Search - RETRO ACTIVE :: Rare & Remixed

Alternative club mixes from the 80's and 90's.

K. Eisenberger | Defiance, Ohio United States | 06/26/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I bought part 1 and part 2 of this collection plus the Old School Nation cds and they were all incredible to hear the older songs again. This collection- Retro :Active- Rare & Remixed is from the Hi Bias Canadian label. Most of these songs would be considered modern rock/ college radio classics. There are sone huge hits but the majority are not mainstream.
1- A-Ha- Take On Me (Extended Version) 4:48- hit number one on the pop charts but never for I don't know what reason hit the club chart- the beginning is radically different and then the song kicks in. Classic.
2- Camouflage- The Great Commandment (Extended Dance Remix) 5:58- massive club single at the end of 1988- number one for 3 weeks on the club chart in December. The video is great with it's Metropolis theme is great to see.
3- Erasure- Blue Savannah (Out Of The Blue Mix) 6:43- only got to number 44 on the dance charts but was a huge college hit. This mix was not on the cd single.
4- Vis-A-Vis- Shadowplay (Shadow Mix) 5:48- not a big club track but the single is very Depeche Mode like. Moody!
5- The Screaming Blue Messiahs- I Wanna Be A Flintstone(Extended Mix) 5:22- huge college hit in 1987- features samples from the cartoon classic. Fun song.
6- The Spoons- Symmetry (Extended Mix) 6:48- don't know too much about this song but it is very Euro in sound. Great song.
7- Inxs- Burn For You (12" Extended Remix)6:09- great early song from Inxs. Black background vocals- slower groove. Got to number 33 on the dance chart in 1984.
8- The Dream Academy- Life In A Northern Town (Extended Mix) 5:19- I never knew there was a dance mix. It is a great extended mix with extra chants thrown in.
9- The Other Two-Tasty Fish (Pascal Mix 12") 5:17- from the remaining two New Order members. House style mix.
10- Echo & The Bunnymen- Bring On The Dancing Horses (Extended Mix) 5:49 Ian McCulloch at his moody and depressing best. HUGE modern rock classic from 1985. Great mix.
11- The Cure- Boys Don't Cry (Resung & Club Mix 86) 5:32- a newer mid 80's version of the 1980 classic . Not that different vocally from the 3 versions out from 1980 and 1991 remixes. Just a more 80's style remix with overdubs that wouldn't be put on remixes now. Still a great song.
12- The Beloved- Your Love Takes me Higher(The Pod Went Pop Mix) 8:13- a house mix for the great UK act. Hit number 9 on the Club Chart in 1989 and is very very rare.
13- Book Of Love- I Touch Roses (Full Bloom Version)5:33- Hit number 8 on the Club Chart in 1985 and was a massive college radio hit. Weird video though. Great dead pan vocals.
This is a great collection of rare dance mixes. Great modern rock classics.A++++++"

Collectors Already!

Stan Overschlong | Bayview Hill | 12/08/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I've been a DJ for over 10 years and frankly I'm real tired of the same old versions of the great 80's tunes we're so used to. These remixes are familiar enough to satisfy your clients AND YOU!

The extra bonus of course are the abundance of rare remixes never before seen on CD. If you're a collector, you better get this series while you can and get every one! This is a killer collection and if you look at the price you can see that they are already getting premium dollar and they are not even out of print yet! Buy as many as you can afford!



DJ B-Rad"

Digitally Remastered From The Original Master Tapes!

Jason W. Bellenger | Byron Center, Michigan, USA | 03/31/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

"That's right! You won't find any vinyl hiss, pops, and clicks here! All tracks have been mastered from the original master tapes using the "Aural Submission" process @ Hi-Bias in Canada. The same holds true for the rest of the 'Retro:Active' volumes. Get all the volumes! Definitely worth getting for the sound alone."