Metamatic Forums John Foxx John Foxx Best Of...

All this leads me back to context. Over in The Joy Division thread we are discussing which is better for a "new" fan: a proper album, with tracks in order or compilations/best of/greatest hits with tracks slapped on in what appears to be (to a new fan) random order?

Hmm... depends what "kind" of fan I guess!!

I would always lean towards recommending a full album as a starting point. But if somebody, like John, has such a diverse body of work, and you're not sure what somebody will like (if you're recommending) then a good best of is often the solution.

Hi Maryann,

JD only had two albums proper and a smattering of singles so it was fairly easy to wrap up the odds and ends ('Still' & 'Substance'), and many years later somebody had a go at a ‘best of’ (‘Permanent’). You’re not wrong though Maryann – it’s all about context. JD’s entire official output was released between June 1979 and November 1980: just over a year, and still no one can agree on a best of!

So what chance has Foxx got? He has a kaleidoscopic back catalogue that goes back 30 years! Despite all of us detailing and coming up with wondrous track-lists to enchant and beguile newcomers and obsessives all, I think the following will happen:

a) it’ll be singles and select album tracks so as not to confuse Mr.Public
b) one or two exclusive tracks so that we buy it
c) it’ll be issued as a John Foxx CD so as not to confuse Mr. Public
d) it’ll be a 2CD set and it’ll be £8 giving it much more VFM over the £6 that is ‘Modern Art’
e) I will own all the tracks already, but I’ll still go out and buy it because,
f) I’m a muppet and that’s what I do.
g) If he did a cover version of ‘White Cliffs of Dover’ with Lily *&^*£$££ Allen and some dustbin lids…I’d still buy it.
h) Shhhh…You don’t have to say the word ‘sad’…I already know

Message to Alex: Apologies Alex, I did read that question regarding Random/Hybrid so it must have been in the back of my (48k) brain! My point still stands though and I think you wouldn’t of asked Malins if you didn’t think it was possible either: A tribute/re-mix album involving contemporary act would work wonders. Imagine if The Klaxxons did a remix/cover of ‘No One Driving’? In this day and age that’s not as far fetched as it sounds.

I have advocated this before and it sounds more attractive all the time.

It would obviously be called "Someone Else's Clothes"...

Sound the 'different thread' alert. :rolleyes:

Alex, you're right too re: a 'proper' album as a better starting point.
Especially in John's case, when each album represents a whole different design concept, style, purpose etc. There is a danger with Best Ofs of course that they ended being everything and nothing...
Hence the 3 DISC idea - solo, instrumental/CO, with LG?

The 3 disc idea is nice, but sadly I don't think it would be a viable option. Certainly somebody unsure or unfamiliar with John's work would fork out for something like that.

Oh yeah, EV 2006

This is the point where i say again, I started making cdrs of Johns best tracks til i noticed I was just recording everything again.

I'm now tempted to put together the titles of what I would put on a best-of CD....

What an intersting thread.

Like Garry I'd buy a new "best off" simply because it's John and I'm a completist.

I already have Assembley and Modern Art.

What I'd like to see is a double CD with both John's solo work and John and Louis. In the ideal world it would come with an easy to read booklet perhaps with a complete discography and brief history with some nice new colour photographs with an eye catching sleeve.
As for the tracks that I'd choose, now that's something different.

After reading this thread though, do we really need another compilation?

Would it win over so new fans ? I doubt it now because IMHO most fans that are interested in Johns music have already rediscovered John though the internet and music press.

IMHO Shifting City remaster should be the next project followed by The Garden.

Peter

Garry: You said it all, really. .
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....and no, you are not "sad". I do the same with certain groups. :rolleyes:

I had a think about a possible tracklisting... choosing tracks - not neccessarily singles - that represent their parent album well, but would also have enough commercial appeal.

Would be 2 discs, fitting approx 12 tracks on each disc. So, something like...

Disc one: 1980 - 1997
1. Plaza
2. Underpass
3. No-One Driving
4. This City
5. The Garden
6. Walk Away
7. Like A Miracle
8. The Hidden Man
9. Cathedral Oceans track (not sure which!)
10. The Noise
11. Through My Sleeping
12. Shifting City (Exotour version)

Disc 2: 2001 - 2007
1. Quiet City
2. When It Rains
3. Broken Furniture
4. She Robot
5. Your Shadow
6. Skyscraper
7. Looped Los Angeles
8. Impossible
9. A Million Cars
10. Neuro Video
11. In A Silent Way
12. Running In Traffic

Of course that's all to my own taste and preference!!