This amazing boxset salutes the short-lived career of the original
Hanoi Rocks. The boxset goes all the way back to the late 80's till the classic
Hanoi Rocks' last concert right after Razzle's death. The boxset comes full circle since it also covers all members' solo careers after
Hanoi Rocks dissolution early 1985.
The songs have all been 24-bit digitally remastered. There certainly is value for money with 72 tracks combining studio songs, live material, rare songs and all the Hanoi hits. There is a really cool 40 page booklet with lots of photos and a biography documenting
Hanoi Rocks career month by month. Furthermore every 72 tracks are accompanied by liner notes about the particular song.
CD 1 covers late 1980's to early 1982 with all the early singles, rare B-sides and unreleased tracks.
Hanoi Rocks' debut single
I Want You actually sounds pretty good but not everything
Hanoi Rocks experimented with at the time sounded great.
Do the Duck does not uphold the Hanoi standard and the duck voices form Monroe definitely makes this song a fan only song. However, it also underlines the charm of this boxset, since it's made for the fans with obscure stuff on it.
Café Avenue is featured in its original version. The song has been dusted off and used in today's live set. The song is brilliant and has a touch of Iggy Pop, while the riff sounds influenced by new wave.
Michael Monroe's vocals are a bit higher on the old material than now. The best obscure track is
Devil Woman, which is featured in its original version. That version has never been released on CD.
Devil Woman has some characteristic
Hanoi Rocks trademarks, namely a cool harmonica from Monroe and a cool solo from McCoy.
CD 2 follows up from CD 1 and covers 1982 to 1984 with
Hanoi Rocks hits mixed with B-sides and unreleased versions. I won't go into details with the classic
Hanoi Rocks songs, but rather focus on the ones that make this a value for money release.
In the year 79/It's Too Late recorded in London 1985 shows a primitive
Hanoi Rocks, but still charming because of the energy and the obvious punk influences. Same goes for
Hometown Breakdown, which has potential even though the amateurish traffic noise simulation makes you smile.
The coolest inclusion is the demo
Never Get Enough, which transferred into
Million Miles Away. The piano piece played by and written by Andy McCoy is beautiful.
CD 3 captures
Hanoi Rocks in their right element, namely on stage. The first 9 tracks are all from the official live album "All Those Wasted years".
Underwater world is so amazing performed on the late Tommy Vance's "Radio One" show in July 1984. The band sounds so good.
Boulevard of Broken Dreams, Underwater World and
Up around the Bend is taken from the last concert in Finland, which leads me to included video clip of
Million Miles away. This footage is taken from a concert held 4th January 1985 - less than 3 weeks after Razzle passed away. The performance is breathtaking and dedicated to Razzle. This was a historic and sad concert.
Hanoi Rocks was crushed after Razzle's death and this concert was the end of the original
Hanoi Rocks, since it was the last time bassist Sam Yaffa played with the band.
CD 4 features
Hanoi Rocks members solo work and takes the listener up-to-date till Monroe's solo album "Life get you Dirty" released in 1999 - just before McCoy and Monroe decided to re-unite this legendary band. See the tracklist for this impressive and extensive coverage of the members' music after
Hanoi Rocks disbanded.
McCoy and Nasty Suicide's collaboration The Suicide Twins has Nasty singing and the half-acoustic track is a treat for the fans
A lot of Monroe's solo material evolved around Razzle. From his first album and quite rare album, the song
Too Rich to be Good Monroe clearly addresses Vince Neil. Monroe has probably never forgiven him for Razzle's death. The song ends with Johnny Thunders
"You Can't Put your Arms around a Memory" which again is a tribute to Razzle since it was one of his favorite songs. The same goes for
Where's the Fire John which was one of Razzle's phrases - the song isn't about him though, but just another fantastic song that underlines why I love Monroe's solo work so much. Even though Monroe dissociates himself from his project with Steve Steven I enjoy Jerusalem Slim.
There are 2 tracks from Andy McCoy's "Building on tradition" - both good tracks and also a bonus track
Candle burned down only on the Japan release of the album. McCoy's wife Angie sets her mark on "Briard"
River of Dreams with her sexy and languishing voice - but the track itself is pure pop and nothing spectacular.
The only thing missing on this very extensive and well documented CD 4 is Sam Yaffa's work with Jetboy, who made 2 solid Rock 'n' Roll records.
If you are into
Hanoi Rocks or Hard Rock - this boxset documents music history.
Written by
Michael Wednesday, April 6, 2005
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