Track Listing

Disc 1:

1. Breakout
2. Surrender
3. Fooled by a Smile
4. Twilight World
5. You on My Mind
6. Where in the World
7. Waiting Game
8. Forever Blue
9. Am I the Same Girl
10. Notgonnachange
11. Get in Touch With Myself
12. Who Let the Love Out
13. Incomplete Without You

Disc 2:

1. La (Means I Love You)
2. Better Make It Bette
3. Making the Right Move
4. Don't Let Yourself Down
5. Mama Didn't Raise a Fool
6. Somewhere in the World
7. Here and Now
8. Stoned Soul Picnic
9. You Already Know
10. Now You're Not Here
11. Through the Sky
12. Where Did I Go
13. Somewhere Deep in the Night

Disc 3:

1. Breakout [N.A.D. Mix]
2. Surrender [Stuff Gun Mix]
3. Twilight World [Remix]
4. Windmills of Your Mind [Live]
5. Notgonnachange [Dashi 1 Mix]
6. Breakout [1992 Remix]
7. Alone

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #96169 in Music
• Released on: 2003-12-15
• Number of discs: 3
• Formats: Import, Original recording remastered
• Dimensions: .33 pounds

Customer Reviews

32 Bit Remastered S.O.S.!!
Being a huge SOS fan, I just had to get this. Amazing! Eventhough the previous Japanese Best Hits Collection was superb, this newly "32-bit" remastered version in FANTASTIC!! You hear sounds you never heard before... All the nuances and the intricacy of the trademark SOS sound.

The packaging is kind of strange though. It's a soft cardboard digipak, and the third remix CD sits in a slot. I think it's a Holland edition. No plastic wrap at all when I received it, but it didn't look like anyone had touched the CDs... I still prefer the nicely packaged Jp and US editions. But SOS is no longer published here by Mercury Records (Universal).

Highly recommended.

An "Almost Perfect" Collection
Swing Out Sister (a.k.a. Corinne drewery and Andy Connell) have evolved from a synth-dance-pop style of music twenty years ago, to a Bossa Nova/late night jazz fusion, especially since 1997's Shapes and Patterns C.D.. Between those two styles they experimented with northern soul (Get in Touch with Yourself) and acid jazz (The Living return). However, their roots are clearly centered in jazz and around such celebrated songwriters as Jim Webb (who did arrangements on the Kaleidoscope World album), Burt bacharach and john Barry. In fact, the song You On My Mind (from kaleidoscopw World) is reminiscent to Jim Webb's, Up, Up and Away! These influences, along with S.O.S.'s own trademark sound result in an infectious fusion of pop, lounge and Bossa Nova.
I purchased the Ultimate Collection about this time last year, soon after purchasing their latest studio C.D., Where Our Love grows. I initially wasn't going to buyt this collection since I have nearly ALL of the C.D.s (domestic and import). However, because of the inclusion of the song, Windmills of Your Mind, the collection automatically deserves five stars. Windmills of Your Mind was the theme song from the movie, Thomas Crown Affair. Swing out Sister;s version was originallyavailable ONLY as a B-side to one of their U.K. singles from Kaleidoscope World. Later, the song was intended to be included on S.O.S.'s Best of C.D., from 1996. Instead, it was replaced with a new song, Heaven Only Knows. FINALLY it has been included on this collection (on the bonus disc). Their version of "Windmills" is very intimate in its sound and pensive in its mood, with only Andy's acoustic piano and Corinne's crystalline, yearning voice. Had this version been available when the remake of The Thomas Crown Affair was released a few years ago. perhaps it might have been considered over Sying's version.
To be fair, the rest of the collection is also very good. The price is very reasonable considering it is a 3-C.D. set. The selection of songs is very representative of their albums (although I don't know why none of the songs from the C.D., Filth and Dreams were included on the collection). The sound quality is greatly enhanced by the 32-bit remastering. My only complaint is that the bonus disc could have been longer in length and should have included the extended mix of You On My Mind as well as the song, The Spirit Moves., The Collection would then be perfect!

ONE SWINGING ANTHOLOGY!
For those of you who have purchased an S.O.S. album or two and found that you liked a few key songs, but thought the rest consisted of too many istrumentals, half-realized songs, reprises, accapellas, samples, etc...this collection is for you.
Ultimate Collection contains a generous number of songs from each album, but only the best tracks make the cut. In other words, the collection doesn't skimp (or skip over) any periods of the group's career. It gives you all the best without making you sift through the excess of their individual albums. Yes, you could purchase the 20th Century Masters single-disc "best of," but you'd be cheating yourself out of many great songs. From one casual fan to another, (you know who you are) Ultimate Collection is worth the price and the number of discs.