Heaven is indeed a place on earth for all you Belinda Carlisle fans out there thanks to the Edsel Records. The label has recently released Belinda’s CD singles (1986 to 2014) in a Deluxe box set, including her greatest hits, various remixes plus some other little gems. And for those still not content: the set also includes a 24-page booklet!
The 29 CD singles (yep, 29!) are presented in individual card sleeves and this magnificent box set gathers up the many B-sides and additional mixes that were issued across the different formats of the singles released in the US and UK. The bonus disc (CD29) includes two extra mixes, two promo edits and the film soundtrack song In My Wildest Dreams.
The former Go-Go’s singer presented us with some of the catchiest pop singles ever, from the aforementioned global number 1 hit Heaven Is A Place On Earth to Circle In The Sand, Leave A Light On and (We Want) The Same Thing which are, it goes without saying, all included here, and in various versions. Of course, Belinda’s recent releases Sun and Goodbye Just Go are also to be found.
Amongst the treasure from her musical past to her musical present are to incredibly upbeat live versions of Leave A Light On as well as the rocking Live Your Life Be Free. Also outstanding is the original version of Little Black Book and an 8-track demo version of Too Much Water which is both chilled-out and draws you in straight away. Tell Me is one of many examples of Belinda’s superb talents as a singer, as is the heartfelt Here Comes My Baby (another 8 track demo) with its particularly stunning arrangement. Talking about stunning: Track 16 on CD23 is a magnificent cover of John Lennon’s Jealous Guy!
On the subject of cover version, Belinda delights with another cover version, in this case the Dr. Hook & The Medicine Show song Ballad Of Lucy Jordan (Track 3, CD24) which proved to be a hit for Marianne Faithful back in the day. Here, Belinda’s slightly smoky-hued voice comes to particular good effect.
In total contrast stands opener Love In The Key Of C (Track 7, CD25) with its smooth and slick arrangement, followed by the dreamy Kneel At Your Feet. We get two fabulously atmospheric live acoustic versions with In Too Deep and Circle In The Sand – particularly inspiring thanks to the use of Spanish guitar sounds that add warmth and that special romantic feeling… one of my favorite tracks amongst the whole set.
On CD10 it is the Renaissance-inspired Shades Of Michelangelo (Track 3) that stirs the senses. Powerful vocals, subtle applied keys and poetic lyrics demonstrate what a versatile artist Belinda is.
As for all the countless Mixes and Remixes which this box set holds, one wonders where to begin (never mind where to end)! Take for example Heaven Is A Place On Earth: we get the Original version, the Live version, the Album version, the Single mix, the Heavenly version, the Down To Earth dub version, and the angelic A Capella/The Voice version which ends oh so abrupt. Phew! This box set sure is a treasure trove to cherish forever!
The track list:
Disc 1
Mad About You – Single mix
Mad About You – Extended mix
Mad About You – Instrumental mix
I Never Wanted A Rich Man
Disc 2
I Feel The Magic
From The Heart
Gotta Get To You
Disc 3
Band Of Gold [featuring Freda Payne] – Single mix
Band Of Gold [featuring Freda Payne] – Extended mix
Band Of Gold [featuring Freda Payne] – Dub mix
From The Heart
Disc 4
Heaven Is A Place On Earth – Single mix
Heaven Is A Place On Earth – Album version
Heaven Is A Place On Earth – Heavenly version
Heaven Is A Place On Earth – Down to Earth dub
Heaven Is A Place On Earth – A cappella (The Voice)
We Can Change
Disc 5
I Get Weak – 7″ version
I Get Weak – Album version
I Get Weak – 12″ version
I Get Weak – Instrumental
I Get Weak US – 7″ mix
Should I Let You In
Disc 6
Circle In The Sand – 7″ version
Circle In The Sand – Seaside mood groove mix
Circle In The Sand – Beach party mix
Circle In The Sand – Sandblast Multi-mix
Disc 7
I Feel Free – 7″ version
I Feel Free – Extended version
I Feel Free – Dub
Disc 8
World Without You – 7″ remix
World Without You – Extended worldwide mix
World Without You – Panavision mix
Nobody Owns Me
Disc 9
Love Never Dies – Single version
Love Never Dies – Full length version
I Feel Free – Live
Circle In The Sand – Live
Heaven Is A Place On Earth – Live
Disc 10
Leave A Light On – 7″ version
Leave A Light On – Extended mix
Shades Of Michelangelo
Disc 11
La Luna – 7″ version
La Luna – Album version
La Luna – Extended dance mix
La Luna – 12″ Dub mix
La Luna – A Capella
Whatever It Takes
Leave A Light On – Kamikazee single mix
Disc 12
Runaway Horses – Single version
Runaway Horses – Album version
Heaven Is A Place On Earth – Live
Circle In The Sand – Beach party Mix
Disc 13
Vision Of You – 7″ version
Leave A Light On – Kamikazee mix
I Feel Free – 12″ extended mix
Disc 14
(We Want) The Same Thing – Summer remix
(We Want) The Same Thing – Extended summer remix
Shades Of Michelangelo
Circle In The Sand – Sandblast multimix
Disc 15
Summer Rain – 7″ edit
Summer Rain – Album version
Summer Rain – Extended version
Summer Rain – Dub mix
Summer Rain – Justin Strauss radio edit
Leave A Light On – Kamikazee mix
Disc 16
Vision Of You – Remix ’91
Vision Of You – Original 7″ version
Heaven Is A Place On Earth [live]
Disc 17
Live Your Life Be Free – Single version
Live Your Life Be Free – LP version
Live Your Life Be Free – Club mix
Loneliness Game
Disc 18
Do You Feel Like I Feel – Single version
Do You Feel Like I Feel – Album version
Do You Feel Like I Feel – Dance mix
World Of Love
Live Your Life Be Free – Dance instrumental
Disc 19
Half The World
Only A Dream
Live Your Life Be Free – Original intro version
Vision Of You – Remix ’91
Circle In The Sand
Love Never Dies
Disc 20
Little Black Book
Little Black Book – Little Black mix
Little Black Book – Belinda’s in the house mix
The Air You Breathe
Only A Dream
Disc 21
Big Scary Animal
Windows Of The World
Change – 8 track demo
Too Much Water – 8 track demo
Disc 22
Lay Down Your Arms – Single edit
Tell Me
Wrap My Arms – 8 track demo
Here Comes My Baby – 8 track demo
Disc 23
In Too Deep
I See No Ships
Jealous Guy
(We Want) The Same Thing – Summer remix
Disc 24
Always Breaking My Heart
Love Walks In
Ballad Of Lucy Jordan
Heaven Is A Place On Earth
Circle In The Sand
I Get Weak
Disc 25
Love In The Key Of C
Kneel At Your Feet
In Too Deep – Live acoustic
Circle In The Sand – Live acoustic
Too Much Water – Demo
Whatcha Doin’ To Me – Demo
Don’t Cry – Demo
Disc 26
California
Leave A Light On – Live
Live Your Life Be Free – Live
Heaven Is A Place On Earth – Live
Big Scary Animal – Live
I Get Weak – Live
In Too Deep – Live
Disc 27
All God’s Children – Edit
All God’s Children -Full version
Runaway Horses
Only A Dream
Disc 28
Sun – Edit
Sun – Original version
Goodbye Just Go
Disc 29
Live Your Life Be Free – Macmillan Mix
Do You Feel Like I Feel – Macmillan Mix
A Prayer For Everyone – Edit
I Still Love Him – Edit
In My Wildest Dreams
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