FRANKIE GOES TO HOLLYWOOD
Frankie Say Greatest
A Frankie Goes To Hollywood compilation is always a welcome release, just to remind us 25 years on, how great they really were in that short time-frame of success they had in the mid 80s. This compilation opens with the original 7" version of their breakthrough hit 'Relax', and what a hit it was. If they never had another single after this, 'Relax' was going to be the song they'd be remembered for.
The other three massive singles from their debut album are also here 'Two Tribes', The Power of Love and the escape act video mix of 'Welcome To The Pleasuredome'. Also included from their debut album are 'War' and 'Born To Run'.
While their second album Liverpool, never achieved the dizzy heights of 'Pleasuredome', they still had some great songs and the three singles from same are here. 'Rage Hard', 'Warriors Of The Wasteland' and their final single 'Watching The Wildlife'. Also included from Liverpool is the beautiful closing track 'Is There Anybody Out There' which demonstrates how great a singer Holly Johnson always was.
While most fans of the band will have all of the above already, it's the b-sides that will interest the die-hards. There's the synthesised 'Happy Hi!' (b-side of the Pleasuredome single) which reminds me of the Lightning Seeds 'Pure', and 'The Waves' (Watching The Wildlife b-side) is another ballad showing the softer side of Frankie. There's also the 'Relax' b-side, 'Ferry Cross The Mersey' which has surfaced before on Frankie compilations.
As ever, to fill up any compilation, there's a couple of remixes. The Chicane, and Lockout Radio Edits of 'Relax' sound dated, and there are many better versions of 'Two Tribes' available, than the Hibakusha version included here.
If you don't have any Frankie albums, this is a good starting point, but if you're a fan already, I feel we need to see a double CD compilation which includes their versions of 'Get It On', 'Roadhouse Blues' and 'Suffragette City' to be satisfied we've heard everything.
Watch out also for the double-vinyl version of this album which includes extra mixes, and the dvd collection, and the T-Shirts are also available. It's like 1984 all over again. As the sleeve notes correctly state Frankie came, Frankie saw and Frankie conquered, and we will never - never – see their like again.
The other three massive singles from their debut album are also here 'Two Tribes', The Power of Love and the escape act video mix of 'Welcome To The Pleasuredome'. Also included from their debut album are 'War' and 'Born To Run'.
While their second album Liverpool, never achieved the dizzy heights of 'Pleasuredome', they still had some great songs and the three singles from same are here. 'Rage Hard', 'Warriors Of The Wasteland' and their final single 'Watching The Wildlife'. Also included from Liverpool is the beautiful closing track 'Is There Anybody Out There' which demonstrates how great a singer Holly Johnson always was.
While most fans of the band will have all of the above already, it's the b-sides that will interest the die-hards. There's the synthesised 'Happy Hi!' (b-side of the Pleasuredome single) which reminds me of the Lightning Seeds 'Pure', and 'The Waves' (Watching The Wildlife b-side) is another ballad showing the softer side of Frankie. There's also the 'Relax' b-side, 'Ferry Cross The Mersey' which has surfaced before on Frankie compilations.
As ever, to fill up any compilation, there's a couple of remixes. The Chicane, and Lockout Radio Edits of 'Relax' sound dated, and there are many better versions of 'Two Tribes' available, than the Hibakusha version included here.
If you don't have any Frankie albums, this is a good starting point, but if you're a fan already, I feel we need to see a double CD compilation which includes their versions of 'Get It On', 'Roadhouse Blues' and 'Suffragette City' to be satisfied we've heard everything.
Watch out also for the double-vinyl version of this album which includes extra mixes, and the dvd collection, and the T-Shirts are also available. It's like 1984 all over again. As the sleeve notes correctly state Frankie came, Frankie saw and Frankie conquered, and we will never - never – see their like again.
Support RememberTheEighties.com and Buy Online At
