Hardest Hits: Modern Rock of the 80's

Wow, 41 awesome tracks on 3 CDs! Includes extended mixes from Sigue Sigue Sputnik, Duran Duran, Visage, Lords of the New Church, Japan, Micro Chip League, Vicious Pink and many more. I appreciate the inclusion of the LONG version of the Flying Lizards' "Money," as well as Feargal Sharkey's hit song with Vince Clarke (of Depeche Mode, Yaz, Erasure, etc.) recorded under the name the Assembly. My only complaint with SPG releases is that many of the songs sound like they've been mastered off of vinyl; occasionally there are strange edits on the beginnings of the tracks and I can often detect the sound of a needle riding the record's groove.It should be noted that disc one appears to contain the same track listing as Hardest Hits #3 in the series ... similarly, disc two is the same as Hardest Hits #4 ... and disc three is apparently identical to Hardest Hits #5. Something to do with SPG's licencing of certain tracks, I imagine. But now you know to skip #3 through #5 and buy Hardest Hits #1 if you can find it. Then add Hardest Hits #2 for more top-notch retro music from the likes of Re-Flex, Trio, Naked Eyes, Pigbag, and the Normal (an early pseudonym used by Daniel Miller of Mute Records fame.) ...

Well, I stumbled across this 6-disc compilation a few weeks back and was quite interested in the tracklisting, since I had been looking for the 12" Version of "If You Leave" by OMD on CD for a while now. The same goes for the 'On-Mix (Extended Version)' of "The Promise" by When In Rome. Plus, there were a few other extended mixes that I hadn't heard before and I wanted to hear. However, I didn't recognize about half of the songs. But it's 6 CDs for [the price]! ... Fantastic price. I would have paid more for it actually.The collection is quite nice. The artwork isn't the best, but it's the music that matters. I was a bit worried that the sound quality wouldn't be that great, considering the price. Yet considering that these are rare 12" mixes the sound quality is quite good and fantastic on most of the tracks. Plus, I recognized a few tracks that I didn't even know the name of, such as "Situation" by Yaz (one of my favorites).Overall, it's a nice collection if you like 1980s extended mixes. Now if only more labels would release these rare 12" mixes on CD - but remastered! I wonder why more haven't. :/

The tome of alt. music. This collection of music can't be beat for anyone looking for rare or classic 80s music. I own multiple 80s compilations, but nothing compares to this. Absolutely worth the $$$.

Excellent set of extended versions. I particularly like the long version of Lords of the New Church's "Dance With Me"

Almost all the songs in this CD box are truly rare 12'' versions as advertised. OMD, Gary Numan, Stephan 'Tin-Tin' Duffy. etc.---On listening to the gems, they took me back to my prime time in the later 'DISCO' era in the eraly '80s. Of course, as it often happens to the retro CDs like this set, the quality of the sounds are maybe not perfect. But you should stand it, given the inexpensive price for three CDs ! It's more than enjoyable and deserves to join your collection if you are the retrospective DISCO and danceable British New Wave type of music fan like me.

Don't buy each volume separately except volume 2!!! This boxed set is volumes 3-5. Track times are:CD11. story of love (5:39)2. swamp thing (5:56)3. first picture of you (5:27)4. you move me (5:37)5. love is shining down on me (6:09)6. feels like heaven (3:31)7. goodbye yesterday (6:26)8. heartbeat like thunder (5:45)9. dance with me (5:50)10. Tokyo streets (4:42)11. baby jude (5:05)12. cccan't you see (8:11)13. new york (5:07)14. transdance (4:57)CD21. never never (5:51)2. san damiano (6:35)3. money (5:50)4. take me now (6:20)5. 88 lines (5:30)6. escalator of life (4:41)7. you don't need someone new (6:05)8. Everywhere I Go (4:18)9. brilliant mind (7:00)10. life in Tokyo (7:05)11. planet earth (6:20)12. into the fire (5:44)13. let me go (6:23)CD31. first last for everything (4:39)2. whistle down the wind (3:41)3. melody (3:58)4. working with fire & steel (5:00)5. baby's in the mountains (6:49)6. day one (3:49)7. pleasure boys (6:49)8. only you (3:23)9. doot doot (6:00)10. love missile f1-11 (6:54)11. simon says (6:10)12. international (7:07)13. jettown (3:40)14. jet boy jet girl (7:00)

Great value on yet another fabulous offering from the SPG label. Although some of these tracks were issued on previous releases on SPG's "Hardest Hits" series, there is plenty of tracks that are unique to this set. This is a must for any 80's fan.

Story of love extended version alone makes this a find. The rest is just bonus, recommend.

Love it!