Psychedelic Furs [Import]

Product Description
Japanese Re-release featuring Four Bonus Tracks: "Suzan's Strange", "Soap Commercial", "Mack the Knife", and "Flowers (Demo)".

Tracks:

Sister Europe
Mr. Jones (Single Version)
Dumb Waiters
Pretty In Pink
Love My Way
President Gas
Here Come Cowboys
Heaven
Heartbeat
The Ghost In You
Heartbreak Beat
Angels Don't Cry
All That Money Wants
Sometimes
Until She Comes
There's A World Outside
Only You And I (Live)

Amazon.com

Most great rock has embraced the influences of the past with a contemporary urgency and seldom an eye on the future. And if Richard Butler and the Psychedelic Furs took critical heat for fusing the pulsing darkness of the Velvet Underground with Iggy Pop edginess and a few mid-'70s U.K. art-rock flourishes (most notably Berlin-period Bowie and Roxy Music), they were only doing what rock artists had already been doing for decades; their chief sin seemed to be doing it in an era when musicians seemed expected to reinvent themselves every six months. This single disc effectively documents the Furs' canon from the droning menace of "Sister Europe" (from their highly recommended debut album) through the original, nonsoundtrack version of "Pretty in Pink," and on to an increasingly pop-influenced body of '80s work ("Love My Way," "Heaven," "The Ghost in You"). Ironically, as they distanced themselves from the late-'60s through mid-'70s influences they'd been criticized for aping, their sound took on the synth- and production-heavy trappings of '80s pop clichés. -Jerry McCulley

Customer Reviews:

Great Music on a Good (Albeit Flawed) Compilation.......2006-12-05

The Psychedelic Furs came out of the echoey soundscapes of post-punk and later ascendended into new wave stratosphere. This collection traces their career's steps: from their Bowie/Roxy Music begginings to the consolidation of their idiosyncratic sound to their hollow pop days and to their "redemption."

The first few tracks are exemplary of their earliest output. "Sister Europe" could've been on any late-70s Bowie album. Heck, Richard Butler even sounds just like Bowie on this song! The track's production, courtesy of Steve Liliwhite, is of the gloomiest and most reverb-rich sort. Again, think Berlin-era Bowie. "Mr. Jones [Single Version]" is a brash number, punkish-almost, and grounded on an immensely catchy riff. "Dumb Waiters" is the kind of track that reveals a Roxy Music fixation. It uses a sax riff that's at the forefront of the mix, and its atonal repetition keenly invokes a spaced-out atmosphere. "Pretty in Pink," sadly, isn't the poppy film version. This one is a bit more jagged, but it's not the best known one. Alas, the film's fans will be more than disappointed at the compiler's choice.

Tracks 5-10 see the development of a more "80s" sound. The Furs manage to create some truly outstanding bits of music during this phase of their career. Again, the atmosphere that these songs create are amazing. Butler's vocals also act as their own instrument. Pop genius in the context of swirling soundscapes? Oh yeah. This is their zenith, and every selection from this era is a winner.

11-12 come from the much-maligned "Midnight to Midnight" album. The production on that album, rather than being multilayered or atmospheric, feels hollow and fleeting. The liner notes show how the band disdains that effort as overproduced and quickly made. And yet, a song like "Heartbreak Beat" has the sort of catchy longevity that belies its origins. If there's a chorus that'll be stuck in your head for days, it will be this one.

Track 13 comes from a late-80s compilation, and its a delightfully zonky track that revels in its own jangly ephemeral state. It shows the band backing away from the sound on "Midnight to Midnight."

We don't get anything from 1989's "Book of Days" album. Too uncommercial, perhaps?

Next, we get three tracks from the band's 1991 album. The songs work well, but they arent't as memorable as their early 80s classics. At the same time, however, they have more lasting value than lots of the tunes on the slick "Midnight to Midnight." The production values are not as well-honed as that seen on prior efforts, but that's okay. To me, these tracks are nice coalescing of stages.

Lastly, we get a live track that, ironically, ends with the drums from "Sister Europe" (this set's first track).

So, why 4 stars rather than 5? First, I think we get too many tracks from their 1991 album and not enough from their debut. Where's "We Love You" or "India"? You can't short-change the band's post-punk start. Next, the whole "Pretty in Pink" thing still sort of miffs me. Lastly, the live track didn't really do it for me. The compilers could've nixed that and put in a better album track. The CD is about an hour and 16 minutes long. Had they taken out the live track, we might've had room for two decent songs (maybe something from "Book of Days"?).

All in all, the music here is fantastic. It clearly displays the evolution of a band, and the results of the band's changes are riveting fun. Despite a few structural flaws, this set does it job quite admirably. Any fan of 80s music should own this. Ditto for post-punk fans. Bowie or Roxy Music afficcionados should also consider this gem. Heck, everyone should invest in this hearty gem!

A Pleasant Walk Into The '80s But Beware The Cliches.......2006-05-25

In the interest of full disclosure, I must state the following for the potential buyer:

1) My first contact with the Furs was hearing "Love My Way" as part of the soundtrack to the movie "Valley Girl" -- the movie designed to showcase Nicholas Cage and his approach to grooming (the V-shaped chest hair) and make some money from the movement spawned by the Frank Zappa song of the same name. If memory serves, I think Nick's character (Randy) says something like "that new wave stuff is gutless!". I agreed with Nick then.

2) My musical tastes at the time were a leather-and-denim fantasy (e.g. Priest, Iron Maiden, etc.) so I shunned the artsy stuff; this record is my first attempt to mine the music I missed.

Greatest hits records, while a useful and sometimes necessary distillation of an artist's career, do present certain problems, one of which is the discovery of oft-repeated musical technique that might have otherwise remained hidden. So what was a hook used sparingly over several albums becomes a cliche once the more popular or noteworthy songs converge to a single platter.

So it seems with the Furs. The intros especially fall into either the saxophone or a slow keyboard melody, both of which were perfected (a nice way to say overused) by more mainstream 80s artists, such as Madonna or Huey Lewis. Of course, the 90s were SO much better, switching to violin sounds (e.g. Smashing Pumpkins) or tribal drums. Wonder if grunge will be as retro-hip in 2018 as 80s art-pop is today?

In fairness, I still enjoy "Love My Way", and Mr. Butler's vocals in general. "President Gas" was a nice (and once again timely) surprise.

So in sum, if you like(d) the Furs, go ahead and buy. If you're doing some 80s music mining, something from The Cure, Devo, or B-52s might be a better first choice. The Furs' style is a bit too niche, and the music is too narrow and dated.

All That Money Wants.......2006-02-11

It's a given that 2-disc compilations cost more than a single disc package, but The Psychedelic Furs are deserving of a double disc "hits" collection (***Note*** "Should God Forget" is a double set, but includes many live tracks, alternate takes, and lesser known tracks). If the executives at the helm felt this was too cost prohibitive, an alternative strategy the record label could have employed would be to release a single disc compliation for the casual listener and a more comprehensive double set for the more serious listener. This has been done before: see David Bowie's "Best of Bowie" for example.

Having said this, "Greatest Hits" does a decent job of covering some of the best from roughly 12 years of The Furs' offerings. Of course the obligatory hits like "Pretty in Pink" and "The Ghost in You" are included, but I was disappointed to see that nothing from "Book of Days" was found herein. Instead, the final Furs album, "World Outside," is given precendence. From "World Outside" are included "Sometimes," "Until She Comes," and "There's a World Outside." These are all great choices, but it sure would have been great to at least have "Should God Forget" from "Book of Days." This seems like a no brainer to me.

The previous hits package, 1989's "All of This and Nothing," featured the stellar "No Easy Street" as well as "Imitation of Christ","Highwire Days," "She is Mine," and the title track. All of these are sorely lacking from "Greatest Hits." "Greatest Hits," however, provides such gems as "Mr. Jones," "Here Come Cowboys," and "Heartbeat" that were dubiously left off of the former.

To sum it all up, "Greatest Hits" is a pretty decent collection of the band's finer moments, but it is by no means wholly representative. I'd recommend, of course, buying their entire collection, but I realize this takes time and money. I would suggest buying "All of This and Nothing" to complement "Greatest Hits," especially since it usually can be had for less than $5. There's no doubt that many of the tracks will be redundant, but each collection features several that the other lacks.

Psychedelic Furs Greatest Hits.......2005-10-12

If your a fan of the early 80's music scene than this is a must have album for your collection. Two Thumbs Up!

Still Sort of Interesting.......2005-07-25

I have moved out of a part of my life where I thought this stuff was intelligent, but it still has some interesting energy that is worth checking out. Richard Butler, in his Bowiesque way was a very unique phemonenon. "Sister Europe" "Love My Way" and "President Gas" are let me say, creative.

Listening to the Furs is like taking a trip to the underground. It's like watching a violent Sean Penn movie and feeling glad that is not you're not immersed into that kind of world. When it comes to Richard and the gang, it's an interesting place to visit, but I don't want to live there.

Average customer rating:

A top fifty all time debut...
Excellent Post-Punk
What a debut!
Essential listening
Buy the CD - see them live

Psychedelic Furs
Psychedelic Furs
Manufacturer: Sony
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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ASIN: B000063CO6
Release Date: 2002-03-19

Album Description

Digitally remastered reissue of the 'Furs 1980 debut album, complete with different cover art, the nine tracks that originally graced it, and the two songs that were added to the subsequent U.S. release, 'Susan's Strange' & 'Soap Commercial'. 11 tracks total --of which the cut 'Blacks/ Radio' is not included on the American release. 1999 release.

Customer Reviews:

A top fifty all time debut..........2006-12-11

Amazing, ground-breaking album. A true "vinyl length" lp, it has been released in a few forms, but I find the Columbia release from 2002 to be the finest issue. The added demo version of "Flowers" is devastating.

This, to me, along with the second album, is the punk rock version of the Furs. Incidentally, it's also my favorite version of the Furs. Punk Rock in that it sounds so very terse, yet you can identify all of the atmosphere and melodicism that marks the later works. It just.....sounds more raw, like the best debut albums always do.

To me, an essential addition to any upstanding record collection. To you, this should be the first of their proper lps to buy. "Wedding Song/Blacks/Radio/Flowers" is 20 of the best minutes you'll ever spend in front of a pair of good speakers.

Excellent Post-Punk.......2006-09-03

Very good post-punk rock.
And this record ROCKS! Loudly.

If anything, buy the CD for the song "India".

In my opinion, the Psychedelic Furs never made another record so raw and powerful (even more so than Talk Talk Talk, which you should get also).

What a debut!.......2005-12-20

This is the best band to debut in the 80's. They had even better albums than this one, but this sure wasn't a bad start. The only album to be avoided, at all costs is Midnight to Midnight. Aside from that, do yourself a favor and buy everything by this amazing band.

Essential listening.......2005-12-19

People were either introduced to the Psychedlic Furs by Pretty in Pink or the classic tracks Heaven and the Ghost in You. In contrast to Simple Minds' Don't You Forget About Me, Pretty in Pink is an excellent, original band track that just happened to be used in a poor, very dated 80's movie. If you didn't move past these Furs tracks or their parent albums, you're missing a lot. The Furs have just enough original albums/CDs to fill a CD multiplayer: P. Furs; Talk Talk Talk; Forever Now; Mirror Moves; Book of Days; World Outside. We'll forget about Midnight to Midnight (everyone's excused one mistake - '87 - not a good year). All of the compilations (All of This And Nothing, Should God Forget, etc) are excellent, but best to get the 6 original albums. The Furs' eponymous first offering sets the base for the future; it defines post-punk to the same extent as Joy Division, Gang of 4, Teardrop Explodes and Echo and the Bunnymen. It is raw and heavy, with driving original base and drums (India), to rasping rock (Soap Commercial/ We Love You) that makes the live shows kick-ass, to the smooth, smart, subversive Sister Europe and Imitation that create the mold for the classic populist tracks of the Furs circa '82-'84. Talk Talk Talk builds on the raw platform and the '82-'84 albums are classics from a classic age. But if you like the eponymous CD take a listen to the return to heavy of the 1989 Book of Days - entertain me. Then there's arguably the most complete Furs' offering World Outside - brilliant. It is a shame that the Furs could not have continued and like the Cure produced a breath of fresh air every couple of years to clear out the prevailing dross. Draw a line from the Furs to Placebo to Interpol.

Buy the CD - see them live.......2005-12-19

I sought out the first Furs CD after seeing them live - and now can't stop playing it for its original raw edge. I went to see Death Cab for Cutie with the Furs on the bill and frankly the Furs blew away Death Cab - this was a big surprise. The final driving fist of a tune at the show - India - made me check out the eponymous first CD. If you like Interpol, Static Age, even Arcade Fire, you should check out this CD. Oh, and catch them live.

Average customer rating:

I wore this record out...
Listen Listen Listen!
Let it stay forever now
A strong second effort
Fantastic racket, but how did that horn get in there?

Talk Talk Talk
Psychedelic Furs
Manufacturer: Sony
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Similar Items:

Psychedelic Furs
Forever Now
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All of This and Nothing

ASIN: B000063CO7
Release Date: 2002-03-19

Tracks:

Dumb Waiters
Pretty In Pink
I Wanna Sleep With You
No Tears
Mr. Jones
Into You Like A Train
It Goes On
So Run Down
All Of This And Nothing
She Is Mine
Mr. Jones (Single Version)
So Run Down (Early Version)
All of This and Nothing (Demo)

Amazon.com

Talk, Talk, Talk's "Pretty in Pink" may have spawned the hideous film of the same name, but one listen to this trashy milestone will prove all is forgiven. Richard Butler and the boys made an instant punk rock classic with Talk before promptly becoming a parody of themselves on future releases. Powerhouses like the raging "Into You like a Train," "All of This and Nothing," the frank "I Just Wanna Sleep with You," and sax-twisted "Dumb Waiters" retain the Velvets/Bowie fixation of the Furs' debut, but temper it with John Ashton's huge guitar riffs and Butler's slightly less atonal singing. The Furs would never sound this glorious or this raw again. --Michael Ruby

Customer Reviews:

I wore this record out..........2006-03-26

Back in the day, I flat wore this record out. Played it more than Iron Maiden and The Sex Pistols put together.

It has what a lot of great records have. Layers. The 80's jangle guitar, the hard riff guitar, horns, a really disaffected vocal style throughout, solid basswork, drums that never bore. The lyrics create a great sense of space, are concrete enough to relate to, but ambigious enough to withstand heavy repeat listening.

It's a Steve Lillywhite produced record, and he was to the early 80's what Rick Rubin would be to the 90's.

After this record, the band got smaller (ie the texture went away), and while Forever Now is a really good follow-up, the writing was on the wall and they would kind of fade-out like acts do.

Skip the compilations and soundtracks. Get the first three Psychedelic Furs albums. Quintessential 80's. I can still listen to all three, almost 30 years later and that makes them classic.

This is the best Furs album, despite what later happened with the song Pretty in Pink.

Listen Listen Listen!.......2005-09-28

This music blew me away when it came out. At eighteen, I really thought I'd heard it all. I'd gone through my rebellious phase and snuck out to see Rocky Horror a gazillion times, I'd become a loyal listener to both of the cool weekly punk shows: Mike Halloran's "Radios in Motion" on the Wayne State U. public radio station and "W-4 Play" on Detroit's WWWW (which, unbeknownst to the DJ's, was soon to be sold and turned overnight into a country station). Mike's show was especially great for catching the new and imported acts. But the P-furs didn't sound like anything else, despite the Steve Lilywhite production. Metallic, yet melodic. That gravelly voice of Richard Butler set against a velvet saxaphone. Can such pretty pop come out of such hard-edged punk?

This particular disc, thanks to its role in introucing us to the "Pretty in Pink" single, was accompanied by a pair of pink panties, initially. Or, it may be that Mike and other DJ's just got one as a promotional gag (artists had to get creative after payola was outlawed, after all, although what Mike Halloran would do with a pair of pink panties, I will not speculate here).

I especially love the version of Pretty in Pink on this disk. It is quite different than that on the soundtrack of the film, Pretty in Pink, which was made some seven or eight years after this recording and has nothing to do with it. The song has a different meaning entirely, empathizing with a girl--perhaps a prostitute-- who keeps hoping the men whom she lets use her will turn out to love her, when obviously that's not likely. And it was re-recorded for the film in a much more "refined" way, even as a "solo" for Richard Butler. A lot of the edge is taken out, some of the saxaphone solo isn't there, and it loses some of the darkness of the earlier version.

"It Goes On," "Dumb Waiters", and "Into You Like a Train" have riffs boppy enough to dance to. "I Just Want To Sleep With You" pretty much says it just like it is. My very favorite, bringing together a wistful melody with a dreamlike lyric is "All of This and Nothing". Girl leaves boy, and girl leaves behind stuff, but nothing makes sense to him.

P. Furs told the world in name, style and lyric that rebellion and fashion could co-habitate freely. Yes, we knew that already from the Stones and David Bowie, but it doesn't hurt to be reminded by the pros.

Let it stay forever now .......2005-09-19

Talk Talk Talk is the Furs at the height of their game, exhilarating and dense, with one riveting piece of candy-coated trash after another floating out of the speakers. In my own punk heydey, this was killer choice stuff -- even though it's not really punk at all -- and came at a time when doctrinal rigidity to crud like hardcore or straightcore or whatever didn't mean diddly. Talk Talk Talk came out at a time before radio had completed its terrible march to niche segregation, and exciting music was coming at kids from all corners. Punk and new wave stuff led the blast. The Furs were among the best and most disposable at the same time. One quibble with the Amazon reviewer: He takes a crack at what followed this from the Furs, but Forever Now is a very good record that, with the devastating Brechtian nightmare of "Easy Street" and sweet metalic joy of "Yes I Do" and when they went all mushy on us ("Heaven," "The Ghost In You") it was still irresistable. Last great one for me: "Until She Comes."

A strong second effort.......2005-06-16

Although not quite as innovative as the band's debut album, and with none of the songs reaching the level of that album's opening three songs ("India," "Sister Europe," "Susan's Strange"), "Talk Talk Talk" is consistently good, and places the spotlight on Richard Butler's unique vocals and obscure lyrics. Basically, the Psychedelic Furs keep their post-punk/new wave sound, still including the saxophone, which, unlike their prior album, sometimes detracts from the songs.

My favorite tracks on this album are "Pretty in Pink" (I didn't care for the movie), "Mr. Jones" and "Into You Like a Train." I've read the lyrics to "Pretty in Pink" many times, and think it might be about a woman named Caroline who has committed suicide and is dressed in pink in an open casket. Her past lovers, in attendance at her funeral, are reminiscing about her ("and wasn't she easy and isn't she pretty in pink"). I love the way Butler begins "Mr. Jones" by describing a 47 year old woman, who, together with her husband, is having a mid-life crisis -- "Mrs. Jones is 17/ and 6 and 24/ moderately pretty/ she is all the girls you know."

Overall, a decent second effort, just not quite as good as the band's superb debut. Later, the band would successfully show off their more melodic side

Fantastic racket, but how did that horn get in there?.......2004-09-17

This was the Furs' shining moment, when they cranked out screaming guitar commotion so dense it sounds like the tracks are falling on top of one another. Especially "Into You Like a Train", the all-time best anti-love love song. The vocals fit in perfectly, a sort of a relaxed Johnny Rotten effect that expressed perfect sardonic disdain. After this album, Todd Rundgren got ahold of them and started putting weird stuff like marimbas into the mix...but at least he got rid of the sax. The sax on this album is terrible--pointless noodling-around solos and a tone that sounds like a sick, but hesitant, goose. If only they could remix this album to wipe out the sax, it would be a 5-star product!

Average customer rating:

Classic
Yawn
A Classic
The last great early-period classic Furs record
one of best ever

Mirror Moves
The Psychedelic Furs
Manufacturer: Sony
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Forever Now
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Love Spit Love

ASIN: B0000025Z8
Release Date: 1990-10-25

Tracks:

The Ghost In You
Here Come Cowboys
Heaven
Heartbeat
My Time
Like A Stranger
Alice's House
Only A game
Highwire Days

Customer Reviews:

Classic.......2007-01-21

While I am bored with most of the music of the 1980s, this is classic stuff. Very consistently good through the whole album, with several real highlights. I remember thinking it was a great David Bowie album the first time I heard it. Anway, this was always my favorite Furs release and I had them all at one time. Sound of the cd is good but a quality 24-bit remastering would be welcomed.

Yawn.......2006-11-30

I remember the Furs being much better than this. Either my memory is shot or their earlier work was much better because this album is weak.

A Classic.......2006-04-07

The Furs return with "Mirror Moves", which is one of the albums from the 1980s that I would have to classify as a "desert island CD". The production values are much slicker here and the sound is more refined and processed. However, while it lacks the bite of previous Psychedelic Furs' efforts, this CD is just plain fun. Standout tracks include: "Ghost in You", "Heartbeat", "Alice's House", and "Here Come Cowboys". If you like 80s pop-rock at all, you need to own this CD. Say, how about a remaster with bonus tracks now?

The last great early-period classic Furs record.......2006-03-22

I don't know why this album wasn't remastered like the previous three releases were. It's certainly worthy of it as the cd dates from the first batch of albums to ever be issued on cd. Indeed as my cd was manufactured in Japan (as the first CBS cds were) when that's where all American cds were.

First off this album suffers the loss of half of the Furs (Ely who departed after making the video for Forever Now's "Love My Way" and Morris and Kilburn who were fired just before the band went into the studio to record Forever Now).
The Furs were a bit fragmented and a tad unfocused in the studio until 1989's Book of Days. Dull performances from session musicians aside this album still has some great songs that win over the listener whereas the would-be-detractions
fall to the wayside. "The Ghost In You" is a great song that
suffers a bit from the iffy keyboard sound (a sound that Richard Butler himself protested but the producer won out) but still the song is too good of a song to let misguided production ruin. "Like A Stranger", "My Time" and "Heaven" are classic Furs ballads. Those songs (much like most of the album) have something of a rainy-day, stay indoors atmosphere. "Alice's House" is a Forever Now outtake and it's a very cool psych-rocker.

The album does have a few mis-steps that indicate the misadventure-to-come known as Midnight To Midnight in the form of "Only A Game", "Heartbeat" - a good song ruined by a slick sax (not the interesting Kilburn sax lines) and ruined beyond repair on a few dance-remixes on 12"s (always a bad idea when a rock band allows someone to do a "dance" remix - an 80's epidemic for sure) and the simply "okay" "Highwire Days".

The album does boast the amazing "Here Comes Cowboys" which is a
classic Psychedelic Furs song. One of their best ever songs.
Very good commentary on fascism in general using "cowboys" as a
convienient term of reference.

The Furs would not release another album as great as this until their over-looked swan song World Outside in 1991.

one of best ever.......2005-11-09

this is one of those rare works that is not only one of the band's best, but an all-time better. if i had to choose one album to get stranded on an island with, this might well be it. what's it like to have the first 6 songs all awesome, then the remaining 3 very strong? with 5 ("my time") & 6 ("like a stranger") being the best? it's one of those albums you just don't want to fast forward or skip ANY of the songs--how many are there like that?

Average customer rating:

Their best album and their best reissue
FOUR AND A HALF STARS
One of the best from a legendary band
Basically, a continuation of "Talk Talk Talk"
Essential Psychedelic Furs

Forever Now
Psychedelic Furs
Manufacturer: Sony
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Similar Items:

Talk Talk Talk
Psychedelic Furs
Mirror Moves
All of This and Nothing
Love Spit Love

ASIN: B000063CO8
Release Date: 2002-03-19

Customer Reviews:

Their best album and their best reissue.......2006-06-29

This is a great album featuring several of the band's strongest songs as well as fine wordplay throughout by Richard Butler. It's also the Furs' most American-oriented release, produced (nicely) by Todd Rundgren and peppered with clever lyrics saluting "President Gas" or name checking "Ma B. and her boys" (I assume Ma Barker?).

As already noted by a few reviewers, there is a mysterious alteration of the final song, "Yes I Do." This irritates me, because I particularly liked that song at the end of Side 2 on my old vinyl ... the version on this reissue is called "Yes I Do (Merry-Go-Round)" and has different verses, but the chorus is basically the same, although the mix may be a tad different.

At any rate, one of the bonus tracks is an alternate version entitled "Mary Go Round" where we hear (finally! but what are they doing here???) the original verses from "Yes I Do"! It is not an exaggeration to say that the reissue of this great album contains two previously unreleased versions of the orignal album-closer, but they forgot to include the original version. Weird. How does an entire band and its management overlook this? Or at least explain to the fans what happened?

The other bonus material is awesome, particularly the live version from 1982 of "President Gas." If only we could have gotten a live version of "Love My Way"...

FOUR AND A HALF STARS.......2006-04-07

Just about a perfect record from Richard Butler and company. The chaotic sound of the early Psychedelic Furs records is finally distilled into a punk/pop fusion that really works well for mass listening enjoyment. This was the first Furs record I owned (actually, I had the cassette version first), and I was thrilled to see a remastered CD with so many prime bonus tracks from the era added. There are many great tunes here, but the whole thing needs to be listened to as a whole to truly appreciate the genius of this album. Standout tracks include: "Run and Run", "Forever Now", "Goodbye", and the ubiquitous "Love My Way". Classic!

One of the best from a legendary band.......2005-12-29

A great album from start to finish. No weak songs. "Forever Now," "Run and Run," and "Yes I Do" should be included with some of the many greats from this terrific English band. Had the good fortune to have seen them live numerous times during the 1980s, each show was incredible. Richard Butler is a true icon. AFTR, this album sounds nothing like "Talk, Talk, Talk."

Basically, a continuation of "Talk Talk Talk".......2005-06-19

(Three and a half stars). The Todd Rundgren produced "Forever Now" sounds very similar to the Psychedelic Furs' slightly better prior album, "Talk Talk Talk," with a somewhat more experimental feel. Two of the better known tracks, "Love My Way" and "Forever Now" are fairly comparable to "Pretty in Pink;" "Run and Run" sounds like a merger between "Mr. Jones" and "Into You Like a Train;" and "Danger" is from the same mold as "Dumb Waiters." These are all good songs, so there's nothing wrong with that.

While I'm not crazy about "President Gas," I do appreciate the humor. Likewise, the late era Beatles sounding "Sleep Comes Down," which features a chorus by none other than The Turtles' Flo and Eddie!!! The more obscure gems of "Forever Now" though are the last two tracks, "No Easy Street" and "Yes I Do," both of which, unfortunately, never got any airplay.

If you like "Forever Now," I guarantee you'll like "Talk Talk Talk" as well, and visa versa.

Essential Psychedelic Furs.......2004-02-11

1. Mirror Moves
2. Psychedelic Furs
3. Forever Now/ Talk Talk Talk
It's a bit too AMERICAN perhaps with that man of the Tubes as a producer and the Phlorescent Phlo and Eddie (Turtles, Zappa)backing vocals.

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The Better Best of Compilation.
wow.what a shock this cd is bad
Good Collection for the Casual Fan
A Must Have!!!
PEOPLE FADE AND I FORGET YOU

All of This and Nothing
The Psychedelic Furs
Manufacturer: Sony
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Similar Items:

Talk Talk Talk
Forever Now
Mirror Moves
Psychedelic Furs
Songs to Learn and Sing

ASIN: B0000026M1
Release Date: 1990-10-25

Tracks:

President Gas
All That Money Wants
Imitation Of Christ
Sister Europe
Love My Way
No Easy Street
Highwire Days
She Is Mine
Dumb Waiters
Pretty In Pink
The Ghost In You
Heaven
Heartbreak Beat
All Of This And Nothing

Customer Reviews:

The Better Best of Compilation........2005-01-05

If you are trying choose between this best of comp. and the "Greatest Hits" one, choose this one (I have both). The music/sound quality is more clear, emphasizing the vocals. It's a classic collection of songs. The cover is actually more attractive than the other one too.

wow.what a shock this cd is bad.......2003-07-30

this cd is really bad for a greatist hits cd.i bought this album for heaven,pretty in pink and the ghost in you.these songs are real masterpieces .when buying this album i thought the rest of the songs would be good also,man was i wrong.besides the three songs i just mentioned the only other good tracks are president gas and imitation of christ.i spend over 20 dollars for an album of 14 tracks with just 5 good tracks on it.what a waste of money.don't make the same mistake i did.

Good Collection for the Casual Fan.......2003-03-03

"All of This and Nothing" is an excellent single disc anthology from a band that was always better at producing singles than albums. It covers most of the band's history--they faded into obscurity not long after its 1988 release. The highlights include some of the better hit songs of 1980s new wave, the absolutely gorgeous "The Ghost in You," the soundtrack title song "Pretty in Pink," "Love My Way" and the more bombastic "Heartbreak Beat." With a total of 14 selections, the album is just substantial enough to be filling without overstaying its welcome. As a bonus, the CD booklet contains a lyrics sheets and some good liner notes.

Overall, an intelligently selected anthology from one of new wave music's better bands.

A Must Have!!!.......2001-11-21

I remember watching "120 Minutes" a few years back (when it was still good!) and the video for "Dumb Waiter" was on as a 'Cult Classic'. Afterwards, I thought to myself, "I wish I could find a CD of all of my favorite Psych Furs songs. Unexpectedly, I stumbled upon "All of This and Nothing"! I fell in love with record immediately. "Dumb Waiters" has got to be one of their best songs. I just love the slightly out-of-tune sax playing on that track. I'm also quite fond of "Highwire Days" and the obvious favorites like "Pretty in Pink", "Love My Way", and "Heartbreak Beat". This is a great compilation to purchase if you're just becoming familiar with the Furs. You won't be sorry!

PEOPLE FADE AND I FORGET YOU.......2001-09-08

The Psychedelic Furs were undoubtedly one of the best and most overlooked bands of the 1980s, apart from their misused, misinterpreted and overplayed "Pretty in Pink" which lent its name to a film of the same name. The Furs' real brilliance shone elsewhere. This is a collection of some of that brilliance. My favourite here being "All that Money Wants" with its cynical lyrics and gorgeous music, "Painted lies on painted lips, that promise heaven tastes like this... I don't believe that I believed in you...". Butler's unique vocals coupled with the sharp, intelligent, and caustic lyrics make for extremely satisfying music... I can listen to it over and over and the music still sounds fresh and undated. Another gem here is the pleasantly monotone drone of "Sister Europe", "Lonely in a crowded room, the radio plays out of tune so silently... radio upon the floor, oh stupid it plays Aznavour so out of key..." This album can also serve as a good introduction to their work, although they recently released a U.S.-oriented best of which consists of good material but not their best by any stretch of the imagination. Like many 80s bands, the Furs have recently reunited and toured. Not sure what to think of that all-too-common phenomenon. Capitalise while you can?

Average customer rating:

Their best album and their best reissue
FOUR AND A HALF STARS
One of the best from a legendary band
Basically, a continuation of "Talk Talk Talk"
Essential Psychedelic Furs

Forever Now
The Psychedelic Furs
Manufacturer: Sony
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Talk Talk Talk
Psychedelic Furs
Mirror Moves
All of This and Nothing
Love Spit Love

ASIN: B0000025SH
Release Date: 1990-10-25

Tracks:

Forever Now
Love My Way
Goodbye
Only You And I
Sleep Comes Down
President Gas
Run And Run
Danger
No Easy Street
Yes I Do

Customer Reviews:

Their best album and their best reissue.......2006-06-29

FOUR AND A HALF STARS.......2006-04-07

One of the best from a legendary band.......2005-12-29

Basically, a continuation of "Talk Talk Talk".......2005-06-19

Essential Psychedelic Furs.......2004-02-11

Average customer rating:

Good album
The only disappointment from this amazing band...
A pop album - but a very good one
Their nadir.
Heartbreak Beat

Midnight to Midnight
The Psychedelic Furs
Manufacturer: Sony
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Similar Items:

Book of Days
World Outside
Mirror Moves
Forever Now
Talk Talk Talk

ASIN: B000002688
Release Date: 1990-10-25

Tracks:

Heartbreak Beat
Shock
Shadow In My Heart
Angels Don't Cry
Midnight To Midnight
One More Word
All Of The Law
Torture
No Release

Customer Reviews:

Good album.......2007-02-13

From what I gather of P.F. fans, there are two kinds, the ones that like this album, and don't really like the rest, and the ones that hate this album and love the rest. I guess I am one that likes this album, but I do like the rest also, just not quite as much. I can understand why some fans dislike this album, it is their most polished and slick recording. Even the band admits this and considers it a fault. I guess mainly why I like it though is due mostly to the nostalgic value. Heartbreak Beat, Angels Don't Cry and All Of the Law remind me of some of the best times of my life, when I was a kid. I own quite a few albums by the Furs, including Talk, Talk, Talk, which most hardcore fans would admit is their best album, but I still like Midnight better. I like Butler's voice on this recording, it sounds a lot less harsh, much more listenable. I won't say emotional, because all of his vocals were that, but his voice is so smooth on Midnight. Plus it has such a classic, great 80's sound. I am also a fan of Love Spit Love, and this album reminds me most of that. I think everyone has heard Heartbreak Beat at one point in time, it was such a huge hit, so I would recommend buying this album if you like that song. For everyone else, it's going to be hit or miss, so listen before you buy it.

The only disappointment from this amazing band..........2005-12-20

Unlike most bands that end on a bad note, The Furs fortunately hit their bad note, this album, slightly more towards the center of their career. They then recovered from this pop-crap to end with two more awesome albums, Book of Days, and World Outside.

I'd say buy every album except this one. I only give Midnight to Midnight 2 full stars because of Heartbreak Beat.

A pop album - but a very good one.......2005-06-25

I remember when Bob Mould, the driving force of the punk band Husker Du, formed the band Sugar and released the terrific "Copper Blue." On an interview, he said something like he didn't realize he could write such good pop songs. Well with "Midnight to Midnight," the Psychedelic Furs, continuing the trend started on some portions of their prior album "Mirror Moves," can clearly make the same claim. I don't know why the members of the band, in their pictures on the album, all look like they're on their way to some seedy all-male disco (hey - there's nothing wrong with that!), but "Midnight to Midnight" with its shimmering melodies and songs about love and heartbreak, is a very good album from start to finish.

As in "Mirror Moves," the best song on this album is probably the first track -- "Heartbreak Beat" with its slow build-up and uplifting chorus (can anyone sing a phrase like "And it feels like love" as convincingly as Richard Butler?). The title track is also quite excellent ("love is no law, love is no crime" -- huh?), and "Shock," "Shadow In My Heart," and "All of the Law" are other stand-outs.

One quibble I have is that in these later albums, Butler doesn't appear to put in too much of an effort lyrically. Early albums contained more obscure themes, whereas here, the lyrics seem to be an after-thought. In any event, I thoroughly enjoy "Midnight to Midnight," and like the band's subsequent, somewhat darker album, "Book of Days," even more.

Their nadir........2004-02-01

If you're catching up with the furs, buy this one last. It has a few good songs but their earlier (and later) efforts are superior.

Heartbreak Beat.......2004-01-04

Heartbreak Beat is one of the last great songs whose evolution was spawned in the sixties. There is the singer and words, there is the rhythm and melody, and finally and most important there is the mystical bell sounding backgrond that takes us to a land inside our selves that we long to return. We love this song because it's something that we already have and the artists were gifted enough to bring us back to ourselves.

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PSYCHEDELIC FURS LIVE
Furs still relevant
The Lyrics are Correct, Music is There, Voice is Shot
one of THE greatest bands of all time!!!
I wish the remastered original albums sounded this good...

Beautiful Chaos: Greatest Hits Live
The Psychedelic Furs
Manufacturer: Sony
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Psychedelic Furs
Psychedelic Furs - Live from the House of Blues (DTS)
Talk Talk Talk
Richard Butler
Here Came The Psychedelic Furs: B-Sides & Lost Grooves

ASIN: B00005RGPZ
Release Date: 2001-11-20

Tracks:

India
Mr. Jones
Heaven
The Ghost In You
Alive (For Once In My Lifetime)
Love My Way
Heartbreak Beat
Sister Europe
President Gas
Into You Like A Train
Pretty In Pink
Dumb Waiters
Alive (For Once In My Lifetime) (Studio Version)

Amazon.com

Give Richard Butler and his re-formed Psychedelic Furs credit for knowing what's expected of them. This energetic, note-perfect, live greatest-hits collection (recorded in the cozy confines of Hollywood's House of Blues on the band's 2001 reunion tour) trades on the same tastefully retro, Velvet Underground-meets-Roxy Music sensibility that the Furs displayed in their first 1980 to '91 incarnation--no trip-hop beats, samples, or techno loops for these guys. And if this is a band out of time, it's one whose hazy sense of the dramatic remains surprisingly robust. Though their later, more pop-oriented American radio staples "Pretty in Pink" and "President Gas" still pulse with '80s rock energy--as does the single new studio track, "Alive (For Once in My Lifetime)," included here--the band still seems to have a special place in its heart for the dark and dreamy songs that initially defined them, as represented by "India," the hypnotic "Sister Europe," and the chaotic splendor of "Dumb Waiters." --Jerry McCulley

Customer Reviews:

PSYCHEDELIC FURS LIVE.......2007-04-01

ANOTHER EXCELLENT CD PRETTY IN PINK, ALIVE. THESE GUYS ROCK .I LOVE THIS CD I GIVE IT 5 STARS.

Furs still relevant.......2006-09-15

This CD delivers as promised: The raspy, punkish vocals with snaking rhythms and fat, feedback-enhanced guitars that even a Hendrix/Trower/Nugent fan could sink his teeth into. Saw the Furs in Atlanta sometime in the late 80s and this show brings it all back. You can imagine being at the HOB in SoCal with a band that has perfected its craft. The live show starts out with a nice guitar intro to begin the song India and ends with dueling feedback guitars on Dumb Waiters. Vocalist Richard Butler delivers his trademark vocals inbetween. (And yes the new studio song "Alive" is a work of art, sparing us the fluff that appears on so many new songs that are bolted onto greatest hit albums). The Furs remind us on this CD why they were one of the signature bands of the 80s and still rock today.

The Lyrics are Correct, Music is There, Voice is Shot.......2006-01-28

With great excitement, I unwrapped the CD and skipped down the list to play Heaven...only to be, er...shocked. David Butlers voice is fine until he tries to hold a note. The word "heaven" as it comes out of his mouth sounds like he is trying to move a large boulder in his back yard (or perhaps a small stone from his kidney). Having lost my complete music selection twice to theft/stupidity, the P-Furs somehow never made it back onto my "music-to-replace" list. Finding this new release with their greatest hits seemed like a quick fix for getting all the good tunes (you know...Heaven, Pretty in Pink, Love my Way...) on one album. Live, extended versions....even better. What I did not realize was that these recordings were made in 2001. If you are Psychedelic furs fan with nostalgia on your mind when looking at replacing your cassettes of old, plunk down your hard earned money on the original releases. If this album was stolen, I wouldn't replace it.

one of THE greatest bands of all time!!!.......2004-02-11

this disc though short, captures the band at its best...live. exceptional as the furs are on record they are truly an experience to behold in person. richard butler has all the sex appeal and charisma he has always had..and his unmistakeable hoarse growl for lack of better description is as fresh as the first time i'd heard him. time has not had negative effects on them. they defy age. they are ageless in that they were very much ahead of their time back in 1980. its as if they have caught up...but not really. they dont really sound like anyone today, but thats ok cuz they are needed. they are very tight and every bit as capable of producing the wall of sound theyre known for. kudos to fortus for his inspired use of synth-guitar replicating horns, keyboards and viola! you must get this cd and catch them live first chance you get! i miss not hearing 'only you and i, soap commerical, pulse, and imitation of christ.' however the inclusion of a live and studio version of 'alive' helps to makeup for it. this is a hauntingly beautiful song!

I wish the remastered original albums sounded this good..........2003-09-21

I saw these guys in '84 for the Mirror Moves tour, and was lucky enough to catch them this time. The sound quality is excellent and does a great job at catching the dynamic of the live show. The only thing missing from this tour were the horns present on the original albums. The new ensemble relies more on guitars, which in itself isn't a bad thing, but it was part of what made the furs so unique back in the day.

Tracks:

Valentine
In My Head
Until She Comes
Don't Be A Girl
Sometimes
Tearing Down
There's A World
Get A Room
Better Day
All About You

Customer Reviews:

This is the Good Stuff!.......2006-04-07

The Psychedelic Furs do not disappoint with their (seemingly) final and criminally-overlooked CD, "World Outside". The first three tracks alone ("Valentine", "In My Head", "Until She Comes") are worth owning the CD, not to mention "There's A World", and the other tracks. Don't really care for "Don't Be A Girl", but everything else on this album really shines. This is NOT just an album for the Psychedelic Furs fan, but should have much broader appeal to those who like well-made pop music. Recommended!

The Furs conclude in memorable fashion.......2005-06-27

Although "World Outside" is probably too over-produced and over-stylized for its own good, and as compared to the band's prior albums, nevertheless, it is quite enjoyable, and continues the evolution of Richard Butler from post-punk/new wave artist to pop star (but check out the second "Love Spit Love" album which marks a return to his past!). I'm amazed that this album didn't receive more airplay, because I think many of the songs could have done very well on the American and British charts.

My favorite three songs on the album are "In My Head" (in which the band self-plagiarizes its main riff from "Like a Stranger" from "Mirror Moves"), "Until She Comes" (which is one massive double entendre), and "I Get a Room" ( reminiscent of "Torch" from the prior album). The other tracks are consistently good.

It's hard to understand why the band called it quits after "World Outside" unless, of course, the three principles just couldn't stand each other. Brothers who play together in rock bands often spell disaster. But, the Psychedelic Furs ended on top of their game, and the two Butlers managed to reunite with "Love Spit Love," releasing two albums that are quite good and don't sound all that different from their old band. Plus, the three Furs still get together and periodically go on tour where you can now see them in smaller venues.

Since I have now reviewed all seven Furs album of original material, and I kind of like lists, these are the songs that I would include if I were making their greatest hits album (notice no "Love My Way" or "President Gas"):

1. India
2. Sister Europe
3. Susan's Strange
4. Pretty In Pink
5. Mr. Jones
6. Into You Like A Train
7. Forever Now
8. Run and Run
9. The Ghost In You
10. Heaven
11. Heartbreak Beat
12. Midnight To Midnight
13. Entertain Me
14. Book of Days
15. Parade
16. In My Head
17. Until She Comes
18. I Get A Room

Extraordinary.......2005-05-09

World Outside is a great record. I saw the band perform this live in Portland, Oregon and it was one of the best concerts I've ever seen. The album was produced by Steven Street (who produced the Smiths, Morrisey, and others) and that probably accounts for its' excellent sound. The cover art was a collaboration between Richard Butler and Vaughn Oliver of 23e/4AD fame. Altogether, a real creative milestone that seemed to be overlooked by many. If you can find the video for "Until She Comes" check it out. It's brilliant.

"under a moon that shines like it's day".......2004-07-22

A lot of Psychedelic Furs fans missed out on this album because the previous records Midnight to Midnight and Book of Days were not well received. They missed out on an excellent album. As much as I like early Furs, I am tempted to rate World Outside my favorite. It is definitely their most solid album. There is nothing weak on here. I can hit "Repeat All" on my CD player with no regrets. The slower tracks "Sometimes," "There's a World Outside," the single "Until She Comes," and, my favorite, the haunting "All About You" are among their best material. This album does not have the dance tracks like the Furs' earlier releases. There is very little saxophone. The overall sound is closer to Richard Butler's next band, Love Spit Love. World Outside is an excellent bridge between these two bands. Still, rockers like "In My Head" have resemblance to earlier Furs. So far, World Outside is the last Psychedelic Furs studio release. I hope it doesn't remain so but, if it does, they ended on a high note.

The Furs Best.......2004-02-28

I love this CD. I have played it more times and more often that any other in my collection. I liked the Furs before this album, but after it's release I bought everything they have. I have seen them twice (not to be missed) Just about died when after World Outside tour (1st time I saw them) they broke up. Thank god they are back together. I keep hoping for a brand new CD of new stuff. I'm ashamed that this album hasn't sold better it is first rate and my favorite of all. I've been a musician for over 40 years and I wish I was in this band!!
If you like the Furs buy this album for them and for you!

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