To listen to the evolving sound of Dead or Alive, from the formative years (with occasional Sister of Mercy Wayne Hussey) up through the Stock/Aitken/Waterman golden era and the band's fragmentation and reformation, is to experience the evolving sound of Hi-NRG, from its punky beginnings through its analog reign, digital mutation, and squelchy dark time (which would be now; Why does every Hi-NRG record made within the past few years sound so damned cheap?)
The idea of a comprehensive greatest hits collection for Pete Burns, Steve Coy, Tim Lever, and Mike Percy is one whose time has certainly come, and the options for the Dead or Alive fan of rarefied tastes are two: the Limited Edition, two-disc, 28-track UK edition, and the single disc, 18 track U.S. version. Let's explore the differences between the two, shall we?
"You Spin Me Round" The U.S. version has the original single version and the unnecessary new Metro Mix. The limited edition duplicates the Metro Mix, adding also a pleasant enough Mark Moore Mix and one of the original 12" mixes.
"Lover Come Back To Me" The U.S. version uses a passable 2003 remix, the International uses the original version. Advantage: International.
"Come Home With Me Baby" Both versions are based on the propulsive and excellent 7" version, with the International set adding an annoying backspin taken from the 12". Advantage: U.S.
"Turn Around and Count 2 Ten" One of my absolute fave DOA tracks is presented on the U.S. disc as an abomination/rerecorded version that plays up the vocoder and kills the song dead. The International disc uses the full album version. Advantage: International.
"Sex Drive" Sadly, both versions use one of the rerecorded versions of the song, as apparently the original version (recorded by Italian producers Glam with Burns as a featured vocalist) would have entailed too much licensing. Advantage: neither.
"My Heart Goes Bang" The U.S. pressing uses a great mix that starts out almost in a rock kind of vibe and gradually evolves into the fierce Stock/Aitken/Waterman track we know and love.
"Rebel Rebel" (in its original PWL 7" form), "Baby Don't Say Goodbye," "Unhappy Birthday," and "Hooked on Love" are exclusive to the International double disc. The 2003 mixes of "Lover Come Back To Me" and "Turn Around And Count 2 Ten" and the original 7" of "You Spin Me Round" are the only exclusives on the U.S. version. Advantage: International.
Some tracks that I personally would have loved to have seen on any of the pressings: "Special Star," "Come Inside," "I Cannot Carry On," "Something In My House (the version that's on the Mad, Bad, & Dangerous to Know album)," "Sex Drive (Glam Drivin' Mix)," "Cake and Eat It," "You Spin Me Round" (Lenny Bertoldo's X-Mix)," "Cake and Eat It," "Lover Come Back To Me (Extended Mix) (the one that has that great trippy flange effect)," and some of the 12" mixes of "Baby Don't Say Goodbye" and "Stop Kicking My Heart Around." I include this for no really useful reason, just to share the wealth of great DOA music that's out there.
