Amazon User review:
There is not much choice when it comes to Paul Parker's back catalogue on CD. This Unidisc double album is the only one that covers the majority of his output from the 80's. It's like a super expanded edition of his Patrick Cowley produced "Too Much To Dream" album, using the same cover photo. It contains all the tracks from the album, of which the tracks: "Love's On The Line", "Shot In The Night", and "Too Much To Dream" were released as 12" singles (these versions are included here). The single "Right On Target" was a short version on the album, but also released as a longer 12" version (you get both versions included on this collection).
There are 2 tracks included here from Patrick Cowley's own solo albums which pre-date the "Too Much To Dream" album, where Paul provided the vocals. "Tech-no-logical World" from the "Mind Warp" album, which is excellent and "Lift Off" from his "Megatron Man" album, although here it is faded out early. The full version can be obtained on Patrick's album, or alternatively it is included on Disco Discharge - Pink Pounders which I can also recommend.
In 1984 UK producer Ian Anthony Stephens produced the brilliant "Desire" for Paul and the 12" contained a slightly rock tinged dance version and a straight forward Hi-NRG mix and again both are included here. In 1985 another Ian Anthony Stephens produced 12" was released, "Don't Play With Fire" backed with "Without Your Love". Both tracks are superb Hi-NRG productions, but unfortunately "Don't Play With Fire" is here in an overly long version and ripped from vinyl, which doesn't make for a comfortable listening experience because it is too crackly. I found a better quality version of this track on I Love Disco Energy 2, although still not perfect it is a lot better and is the original 12" version which I prefer. "Without Your Love" is completely absent here unfortunately, which is a big shame, but I managed to locate it on I Love Disco Diamond Collection Vol. 36. Again the quality is not perfect, but it is acceptable. It seems the original master tapes for these tracks must be lost or not in very good condition, so this is a reminder to us that we are lucky to get some of these tracks at all.
In 1986 Paul covered Cyndi Lauper's "Time After Time", which sounds a dreadful idea on paper, but it really works. The album version included here is good, but it is even better in the 12" version which can be found on the "Load This! The Best Of Loading Bay" CD. There are plenty more good tracks on this CD, some produced by Man Parrish. It's also worth investigating the "Klone Ikons" series for more Paul Parker and I also discovered a great track called "Don't Stop (What You're Doing To Me)" featured on Mad About The Boy 17 from 2009, which is really amazing and great to see that Paul is still making good music 30 years on from those early days and still has that fantastic voice.
602537010554
3701055
Universal Republic Records, 2012
Country: EUROPE
Good condition
C09
