklet as the cover. All 3 CD's are full of music, so there was no space left for anything more (if there was any). It has the original ZTT-logo on the box-set (very cool) and if you want a copy of it, search on ebay or something, because it's not available anymore (limited). Don't be surprised if you must pay twice the price of the original box-set. Otherwise... buy the single disc, it's not limited.

Pick a number!, spin the wheel!, play the game of chance! ;-)

Fantastic boxset from a pretty good group.......2004-01-28

This 3 CD boxset is a really great documentation of the short lived, post Propaganda band Act. (Not to be confused with The Act, which had the guy from the Dream Academy in it). Act had several singles out at the height of the ZTT's labels heyday in the mid 80s. With post Frankie Goes to Hollywood cash, and based on the semi-success of Propaganda, ZTT poured money into Act with multiple singles and formats designed to push songs up the charts. The result were many 7 " singles, 12" singles, CD single and Cassingles, all with different tracks.

This set neatly collects all (most?) of these tracks plus the album, Laughter Tears and Rage into a neat 3 CD set. Music-wise consider act a slightly less aggressive Propaganda, and also slightly less interesting. I think as Propaganda Claudia Brucken and Co. made interesting, challenging posy modern pop. Act, well, Act made less interesting music, but still present well polished pop. "Snobbery and Decay" is a fave here, but "Absolutely Immune" and "Chance" are as good as anything Propaganda did.

So why not 5 stars? Well, aside from some brilliant moments, a lot of what is here sounds like the by-the-numbers stuff that would mare FGTH's "Liverpool" album. Lots of sequencer runs and funky basslines, big beats, but in the end not much there. And for goodness sake whoever though that their cover of "Heaven Knows I'm Miserable Now" was a good idea should have been ashamed.

Fans will already have picked this set up (right? It is limited I hear!) Casual fans may want to stick with the single CD reissue also out.

Album Review: