Metamatic Forums John Foxx John Foxx Best Of...

Hmm, true. That's another aspect to it. I totally relate - there are some bands I like but only have the best of, not botheed about getting other albums.

But one John Foxx CD in somebody's collection is still better than none!

...John has never really been a singles artist though like many other artists from the same period. I think you need to explore John's albums to fully appreciate the artistry to his music.

Of course you can relate that statement to almost everyone - but hey, I'm biased!

Alex, you are right

But…

All this will require a quite purposeful and targeted marketing campaign, planning etc
The sort of thing that a record label might be able to do, but we are living outside that environent. I'm not for one minute doubting the intentions and abilities of everyone currently involved, but are those resources and finances available?

I am assuming that the 'best of' is part of a bigger pro-active planning process, and that the schedule of "re" issues, limited releases of new material etc are also being worked out to the same end. A piecemeal approach wouldn't work. John's 'output' still needs to be seen as progressive if he intends to be recognised as a contemporary artist as well.

etc.


More tea?

Tea and biscuits!

Coffee , not tea

It still about mid afternoon here M, coffee is later tonight for me

Im the same about U2, their early albums were great, but because their later ones were not, i decided to just buy their 'Hits' cds. In other words their average latest albums made me decided to ignore their good ones even.

Message in there to the bands and marketing people, maybe.

I'm the same with the Pet Shop Boys, New Order and Ultravox to name but a few. Each to their own I guess!

And although I have all of Simple Minds albums, they put out a best of specifically of their early formative (and very best) years, called "Early Gold". What a great compilation that is!

But I thought that was a very interesting idea, to focus on one specific era and not unlike the concept of John putting out a best of John and Louis compilation.

The Best Of's never include the best of's in my opinion. I was a real big U2 fan (still am of the early work) and the compilations don't do justice.
However, if you take Depeche Mode, their Best Of's DO have all the best. I guess it depends.

Yeah it can be funny. The DM best-ofs are good. Then again most of the bands' best tracks were singles.. but they have some fantastic album tracks and b-sides that were easily good enought o be singles!

That leads me on to The Police. I bought the "Message in a Box" set, and I was quite disappointed with it. It turned out that all my favourite tracks – give or take 1 or 2 album tracks – were on the best of! So despite having the band's collected works in one nice, shiny set, I preferred the Greatest Hits CD!

...I suppose in comparison, John really isn't a "singles" artist, so a best of, really has to (try to) be a BEST of!

There are so many great tracks on all of his albums, it would be a mammoth task to single a few out. Here I go repeating myself again!!

....out of curiosity, it would be very interesting (at least for me) to see which track or tracks John and Louis would pick off their albums........