Back in 1984, Ultravox released The Collection, a best of compilation that brought together 14 singles released over the course of four years. If you’re new to the band, The Collection is a good place to start because it contains the jams of the band’s Midge Ure era, like “Dancing With Tears in My Eyes,” “Reap the Wild Wind” and, of course, “Vienna.” It was my first Ultravox record, pulled from a used bin in a San Fernando Valley record store for $2.99 back in the late 1990s. Last week, a deluxe edition of The Collection was released and, if you’re already a fan, you probably will want this in your collection.
I’ve been listening to a digital promo of this new edition for a minute and am planning to pick up The Collection CD box set when I come across it specifically for the two Blu-ray Discs, which include music videos, plus Top of the Pops performances and other footage, and the booklets. There are vinyl box sets too, but I honestly think CD is the way to go for this release.
But, the real reason to get the deluxe edition of The Collection is for the broad expanse of music on it. In addition to the 14 singles that were on the original release, there is a bonus CD-worth of alternate versions, single and radio edits. Then there are 10 new remixes made in the style 1980s 12” mixes. So, they’re extended, DJ-friendly versions with longer, sometimes very dramatic, intros that still stay true to the core of the song. I’m tempted to play either the “Reap the Wild Wind” remix of Midge Ure’s extended remix of “All Stood Still” in my sets soon. They’re both fire and, really, all ten of the new remixes are pretty damn good.
There are 19 B-sides included in The Collection deluxe edition and this, tbh, is even more enticing than the new remixes. “Passionate Reply,” “Herr X,” “Alles Klar,” “Overlook,” this collection is filled with minimal synth gold. Having all these B-sides together is a nice complement to the pop-centric concept of a singles compilation.
To put this into context for anyone who is less familiar with Ultravox, the band formed in the mid-1970s and, with their first lead singer, John Foxx, and, towards the end of that run, they released the album Systems of Romance that became a seminal synth album. Foxx left the band after that and Midge Ure, who had already been in a few bands (including Thing Lizzy) and played with Ultravox’s Billy Currie in Visage, came in on vocals. This is the start of Ultravox’s pop era, by which I mean it was pop music in the U.K., but more like new wave/alternative here in the U.S.
To be able to listen to the singles during Ultravox’s peak years, plus the B-sides, in one sitting, is illuminating in a lot of ways. Not only do you have this juxtaposition of the radio-friendly songs with the weird stuff for the synth-heads, but you can year hear the shift in their sound as they go from working with legendary Krautrock producer Conny Plank to George Martin (yeah, the same George Martin who produced the Beatles) to producing on their own.
I guess this is a long way of saying that the deluxe edition of The Collection is an expanded reissue that’s worth the purchase for fans. It’s clear that a lot of work went into putting this together and it makes me want to check out the other deluxe editions that Ultravox has released in recent years.
Liz O. is an L.A.-based writer and DJ. Follow on Instagram or sign up for the weekly, Beatique newsletter for updates on new stories and gigs.
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