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The Psychedelic Furs Greatest Hits

 
Album Review: The Psychedelic Furs Greatest Hits

  • Artist: The Psychedelic Furs
  • Rating: StarStarStarStar
  • Release Date: January 30, 2001
  • Type: Compilation (best of)
  • Genre: Rock

Review

Paul Weller once said "I never understood why the Psychedelic Furs didn't sell more records." Richard Butler broke up the band in 1991, letting the Psychedelic Furs' synth-tinged, horn-revered sound to fade away in the surge of '90s grunge rock, and their chances of really becoming a global success never fully developed. They achieved moderate success in their native U.K. with songs such as "All That Money Wants" and "President Gas," but only the American college charts paid attention to what the Psychedelic Furs were trying to do. They were poster boys for a short time, but their music does indeed have a lasting power. All of This and Nothing (1988) was released shortly after the Psych Furs' big break in America thanks to the popularity of "Heartbreak Beat" and the John Hughes soundtrack classic "Pretty in Pink." The extensive, overwhelming double-disc Should God Forget: A Retrospective followed in 1997, offering lost grooves, B-sides, and outtakes aside from the hits, yet a medium was not found. Columbia's own Greatest Hits package (2001) might be the closest thing to complete, but loyal Psych Furs fans will beg to differ. The 17-track setlist was handpicked by Tim Butler, streaming through the band's career of 14 years. The typical favorites and other cult classics such as "Love My Way," "Dumb Waiters," "Sister Europe," and "Heaven" are included, as well as the previously unavailable single version of "Mr. Jones." Sadly, the collection also failed to recognize 1989's Book of Days. That particular album wasn't commercially tailored to the band's keyboard antics, but the passion and desire was exactly the same, especially compared to the illustrious imagery on Talk Talk Talk. It shouldn't be left off this best of compilation, for songs such as "Shine" and "Entertain Me" are just as deserving to be remembered. Featuring "Sometimes" from 1991's A World Outside might make up for it in a small way, but not entirely. No wonder the band didn't sell more records. The marketing support wasn't always there to back them up. ~ MacKenzie Wilson, All Music Guide

Tracks

Track TitleComposersPerformersTime
Sister Europe (Lyrics) John Ashton, Tim Butler, Vince Ely, Duncan Kilburn, Roger Morris, Richard Butler The Psychedelic Furs (5:41)
Mr. Jones [Single Version] John Ashton, Tim Butler, Duncan Kilburn, Roger Morris, Richard Butler The Psychedelic Furs (3:24)
Dumb Waiters (Lyrics) John Ashton, Tim Butler, Vince Ely, Duncan Kilburn, Roger Morris, Richard Butler The Psychedelic Furs (5:04)
Pretty in Pink [Original Version] John Ashton, Tim Butler, Vince Ely, Duncan Kilburn, Roger Morris, Richard Butler The Psychedelic Furs (3:58)
Love My Way (Lyrics) John Ashton, Tim Butler, Vince Ely, Richard Butler The Psychedelic Furs (3:31)
President Gas (Lyrics) John Ashton, Tim Butler, Vince Ely, Richard Butler The Psychedelic Furs (5:16)
Here Come Cowboys (Lyrics) Tim Butler, Richard Butler The Psychedelic Furs (3:56)
Heaven (Lyrics) Tim Butler, Richard Butler The Psychedelic Furs (3:27)
Heartbeat (Lyrics) John Ashton, Richard Butler The Psychedelic Furs (5:18)
The Ghost in You Tim Butler, Richard Butler The Psychedelic Furs (4:17)
Heartbreak Beat (Lyrics) John Ashton, Tim Butler, Richard Butler The Psychedelic Furs (5:13)
Angels Don't Cry [Orginal Single Version] John Ashton, Tim Butler, Richard Butler The Psychedelic Furs (3:56)
All That Money Wants (Lyrics) John Ashton, Tim Butler, Richard Butler The Psychedelic Furs (3:46)
Sometimes (Lyrics) John Ashton, Tim Butler, Knox Chandler, Joe McGinty, Richard Butler, Don Yallech The Psychedelic Furs (4:14)
Until She Comes (Lyrics) John Ashton, Tim Butler, Knox Chandler, Joe McGinty, Richard Butler, Don Yallech The Psychedelic Furs (3:47)
There's a World Outside (Lyrics) John Ashton, Tim Butler, Knox Chandler, Joe McGinty, Richard Butler, Don Yallech The Psychedelic Furs (4:48)
Only You and I [Live][#] John Ashton, Tim Butler, Vince Ely, Richard Butler The Psychedelic Furs (6:38)

Credits

Ann Sheldon (Cello), Paul Lester (Liner Notes), Tim Butler (Bass), Duncan Kilburn (Saxophone), Tom Burleigh (Project Director), John Ashton (Guitar), Vince Ely (Drums), Steve Scales (Percussion), Howard Fritzson (Art Direction), Tommy Price (Drums), Mars Williams (Saxophone), Paul Garisto (Guitar), Chris Kimsey (Original Album Producer), Erwin Gorostiza (Cover Design), Gary Windo (Horn), Roger Morris (Guitar), Chuck Pulin (Photography), Knox Chandler (Guitar), Simon Fowler (Photography), Frank Simms (Musician), Mark Wilder (Mastering), Howard Kaylan (Vocals (Background)), Mars Williams (Horn), Keith Forsey (Drums), Todd Rundgren (Saxophone), Stephen Street (Original Album Producer), Mark Volman (Vocals (Background)), John Christiana (Packaging Manager), Ed Buller (Keyboards), Keith Forsey (Original Album Producer), Tim Butler (Compilation Producer), Donn Adams (Horn), The Psychedelic Furs (Original Album Producer), Howard Thompson (Remixing), Anthony Thistlewaite (Musician), Tommy Price (Percussion), Jamie Fisher (Musician), Marty Williamson (Guitar), Vince Ely (Percussion), Pete Hewlett (Vocals (Background)), Todd Rundgren (Keyboards), Eugene Adebari (Photography), Steve Lillywhite (Original Album Producer), Todd Rundgren (Original Album Producer), Steven Berkowitz (A&R), Richard Butler (Vocals), Patti Matheny (A&R), Vinnie Zuffante (Photography), Keith Forsey (Percussion), Ebet Roberts (Photography), Joe McGinty (Keyboards), Emily Burridge (Musician)
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Album Review. Copyright © 2009 All Media Guide, LLC. Content provided by All Music Guide ®, a trademark of All Media Guide, LLC. All rights reserved.  Read more