New England [Import]

New England [Import]

Track Listings

1. Hello, Hello, Hello

2. Don't Ever Wanna Lose Ya

3. P.U.N.K.

4. Shall I Run Away

5. Alone Tonight

6. Nothing To Fear

7. Shoot

8. Turn Out The Ligtht

9. The Last Show

10. Encore

Tracks:

Fallout
Can't Stand Losing You
Next To You
Roxanne
Truth Hits Everybody
Hole In My Life
So Lonely
Message In a Bottle
Reggatta De Blanc
Bring On the Night
Walking On the Moon
Don't Stand So Close To Me
Driven To Tears
Canary In a Coalmine

Tracks:

De Do Do Do, De Da Da Da
Voices Inside My Head
Invisible Sun
Every Little Thing She Does Is Magic
Spirits In the Material World
Demolition Man
Every Breath You Take
Synchronicity I
Wrapped Around Your Finger
Walking In Your Footsteps
Synchronicity II
King Of Pain
Murder By Numbers
Tea In the Sahara

Album Description

The Police celebrate the 30th anniversary of their recording debut with their first double-disc CD "best of" collection entitled, The Police. The 28 songs bring together the biggest hits from the band's five original studio albums and includes their very first single, 1977's "Fall Out."

From that rarity to one of the most-remembered and most performed rock ballads of the `80s, 1983's "Every Breath You Take," The Police spans the group's six-year journey from sweaty clubs to sold-out stadiums - establishing them as one of the definitive and most popular rock groups in the world.

Customer Reviews:

...but only four stars for the American version.......2007-08-01

For those who bemoan the lack of additional songs, specifically 'The Bed's Too Big Without You', I would recommend seeking out the Australian or British edition of this compilation; it has all 28 songs from the American release and includes 'Bed's Too Big' and 'Rehumanise Yourself'. These two songs rectify the shortfall of songs from 'Regatta De Blanc' and Ghost In The Machine' (only four each on the American version) and makes it feel a significantly more comprehensive compilation.

Yes, there are still tracks missing that would make it truly perfect, but remember that the Police only released five studio albums; if A&M had added yet more tracks to this compilation it would have come close to negating the need to buy the original releases and they were never going to allow that to happen were they? So the thirty-song version is about as good as we could ask for, it's an excellent blast through the past. Enjoy!

It's simple..........2007-07-31

...the Police were a singles driven band and this distillation of their musical career is almost flawless (we all have favorites that were not included; mine is "Beds Too Big Without You"). This is pretty near perfect in it's conception because it does cut-out the filler and 'silly songs' that are present on most of their albums. Excellento!

Very Good, but there is one compilation that is better.......2007-07-28

It is hard to believe that a band can become a Hall of Fame band with just five studio albums to their name, but the Police are such a band. This is an honor that the Police are most worthy of. The Police were sort of an off-shoot of the Punk Rock movement of the late 1970s. The band would eventually encompass other influences - namely Classic Rock, Reggae, Jazz, Dance, and even Folk. For the most part, it is fair to say there was a Punk Rock and Reggae influence on the band for their first two albums" - "Outlandos D'Amour" and "Regatta de Blanc". Both of these albums were terrific efforts - mostly because The Police used applied their unique style to a formula that worked. The Police would soon transform their sound to a more Classic Rock sound. With each successive album ("Zenyatta Mondatta", "Ghost in the Machine", and "Synchronicity"), the Police would continue to grow as a band and incorporate a variety of genres into their sound. In 1986, the Police officially disbanded and it wouldn't be until 2007 when they would officially reunite for a reunion tour. To build some momentum for the tour, the Police would release a two CD greatest hits collection entitled "The Police". This compilation does provide a good portfolio of the band's classic tracks.

"The Police" takes tracks from each of the band's five albums. Six tracks from "Outlandos D'Amour" ("Can't Stand Losing You", "Next to You", "Roxanne", "Truth Hits Everybody", "Hole in My Life", "So Lonely"); Four tracks from "Regatta De Blanc" ("Message in a Bottle", "Regatta De Blanc", "Bring on the Night", "Walking on the Moon"); Five tracks from "Zenyatta Mondatta" ("Don't Stand So Close to Me", "Driven to Tears", "Canary in a Coalmine", "De Do Do Do, De Da Da Da", "Voices Inside My Head"); Four tracks from "Ghost in the Machine" ("Invisible Sun", "Every Little Thing She Does is Magic", "Demolition Man"); Eight tracks from "Synchronicity" ("Synchronicity I", "Wrapped Around Your Finger", "Walking In Your Footsteps", "Synchronicity II", "King of Pain", "Murder By Numbers", "Tea in the Sahara"). This collection also includes the band's debut single - not released on the five studio albums - "Fallout". There is an import version of this collection that includes two addition tracks - "The Bed's Too Big Without You" (from "Regatta De Blanc") and "Rehumanize Yourself" (from "Ghost in the Machine"). My big argument is that this collection tends to go too heavy on "Synchronicity" - with eight of the eleven tracks from that album on this collection. One can also make the argument not enough was taken from "Regatta De Blanc" or "Ghost in the Machine". For the most part, this compilation does a good job at taking the essential tracks from the Police's music portfolio.

One strength of this collection is that the tracks are chronologically arranged by the studio album they released. This allows you to see how a band has progressed over time. In the case of the Police, this is essential because I think it is important to hear how their sound evolved.

When considering a greatest hits compilation, it is important to know that bands often release several flavors of compilations.

"Every Breath You Take - The Singles": This was a compilation released in 1986. It only includes twelve tracks. It contains an updated version of "Don't Stand So Close to Me" called "Don't Stand So Close to Me '86"). All of the tracks on this collection are found on "The Police" 2 CD compilation. For the most part, this collection preserves the chronological ordering of the band.

"Every Breath You Take - The Classics": An Updated Version of "Every Breath You Take - The Singles". It includes both versions of "Don't Stand So Close to Me" and an additional version of "Message in a Bottle" (that version is not found on "The Police" 2 CD compilation). For the most part, this collection preserves the chronological ordering of the band.

"The Very Best of Sting and The Police": This provides a mix of Sting's solo work with some of the Police's best hits. There are two versions of this collection - one from 1997 and one from 2002 with the latter one being more complete. These compilations do not preserve the chronological ordering of the band.

"Message in a Box: The Complete Recordings": This is exactly as advertised. It includes every song from each of the five studio albums as well as some B side songs, live tracks, and songs not originally found on CD. These songs are arranged in chronological order on four CDs. It also includes the "Don't Stand So Close to Me '86" version.

It is worth noting that "The Police" 2 CD compilation is very good. If you are looking for a greatest hits collection by the Police, this stands up much stronger than the two "Every Breath You Take" compilations. It also provides more depth from the Police perspective than the two versions of "The Very Best of Sting and The Police". However, if one is considering a greatest hits collection, I would easily opt for the "Message in a Box" collection over this 2 CD compilation. You are going to get so much more for your money. You also get the benefits of a boxed set (including a very good booklet). Every song on this 2 CD compilation is going to be found on the "Message in a Box" collection. My recommendation would be to go for the "Message in a Box" collection over this 2 CD compilation.

Literate, poetic...great pop/rock 4.5 out of 5.......2007-07-13

I'm not giving this cd 5 out of 5 because of some issues about the sound...the first cd seems to lack presence in the sound and there is some distortion in the first track of disc 2 [I listen to cds on good quality headphones and I feel that these sound issues could be eliminated if people did the same prior to releasing cds].

Anyway, The Police are perhaps THE major British band of the 1980s. Looking at the credits in the double cd, it seems that lead singer "Sting" pretty much did everything himself...from writing the songs to arranging the music.

Many of the songs on this compilation show Sting to be the former English teacher that he was...from his superior way with words, to his literary allusions.

The highlights of the first cd for me are:

Can't stand losing you-a song about breaking up. The 'voice' of the song sounds like a pouty teenager and is amusing for its melodrama. Suicide is mentioned in this song. This topic seems fertile for rock. E.g. Metallica have the beautiful and absolute classic song "Fade to black", with its adult sensibility; and Megadeth have "A tout le monde", which, like this Police song, seems to have a teenage 'voice' singing. Both latter songs have melodrama, but The Police give their song a nice dose of humour.

Roxanne-perhaps the song which broke the band, especially in the UK. It's about the boyfriend of a prostitute, I think. Along with the song above, it is one of the strongest songs on the first cd. It has a nice mixture of a vulnerable 'voice' doing the singing, and the pounding, repetitive lyrics of the chorus.

Two other songs from the first cd which take my fancy are "Message in a bottle" and "Walking on the moon". Both songs are more towards the "ballad" end of the pop/rock spectrum. The latter song, particulary, illustrates Sting's great lyrical imagery...i.e. he likens walking, when one is in love, to walking on the moon...brilliant use of lyrics and imagery.

The second cd contains most of the songs that I particularly like from this band. "De do do do, de da da da" is a terrific song about how the powerful use language for their own benefit. Many years ago I wasn't very keen on this song, as it SOUNDED like non-sense [and going on the title too]. Listening to this song years later, you appreciate the depth of meaning it has behind it. Nice turn of phrase "Poets, priests and politicians, have words to thank for their positions". Sting doesn't seem to include pop/rock stars!

"Invisible sun" has a terrificly eerie opening [not unlike Synchronicity II...in fact, the intros could just as easily be used to introduce darker themes and music, but settles for terrific pop/rock]. I'm not so keen on the chorus of Invisible Sun, but I really like the verses and the ambiance of the introduction.

"Spirits in the material world" is another highlight from the second disc.
It exemplifies an attractive trait of this band...mixing up the hooks in one song. The song is catchy from the start, with nice melodies [vocal], but it really picks up when a NEW melody [keyboard] is introduced in the latter part of the song. This song may be the one where Sting's glib political views are at the fore ["Our so called leaders speak. With words they try to gaol you. They subjugate the meek, but it's the rhetoric of failure"]. That's a VERY nice turn of phrase, but, like I say, rather glib and lacking in hope for the political process.

Perhaps the band's biggest hit is "Every breath you take". This song isn't one that has ever really grabbed me. To me it's like the curate's egg...good in parts. An Australian equivalent would be Mondo Rock's "Come said the boy"-both bands had monumentally great pop/rock songs, but their most successful songs were not the ones I rated as great. Anyway, The Police's ballad is perhaps growing more on me now...it's 'good' bits are making the song gel better now, for me, perhaps.

"Wrapped around your finger" is another very good Police song, and which has those literary allusions I spoke of earlier "Caught between the Scylla and Charibdes". Perhaps my favourite Police song of all is "King of pain", which also has some literary allusions that I know of "There's a king with his eyes torn out" and some that elude me "There's a skeleton choking on a crust of bread". Both these songs illustrate the great thing about Police songs...how they change gears, so to speak, by changing tempo or pitch or melody. The bit in King Of Pain where this happens is where Sting raises his voice higher and starts the line about the King. Reading the lyrics, I saw that it was more gruesome than I remember, but nonetheless beautiful to listen to.

"Synchronicity" is one of the band's more adventurous sounding rock songs but they carry it off with aplomb.

I do remember hearing somewhere about the song "Murder by numbers" causing controversy in the US and the band's response to this. Having read the lyrics that come with this cd, I see that the band is right to defend the song, but perhaps they only have themselves to blame by making the point of their song towards the end, making it difficult to come by, perhaps. It is also another politically glib song by Sting, though perhaps containing a germ of truth.

Lastly, I did find "Walking in your footsteps" to be a lyrically interesting song. Perhaps it is Sting likening humans to dinosaurs...with us heading for extinction too, like the dinosaurs, if we keep toying with nuclear power.

In conclusion, this is a terrific buy for people into lyrically sophisticated music with catchy pop/rock that is also sophisticated. I do find the drumming sound by this band to be satisfying and their melodies gorgeous when they're at their best. It's just a pity though that on occasion it sounds like the master tapes are in fact LP records...with dust or scratches on them.

P.S. if you like poetic music, I recommend and have reviewed:

Patti Smith's album Horses.

If you like political music, I recommend and have reviewed numerous albums by Midnight Oil here [highly recommended are their albums "10-1" and "Diesel and dust".

I've reviewed Metallica and Megadeth albums here too.

Best rhythm section in rock........2007-07-08

I wouldn't give you more than 50 cents for Sting, but listening to Copeland and Summers on this compilation confirms that they are/were the best rhythm section in rock - or, at the very least, one of the best. Focusing on their playing throughout these 28 tracks is a real delight. I don't know of many other bass/drum duos who can make so much happen so economically.

Buy and get a master class in how to make a rock rhythm section work to perfection.

Average customer rating:

Too big a reputation for so mediocre an album
The Clash's best album!!!.
Clash City Shocker
EVERY PERSON SHOULD HAVE THIS ALBUM
The Clash's greatest album, and one of rock's most enduring masterpieces....

London Calling
The Clash
Manufacturer: Sony
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Never Mind the Bollocks Here's the Sex Pistols
Combat Rock
The Velvet Underground & Nico
Ramones
The Clash

ASIN: B00004BZ0N
Release Date: 2000-01-25

Tracks:

London Calling
Brand New Cadillac
Jimmy Jazz
Hateful
Rudie Can't Fail
Spanish Bombs
The Right Profile
Lost In The Supermarket
Clampdown
The Guns Of Brixton
Wrong 'Em Boyo
Death Or Glory
Koka Kola
The Card Cheat
Lover's Rock
Four Horsemen
I'm Not Down
Revolution Rock
Train In Vain

Amazon.com essential recording

Bursting at the seams with creative energy, the Clash's stunning 1979 double album more than made up for the artistic and commercial disappointment of its predecessor, 1978's tried-too-hard Give 'Em Enough Rope. With ex-Mott the Hoople producer Guy Stevens harnessing their sound as never before, the band yielded what proved to be the best work of their career. Bouncing from hard rock (the apocalyptic vision of the title track) to rockabilly ("Brand New Cadillac") to reggae ("Rudy Can't Fail") to pop (the Top 40 hit "Train in Vain"), the Clash knocked down all musical walls and, in the process, ended the argument over punk's viability in the U.S. --Billy Altman

Album Description

Digitally remastered from the original production master tapes, this a reissue of the 1979 & third album by 'the only band that matters'. Features the original artwork and all 19 of the original tracks, including the hidden hit 'Train In Vain (Stand By Me)', their first U.S. single to chart (it reached #23 at the time). Also contains reproductions of the original LP sleeves, including the lyrics. 1999 release.

Album Details

Limited Millennium Edition. Packed in a Heavy Weight Card Wallet that Faithfully Recreates the Original Vinyl Sleeve, Right Down to the Inner Bag. The Wallet Will Come in a Plastic Cover.

Customer Reviews:

Too big a reputation for so mediocre an album.......2007-08-01

This album is a favourite with people who think they're too cool to like the Beatles or Guns & Roses and want something more "real" to feel smug about. Somehow The Clash are meant to be a blow to all carefree bands writing songs in their ivory towers. People want *real* songs about suburban alienation! Songs that the common joe in the streets of Britain can relate to! Uh...supermarkets! Yeah!

Somehow this album has also gained popularity among North American university elitists who mistakenly think they have some empathy with the British working class and who tend to say things like "Did you read those Hunter S. Thompson and Jack Kerouac's I recommended?"

The album itself is just bland late 70s British new wave with moderately pointless reggae experiments.

The Clash's best album!!!........2007-07-26

O.K. first of all I'm not sure why Amazon wouldn't let me review this, they have done this before and its annoying and frustrating so I'm gonna write a short review, before The Clash has experimented with with reggae and ska mixed with punk but then on London Calling they tried a dizzying array of styles everything from punk to jazz can be found on this great album and it also shows how far ahead these guys were. You've got great songs like The guns of Brixton, Spanish bombs, Lost in the supermarket, London calling, brand new Cadillac ect. basically all the songs were brilliant except for Lover's rock which I can't stand. This album is so invigorating that every time you listen to it never gets boring and also happens to beat out any modern rock album out there especially nowadays with the truly pathetic music scene, Joe Strummer and Mick Jones have written some of the best and politically charged lyrics of all time and are anti-establishment which is typical punk only The Clash really mean it cause they came from poverty in the street of England unlike those fake wannabe punk groups that have no idea what they're talking about and their playing skills are usually sh**. I highly recomend this album to everyone and if you haven't gotten this yet then what are you waiting for GET THIS NOW!!!.

Clash City Shocker.......2007-07-17

Just about the Clash's worst album, (I think the lumpen `Sandinista' is better because a} it has a whole lp more and b} it's got the fabulous `Somebody Got Murdered' on it.) `London Calling' is as bland and dreary as it's title suggests. I thought London was burning with boredom (Dial 99999!) but now it seems it's just...calling. Oh well.
It starts brilliantly with the title track but then it's downhill fast, with lack-luster forays into r+b and reggae, rockabilly and jazz. Drifting and meandering all over the place in a vain attempt to find some badly needed cohesion, some sort of direction in among the painfully forced `diversity'.
It's a well known rock truism that Strummer and Jones weren't getting on at the time this was recorded, and you can tell, it sounds like they were in different rooms! It's sad to watch this once-great song-writing team align against each other in such an obvious (and childish!) way. Strummer with his slurry `rocka' pose, and Jones with his toe-curling `Americanisms`.
Strummer didn't recover `til `Combat Rock', and before you start scoffing, compare `Straight to Hell' with ANYTHING on here, and it'll be the stronger song by streets.
Anything with the inexplicably awful `Guns of Brixton' on it, just HAS to suck a big one,(now THERE'S a song worth a giggle or two) along with `This Is Radio Clash', their poorest song in a frustratingly inconsistent canon. (if ever a group's output was justifiably labeled `peaks and troughs' it's the Clash`s.)
If only `London Calling' the album was as good as `London Calling' the song, we would indeed have something special on our hands. As it is, we've got something tired, a bit derivative, and really rather tatty.
`London Calling' was voted the best album of all time in a poll. It's not even the best Clash album.

EVERY PERSON SHOULD HAVE THIS ALBUM.......2007-07-04

This is not gonna be a long review like others because it is simply put. Wonderful. In general, The Clash opens your mind and makes you wonder about things in this world of ours. I'm not just giving this a 5 because they are my favorate band. Another thing I would like to add, The Clash aren't just punk, they hit every single genre out there including reggae and jazz. If your a jazz fan, you will LOVE this album. EVERYONE WILL LOVE THIS ALBUM! LOOK HOW MANY 5 STARS THIS HAS!! ANYONE will love this album I guarentee It. Just to let you know I am 19 and being young, I bet even younger kids will like it. Or else they have no clue what music is.

The Clash's greatest album, and one of rock's most enduring masterpieces...........2007-07-02

Some critic said that this was the album where The Clash stopped being punks and learned how to play their instruments. Luckily for us, The Clash instantly matured as a band here to make arguably one of the greatest rock albums of all time, and maybe the greatest double album of all time. Out of the 19 tracks here, not one is a throwaway. The album is one of the best sequenced, most coherent albums ever made. There is not one song on here that I skip over. There are some that I like more than others, but there isn't one song that sucks. Most punk bands did one of two things. They either died/faded away, or they stopped being punks and learned how to make real music (I never liked punk, obviously). Luckily, The Clash followed the 2nd path, and made their masterpiece. I'll pick my favorite 10 songs here, but it isn't easy. The title track, Spanish Bombs, The Right Profile, Clampdown, The Guns of Brixton, Wrong 'em Boyo, Death or Glory, The Card Cheat, Revolution Rock, and Train in Vain are my favorites here. The Clash, along with The Sex Pistols who became Public Image Ltd., grew into a great band after giving up the punk thing (which really is very limiting, if you think about it). Their follow ups, Sandinista! and Combat Rock, are very good, but this is the best of their 5 studio albums (I don't count Cut the Crap). It's a shame they broke up (and Joe Strummer died), but we still have this great album...

Average customer rating:

what do you want? i want rock n' roll!
Should have been five stars, but wasn't...
Absolute must have for Def Leppard fans
Is There Such A Thing As Too Much Def Leppard?
Brilliant!

Rock of Ages: The Definitive Collection
Def Leppard
Manufacturer: Island / Mercury
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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The Best of Both Worlds
Yeah!
Def Leppard - Rock of Ages: Definitive Collection DVD
Greatest Hits
Red, White, & Crue

ASIN: B0009299LU
Release Date: 2005-05-17

Tracks:

Pour Some Sugar On Me (HISTORIA video edit)
Photograph
Love Bites
Let's Get Rocked
Two Steps Behind (acoustic version)
Animal
Heaven Is
Foolin'
Rocket (VISUALIZE video edit)
When Love & Hate Collide
Armageddon It
Have You Ever Needed Someone So Bad?
Rock Of Ages
Hysteria
Miss You In A Heartbeat
Bringin' On The Heartbreak
Switch 625

Tracks:

Rock Rock (Till You Drop)
Let It Go
High 'N' Dry (Saturday Night)
Too Late For Love
No Matter What
Promises
Mirror, Mirror (Look Into My Eyes)
Women
Another Hit And Run
Slang
Stand Up (Kick Love Into Motion)
Rock Brigade
Now
Paper Sun
Work It Out
Die Hard The Hunter
Wasted
Billy's Got A Gun

Amazon.com

While many of their peers were abandoning '70s metal and arena rock to hop the punk/new wave bandwagon, Def Leppard smartly stripped the earlier era's music of its excesses, bolstered it with energetic, pop-savvy hooks and quickly found itself the vanguard of the UK's new metal revival and one of the '80s most spectacularly successful rock acts. The first disc of this 35-track, two-and-a-half hour double-disc retrospective focuses on the familiar hits of their early MTV, platinum-selling prime, though the inclusion of the video edit/remixes of "Pour Some Sugar On Me" and "Rocket" attempts to cast them in a more club-friendly contemporary groove. But the grittier second disc showcases some of the early, overlooked roots of On Through the Night and High 'N' Dry, as well as underappreciated later gems like '99's "Promises" and a power-pop-perfect take on Badfinger's "No Matter What" from an upcoming covers project. --Jerry McCulley

Customer Reviews:

what do you want? i want rock n' roll!.......2007-07-25

what do you want?/i want rock n'roll!/you betcha!/long live rock n' roll!/def leppard sing in the classic rock of ages. that song gives this collection its title. 35 classic songs on 2 cds. isn't that awsome or what? ok i'll give you the song list. the songs include pour some sugar on me,foolin',photograph,high and dry(saturday night),women, love bites,rocket,no matter what,two steps behind,let's get eocked,and have you ever needed someone so bad. that' quite a list isn't it? listen to this album ,you will hear these songs and many more great songs. trust me you will like this album as much as i do. ed wilson

Should have been five stars, but wasn't..........2007-07-07

The concept was correct: Use of a full two CD's to represent all the great songs the band has produced. However, the selection was incorrect. There is too much emphasis on obscure tracks like "Paper Sun"? and "Waterloo...". But perhaps the most glaring faux pas, is that the albums "High and Dry" and "Pyromania" are under represented. Where is "Action...Not Words" and "Stagefright" or "You've got me Runnin'" and "Lady Strange". Also, "Die Hard the Hunter" is likely the ONLY weak song from "Pyro" and they choose it? Nonsense... Once they release Pyro and High n' Dry in a remaster, those are the two to get after Hysteria.

Absolute must have for Def Leppard fans.......2007-06-19

This 2-disc collection rules. It's got all the hits and more. The songs are put in a good order on both discs. Great summary of Def Leppard's music. The fan gets well over 2 hours of Def Leppard for his/her money. Great value! Get it.

Is There Such A Thing As Too Much Def Leppard?.......2007-03-25

This is far better retrospective than the old one disc set, The Valut. That being said, I think the casual listener may find this collection to be too much Def Leppard. The first disc is fairly solid disc filled with radio hits and popular album favorites, with only maybe one or two questionable tracks. The second disc is highly indulgent with newer material that only a hardcore fan who continued to follow the band through less popular albums like Slang, X, etc. will know. If you haven't bought a Leppard album in the past decade, you won't know a lot of this disc. Overall, a very thorough set, but the passive fan may opt for the one disc import only version, Best of Def Leppard. Its not complete, but its got more than The Vault without the filler of ROCK OF AGES.

Brilliant!.......2007-03-10

I was NOT disappointed with my purchase here. There's a great selection of songs on here, showcasing the band's changing image over time. If there are particular songs that you like that aren't in this collection, I'd suggest you download them, or get them elsewhere, but definitely get this CD for the absolute best of Def Leppard. It contains great liner notes on each song, with input from each of the band members, something I particularly enjoyed. Getting these liner notes helped me understand a lot more about where the band was coming from on each song and what it truly meant to them to be writing and recording it. With this input on their take on lyrics and such, I daresay I understood the songs themselves better. It also includes pictures of the band over time, including Steve Clark (R.I.P.). Overall: Perfect for fans and those simply looking to get the best of this phenomenal band.

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the wild boy are calling ,and i'm answering!
Duran Duran leave a strong legacy
not too good...
Slick sounds by guys in white suits
Get your Duran Duran Fix

Greatest
Duran Duran
Manufacturer: Capitol
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Discography: The Complete Singles Collection

ASIN: B00000DG1R
Release Date: 1998-11-03

Tracks:

Is There Something I Should Know?
The Reflex
A View To A Kill
Ordinary World (Single Version)
Save A Prayer (US Single Version)
Rio (US Edit)
Hungry Like A Wolf
Girls On Film
Planet Earth (Single Version)
Union Of The Snake
New Moon On Monday
Wild Boys
Notorious
I Don't Want Your Love (Shep Pettibone 7-in Mix)
All She Wants Is (45 Mix)
Electric Barbarella (Edit)
Serious (Edit)
Skin Trade (Radio Cut)
Come Undone (Edit)

Amazon.com

While English pop monarchs Duran Duran have remained active for two decades, it's clear that the indomitable ensemble was at its peak during those mercurial '80s. This greatest-hits collection documents the band's ambitious beginnings as a funky glam-rock outfit and follows its gradual transformation into a high-tech pop band with loads of commercial appeal. Featuring now-classic tunes like "Girls on Film," "Rio," and "Planet Earth" as well as more recent songs like "Ordinary World," Greatest focuses on Duran Duran's unending string of hit singles. Although the young quintet that performs "Hungry Like the Wolf" and "A View to a Kill" has little in common with the posh, aging trio featured on 1997's "Electric Barbarella," vocalist Simon Le Bon provides some impressive continuity to these proceedings. --Mitch Myers

Customer Reviews:

the wild boy are calling ,and i'm answering!.......2007-07-24

why do i like duran duran so much? because they made some great music in thr'80s,and continue to make great music today. this collection has a lot of great songs on it.those songs are planet earth,girls on film,is thre something i should know,rio,hungry like the wolf,save a prayer,the reflex,the wild boys,a view to a kill,notorius,,i don't want your love,all she wants is,ordinary world,and come undone. if you like duran duran,you will like this album. also check out the original albums,the power station album, and arcadia's so red the rose. ed wilson

Duran Duran leave a strong legacy.......2007-07-16

One great song after another on this disc. Duran Duran took the 80s by storm but the later part of the decade there was a backlash against them. Maybe it was the big hair and pretty boy attitude among other things. Grunge and Nirvana hit the scene and it became uncool to like Duran Duran, Hair Metal, and other things 80s. Overshadowed by all this is that Duran Duran are great musicians and songwriters and had a unique sound that has never been matched. Simon Le Bon wrote interesting lyrics with striking imagery and sung with a force and conviction that brought the songs to another level. Under appreciated bassist John Taylor drove these songs with cool, funky basslines (a good example is "Rio".)

These songs have stood the test of time and still sound good. Proof is that most of their work is still in print and selling over 20 years later. Here are some highlights:

1) Is There Something I Should Know? --A good opening and one of my favorites. Catchy as hell and a prime example of Simon Le Bon's talent for giving a song energy and urgency with intense singing and lyrics. "People stare and cross the road from me/And jungle drums they all clear the way for me/Can you read my mind, can you see in the snow/And fiery demons all dance when you walk through that door" --How many pop song's today have fiery demons in them? None.

2) The Reflex --One of their biggest hits and it was overplayed on the radio, but you can't deny the originality of this song. It goes in all kinds of unexpected directions and we'll never hear a pop song like this again. Some of Le Bon's most obscure lyrics.

3) A View to Kill --One of the best Bond themes and I think what makes this song is the pounding drums and the Bond-like horns.

4) Ordinary World --A later hit for them and one of their most beautiful. Highlights are the guitar solo and soaring vocals at the end.

5) Save a Prayer --Very close to Ordinary World as one of their best ballads. The magical keyboards by Nick Rhodes grab you immediately and "You saw me standing by the wall/Corner of a main street/And the lights are flashing on your window sill" --draws you in.

6) Rio --A defining song for them that everyone knows. John Taylor drives this song with killer bass, Nick Rhodes with great keyboards, Roger Taylor with excellent drumming, and Andy Taylor completes a band in top form. Even though this is the edited version the memorable sax solo is there. I bought this cd so I felt justified downloading the full version from the net which is about 5:37.

7) Hungry Like the Wolf --One of the most famous uses of "do do do do do, do do." The song that made them famous in America because of the video. Has that signature sort of tribal, jungle Duran Duran sound. A classic.

10) Union of the Snake --Another one of my favorites. Unorthodox verses and choruses make this song unique.

11) New Moon on Monday --Once again Simon Le Bon brings a song to great heights with an excellent vocal performance and "I light my torch and wave it for the/New moon on monday/And a firedance through the night/I stayed the cold day with a lonely satellite". You ponder those words during the song and interesting images are put in your mind and that's what good lyrics do.

12) Wild Boys --This song might be a bit over-the-top for some but it's power can't be denied. Simon sings the hell out of this one.

13) Notorious --Does it ever end? Yet another ridiculously catchy song.

14) I Don't Want Your Love (Shep Pettibone Mix) --A solid dance song that has aged well. Can't be resisted.

19) Come Undone --The sister hit to Ordinary World. Dreamy underwater sound with the backing beat made famous previously by Erik B. & Rakim.
Pretty female backing vocals and nice lyrics: "Words, playing me deja vu, like a radio tune I swear I've heard before/Chill, is it something real, or the magic Im feeding off your fingers."

And the other songs I didn't mention are good too. I bought "Astronaut", their latest cd as of this writing, and it's pretty good I like it. It doesn't match these songs though and I don't fault them. They were at their peak of creativity during this period and these songs are too good to be topped. Fortunately the 80s backlash is long over and it seems Duran Duran are finally getting the recognition they deserve, especially after people see them live in person or on TV (Live Earth for example). It's about time!

not too good..........2007-07-09

Geesh, I remember them being better than this. Perhaps it was because I was 10 years old back then. Mea culpa, sentimentality trumped by reality.

Slick sounds by guys in white suits.......2007-05-26

Few bands during the 1980s churned out as many recognizable pop hits as Duran Duran, and this "Greatest" CD captures them all. The guys in Duran Duran (no matter the band lineup) always had an ear for melody, great vocals and exotic sounds. Plus, they carried on as a true band, with everybody writing and contributing. If you like the band's radio hits, then this CD is a must-have; songs one through 13 have been played on the radio for eons. What drew me to this disc, however, was the tunes that aren't as well known.

Besides just catchy, synth-laden pop, Duran Duran were capable of adding soul to their sound ("I Don't Want Your Love"), a cold but sexy club-music vibe ("All She Wants Is") and real emotion and exoticism ("Come Undone"). Songs from the first three Duran Duran records are well represented here, and nice offerings from the same era such as "A View to a Kill" and "Wild Boys" are also present.

Duran Duran also had a nice, somewhat reinvented run in the 1990s, especially the early `90s. The songs "Serious," "Ordinary World," "Come Undone" and "Electric Barbarella" (from Medazzaland) prove that. "Serious," from 1990, sounds like a wonderful `80s leftover, updated in an organic fashion for the new decade, while "Skin Trade," a tune released in 1986, has a slick, catchy sound, but also displays some real soul and great vocal work by Simon LeBon. Though they barely received any radio airplay, each of these tunes could lay claim to being two of the strongest tracks on "Greatest," a CD that is chock full of classics. My only complaint is that "Too Much Information" from Duran Duran 2 (The Wedding Album) was left off, but beggars can't be choosers. Many non-hits by the band have been great, but if you're looking for your fix of the most popular Duran Duran music over the years, this CD is the way to go.

Get your Duran Duran Fix.......2007-05-16

If you're considering this CD, I probably don't have to introduce you to Duran Duran--but just in case you somehow got amnesia (or were born after 1985), I'll give you the quick synopsis. If you were to put all the eighties, mainstream, cheesy yet still a little bit artsy bands into some sort of battle of the bands competition, Duran Duran would finish in the top 3 (along with Depeche Mode and the Pet Shop Boys), edging out other favorites like Billy Idol, Tears for Fears, and the Human League. Without a doubt they were a pop band--not to be confused with artists like the Talking Heads or Blondie--but they were an EXCELLENT pop band who put together 3 (maybe even 4) really good albums and an impressive string of great, sing-a-long singles. And that's a resume with which few can compete.

As for this collection, it's all the Duran Duran a person needs--and maybe even then some. Every single one of hits are here--including their James Bond song, "A View to a Kill," and early nineties hits like "Come Undone." You might have some gripes about which versions they use (for example, why the US edit for "Rio?"), but you can't argue with the track list as a whole. You've got all the smash hits (Rio, Hungry Like the Wolf, Girls on Film), as well as the popular tracks that aren't as well known (All She Wants Is, New Moon on Monday, The Reflex). This is a great collection for anyone who's a fan of eighties music or a Duran Duran lover.

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The Police Deliver Perfection With This Album
Amazing, Would Give a 4.9 If I Could
Police State
ZENYATTA MONDATTA IS THE POLICE IN THEIR PRIME.
a classic.

Zenyatta Mondatta [Digipak]
The Police
Manufacturer: Interscope Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Live

ASIN: B00008BRDV
Release Date: 2003-03-04

Tracks:

Don't Stand So Close To Me
Driven To Tears
When The World Is Running Down, You Make The Best Of What's Still Around
Canary In A Coalmine
Voices Inside My Head
Bombs Away
De Do Do Do, De Da Da Da
Behind My Camel
Man In A Suitcase
Shadows In The Rain
The Other Way Of Stopping

Customer Reviews:

The Police Deliver Perfection With This Album.......2007-05-08

This album is defiantely a masterpiece and may very well be their best all-around album. All of the songs are GREAT, the sound is GREAT and this version, in my opinion is much better than the Digipak version, with it's cardboard casing and I don't even think the sound is as good, as on this version. I love that this has the standard jewel casing, too. The Police made this a great album, I have absolutely nothing bad to say about it. A must have for Police fans.

Amazing, Would Give a 4.9 If I Could.......2007-03-06

This album was sitting in the rack at the used cd store for 7 bucks. I thought to myself that I like the Police, so this will be great. I then go home and open the sleek packaging. I pop the cd in and I immediately fall in love with what I'm hearing. I played it over and over again.

There's a definite reason for such feelings towards this album. This album displays one thing extravagently; The Police were at their peak, performing with such a laid back feel while embracing the songwriting talents of Sting. You can hear Stewart Copeland's nonchalant attitude while laying down some of the greatest drumming this side of the eighties. His drums blend well with the fluid playing of Sting and the tastefully placed guitar lines by Andy Summers.

What's even more amazing about this album is the fact that there is practically no filler! If you know the Police, then you know that every one of their albums contains filler (especially the album Walking on the Moon), but the filler here is reduced to a minimum. Maybe Behind My Camel was a period piece, because I just have not liked it in the past few days ive listened to it. But that's it! You could select favorites (for me that includes the enjoyable Canary in a Coal Mine, the interesting Man In A Suit Case, the politically charged reggae workout When The World Is Running Down, You've Got To Make The Best Of What's Still Around and the hits De Do Do Do, De Da Da Da and Don't Stand So CLose To Me) but all the songs are enjoyable.

The ONLY thing that I didn't enjoy was the fact that there was no booklet. In all my previous cds, I enjoy reading the information and stuff about the band, along with the fact that when i put my cds into my humongous cd case, i put it in with the booklet. Just a minor incovenience, but other than that, the packaging was pretty professional.

Definitely a solid album

Police State.......2007-02-23

The Police were already being viewed as smart rock by the time their first two albums had made their impact. With "Zenyatta Mondatta," they not only landed the intelligentsia, but the commercial crowd as well. Funny how they had to resort to baby-talk to do it. "De do do do, De Da Da Da" exploded onto American radio and MTV, and suddenly these very good looking musicians were being lauded as one of New Wave's brightest hopes. So, "Dx8" was pretty silly and the video had them clowning around...where else could you here a song this catchy on the same album as a song that name-checks Nabokov?

"Zenyatta Mondatta" did just that. "Don't Stand So Close To Me" became a calling card for the band, and their second top ten hit. Social awareness songs were creeping into the mix - a tour of Asia and Africa moved Sting to write the still stunning "Driven To Tears." (And Stewart Copeland throws his conscience in the ring with "Bombs Away," a more satirical look at the war mentality.)

The increase in variety also indicated the band's growth. There are no overt 'white reggae' songs here (other than the near instrumental "Voices In My Head"), and Sting's pop skills were becoming hard to top. "De Do do Do.." and "Canary In A Coal Mine" were shimmering pop, while the darker hues color "Shadows In The Rain." The album's sole drawbacks are (like on "Regatta De Blanc") the instrumental tracks. "Behind My Camel" and "The Other Way Of Stopping" come off as bad prog-rock, lacking the immediacy and the staying powewr of the rest of "Zenyatta Mondatta."

But withstanding those two tracks, the remainder of "Zenyatta Mondatta" is stellar. The Police also managed something with their third album that meets my critereon for a classic/five star rating; they altered the course of what was to follow. With the first class re-mastering, 1980's "Zenyatta Mondatta" sounds fresher than ever.

ZENYATTA MONDATTA IS THE POLICE IN THEIR PRIME. .......2007-02-13

I will be writing a review on the legendary album entitled "ZENYATTA MONDATTA" by one of Rock's most legendary bands, THE POLICE. This album was originally released in 1980 on Vinyl/LP and Cassette on the A&M Records label. I purchased the very first release of this album on Compact Disc in the mid 80's. As always, if I hear any new additional information concerning this legendary album or the artist, I will edit this review immediately so that you the consumer will get the best informative and most accurate review possible.

I watched the Grammy's yesterday and saw the reunion performance of THE POLICE. Despite not rehearsing in years, they still did not sound to bad. Sting can still sing all of the high vocal ranges after all these years. However, they do need to prepare for their first world tour in years which will kick off in three months from now. Seeing THE POLICE gave me as well as all the Rock fans hope that great bands do get back together to set the record straight. THE POLICE began in 1977 comprising of lead vocalist and bassist Sting (Born Gordon Sumner), lead and rhythm guitarist Andy Summers and drummer Stewart Copeland. THE POLICE would be a legendary band that would be in the glorious tradition of the great three man bands such as CREAM and RUSH. THE POLICE would be one of the very first early pioneers to play a combined mixture of Progressive Rock, New Wave Rock and Raggae music. With these new combined mixtures, the result would be an extremely rare sound. In my opinion, if any album were to prove this new sound and formula, it would have to be the "ZENYATTA MONDATTA" album. When you listen to this album you will think just how really good it really is.

Now for the music, if you really want to get down and listen to some extremely rare songs on this album, listen to "Don't Stand So Close To Me," the heartfelt "Driven To Tears," the breathtaking and groundbreaking "When The World Is Running Down, You Make The Best Of What's Still Around," the fast driving "Canary In A Coalmine," the haunting "Voices Inside My Head," the free spirited "Bombs Away," the ever popular "De Do Do Do, De Da Da Da," the horrific "Behind My Camel," the blistering "Man In A Suitcase," the soulful "Shadows In The Rain" and the extraordinary "The Other Way Of Stopping."

Overall, this is an incredible album with an extremely rare sound. I would say that this legendary album is worth looking into and checking out.

I would like to highly recommend purchasing this legendary album to own as a valuable and important part of his or her own personal music collection. This album has already proven to stand the test of time and will always be around to be enjoyed, appreciated and cherished for many years to come, NOW AND FOREVER.

In closing, when THE POLICE officially disbanded in 1984, the whole world was left wondering if they would ever reunite. In this case, be careful what you wish for, it just might happen. THE POLICE is the story of three men who decided to come home to their roots and perform together one more time, in 2007. It's been a long time since THE POLICE last performed together as a unit but I get the feeling that Rock n' Roll and the fans are going to be in for a big treat and a surprise from this legendary band in 2007. With that in mind, there will be new tales and stories that would need to conquered, told and written in new pages and chapters in this band's legendary storied career. But that, my fellow readers and reviewers, as well as myself, we will just have to wait and see what unfolds in the future for this great band. So here's to you Sting, Andy and Stewart. Good Luck. Keep Persevering. Keep The Faith. Keep On Rockin'. And as the saying goes, "AND THE REST IS ROCK N' ROLL HISTORY," am I wrong? Thanks for reading my review and I hope you enjoyed reading it as much as I enjoyed writing it for your reading pleasure. I also hope that you will read all of my other reviews in the near future when time permits. THE POLICE RULES. Long Live Rock n' Roll. Rock out always and take it easy. Forever In Rock, John L.

a classic........2007-02-04

the police are amazing. and for anyone who says "ehhhhhhh" and believes that their albums are mediocre isn't really listening. because i'm almost positive that they don't have the musical ability to create this masterpiece. so don't judge something that you yourself don't have the talent to make. with that said, every police album until synchronicity awesome, flawless in production and musicianship. and the only reason i dont like synchronicity is cause it completely disconnects from their previous style and replaces it with all those cheezy synths and eighties production. sting........is responsible for that. but the talent in the band is in stewart copeland and andy summers. sting i think is a better songwriter. even so, his basslines are still an essential element of their sound. overall i cant really pic a favorite album of their's so i decided to review the first record i bought by them, zenyatta mondatta. since then i've bought all their cd's but synchronicity and i doubt that i will ever get the latter. this is a good record to burn to.

The Best of Elvis Costello: The First 10 Years

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A Casual Fan Semi-Review...
"The Only Elvis That Matters" Done Justice
Same Old Music in Yet Another New Sleeve
how many times can you jump out of the cupboard
+1/2 -- The best early Costello single CD yet

The Best of Elvis Costello: The First 10 Years
Elvis Costello
Manufacturer: Hip-O Records
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Binding: Audio CD

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ASIN: B000OHZJJQ
Release Date: 2007-05-01

Tracks:

(The Angels Wanna Wear My) Red Shoes
Alison
Watching The Detectives
(I Don't Want To Go To) Chelsea
Pump It Up
Radio, Radio
Accidents Will Happen
Oliver's Army
(What's So Funny 'Bout) Peace, Love And Understanding
I Can't Stand Up For Falling Down
High Fidelity
Clubland
New Lace Sleeves
Good Year For The Roses
Beyond Belief
Man Out Of Time
Almost Blue
Every Day I Write The Book
Shipbuilding
Brilliant Mistake
Indoor Fireworks
I Want You

Album Description

22 Timeless songs compiled by Elvis Costello from his first 11 albums.

Customer Reviews:

A Casual Fan Semi-Review..........2007-05-29

Being a fan,but not a fanatic of Elvis,I came across this new collection of hits from him and thought it was a great time to buy. I had purchased an old hits of his from the 80's, on cassette.Of course,I know the standard hits.Alison,Pump It Up,Accident's Will Happen and my fave, What's So Funny...,among a couple of others. Noticed a whole bunch of songs I wasn't familiar with and look forward to hearing them,when I receive this new set.Of late,I am digging deeper into many classic artists I listen to.Elvis fits into that. For that reason,I am giving this collection,4 stars.For the songs I know. After listening to the others,perhaps I can raise it to 5 stars.

"The Only Elvis That Matters" Done Justice.......2007-05-20

In my opinion, this is the best single-disc Elvis Costello compilation anyone has ever released. In fact, it may even be the best introduction to E.C. out there (He's so stylistically diverse that no single album is an effective introduction, and both of the more extensive collections - "Girls Girls Girls" on Columbia and "The Very Best of Elvis Costello" on Rhino - would probably be overwhelming to someone unfamiliar with the majority of his work). Also, the collection "Rock and Roll Music," as is evident in the title, ignores his non-"Rock and Roll" songs.

But this disc finally gets it right. There was a "The Very Best of Elvis Costello & the Attractions" single-disc issued on Rykodisc in 1994 that came close, but as good as that disc was, this collection makes three substitutions that are actually improvements: "(The Angels Want to Wear My) Red Shoes," "New Lace Sleeves," and "Almost Blue" replace "Watch Your Step," "New Amsterdam," and "Love Field."

Not only are the substitutions slightly better songs in my opinion, they also paint a more complete picture of Elvis Costello as an artist and writer. Especially "Red Shoes" - if you'd only heard the ballad "Alison" and the reggae-influenced "Watching the Detectives" from his debut album, you'd have no idea what to expect from the rest of the CD, but "Red Shoes" really sets the tone for the rest of that disc (and it's just an amazing song). Some people complain that these songs have been repackaged too many times, but I have a hard time arguing with the final result.

The remastering of this collection sounds as good as the Rhino remasters (which managed to be a slight improvement over the already great-sounding Rykodisc versions), and I really don't understand why some people complain about the sound (but I never owned any of the vinyl records, so maybe I am missing something). Still, the sound is the best that I've heard on CD, and in terms of song selection, this is a near-perfect set. For some, this will be all the Elvis Costello they ever need. For others, it will be the beginning of a long journey into the career of one of the best, most insightful and most interesting singer-songwriters in popular music. Either way, it's hard to go wrong with this collection.

Same Old Music in Yet Another New Sleeve.......2007-05-15

Now that thirty years has passed since his debut, it is apparent to me that Elvis Costello has a lot more in common with his namesake than a singing career. Case in point - Almost immediately upon his arrival at RCA, Elvis Presley's recordings were packaged with little regard to the consumer, and then re-packaged so relentlessly that nobody except the most dedicated, wealthy, and mentally unbalanced collector could possibly hope to amass all of Presley's catalog. With blithe regularity, RCA executives would abuse their position as the historic caretakers of a rock and roll legend by digging deeper and deeper into obscurities, then packaging them with recycled classic recordings. Very, very little was genuinely `new' except the package itself. These collections are innumerable, and I pity the poor soul who suffers the disease of being a completist collector, because it can cost you your bank account, your house, and maybe even your marriage, all in the pursuit of owning all that is Elvis.
It now appears as though the same type of abuse has befallen the recorded works of Elvis Costello. I should know. I was one of those `mentally unbalanced' individuals who felt the need to own every Elvis Costello item released on the marketplace. In the beginning, it was kind of fun. Costello had numerous singles with non-LP b-sides, and plenty of `alternate' versions to keep fans quite busy. I was a part of that vinyl junkie set, a cult of obsessed lunatics who lived to find the rarest single, or an alternate package. After three years and hundreds of dollars spent, I remember feeling betrayed when Columbia issued "Taking Liberties," a collection of Elvis' rare b-sides. In an instant, one five-dollar album made twenty rarities commonplace. Nevertheless, I soldiered on; buying 10" collector's singles, alternate mixes, and all sorts of oddities. Then, the CD era began, and it started to happen all over again. Elvis changed labels (from Columbia to Warner Brothers), and his catalog albums were subjected to not one, not two, but three separate repackagings, each of them containing unique `rarities' that could be obtained nowhere else. A dedicated collector would require four versions of each Elvis Costello album. At this point, I finally surrendered, but I already spent enough to finance a Hawaiian vacation for some record executive and his family of four. Nowadays I simply stand by, amazed as the repackaging craze continues unabated. By my count, the above named collections represent the 10th and 11th re-compilation of Elvis Costello's `hits'. I'm not saying they are bad collections. The booklets contain song lyrics, which is a nice touch, especially for the older material. Naturally, the songs are great and I should know, because I bought each of these tracks at least a half-dozen times already. If you still don't own them, then go ahead and buy them. You will enjoy them. I, however, will stare at my room full of Elvis-related plastic and acknowledge the reason that I never made that trip to Hawaii myself.
B+ Tom Ryan

how many times can you jump out of the cupboard.......2007-05-12

i swore i wouldnt buy the elvis cannon again=LPs,Singles,3 sets of CDs etc., unless it was on SACD,and i wont.But the 2 comps were worth a listen,rock and roll for the unreleased stuff{how is it possible?}and 10 years for the 4th remaster.Seeing Elvis's Lexus commercial with him enjoying surround sound just makes me sad for what could have been.Rock on,EC!

+1/2 -- The best early Costello single CD yet.......2007-05-09

You can't hardly swing a dead cat without hitting Costello's early material in reissue form. With Ryko and Rhino both having taken ever-lengthening passes at his albums, Hip-O picks up the catalog years of 1977-1986 for another round. In addition to a new pair of compilations (this one and "Rock and Roll Music") that skim the initial decade's eleven albums, their May 1 release date also marks the re-re-re-reissue of the albums on CD and the catalog's digital download debut (initially from iTunes, later from addtiional services).

After so many Costello reissues and compilations, this collection is mostly a retail shelving refresher and a beacon for Hip-O's album reissue and digital programs; all 22 of these tracks have been available on CD before. And as with other single-disc Costello anthologies such as Sony's 1990 19-track "Best of Elvis Costello and the Attractions" and Ryko's 1994 22-track "Very Best of Elvis Costello and the Attractions," there's simply too much worthy material in Costello's initial eleven albums (not to mention assorted singles and B-sides) to fully essay in 80 minutes.

What you get here is a well drawn sketch that provides the neophyte a sense of Costello's incredible torrent of early creativity, the sustain of his first few years, a few missteps in the mid-80s, and a stronger-than-ever comeback with 1986's "King of America" and "Blood & Chocolate" LPs." Though fans of the albums will mentally flinch at the inter-album segues (and thus the missing classics), condensing Costello's career arc does demonstrate how his punk-era angst and blistering song-writing aged and then reasserted itself in a more mature, but no less powerful form a decade later. Reducing 10 years to a single CD also creates a bit of genre whiplash as Costello applied himself to rock, punk, pop, soul, R&B blues, and jazz.

As on Ryko's 1994 collection, Costello aided in the track selection. No surprise then that there are 19 tracks in common with Ryko's earlier release. The three substitutions add the essential "(The Angels Wanna Wear My) Red Shoes," "Almost Blue," and "New Lace Sleeves" in place of the expendable "Watch Your Step," "New Amsterdam," and "Love Field," making this the best single-disc Costello anthology on the market. Costello fans are better off making their own anthologies from the original albums, but those just coming to his work decades after the fact will find this an excellent primer. 4-1/2 stars, if allowed fractional ratings. [©2007 redtunictroll at hotmail dot com]

Average customer rating:

We're Still Listening To Them
Why do labels do this with greatest hits CDs?...
Reuniting And It Feels (and sounds) So Good
Every Breath You Take - The Police
Nostalgia

Every Breath You Take: The Classics
The Police
Manufacturer: A&M
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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ASIN: B0006VXMDU
Release Date: 2005-01-11

Tracks:

Roxanne
Can't Stand Losing You
Message In A Bottle
Walking On The Moon
Don't Stand So Close To Me
De Do Do Do, De Da Da Da
Every Little Thing She Does Is Magic
Invisible Sun
Spirits In The Material World
Every Breath You Take
King Of Pain
Wrapped Around Your Finger
Don't Stand So Close To Me '86
Message In A Bottle

Customer Reviews:

We're Still Listening To Them.......2007-07-29

This year has proven more to be the year of classic rock in the industry. With classic acts reuniting like the recent surprise return of Genesis and lesser-known acts like Crowded House, known for the song Don't Dream It's Over. But with all those acts back in the mainstream, none of them have been as widely more anticipated like The Police. With Sting, Stewart Copeland and Andy Summers returning to a whole new generation and rocking to others, it is a real welcome return to a supergroup that still withstands the test of time. Even nearly 25 years after their final album, the group is still played everywhere, and this hits album really shows with it.

The 2005 re-release of the classic Police greatest hits album Every Breath You Take: The Classics is a definitive single disc showcase that still has withstood the test of time. The songs have been remastered better than ever, the third time around. The collection was released beofre in 1995, and originally recorded in 1986. The collection includes a lot of great tracks that really feel like a dynamic trip down memory lane that works still today on great rock tracks like Don't Stand So Close To Me, Roxanne, and driven sounds of Spirits Of The Material World, and the most played song on radio today, the #1 smash Every Breath You Take.

All in all, even though nothing new has been released from The Police in years, Every Breath You Take: The Classics still works like a charm, as a fantastic reflection that is still selling out everywhere. If you haven't heard a great group from the 70's and 80's like this one, than this would work very nicely as a must buy, no matter whatever breaths they still take. We're still watching them.

Album Cover: A-

Songs: A-

Price: A 1/2-

Remastering: A

Overall: A 1/2-

Why do labels do this with greatest hits CDs?..........2007-07-15

Always we get a CD with a couple of hits not included, just so they can slap a couple of crappy remixes of songs that are already included on the album. Two important songs are missing here: "Bring on the Night" and "Synchronicity II", all because of the last two songs. It's a bit of a rip-off to some of us.

Reuniting And It Feels (and sounds) So Good.......2007-05-19

The police are nothing short of AWESOME!! This cd contains many of our most loved Police hits and is a must have for any collection. Happy listening.

Every Breath You Take - The Police.......2007-05-09

Love this album, it is so full of those wonderful songs I grew up with.

Nostalgia.......2007-05-07

I have always loved this music. It took me back to a time when I was
younger and healthier and looked forward to listening to Sting (before he
was Sting) and I was out dancing. It was good music to dance to.

Average customer rating:

collected
Depeche Mode..
Guaoo!
Great CD,
THE BEST BAND IN THE WORLD

The Best of Depeche Mode, Vol. 1
Depeche Mode
Manufacturer: Reprise / Wea
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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U218 Singles

ASIN: B000IFQLLY
Release Date: 2006-11-14

Tracks:

Personal Jesus
Just Can't Get Enough
Everything Counts
Enjoy The Silence
Shake The Disease
See You
It's No Good
Strangelove
Suffer Well
Dream On
People Are People
Martyr
Walking In My Shoes
I Feel You
Precious
Master And Servant
New Life
Never Let Me Down Again

Album Description

17 of Depeche Mode's singles from 1981-2005.

Customer Reviews:

collected.......2007-05-26

What can be said about Depeche Mode? They are definitely a major band. They are the only band from the era to stay popular for 25 years and "be new" constantly. They are the only rivals to REM and U2. Those rare bands that constantly do new albums that are interesting and can play large arenas and not seem like a nostalgia act. This "Best Of" collection may not be for the real Depeche Mode fan. They probably have all these tracks. I just saw them for the first time last year, and was thrilled. They came out of the electronic scene that John Foxx, Gary Numan, and New Order created. I don't think it was until "Everything Counts" that Depeche Mode had broken away from the pack. It has been said that they took their music into a dark place in the last 1980s, and they only got more popular. I find myself being attracted to "Shake The Disease" most of all from the early material. It just sound like the most advanced thing they ever did musical, and vocally. I also like "Precious" a lot. This is a cool collection.

Depeche Mode.........2007-05-12

What i have to say about Depeche Mode..
Only that its awesome!!!

They've sold over 13million copies of their albums!!
Anyways.. i think this truly does bring out the best of Depeche Mode if u've never heard of them before..

Guaoo!.......2007-05-10

Voy a ser sincero,yo no era fanático de esta banda,los recuerdos que tenía de ellos es de su música ochentosa plagada de sintetizadores,completamente electrónica y en esa época era heavymetalero radical,pero definitivamente el crecimiento se acompaña la madurez y en este caso se abren nuevas tendencias musicales;esta gente es excelente!no estoy seguro si este The Best Of Vol.1 está lo más representativo de este grupo,pero una cosa si es cierta,estoy enganchado al mismo!no conocía su etapa noventosa y me atrevería a decir (con permiso de sus conocedores más acérrimos)que es la mejor etapa del grupo!de mi cabeza no salen la exitante Personal Jesus,el ritmo pegajoso de It's no Good,la desgarradora y poderosa I Feel,la ritmica y nostálgica Enjoy the Silence...también se puede disfrutar de sus éxitos de los ochenta como Just Can't get Enough,Master and Servant...y lo mas reciente Precious,la instrospectiva Dream On,Suffer Well...qué mas puedo decir?Material de primera!yo por mi parte voy a comprarme todos los CD's para saber qué mas me estoy perdiendo,pero este para comenzar es un palo a la cabeza!Nota:la información de los años de las canciones la busqué previamente a la escritura de esta revisión,yo no sabía nada de esta gente...

Great CD, .......2007-03-22

Pretty much every song on this album is well-done and easy to listen to. My favorites are "Just can't get enough" (a great song from the 80s) and "Enjoy the Silence."

Their music is quite distinct and I listen to them always on long driving trips. This group really knows how to play.

Anyone who is in their 30s to 40s range will most likely enjoy listening to this. However, I think anyone anyone at almost any age might like this CD.

THE BEST BAND IN THE WORLD.......2007-03-08

This is one of their best albums put together in one. I love this cd

Average customer rating:

The World Was Waiting!
Rock and roll blasphemy?
Plain and simple
Elvis Costello: The Real King
Great Debut

My Aim Is True (With Bonus Disc)
Elvis Costello
Manufacturer: Rhino / Wea
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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ASIN: B00005MLU0
Release Date: 2001-08-21

Tracks:

Welcome to the Working Week
Miracle Man
No Dancing
Blame It on Cain
Alison
Sneaky Feelings
(The Angels Wanna Wear My) Red Shoes
Less Than Zero
Mystery Dance
Pay It Back
I'm Not Angry
Waiting for the End of the World
Watching the Detectives

Tracks:

No Action
Living in Paradise
Radio Sweetheart
Stranger in the House
I Just Don't Know What to Do with Myself
Less Than Zero (Dallas Version)
Imagination (is a Powerful Deceiver)
Mystery Dance (Honky Tonk Demo)
Cheap Reward (Honky Tonk Demo)
Jump Up (Honky Tonk Demo)
Blame it on Cain (Honky Tonk Demo)
Poison Moon (Honky Tonk Demo)

Amazon.com

Elvis Costello kicked off his debut album with a formal device that would also serve his next two long-players well: the first thing you hear is his voice. That opening phrase--"Now that your picture's in the paper..."--was more than sneakily, if not intentionally, appropriate, since Costello was quickly declared the second coming. It's become de rigueur to dis the pub-rock backing of U.S. band Clover, but their work here is satisfactorily edgy; guitarist John McFee makes some of the arrangements with his wailingly articulate fills. The remastered Rhino reissue includes a full second disc of demos and rarities. --Rickey Wright

Customer Reviews:

The World Was Waiting!.......2007-07-28

I was lucky enough to have been there to witness the arrival of one of rocks' greatest artists.To fully understand the impact EC had you would have had to be.Still grieving the loss of The Beatles I thought that nothing was ever coming to jump start music again.My Aim Is True was the best thing to come along in a very long time.The melodies and lyrics set him apart from the rest.No one hit wonder here.Elvis stayed on fire from start and there seems to be no finish. I hope there never is.

Rock and roll blasphemy? .......2007-07-23

I admit I'm an anomaly...an EC fan who does not love My Aim Is True. I place it high in a second tier of Costello's standard recordings.

'No Dancing', 'Mystery Dance' and 'Angels' are in my Top 50 EC favorites as is 'Stranger in the House' from the Rykodisc/Rhino reissues. 'Welcome to the Working Week' is enjoyable. I also like 'Radio Sweetheart' and 'Cheap Reward' from the R/R extended discs.

I'm not going to bash the rest of 'Aim'. I simply don't find it as appealing as most of the reviewers here.

A final note...Live versions of 'Aim' songs can be found on some of the second discs of Rhino's reissues and the hard to find 'Costello and Nieve'. They are typically superior to the studio versions and are worth
seeking out.

Plain and simple.......2007-04-10

One of the best debut albums--what they were called back before CDs--ever released. Though Elvis' infamous anger has tempered and he has ventured into an admirable array of musical genres, the depth and urgency of his songwriting skills are evident and prophetic here. Just try to grow weary of repeated plays of "Mystery Dance" and "(The Angels Wanna Wear My) Red Shoes." You will fail because they are endlessly listenable. This is a text book of rock music.

Elvis Costello: The Real King.......2007-02-01

More Classic '1977' Gold. This contains some of Declans finest Moments and really none of his banter. Songs like "Blame It On Cain" and "Watching The Detectives" set to Prove that 1977 was the Peak year!!

Great Debut.......2007-01-01

I'm not sure of the exact date, but it was the winter of 77/78, and my friends and I drove thru a blizzard to catch Elvis in a little lecture hall at C.W. Post College on Long Island, N.Y. Did it ever open our eyes, ears and minds. He played most of this album plus some of what was to be "This Years Model".I had purchased "My Aim Is True"after hearing, "Alison" on the radio but that song was only a hint at the rest of what was on the album. Songs like "Watching The Detectives", "Mystery Dance" and "Less Than Zero" are brillant and still stand up some 30 years later. This is one of the all time best debut albums and previewed an incredible output for the next 2 years. I wish that the Attractions had played on this but the playing on it is fine but not nearly as intense as it was live. It's albums and shows like this that remind me why I love rock 'n roll.

Average customer rating:

Knocks my socks off
Iron Maiden stand at their best
A METAL EPIC OF INFINATE PROPORTIONS. "NUMBER OF THE BEAST" IS DEFINENTLY A HEAVY METAL BLUEPRINT FOR FUTURE METAL BANDS........
The album that put Maiden on the map
Incredible piece of metal history.

The Number of the Beast
Iron Maiden
Manufacturer: Sony
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Powerslave
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Somewhere in Time

ASIN: B000063CP6
Release Date: 2002-03-26

Tracks:

Invaders
Children of the Damned
Prisoner
22 Acacia Avenue
Number of the Beast
Run to the Hills
Gangland
Total Eclipse
Hallowed Be Thy Name

Amazon.com

Throughout the 1980s, a damning generalization held true: British metal was essentially working man's food, loosely descended from biker-meets and Northern pubs; whereas, in the States, it was an outgrowth of stadium rock, which traditionally subordinated substance to spectacle. Plug-ugly and cartoonishly morbid, Iron Maiden were typical of the Brit effort, since they effectively emphasized a driving, no-nonsense approach to the music. Among metal aficionados, this album ranks as one of the defining moments of the entire genre. Of the nine songs here--including Maiden classics like "Run to the Hills" and the title track--only "Gangland" falls flat, though it's immediately overshadowed by "Hallowed Be Thy Name," acknowledged by many as this band's apotheosis. --Andrew McGuire

Customer Reviews:

Knocks my socks off.......2007-07-07

This was Iron Maiden's first album without singer Paul Di'anno. Bruce Dickenson joined up in 1981. First off I want to say that Steve Harris's bass playing is enough of a reason to buy this album. Metal is known for bass players riding the root notes and the guitar players ripping it up, but Iron Maiden works amazingly together. Bruce Dickenson's vocal deliveries are always powerful. "The Number Of The Beast" is really cool because it is an idea of what things could be like if the rapture described in the Bible actually happened. "Run To The Hills" is a great song about the plight of native americans. "The Prisoner" goes into the head of a prisoner's thinking, painting out the fear and concerns involving that life. Iron Maiden's music is smart and clever, discussing dark themes, flying over the christian right's understanding. This is an album that I finally discovered far too late in life. Buy this album and listen to it crush indie rock.

Iron Maiden stand at their best.......2007-06-10

Tied with Powerslave, i'd say this is their best album. For one thing, it has 3 songs which are still famous today. Second, there is a great range of songs on here.

1. Invaders: Fast paced, and loud. 9/10

2. Children of the Damned: Slower, but speeds up to be one of the best songs ever. 10/10

3. The Prisoner: The worst song, but still good. 7.5/10

4. 22 Acacia avenue: Tells a similar story to "Charlotte the Harlot" on Iron Maiden. Steady, and fierce at times. 10/10

5. Number of the Beast: My favourite song ever. Good lyrics, and a classic which will hopefully stay famous for 100 years (at least). 12/10

6. Run to the hills: Faster than Number of the Beast, and the only song i managed to get my friend into. 11.5/10

7. Gangland: Not a great favourite, but i like the chorus and intro. 8/10

8. Total Eclipse: Didn't really manage to get into this, but i still enjoy it whenever i hear it. 8/10

9. Hallowed be thy Name: A soft start, which builds up into a very fast paced song. 10/10

A METAL EPIC OF INFINATE PROPORTIONS. "NUMBER OF THE BEAST" IS DEFINENTLY A HEAVY METAL BLUEPRINT FOR FUTURE METAL BANDS...............2007-05-25

A metal epic you say!!! That is totally an understatement. Bruce Dickinson joined the Maiden crew in November 1981, and held nothing back with his debut on "Number Of The Beast". Bruces voice is ear shattering and exploding with rythmic energy. "Number Of The Beast" captures Maiden at an awe inspiring creative peak. Yeah I know "Run To The Hills" is the popular song that everybody likes and skips the other 8 tracks on the cd to listen to. "Run To The Hills" pales in comparison to most of the other tracks on the cd. "Invaders", "Children Of The Damned" "Gangland" "Hallowed Be Thy Name" just to name a few. From "Invaders" to "Hallowed Be Thy Name", "Number Of The Beast" is a riveting listen that speaks volumes of pure metal genius. "Number Of The Beast" would start Maidens incredible streak of recording greatness throughout the remainder of the big 1980s, Piece of Mind,Powerslave,Somewhere in Time,Seventh Son of a Seventh Son into the 1990s. The one thing I will give Iron Maiden is that they did'nt sell out and make more commercially favorite music to appeal and sell more cds to the public. Unlike Metallica who compared favorably to Maiden through 1983-1988 with great hard crunchy metal music with the likes of "Kill 'Em All1983" "Ride the Lightning1984", "Master of Puppets1986", got more commercial and softer sounding with their music. Maiden today is still pumping out hard crunching metal music and are no sell outs. "Number Of The Beast" is essential to any heavy metal or hard rock library, as it gets better with age, the Beast ages like fine wine. If you are not a of fan of Iron Maiden, I assure you, you need to own this cd. The packaging is really awesome with a fine mini booklet of literature about the Maiden and the remastering is incredible. Enough already laddy!!..................UP THE IRONS MATEY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The album that put Maiden on the map.......2007-05-20

Following the release of their second album, Killers, Iron Maiden found themselves in need of a new lead vocalist. They recruited Bruce Dickinson, formerly of the band Samson and in 1982 released The Number Of The Beast, considered by many to be a landmark metal recording.

One thing you can't help but notice listening to this album is the level of musicmanship employed. Guitarists Dave Murray and Adrian Smith had truly cemented their working relationship by this time, and the harmonized leads, counter-rhythms, and solo trade-offs that are now an Iron Maiden stock-in-trade are firmly in place here. Steve Harris ably proves himself one of the best bass players in the business, playing basslines that manage to be highly melodic while maintaining the bassists primary role of cementing the rhythm section. Speaking of the rhythm section, drummer Clive Burr outdoes himself here in a career-defining performance. Sadly this would be his last album with the Beast. Then there's Bruce Dickinson. Finally Iron Maiden was able to find a singer with range, power and flexibility to take their music to the next level. Dickinson certainly does that here, showing no signs of nervousness or discomfort in his new position as he delivers an incredible voc