На крупнейшем международном торговом портале amazon появились первые рецензии относительно новой британской 2CD-компиляции Boney M. Platinum Hits.
Как мы уже сообщали ранее, это красиво оформленное подарочное издание выпустил британский лэйбл Music Club Deluxe (подразделение Demon Music Group, головной офис которой находится в Лондоне). Компиляция вышла 7 октября, а чуть позже появилась и на музыкальных рынках других стран, в частности, Германии и США.
Судя по откликам покупателей, основная их часть осталась вполне довольна этим изданием. Впрочем, некоторых заядлых Boney M-манов не устроил даже такой, казалось бы, вполне конкурентный релиз.
Отмечая красивое оформление сборника, критически настроенные скептики выражают недовольство тем фактом, что некоторые трэки не являются оригинальными версиями или же отредактированы в сторону сокращения хронометража. Кроме того, имеется несовпадение длительности части заявленных в трэк-листе композиций с реальным временем на компакт-дисках.
Здесь, правда, нужно отметить, что британцы никогда не отличались особой щепетильностью в указании реальных хронометражей ещё с "виниловых" времён.
Часто британские лэйблы вообще не указывают длительность звучания трэков на своих изданиях.
В обзоре известного знатока творчества Boney M. Данни Ланге (Дания) говорится, что подбор композиций в британском сборнике довольно странный.
"Поскольку издание ориентировано, в первую очередь, для рынка Соединённого Королевства, не совсем понятно, почему сборник "Платиновые хиты" содержит ряд трэков, которые не имели платинового статуса в этой стране (хотя большая часть представленных композиций действительно являются "платиновыми" - ред.). Похоже что составители сборника мало знакомы с историей группы и вряд ли по настоящему заботились о соответствии названия компиляции её реальному наполнению. Скорее это похоже на желание получить лёгкие деньги", - резюмирует автор рецензии.
Как бы там ни было, но двое из трёх рецензентов поставили новому изданию 5 звёзд из пяти. Данни Ланге традицонно суров. Его "приговор" - 2 балла.
Общая оценка на сегодняшний день - 4 балла.
Ниже мы приводим оригинальные тексты рецензий покупателей нового релиза на amazon.co.uk:
Boney M. "Platinum Hits": Yet another Boney M. compilation with edits. 11 Oct 2013
By Danni Lange (**)
This compilation is yet another Boney M. compilation that's including mainly edits (of the original material) as well as a few remixes. Therefore it fails.
The music on this compilation is still good as the Boney M. material speaks for itself, but if you want the original material in original length (single- and album-versions) with Boney M. that went to the top of the charts back in the seventies/eighties, then stay away from this release and go for the compilations mentioned in the end of this review.
The normal record buyer may not notice it, but the greatest part of the single hits/releases on this compilation are mastered from another compilation that was including edits (an entire album where the original tracks had been edited down in time). An edit means that a song has been shortened (verses cut out, instrumental parts removed etc.). But why do that, when the original material should speak for itself?
The Boney M. catalogue is very complex because their material has been twisted and shorted in every way possible. Unfortunately Demon Music Group who compiled this compilation wasn't aware of the complex Boney M. catalogue.
On the Demon Music Group web-site, they have the following statement about their Music Club Deluxe series:
"With over a million units sold and more than a 100 titles, Music Club Deluxe is DMG's outstanding mid-priced 2CD single artist range. It boasts top quality repertoire from household names with selections and sleeve notes by experts for novices and fans alike and striking artwork with slip-cased packaging."
Because of the statement above, one can only wonder why the liner-notes of this compilation have several mistakes during the storyline? And not to forget: Why has this compilation not only been compiled of the original Boney M. material in non-edited versions (single- and LP-versions) from the glorious seventies/early eighties? Using mainly edits as on this compilation seems wrong.
The label on front of the compilation states: " All Their Hits", but that isn't quite true. Several tracks are missing ("My Friend Jack/I See A Boat On The River", "Children Of Paradise" to name a few). Some of the groups other single releases that did not enter the U.K. charts is however to be found on the album ("Baby Do You Wanna Bump", "Kalimba De Luna").
Unfortunately Demon Music Group has not been aware of that they had their hands on the wrong sources when compiling this compilation. Or were they aware? Is it all about easy money and no interest in the Boney M. legacy?
The cover is looking really good and it's nice with the use of the original Boney M. logo, but the content on the CD's isn't satisfying, simply because of using edits. It could have been a very nice compilation, if all the tracks were in full length/original length.
A few notes about the mistakes on this compilation:
CD1:
"Nightflight To Venus" is an edit running only 3:49. The original and most common album-version of "Nightflight To Venus" is running 4:47 which means that a complete minute is missing here.
"Sunny" the group's second Top 10 hit in England is another edit running only 3:15. The original single- and LP-version is 4:01. Yet again almost a complete minute has been cut out.
"Ma Baker" the group's third Top 10 hit in England is yet another edit running only 3:45. The original single- and album-version is 4:34. Again, almost a complete minute of this master piece has been cut out.
"Rasputin" the group's sixth Top 10 hit in England has also suffered badly. Yet another edit. The version on this compilation is 3:44, but the original single-version is 4:43. 1 minute has been cut out of "Rasputin".
"Belfast" is a remix version from 1992 (Known as "Gold" version with extra hi-hats etc.). Not the original 1977 single-/LP-version.
"No Women No Cry" is yet another edit running 3:32. The original 1976 version is 4:55. It means that over 1 minute and 20 seconds has been edited out.
"Heart Of Gold" is a remix from 2000 and not the original 1978 version from "Nightflight To Venus". This version is running 3:35, the original 1978 version is 4:05.
"Love For Sale" - the title track from the group's second album from 1977 is a 1993 remix and an edit as well (Known as "More Gold" version). This remix version is running 4:13. The original album version is 4:41.
"Dancing In The Streets" has been included in the original 12" version (6:22). One could only wonder why. The original single-version, running 3:58, would have been better for this compilation.
"Exodus" is the album-version and not the single-version. "Exodus" is taken from the 1984 album "10.000 Lightyears". Exodus was a part of a medley together with "Wild Planet". When they fade "Exodus" on this compilation you have already heard the first bars of "Wild Planet". The single-version of Exodus should have been used.
"Somewhere In The World" - the A-side of "Exodus" is another edit. Here in a 4:10 version. The original single-version is 4:28.
CD 2:
"Rivers Of Babylon" - a U.K. no. 1 and a million seller has not even been included in the version that went to the top in 1978. This is another edit! The original single-version from 1978 is 4:19, the version used here is only 4:00.
"Hooray! Hooray! It's A Holi- Holiday" a U.K. Top 3 has once again been suffering bad! The version on this compilation is only 3:11. The version that went to the Top 3 in 1979 is running 3:55.
"Kalimba De Luna" yet another remix from 1992 (Known as "Gold" version) and edit running 3:48. The original 1984 track is 4:31.
"Oceans Of Fantasy" the title track from the group's fourth album and second U.K. no. 1 album is only 3:21. The original album version is 5:05. There is missing 1 minute and 40 seconds of the track!
"El Lute" the B-side of the 1979 single "Gotta Go Home" is also an edit, as well as a remix. On this compilation it's running 4:01. As the B-side of "Gotta Go Home" "El Lute" is 5:09.
"Dreadlock Holiday" is not the original 1985 version, but a remix (known as "TopDeck" version") taken from a 1993 compilation.
"Ribbons Of Blue", one of the group's finest tracks, as well as the B-side of "Hooray! Hooray! It's A Holi- Holiday" is only running 3:05. Original single version from 1979 is 4:07.
"Young Free & Single" is the album version running 4:11, and not the single version: 4:18.
It has to be added that strangely enough, Demon Music Group has managed to use the original single-version of the U.K. 1978 Christmas chart-topper "Mary's Boy Child/Oh My Lord". A true master piece.
Go for the budget Boney M. releases "The Collection"(3CD) or "Let It All Be Music (The Party Album)" (2CD) instead - all including original single- and LP-versions, as well as a few exciting alternate versions. Or the box with all the original albums "The Complete Boney M." (8CD). If you are into the Christmas material, then go for "Feliz Navidad - A Wonderful Christmas" (2 CD), despite having a totally wrong photo on the cover for a Christmas release.
WHICH DIRECTION TO THE INTERGALACTIC DANCE-FLOOR? 12 Oct 2013
By Dad Dancing (*****)
WHICH DIRECTION TO THE INTERGALACTIC DANCE-FLOOR?
My, oh, my! The previous reviewer, who I've found out runs an UNOFFICIAL fan-site, appears to have an axe to grind. Not one positive comment; just barbed comments which isn't really fair.
I'm sure there's a place for a much bigger, more expensive fan-based release but this is an inexpensive, well-packaged, best-of collection and ticks all the right boxes and is obviously not aimed at the core fans.
Really good album cover design, as good as one you'd see on TV and which reminds me of two of their albums and inside a subtly larger picture of an album cover that Daft Punk referenced for the `Get Lucky' download single; that's attention to detail. The cover photo is excellent, which gives the package an air of quality.
The inside notes were written by a respected disco music author, so that's another plus in my book.
But it's really about the music and it is packed with feel-good songs, including the hits and some really well chosen album tracks especially `He Was A Steppenwolf'. The CD mastering also has a fresh and crisp sound and I am sure that the label was only allowed to use tapes that were provided by the company that owns the songs.
The cover sticker states includes `all their hits', which it does as in my opinion a hit was a record that reached the top 40 in the UK. The three songs mentioned did not, one of which was an unlisted b-side and one didn't even get in the top 75. I know as I looked at old chart reference books.
My teenage daughters both think the two best disco revival albums this year are this Boney M album and The Chic Organisation: Up All Night CD but that was until I gave them the Magnifique/best of Chic collection also released on Demon/Music Club Deluxe. Two months later, I still can't get that CD back from them!
This is a great collection which just hits the spot, so will be getting quite a few spins at our place over Christmas as I get up and embarrass myself in front of the rest of the family, so for me, this gets 5 stars.
Very good have came back for 3rd buy 16 Oct 2013
By romperstomper (*****)
Bought one for myself then my gf wanted one then her brother so have now just bought our 3rd .Brings back our younger days and seems to be the best Boney M cd option,don't know what the poor review by the other guy is on about its not remixed at all, take it from us its a great cd (fav at the moment)
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