Title: Frankie Say Greatest
Artist: Frankie Goes to Hollywood
Genre: Pop, Glam-Pop
Release Date: 27th November 2009
Label: Universal
Album Review
Founded in 1980 and emerging from the local punk scene, the Liverpool-based formation FRANKIE GOES TO HOLLYWOOD soon gained the pop world´s attention due to front man Holly Johnson´s expressive vocals in combination with a knack for bombastic arrangements and some scandals. In 1983, the five-piece reached the international breakthrough by releasing the debut single `Relax´ which had been banned by the BBC that was concerned about the suggestive artwork and the provoking lyrics. Nevertheless, `Relax´ was able to top the UK singles charts for five weeks and was mentioned for being the seventh best-selling UK single of all time in 2006. Further releases such as the anti-conflict song `Two Tribes´, powerful `Rage Hard´ and the passionate ballad `The Power of Love´ consolidated the band´s position and became all-time favourites on 80´s compilations and on the radio as well. In 1984, their most significant long-player `Welcome to the Pleasuredome´ stormed the European album charts and also became popular in the USA.
The symbiotic relationship to their producer Trevor Horn, who is said to be the discoverer of FRANKIE GOES TO HOLLYWOOD, led to a very successful marketing but also caused some internal debates as Horn only involved Holly Johnson and rather unknown studio musicians while recording `Relax´ and `Two Tribes´. Eventually, the formation broke up in 1987 but was re-united in 2003. However, Johnson and Brian Nash didn´t want to be part of the line-up anymore for various reasons. On the occasion of the 25th anniversary of mega-seller `Relax´, this best of-album entitled with `Frankie Say Greatest´ (which is also available as double disc containing the below-mentioned songs) hit the stores on 27th November 2009.
My review is focussed on the standard record that includes the best-known singles and some extras such as a colourful BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN-cover version of `Born to Run´. If you grew up in the decade of the 1980´s, you will definitely know this material which is opulent, hedonistic, courageous, orchestral, lot of pop and ground-breaking likewise. Naturally, “birthday child” `Relax´ (that I will always remember as cool background song in a German commercial spot advertising suntan lotion, by the way) isn´t missing as well as the dramatic and beautiful song `The Power of Love´ which was originally intended for the BAND AID project and has been annually revived as a Christmas ballad by the radio stations. Moreover, nostalgic `Ferry Cross The Mersey´, a cover version of the old GERRY AND THE PACEMAKERS track, will please the attentive listener who can boast about owning one iconic piece of music that had certainly influenced today´s popular culture. Therefore, the collection is worth buying anyway.
Tracklist
CD1
01. Relax
02. Two Tribes
03. Welcome to the Pleasuredome (Escape Act Video Mix)
04. War
05. The Power of Love
06. Ferry Cross the Mersey
07. Is There Anybody Out There - Movement 2
08. (Tag)
09. Born To Run
10. Rage Hard
11. Warriors of the Wasteland
12. Watching the Wildlife
13. Happy Hi
14. The Waves
15. Relax (Chicane Radio Edit)
16. Two Tribes (Hibauska)
17. Relax (Lockout)
Bonus CD
01. Relax (Sex Mix)
02. Two Tribes (Annihilation)
03. War (Hidden)
04. Welcome to the Pleasuredome
05. Rage Hard (Freddie Bastone Remix)
06. Watching the Wildlife (Hotter)
07. Relax (Scott Stoch)
08. Suffragette City
09. Our Silver Turns To Gold
10. Get It On
Line-up
Holly Johnson - vocals
Peter Gill - drums, percussion
Brian Nash - guitar
Mark O´Toole - bass
Paul Rutherford - vocals, keyboards
Website
http://www.fgth.org.uk/ / http://www.myspace.com/frankiegoestohollywood2
Cover-Picture
Rating
Music: 9
Sound: 9
Extras: -
Total: 9 / 10
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