Track Listing

1. Hero Takes a Fall
2. Going Down to Liverpool
3. Manic Monday
4. If She Knew What She Wants
5. Walk Like an Egyptian
6. Walking Down Your Street
7. Following
8. Hazy Shade of Winter
9. In Your Room
10. Eternal Flame
11. Be With You
12. I'll Set You Free
13. Everything I Wanted [#]
14. Where Were You When I Needed You

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #3056 in Music
• Brand: BANGLES
• Released on: 1990-04-18
• Number of discs: 1
• Dimensions: .23 pounds

Album Description
Limited German reissue of 1990 'Best Of' compilation for the female pop-rock quartet, pressed onto a gold disc. 14 tracks including, 'Eternal Flame, 'Hazy Shade of Winter', 'ManicMonday', 'If She Knew What She Wants' and 'Walking Down Your Street'. 2000 release. Standard jewel case housed in a slipcase.

Amazon.com
The Bangles' transformation from Merseybeat and garage-smart guitar band to near-definitive example of buffed-and-polished corporate popsters is one of the great rock mysteries of the '80s. What was up with that video for "Walk Like an Egyptian," anyway? Greatest Hits puts it all in perspective, tracing the curve from the post-Beatles group sneer of "Hero Takes a Fall" to the deadly earnest Susanna Hoffs showcase of "Eternal Flame." Shortly after that ballad hit No. 1, the group split. Now unfairly remembered as little more than space fillers on turn-of-the-decade airwaves, the Bangles here make a good case for their spirit, their own songwriting gifts, and, of course, those voices. --Rickey Wright

Customer Reviews

With A Bang
The Bangles made some very good albums, but by and large they were a singles band. Their greatest hits collection culls together their finest songs which are among the catchiest of the 80's. The band were knee deep in the sounds of the 60's and their songs are laced with the bright and sunny sounds of flower power. The album features their number one songs, "Walk Like An Egyptian" and "Eternal Flame" as well as their all time best song, the mesmerizing cover of Simon & Garfunkel's "Hazy Shade Of Winter". The Bangles are one of those bands that many people will never admit to liking, but will turn up the volume and sing along when "Manic Monday" comes on the radio.

Bangles' greatest burns that eternal flame
Me not getting this album until now is like a Gen X-er not seeing Grease until the 1998 reissue. Wait, that was me too. Never mind. Anyway, having had all three of the Bangles albums, the Less Than Zero soundtrack, and both of Susanna Hoffs' studio albums, and me being aware that yeah, there were two new songs on there, I figured why bother, I wasn't missing much.

That changed when I chose it for an instore play during a late shift at work and I was impressed with those new songs. In looking at the album, the songs are in order of release date.

All Over The Place (1984) is under-represented with the two rockers "Hero Takes A Fall" and "Going Down To Liverpool." On the first, Susannah lashes out at an ex-lover, while on the second, giving a nod to their influences, the Beatles, Debbi avers that she's "going down to Liverpool and do nothing all the days of my life"

Then comes five songs from Different Light (1985), the album that broke them wide open. The Prince-penned "Manic Monday" sure beats the old Garfield refrain of hating Mondays, as it incorporates the rush to get to work on time or else not get paid, the Byrdsy "Tambourine Man"-like rhythms of "If She Knew What She Wants", and the wacky dance tune "Walk Like An Egyptian" are so memorable to me. The poppy "Walking Down Your Street" is the single version featuring different vocals in the beginning and deserved a Top 5 rating at least. The haunting guitar-only "Following", sung by bassist Michael Steele proves she is a vocal force to be reckoned with.

With Everything (1988), the Bangles began to write their own material. Before that, they hit the Top 5 with a cover of Simon and Garfunkel's "Hazy Shade Of Winter," which outdoes the original with its fierce guitar and drum attack. All the Bangles sing in unison here, and the haunting lines "Seasons change with the scenery/weaving time in a tapestry/won't you stop and remember me" give an enchanting feel to it.

The psychedelic sounds of the frantic "In Your Room" has a Tommy James-type beat, a la Mony Mony, and incorporates weird strings, organs, and distorted Indian sounds. Yes, the sixties are back.

Then comes the lush torch ballad that has been redone by Atomic Kitten. Sorry, but the original of the #1 "Eternal Flame" burns twice as bright and more eternally than the remake, sung as it is by the one and only Susanna Hoffs, with some angelic chorals by the remaining Bangles.

The upbeat "Be With You" failed to break the Top Ten, as did the mid-paced sad number "I'll Set You Free," which has an a capella beginning, echoing vocals, and Indian sounds instead of the usual guitar of the original version.

Now the new songs. The engaging guitar rocker "Everything I Wanted" could've been a big hit, as it features Susanna on vocals and is classic Bangles instead of the matured songs from Everything. Finally, there's their cover of the Grass Roots' "Where Were You When I Needed You", sung again by Susanna, with sweet harmonies by the others, and which was the B-side of "Hero Takes A Fall." Dipping back into the Sixties was so fun for them, as they were heavily influenced by that music.

Mondays won't be manic, I'll always be in my room, walking like an Egyptian, and I'll be listening to a CD whose flame will burn eternally.

Their Greatest Hits not their best songs
Only 4 stars because this album contains "Eternal Flame", the one Bangles song I really can't stand and the song that, according to reports, tore the band apart. The Bangles did better songs than the ones that became hits and most of them are housed on "All Over the Place", their first full length album. It appears to me that this disc was put together by the record company to showcase Susanna Hoffs and her, at the time, forthcoming solo debut. I love the inclusion of "Hazy Shade of Winter", one of their best featuring 4-part harmonies, but really could have done without "I'll Set You Free", another Hoffs ditty. Better choices abounded, including "James" and "All About You", both great Vicki Peterson-penned songs, "Something to Believe In", Michael Steele's ballad that kicks the snot out of "Eternal Flame", "Watching the Sky", a dark rock song by Vicki, showing off her fantastic vocals and "September Gurls", Michael's great cover of an Alex Chilton classic. If all you remember of the Bangles are their hits and are happy with that, this disc is for you. Interested in hearing more and seeing how truly talented this group was, start first with "All Over the Place", then work your way to "Everything".