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Alexander O’Neal: Complete Singles Collection / Japanese compilation

By Paul Sinclair

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alexanderoneal_complete

Mona Records in Japan are taking another look at the 45s of Minneapolis Soul legend Alexander O’Neal with a new two-CD set, Complete Single Collection…

This is a 33-track double-disc package that does a creditable job of collecting all the singles from O’Neal’s five albums recorded for Clarence Avant’s Tabu Records, namely Alexander O’Neal, Hearsay, My Gift To You, All True Man and Love Makes No Sense.

Things are kept interesting with a focus on single versions and the odd remix or rarity thrown in for good measure. So the 45 edit/remix of second single If You Were Here Tonight, is followed by the excellent ‘Soft Version’, which loses the drums and adds acoustic guitar for an effective ‘ambient’ vibe. Similarly the A Cappella version of Cherrelle duet Never Knew Love Like This is included, with the Japanese label claiming ‘first time on CD’. This appears to be almost true. It’s certainly rare, although was issued on a three-inch Austrian CD single back in the day and also found its way onto a US promo CD at the time. This variant hasn’t been issued in the UK on CD though, and wasn’t on any of Demon Music’s releases back in 2013.

Complete Single Collection includes this ‘Soft Version’ of If You Were Here Tonight

 

This set also includes Saturday Love (which was actually a Cherrelle single ‘with’ Alexander O’Neal) and 1989’s Hit Mix (The Official Bootleg Megamix) which was a mash-up of Fake, Hearsay, Criticize and Innocent.

Although O’Neal is rather over-compiled, the attractive design, thoughtful track selection and general Japanese care-and-attention make this worthy of consideration. There is however, no confirmation about remastering or masters used at this point.

Complete Single Collection is out now, or due next week depending on where you order.

UPDATE 5/1/16: For contractual reasons this release is being withdrawn.

track_listing

DISC 01
01. INNOCENT*
02. ARE YOU THE ONE?
03. A BROKEN HEART CAN MEND
04. DO YOU WANNA LIKE I DO
05. IF YOU WERE HERE TONIGHT [REMIX]*
06. IF YOU WERE HERE TONIGHT [SOFT VERSION]
07. WHAT’S MISSING*
08. ARE YOU THE ONE ?*
09. YOU WERE MEANT TO BE MY LADY (NOT MY GIRL)
10. FAKE [PATTY MIX]*
11. CRITICIZE [CRITICAL EDIT]*
12. NEVER KNEW LOVE LIKE THIS◆*
13. NEVER KNEW LOVE LIKE THIS [A CAPPELLA]◆* (first time on CD in Japan/UK)
14. THE LOVERS*
15. (WHAT CAN I SAY) TO MAKE YOU LOVE ME
16. THE CHRISTMAS SONG
(CHESTNUTS ROASTING ON AN OPEN FIRE)
17. THANK YOU FOR A GOOD YEAR

DISC 02
01. HEARSAY ’89*
02. SUNSHINE*
03. THE YOKE (G.U.O.T.R.)*
04. ALL TRUE MAN*
05. HANG ON
06. WHAT IS THIS THING CALLED LOVE?*
07. SENTIMENTAL*
08. SHAME ON ME
09. LOOK AT US NOW
10. APHRODISIA*
11. LOVE MAKES NO SENSE*
12. IN THE MIDDLE*
13. ALL THAT MATTERS TO ME*

BONUS TRACKS
14. SATURDAY LOVE◆*
15. WHAT A WONDERFUL WORLD
16. HIT MIX (THE OFFICIAL BOOTLEG MEGAMIX)
FAKE～ HEARSAY～ CRITICIZE～ INNOCENT

◆ ft. Cherrelle
*Single version

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15 Comments

15 thoughts on “Alexander O’Neal: Complete Singles Collection / Japanese compilation”

  2. I did some Alexander O’Neal compilation CD’s myself many years ago.

    Hit Mix (The Official Bootleg Megamix Vol2) [Rita Liebrand-7” Version Featuring Fake, Hearsay, Criticize & Innocent] 4:03

    Hit Mix (The Official Bootleg Megamix Vol2) [Rita Liebrand-12” Version Featuring (What Can I Say) To Make You Love Me, Never Knew Love Like This, Fake, Hearsay, Criticize & Innocent] 9:35

  3. Haven’t explored the stuff available for Mr O’Neal yet and will make this my next project starting with this article! There were a lot of good remixes around and also would like to see some of the energetic and good sounding live performances of the time being released from Capital Radio London and I think BBC too.

    I remember the hit mix but can’t remember the difference between the 7 and 12 inch version. Can anyone clarify about this and which one is better in people’s opinions?

      1. Thanks. Even though there is no asterisk to indicate ‘single version’ on the track listing, I wouldn’t rule out this new compilation opting for the edit rather than the long version.

  5. I remember Ben Liebrand made a few wonderful remixes from Alexander’s songs. I’m not sure if they were commercially released or not.

  6. what i want is a complete “deluxe edition” of “hearsay” with ALL
    remixes, edits and dubs and instrumental versions.
    the re-release from 2013 had a horrible selection!
    with no remixes of “never knew love like this” ( only an “edit” on CD2 ),
    no remixes of “(what can i can) to make you love me”
    and only the “bonus beats” of “the lovers”.
    who created that track listing ? a trainee ?
    this needs a real 3 cd deluxe box for collector’s.
    so work on it tabu records!

  8. The only version of Criticize that I have with a dead ending is the full length 12″ of the single remix, which is also track 6 on All Mixed Up. I’m guessing this didn’t get much radio airplay though. Maybe an alternative edit of that?

    1. Indeed. There is a distinct possibility that a radio station may have created their own edit… I’m assuming this compilation will house the standard 4.04 single mix.

  9. I remember when Criticize was played on the radio during ’87 it had a dead ending to it. A slight aside but Paul do you know if this was purely a radio mix or is it commercially available? This set looks nice, well thought through.

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