Fretplay.com Frankie Goes to Hollywood CD reviews Frankie Goes to Hollywood guitar tabs Frankie Goes to Hollywood CD reviews Frankie Goes to Hollywood tabs Bang!...The Greatest Hits of Frankie Goes to Hollywood


Frankie Goes to Hollywood - Bang!...The Greatest Hits of Frankie Goes to Hollywood Audio CD

A fair review of the Frankie Goes to Hollywood "Bang!...The Greatest Hits of Frankie Goes to Hollywood" Audio CD. Please note that the below review is the views of the authors, and authors only. You can get a complete list of all Frankie Goes to Hollywood reviews here, or go back to the Frankie Goes to Hollywood tabs.

Frankie Goes to Hollywood Band: Frankie Goes to Hollywood
Title: Bang!...The Greatest Hits of Frankie Goes to Hollywood
Rating:
Release Date: 1998-10-20
Media: Audio CD

Tracks: 1: Relax 2: Two Tribes 3: War 4: Ferry Cross the Mersey 5: Warriors of the Wasteland 6: For Heaven's Sake 7: World Is My Oyster 8: Welcome to the Pleasuredome 9: Watching the Wildlife 10: Born to Run 11: Rage Hard 12: Power of Love 13: Bang

nice
but ordered it, got it undamaged, and enjoying it almost daily now!. couldnt find it anywhere.


Where sex and horror are the new gods
They made a huge controversial splash, charted one of the most successful singles in the history of the UK and flaunted their homosexuality so blatantly that the Village People would have been proud. Frankie Goes To Hollywood was possibly the ultimate in created new wave bands. "Welcome to the Pleasuredome" was one of the biggest selling double albums in Europe. "Frankie Say. . . " T-Shirts were everywhere. Brian DePalma directed their video. Then suddenly, it was over. Their second album, "Liverpool," sank like a rock, and the two major figures (Holly Johnson and Paul Rutherford) in the group embarked on minor solo careers. Even so, FGTH meteoric rise and just as rapid fall is marked by songs that still sound as anthemic and ridiculously over the top as they did in 1984-86. They even managed to capture a classic song, in the hedonist anthem "Relax. "

That is what "Bang" captures. Thirteen songs are split nine from "Pleasuredome" and four from "Liverpool," each with Trevor Horn's kitchen sink productions and Holly Johnson's drama queen vocals. Horn, who had just started his ZTT label, had learned his lessons with Yes quite well. Both "Relax" and "Two Tribes" were huge sounding records that still have that grandiose distinctiveness of both progressive rock and Hi-NRG dance music. There was nothing else like them, and coupled with the hyper-aggressive marketing, nothing could resist their sonic onslaught.

Once you get past those two signature songs, it is amazing what Frankie had left to say. Granted, the lyrics were sometimes beyond bizarre ("here comes a supernova, what a push-over!"), but the ferocity of "Rage Hard" and the sheer sexuality of "Welcome To The Pleasuredome" do offer proof that the group did have a bit more to them than Horn and hype. The same can not necessarily be said of the band's choice of cover songs. While "Ferry Cross The Mersey" is lightweight enough that it sounds fine in the band's version (and I once read an interview where Gerry Marsden expressed his gratitude to FGTH for making it the B-Side to "Relax," making him an almost instant million in royalties), the decision to cover "Born To Run" seems more like an ego-disaster. Weird thing is FGTH still rock the crap outta the thing, even if Springsteen probably didn't lose any sleep over these guys nicking his signature song. As for Edwin Starr's "War," I always found it interesting that Springsteen covered it and released it as s single later on. Life can be funny that way.

That said, the thirteen songs here sound wonderful even now. The comic-book politics of "Two Tribes" (remember the great video of Ronald Reagan Vs Konstantin Chernenko?) and the uber-gay sexual pronouncements of "Relax" make you almost long for music that was happy to not play it safe, even if it meant your career was going to flame out.

PS. One small gripe. "Bang" has almost nothing by way of liner notes, even with the multifold graphics inlay card. it would have been nice to have a little perspective on the band from someone, maybe a member of even Trevor Horn.


Don't be fooled
The record you receive is not the one described on the site - it's only the 13-track version, not the fifteen.


OK.. for the few hits that they have.
With the exception of a few other hits, it doesn't have much to offer. I originally bought the CD for 'Relax', which was a big hit in the 80's especially in England. I was looking forward to the re-makes of Bruce Springsteen's songs, but you can't compare. Basically, if you don't have the CD with 'Relax', then it might be worth it; otherwise there are better ways to spend your $$$. B.


Gotta have it!
Welcome to the Pleasuredome was one of his theme songs. Ron Hardy was a DJ in the Chicago area back in the early 80's. I had to have it. Oh my gosh, don't let me start singing "When Two Tribes Go To War". I'm lovin' it!.


You can see a complete list of all Frankie Goes to Hollywood discography, or go back to the Frankie Goes to Hollywood tabs. There is also a good guide on how to read guitar tabs here.

Search guitar tabs

#ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ
[ Search tabs | Guitar tabs | Bass tabs |
Easy guitar tabs | Guitar solo tabs |
Acoustic guitar tabs | Guitar chords |
How to read guitar tabs ]
Forum topics
Music forums
- Bands and artists - Songwriting and lyrics - Tablature talk - Promote your band
Instrument forums
- Guitar basics - Gear & accessories - Bass guitar
Community
- The pit - Site Feedback - Reviews
[ User survey | About us | Privacy statement ]