Hard To Find 45s On CD, Vol. 16: More ’80

Since Vol. 15 went so well, I thought I'd turn a critical ear on Eric's Hard To Find 45s On CD Vol. 16 More '80s Essentials And Beyond (2016).

1. LISTEN TO YOUR HEART - Roxette (1989) - sounds close to "Remix Short Version" from track 2 of promo CD single but louder and clips a tiny bit
2. BAD TO THE BONE - George Thorogood And The Destroyers (1982) - 45 edit; I don't have anywhere else
3. DANCING WITH MYSELF - Billy Idol (1983) - sounds significantly better than Rhino's Like Omigod; nice levels too
4. I'VE BEEN THINKING ABOUT YOU - Londonbeat (1991) - differently-EQ'd digital clone of Sony Germany's 2-CD Mega Dance Party '92 but a little longer; probably a digital clone of promo CD single; length matches Time-Life's Sounds Of The 90s (2000)
5. ONE NIGHT IN BANGKOK - Murray Head (1985) - sounds excellent!
6. TOM'S DINER - DNA Featuring Suzanne Vega (1990) - differently-EQ'd digital clone of Tom's Album (1991)
7. LUKA - Suzanne Vega (1987) - differently-EQ'd digital clone of Solitude Standing (1987) with added compression/limiting
8. TAINTED LOVE/WHERE DID OUR LOVE GO - Soft Cell (1982) - sounds close to Aaron's recreation of the medley, somehow
9. I MELT WITH YOU - Modern English (1983) - Wow! 45 version but in STEREO!
10. I DON'T LIKE MONDAYS - Boomtown Rats (1980) - differently-EQ'd digital clone of Rhino's Just Can't Get Enough Vol. 2 (1994)
11. VIDEO KILLED THE RADIO STAR - Buggles (1979) - differently-EQ'd digital clone of Rhino's Just Can't Get Enough Vol. 1 (1994)
12. MAJOR TOM (COMING HOME) - Peter Schilling (1983) - differently-EQ'd digital clone of Rhino's VH1 More Of The Big 80's (1997)
13. MR. ROBOTO - Styx (1983) - differently-EQ'd digital clone of Rhino's Like Omigod (2002)
14. LIVE IS LIFE - Opus (1986) - sounds fine; is this based on Class Reunion 86?
15. SEND ME AN ANGEL '89 - Real Life (1989) - sounds extremely close to "Edit" on promo CD single, but this version has symmetric waveform (not true on promo CD single)
16. HANDS TO HEAVEN - Breathe (1988) - differently-EQ'd digital clone of All That Jazz (1987)
17. SADENESS (PART 1) - Enigma (1991) - likely a clone of Radio Edit from promo CD single
18. CLOSE TO YOU - Maxi Priest (1990) - differently-EQ'd digital clone of "Edit" on promo CD single
19. PUMP UP THE VOLUME - M/A/R/R/S (1987) - sounds excellent; not based on mastering for 1987 CD single
20. BAD BOYS - Inner Circle (1993) - differently-EQ'd digital clone of promo Atlantic's Year In Review 1993

As with Vol. 15, the sound on Vol. 16 is flawless. Great dynamic range (except for the "Major Tom", which was maximized on the Rhino disc), nice EQ, no noise reduction anywhere, and no truncations on the fades. Another outstanding effort from Mark, Aaron, Jim, Ed, and the guys at Eric Records!

"Dancing With Myself" sounds so much better than Like Omigod that it's hard to put into words.

Likewise for "One Night In Bangkok". All the other versions on CD felt like they had the life squeezed out of them. Thanks to this CD, I can confirm that the song has a hi-hat in it!

Great to finally have an official version of the Soft Cell medley on CD. You can edit it down from the 12" version, but it didn't sound as good as what's here.

The Modern English 45 version in STEREO!?! Amazing! And previously unreleased, anywhere.

"Pump Up The Volume" sounds significantly better than the 1987 CD single, which was kinda lifeless in comparison.

And "Live Is Life" really is difficult to track down on CD. I have it on some foreign compilations, but the applause lengths are all different. Some foreign compilations even have a live re-recording of the song. I assume that Mark made sure that this version fades in and out to exactly match the US 45.

The version of "Bad Boys" by Inner Circle here is the 1990 LP version which was the international hit single in 1990–1993, depending on where you were (1993 for US). This version was on the 1990 album Black Roses and the 1993 album Bad Boys, among others listed in the database already.

The superior version (IMHO) which was actually used on the "Cops" TV show is the version from the 1987 album One Way, and I think was also released on the 1989 album Identified. It starts with the "huuh!" sample.

As of now, the full One Way album is on YouTube, which has the original mix of "Bad Boys." To me, this doesn't sound like a re-recording, just a different mix. I didn't A/B them closely, though.

aaronk wrote: As of now, the full One Way album is on YouTube, which has the original mix of "Bad Boys." To me, this doesn't sound like a re-recording, just a different mix. I didn't A/B them closely, though.

It is on YouTube. By "streaming," I meant Spotify, et al. I should've been more specific.

I ended up buying the One Way CD. I so prefer this version, and it is, IMO, the mix that was used on the TV show.

I'm pretty certain what people are calling "newly-recorded" is just a remix. Sounds like the same vocal and same instrumental tracks as the 1987 version, just tweaked with additional EQ and reverb, and with an extended, less-abrupt, cleaner intro.

Don't know about the 1989 CD.