Search - Various Artists :: Retro Active Rare & Remixed 2

Part 2 of the 1980's AlternoDance mixes.

K. Eisenberger | Defiance, Ohio United States | 09/10/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This is Volume 2 in the cd from the Hi Bias Canadian label of 1980's club mixes. Like Volume 1 this cd is very Alternative Dance leaning. This cd doesn't feature as many major pop hits as volume 1 but these are a little more rare in the scarcity of the records. Here is what is on the cd:

1- The Human League- Human (Extended) 5:02- this for I have no clue why was a number one Club Play track in 1986 for 3 weeks. It is the Human League's biggest charting single on the dance charts and the fact that it isn't too different from the original version I don't get. Lovely version but number one for 3 weeks?!?!

2- A- Ha- The Sun Always Shines On TV (Extended) 8:26- hit number 6 Club in the beginning of 1986. Follow up to "Take On Me".

3- Tears For Fears- Shout (Dub Mix) 6:47- there is a longer mix on the Songs From The Big Chair reissue cd. This is a remix with a decidely hip hop flavor . Number one for 2 weeks in 1985.

4- Blancmange- Don't Tell Me (Dance Remix) 6:51- hit the dance charts twice in 1984 (number 63 and 44 four months apart). Light and dancey.

5- Howard Jones- Look Mama (Megamamamix) 9:15- super rare mix from 1985.

6- Figures On The Beach- No Stars ( Unreleased Original Mix) 6:02- super rare mix again. Very up tempo mix from the alternative rockers.

7- OMD- So In Love (Brand New Extended Mix) 5:39- radically different from the original version. Very much more club feeling than before. Hit number 16 club in 1985.

8- Fuzzbox- International Rescue (The Orgasmatron Mix) 6:03- fun remix from the all girl UK group.

9- Q- Lazzarus- Goodbye Horses (Extended Version) 6:25- absolutely gorgeous remix for the song that was the b-side to the Debbie Harry classic remake of "Liar Liar". Now if the label does part 3 then please include the mega mega rare mix for Debbie Harry NOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

10- The Dream Academy- The Love Parade (12" Mix) 6:12- a more dance version of their second hit. Up tempo and very breezy sounding.

11- Alphaville- Jet Set (Jellybean Mix)6:29- never hit the chart. Great remix from the legend that is Jellybean Benitez.

12- Yaz- State Farm (Madhouse Mix) 5:24- The original hit number one in 1983 for 3 weeks with Nobody's Diary. This is the 1991 remix that was a edit on the cd single and full remix on the Maxi cassette single of Situation 1991 remix. First time on cd.

This is a great cd of original and rare mixes from a lot of 1980's alterantive club artists. A+++++++++++++"

Hi-Bias does it again!

Dagoberto P. Patlan | San Antonio, Texas United States | 07/06/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Retro:Active 2 Rare & Remixed, part of Hi-Bias' new interest in the past, is without a doubt a retro lovers holy grail. Many of the tracks were originally released on vinyl but there is one track that is the rarest of the rare, the extended mix of "Goodbye Horses" by Q Lazzarus. Many of you will recognize that song as the "dirty" dance song from Silence of the Lambs.

However, "Goodbye Horses" was not made available on the soundtrack, it could only be found on the long out-of-print soundtrack for "Married to the Mob" and it was only the radio edit.

This alone makes the CD a must-have for any retro/synth/goth fan. What else do you get? Human League's swan song "Human" seems to be ripped right from the master tape for the original 12". A-ha's "The Sun..." is a track that should have gotten a lot more airplay back in its day.

And, though one or two of the mixes seem to go on a bit long like Howard Jones' "Look Mama" while others don't seem to deserve a revist at all like the Tears for Fears, "Shout" dub mix (the extended version would have been a better choice, this CD is still a gem to behold. There are even some mixes that seem to have been ahead of their time like Yaz's "State Farm" which sounds as relavent today as it's 1983 release!

If you love original extended mixes of classic 80's songs or you just love collecting rare music, this is a CD not to be missed."

Goodbye Horses / Hello Euphoria!

James I. Webb | USA | 09/23/2005

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Attention "Silence Of The Lambs" fans. This CD has the Ultra- Rare Q Lazzarus song (Goodbye Horses) you have been searching for! The hauntingly beautiful music playing while Buffalo Bill struts his stuff is here in all it's glory in a 6 min. 25 sec. extended version! Worth the price of this disc on it's own. However, the rest of the disc will make you want to wax up the dance floor and return to the Synth Pop sounds of the 80's!"