Predominantly short versions, a few extended gems...and pain
Daniel W. Kelly | Long Island, NY United States | 12/17/2006
(1 out of 5 stars)
"Sorry. didn't mean to give it one star...but I can't edit it now. Should be about 4 stars.
Despite the original editorial notes on Amazon, this is a THREE disc set with 51 tracks, not 2 discs, and it is called "Best Club Anthems 80s Classics", NOT "Best Club Anthems 2007). It's a smorgasbord of 7" versions, long LP versions, 12" single versions and remixes from the 80s. The single most reason to buy this compilation of mostly recycled tracks from other compilations would have been the 12" version of "Chain Reaction" by Diana Ross on CD AT LAST!!! This is the only place you will find this rarety. BUT, I might as well get the crushing news out of the way. There is some sort of wickedly odd mastering issue in the opening bars of the song--a flange effect has been added to the drum rolls, so the sound goes in and out, BADLY. I don't know WHY this was done. Perhaps it was mastered from vinyl, and it was an attempt to hide a noticeable pops??? This is just devastating for collectors who have been looking for this 12" version on CD for years, because it is an absolutely brilliant mix.
Now, as I try and pick up the pieces of my life and move on, here's what remains. This is a serious "club anthems of the 80s" collection, and will bring you back with a variety of styles from the original era of electronic dance music, new wave, rap, freestyle, R&B, house, hi-nrg. What could have made it better is a full collection of all the 12" versions--which probably would have made this collection about EIGHT CDs.
There are a handful of LP lengths, including:
1999 (6:15)...Prince 's
Can You Feel It (5:58)... The Jacksons
Rapper's Delight (7:04)...Sugarhill Gang (not the 14 minute 12" single version)
Just Be Good To Me (5:49)...SOS Band
The Real Thing (5:35)...Jellybean
Extended versions and remixes include:
Last Night a DJ Saved my Life (5:38)...Indeep
Love Town (5:13)...Booker Newberry III
You're the One For Me (paul hardcastle labour of love mix) (4:09)...D Train
19 (12" version)...Paul hardastle (oddly, the 12" version is shorter than the LP version)
Chain Reaction (12") (6:52)...Diana Ross
West End Girls (extended) (6:29)...Pet Shop Boys
Imagination (5:27)...Belouis Some
You Sexy Thing (Ben Liebrand mix) (3:28)...Hot Chocolate
Sometimes (12")...Erasure (5:15)
And She Was(extended) (4:54)...Talking Heads
Movin (1988 remix) (3:23)...Brass Construction
The remaining are all 7" versions:
Another one bites the dust...queen
Use it up and wear it out...odyssey
Rapture...blondie
Oops upside your head...gap band
Somebody help me out...beggars & co.
Chant no. 1...spandau ballet
Temptation...heaven 17
Get down Saturday night...oliver cheatham
Flashdance...irene cara
IOU...freeze
We got the funk...positive force
White lines...grandmaster flash
Trapped...colonel Abrams
Feel so real...steve Arrington
I'll be good...rene & angela
Let the music play...Shannon
Sussudio...phil Collins
Searchin...hazell dean
I didn't mean to turn you on...cherrelle
You spin me round...dead or alive
Somebody else's guy...Jocelyn brown
Hangin on a string...loose ends
Word up...cameo
Ain't nothing goin on but the rent...gwen Guthrie
Saturday love...cherrelle & Alexander o'neal
Showing out...mel & kim
Pump up the volume M/A/R/R/S
Buffalo stance...neneh cherry
Good life...inner city
Pump up the jam...technotronic
Respect...adeva
Musical freedom...paul simpson with adeva and Carmen maria
Sexy girl...lilo Thomas
Back to life...soul II soul"
About that SOS Band hit.......
Jonathan W. Schult | Mass. Park, NY | 01/19/2008
(2 out of 5 stars)
"Re the other review on this collection by Daniel Kelly, the SOS Band hit "Just Be Good to Me" at a timing of 5:49 is NOT the Lp version; rather, it is the airplay version from when it was a radio hit. The album version of the song is 9:08. Oh, yeah, and the two star rating is for "Chain Reaction" and all the 7" single versions included. If something is called "Club Anthems", it should be the CLUB VERSIONS. This kind of deception should not be tolerated by the buying public."
Track Listings (51) - Disc #1