Track Listing

Disc 1:

1. Urges
2. Leipzig
3. Europa And The Pirate Twins
4. Airwaves
5. Radio Silence
6. Windpower
7. She Blinded Me With Science
8. One Of Our Submarines Is Missing
9. Hyperactive
10. Dissidents
11. I Scare Myself
12. Field Work - Dolby, Thomas & Ryuichi Sakamoto
13. May The Cube Be With You
14. Airhead
15. Hot Sauce
16. My Brain Is Like A Sieve
17. Close But No Cigar
18. Silk Pyjamas
19. I Love You Goodbye

Disc 2:

1. Europa And The Pirate Twins
2. Airwaves
3. Radio Silence
4. Windpower
5. She Blinded Me With Science
6. One Of Our Submarines Is Missing
7. Hyperactive
8. Dissidents
9. I Scare Myself
10. Field Work - Dolby, Thomas & Ryuichi Sakamoto
11. May The Cube Be With You
12. Airhead
13. Hot Sauce
14. Close But No Cigar
15. Silk Pyjamas
16. I Love You Goodbye
17. Hyperactive
18. Field Work - Dolby, Thomas & Ryuichi Sakamoto
19. Hot Sauce

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #28913 in Music
• Released on: 2009-05-18
• Number of discs: 2
• Dimensions: .24 pounds

CD Description
As one of the most recognisable figures of the eighties synth-pop scene, this comprehensive 'Best Of' collection highlights the unique talents of Thomas Dolby. Including the hits 'She Blinded Me With Science' and 'Hyperactive', this is a brilliant reminder of Dolby's crisp and sharp pop songs.

Customer Reviews

Brilliant, great remastering and DVD bonus make this 'must'
The first track I ever heard from Mr Dolby was "Windpower" on Top of The Pops, with all the foppish hair, big glasses and a lot running around (Thomas, not me!). I was hooked and rushed out to buy "The Golden Age Of Wireless" on cassette, which was the original UK track-listing without "Science", but with the moody "Fairchild" (the version soon to be reissued as a remastered collector's edition). It took a few listens but the variety of musical styles and clever lyrics/melodies weaved their way into my head very effectively. "Flat Earth" was also really good, although a move towards something more funky and, dare I say it, mainstream. After quite a gap "Buick" appeared, and apart from "Pulp Culture" (which I loved and still do) it was a wee bit too American for my taste, with all the flashy band members etc. However "Astronauts" seemed more of a singular affair, including some good singles the classic album tracks "Cruel" and "Neon Sisters" (which is very dark and a bit of a slow-burner).

So another singles collection appears on the shelves, but this time remastered with Mr Dolby 'in attendance'. Checkig out his website I think he is pretty happy with the mastering, but I am slightly surprised at his choice of cover artwork - quirky, to say the least!

Inside the box are two discs that immediately justify their existance though. The earlier material in particular is so bright and clear after mastering, yet the sound is consistent throughout all the material. This is almost a definitive singles collection (no "Get Out Of My Mix", thank goodness) complete with the classic too-good-to-be-a b-side "Submarines" and his collaboration with R Sakamoto "Field Work". Then we have nearly every track on the DVD, most of the videos having been cleaned up pretty well considering the age of the earliest ones, plus 2 extended version videos and the raunchier "Hot Sauce" (the one with the original scenes rather than the inserted picture of the Queen Mum). The bonuses don't add a great deal to the set, but it's nice to have them all there. Again, great sound quality and no synching problems (unlike the recent Ultravox "Best Of" DVD, which still slips a bit in places).

The concert "Sole Inhabitant" DVD/CD recently released generally is also a must-have for any fan, as Thomas goes back to his electronic roots, but on-stage, with some interesting dialogue and insights into his tracks. Roll on the remasters of "Wireless" and "Flat Earth", and some new material maybe!?

Barmy Boffin Pop
It's been a revelation listening back to music from the early eighties [ with recent excellent reissues from Ultravox, and O.M.D.],with the realisation at how fresh and inventive some of this pop music was.Thomas Dolby fits very neatly into this catagory, and this compilation does nothing but enhance his reputation as a quirky, clever, and witty artist who helped make the early eighties pop landscape a riot of colour.

From the witty and haunting "Windpower"[ now how many songs are both witty AND haunting?], to the barmy, She Blinded Me With Science and Hyperactive, Thomas Dolby arguably peaked too early with his brand of hook laden techno pop, but his willingness to experiment, and his ear for an off beat melody never deserted him fully as the latter tracks like Airhead testify, and his deserved reputation as a producer and musical fixer [witness Foreigner's Waiting For a Girl Like You as proof of Dolby's wide ranging talent], continues to this day.

In a bid to shift extra units, EMI have thoughtfully added a dvd of Thomas Dolby's Videos to this set, and very welcome it is too.With the memorable appearance of Dr Magnus Pike in She Blinded Me With Science, and the charmingly cheesy special effects on Hyperactive, this dvd is a lot of fun[ although top of the Pops appearances would have been welcome, but you cant have everything!].

With the release of The Singular Thomas Dolby, a fine career in eighties pop has been neatly collected together in a very worthwhile package.Recommended.

Completely Brilliant! Don't Buy THIS album...
Where to begin? He's not made many albums. He's not made any bad albums. He's been going since the late 70's - writing songs for artists like Lene Lovich before finding fame himself with 'She Blinded me with Science' and 'Hyperactive' in the 80's .

These two are his weakest tracks!!!

This 'greatest' collection spans a career punctuated by long gaps which is a shame because, as much as the word 'genius' is bandied around, it really is true in the case of Mr Dolby. Thomas please make a new record.

All of the songs on this album are very good indeed, even if the videos on the bonus DVD look a bit dated now. Thomas used to play the 'mad' scientist quite a lot you know.

'Urges' and 'Leipzig' are relatively rare but all of the other tracks are available on his other albums, which is where you should really start. Because any of the tracks from them would not be out of place in this wonderful collection and really do deserve to be heard.

Even if, like me, you think 'Blinded' and 'Hyperactive' have been played to death, you really should buy all of Mr D's albums, if you know what's good for you.

If you don't, you deserve to get your bunsen burned.