release date: Jan. 27, 1997
format: digital
[album rate: 4 / 5]
producer: Tim Friese-Greene
label: EMI - nationality: England, UK
Another best of compilation album by Talk Talk released by the band's former label EMI, much against the will of the band, and at a time when rumours suggest that Mark Hollis is making studio recordings to be released as a new studio album on Polydor.
Actually, this is basically bootleg material and perhaps shouldn't be bought as the artist hardly will see a penny, but... now that it's here... the album is an even better compilation of Talk Talk material than the 12 track 1990 issue Natural History - The Very Best of Talk Talk - also on EMI. This revised issue contains 16 tracks of which 9 are identical to the ones on the '90 album. How on earth they didn't include "Happiness Is Easy" on this must be a blunder. But then again: This is mere profit thinking. By having two almost identical best of albums on the same label, they have better chances in selling both. Sadly, Mark Hollis & Co. never stood behind the selection of songs to figure on any best of albums, so this is all we have, except for the full album releases. The album is a fine collection, although, several songs are missing and the lack of chronological order also disturbs my feelings towards it. It's also with some regret to listen to an album you know consists of songs that have been edited without the band's consent. A few fine B-sides have also found their way on this - securing both general interest and the interest from the fan base.
