ALPHAVILLE - THE SINGLES COLLECTION

Alphaville released an interesting disc with this Singles Collection.  It's basically an 8 track EP with 4 songs.  Each song appears with 2 versions.  The first is probably the band's most popular track.  'Forever Young (Special Extended Mix)' is interesting for a number of reasons...  First, it features a new vocal track recording by Marian Gold.  It's quite different from the original and the music is arranged with a bolder, fuller sound.  It's a great mix and very satisfying to listen to.  The second track is 'Red Rose (Single Version)'.  This is basically an edit of the album version even though it's a little longer.  'Red Rose' is from the bands second album, "Afternoons In Utopia".  Hearkening back to their first album, track number three is the single version of 'Big In Japan'.  This is a fairly standard version of the song.  The biggest difference you notice is the intro.  On the album, it segues from another song and the opening sequence is much louder and dynamic.  There are also some slight differences in some sounds.  I hear a bit of an echo on this single version I don't hear on the album version.

Track 4 is the long version of 'Dance With Me'.  This is another release from "Afternoons In Utopia".   The reason this song is a long version is because there are extended instrumental portions between the vocals.  Still, it's not bad and it's a great arrangement.  There are two album versions appearing on this release and number five is one of them.  It's the album version of 'Forever Young'.  Once again, this makes perfect sense as this is probably the band's most well known and popular track.  It doesn't hurt to include it here in its most noticeable form.  I also think it was smart to put the mix first.  Listeners just interested in this track will hear the different version and hopefully appreciate the band's musical diversity.

There's a 12" mix of 'Red Rose' up next and the music on this track is much superior to that of the album version.  The drums alone make this version so much more enjoyable.  There's a much more dramatic build throughout and the climax is more exciting.  Probably, the biggest and most exciting track on this collection is up next and it's 'Big In Japan (Remix '88).  The music stays fairly faithful, but it takes an amazing song and transforms it into an almost 8 minute musical workout with a variety effects and added percussion.  At the end of the disc we get another album version.  This time, it's 'Dance With Me' and I don't detect a difference here.  I think it's the same.

I'm fairly certain all of the material on this release showed up on vinyl prior to this pressing with the exception of the 'Big In Japan' remix.  For most of these tracks, this would be the one and only digital CD release.  The only place you could find these versions.  With the exception of the album versions of course.

I'm not entirely convinced this release is necessary to the average fan of Alphaville.  It's more of a completest release.  If you were collecting them, you'd want this one in your collection.  Otherwise, I think you can stream or purchase this music online.

My final words on this disc:  AN ENJOYABLE LISTEN, BUT NOT NECESSARY.

ALPHAVILLE - THE SINGLES COLLECTION
01. Forever Young (Special Extended Mix)
02. Red Rose (Single Version)
03. Big In Japan (Single Version '88)
04. Dance With Me (Long Version)
05. Forever Young (Album Version)
06. Red Rose (12" Mix)
07. Big In Japan (Remix '88)
08. Dance With Me (Album Version)