Spandau Ballet

Dutch reissue label Disky has produced one of those head-scratching compilations in its Spandau Ballet album The Collection. Fourteen tracks making up almost an hour of music run the gamut from major British hits like "To Cut a Long Story Short" and "Lifeline" to live versions of "Gold" and "Foundation" and remixes of "Coffee Club" and "Highly Strung" (retitled "Highly Re-strung"). But there is no discernible selection criterion to this group of tracks drawn from the band's 1980-1984 recordings for Chrysalis Records. It's not really a hits collection, since it leaves so many hits out (and potential American purchasers should be warned that none of Spandau Ballet's U.S. chart entries, not even "True," are included). It's not a rarities collection. If there is any organizing principle, it seems to be danceability, since, at least until near the end, all of the tracks maintain a steady beat. But this is a seemingly random collection of Spandau Ballet performances, including various singles, LP tracks, live recordings, and remixes in no particular order. Some of the band's better material is here, some isn't. But anyone buying this album expecting a best-of or greatest-hits disc (as the title The Collection would seem to imply) is going to be disappointed. ~ William Ruhlmann, All Music Guide