In Case You Missed It: Join the (Music) Club!

If you’re a British compilation hunter or fan of imports, it’s tough to go wrong with Demon Music Group’s Music Club Deluxe label. The relatively inexpensive double-disc sets the label turns out might look simple or quickly assembled, but they’re in fact often packed with a few rarities for your buck.

In recent weeks, Music Club Deluxe has issued a half-dozen compilations, all for ’80s pop/rock artists. You likely know their hits, but there are some great album cuts, B-sides and remixes to go around for each. Hit the jump and we’ll run through them all.

First up, it’s The Hits Collection by Culture Club. Fronted by iconic, gender-bending singer Boy George, there’s plenty to dance to from the band’s hit albums (between 1982’s Kissing to Be Clever and 1986’s From Luxury to Heartache), not to mention a track from 1999 comeback album Don’t Mind If I Do, two U.S.-only 12″ dance remixes and even a track from Boy George’s 1990s side project Jesus Loves You.

“Too Shy” band Kajagoogoo is represented on The Hits alongside material from frontman Limahl, who was fired from the band after debut LP White Feathers (1982) and recorded a few solo albums, not to mention the theme to The Neverending Story. This set runs deep, even including a few dance mixes and songs from the sole album by Kaja (as they would last be known), 1985’s Crazy Peoples Right to Speak.

Sheena Easton’s The Collection features the Scottish songstress’ biggest hits during her tenure with EMI throughout the ’80s. It also features her duet on “We’ve Got Tonight” with Kenny Rogers, two soundtrack songs (from About Last Night… and the James Bond film For Your Eyes Only) and three B-sides.

Kim Wilde’s The Collection is pretty straightforward, only covering her material on RAK Records with a few exceptions (her cover of The Supremes’ “You Keep Me Hangin’ On” for MCA, some tracks from EMI’s 2006 release Never Say Never). Still, it has a healthy mix of singles, album cuts and B-sides.

Living in a Box, the third-most notable act with their name in one of their own song (after Bo Diddley and Big Country), gets a really expansive compilation featuring nearly everything from both of their studio albums and a heap of B-side and remix material.

The most exciting in the bunch might be the hits set for Go West, the exceptionally-underrated U.K. pop duo. Not only do you get all the hits, but some soundtrack appearances (“One Way Street” from Rocky IV, “Don’t Ever Let ‘Em See You Sweat” from White Men Can’t Jump), a really rare compilation track (a cover of “One of Us” for an ABBA tribute album), dance mixes and even a track from their most recent release, 3D.

Next, there’s a compilation from Irish punk band Stiff Little Fingers. Like the others, it spans a healthy breadth of the band’s career, both their late ’70s/early ’80s output on Chrysalis and their latter-day works, with a fair amount of Chrysalis-era B-sides.

Finally, there’s a comprehensive set devoted to The Drifters and onetime lead singer Ben E. King, spanning all Atlantic and Bell albums, and a set for rapper Coolio that includes nearly everything from his first three albums.

The Sheena Easton, Drifters and Coolio sets will be released April 16 in the U.K.; all the others are available now.

Culture Club, The Hits Collection (Music Club Deluxe MCDLX144 (U.K.), 2012)

Disc 1

1. Karma Chameleon
2. Time (Clock of the Heart)
3. The Medal Song
4. I Pray
5. Church of the Poison Mind
6. Victims
7. Miss Me Blind
8. Man-Shake
9. Work on Me Baby
10. Boy Boy (I’m the Boy)
11. Move Away
12. God Thank You Woman
13. I Just Wanna Be Loved
14. Take Control
15. Stormkeeper
16. Black Money
17. It’s a Miracle/Miss Me Blind (U.S. 12″ Mix)

Disc 2

1. Do You Really Want to Hurt Me
2. The War Song
3. Mistake No. 3
4. It’s a Miracle
5. Dangerous Man
6. Mannequin
7. Come Clean
8. Colour by Numbers
9. You Know I’m Not Crazy
10. Changing Every Day
11. I’m Afraid of Me (Remix)
12. White Boy (Dance Mix)
13. I’ll Tumble 4 Ya (U.S. 12″ Remix)
14. I Just Wanna Be Loved (Drumhead Remix)
15. Do You Really Want to Hurt Me (Drumheads Twisted Nerve Mix)
16. Generations of Love (The Time Writer Bootleg Mix) – Jesus Loves You

Disc 1, Tracks 1, 5-7 and 15-16 and Disc 2, Tracks 1, 4 and 10 from Colour by Numbers (Virgin, 1983)
Disc 1, Track 2 from non-LP single (Virgin, 1982)
Disc 1, Track 3 and Disc 2, Tracks 2-3 and 5-6 from Waking Up with the House on Fire (Virgin, 1984)
Disc 1, Tracks 4, 9 and 11-12 and Disc 2, Track 7 from From Luxury to Heartache (Virgin, 1986)
Disc 1, Track 8 was the B-side to “Church of the Poison Mind” (Virgin, 1983)
Disc 1, Tracks 10 and 14 and Disc 2, Tracks 9 and 11-12 from Kissing to Be Clever (Virgin, 1982)
Disc 1, Track 13 from Don’t Mind If I Do (Virgin, 1999)
Disc 1, Track 17 from U.S. 12″ single (Epic, 1984)
Disc 2, Track 8 was the B-side to “Victims” (Virgin, 1983)
Disc 2, Track 13 from U.S. 12″ single (Epic, 1983)
Disc 2, Tracks 14-15 from Culture Club (Virgin, 2002)
Disc 2, Track 16 from European 12″ promo single (UCA, 1998)

Kajagoogoo and Limahl, The Hits (Music Club Deluxe MCDLX145 (U.K.), 2012)

Disc 1

1. Too Shy
2. Ooh to Be Ah
3. Tar Beach – Limahl
4. Monochromatic (Live)
5. Hang On Now
6. The Lion’s Mouth
7. I Was a Fool – Limahl
8. Love Will Tear the Soul – Limahl
9. Turn Your Back on Me
10. The Power to Forgive
11. Love in Your Eyes (7″ Version) – Limahl
12. Animal Instincts
13. Too Shy (Midnight Mix)
14. Take Another View
15. Don’t Send for Me – Limahl
16. Interview Rooms

Disc 2

1. The Never Ending Story – Limahl
2. White Feathers
3. Big Apple
4. Only for Love – Limahl
5. Shock – Limahl
6. Inside to Outside – Limahl
7. The Pump Rooms of Bath
8. Islands
9. Charm of a Gun – Kaja
10. Too Much Trouble – Limahl
11. Shouldn’t Do That – Kaja
12. Colour All My Days – Limahl
13. Big Apple (Metro Mix)
14. Introduction
15. Kajagoogoo
16. The Garden

Disc 1, Tracks 1-2 and 5 and Disc 2, Tracks 2 and 15 from White Feathers (EMI, 1983)
Disc 1, Tracks 3 and 7 and Disc 2, Tracks 1, 4 and 10 from Don’t Suppose (EMI, 1984)
Disc 1, Track 4 was the B-side to “Big Apple” (EMI, 1984)
Disc 1, Tracks 6 and 9-10 and Disc 2, Tracks 3 and 8 from Islands (EMI, 1984)
Disc 1, Tracks 8, 11 and 15 and Disc 2, Tracks 5-6 and 12 from Colour All My Days (EMI, 1986)
Disc 1, Track 12 was the B-side to “Ooh to Be Ah” (EMI, 1983)
Disc 1, Tracks 13-14 from “Too Shy” 12″ single (EMI, 1983)
Disc 1, Track 16 was the 12″ B-side to “Ooh to Be Ah” (EMI, 1983)
Disc 2, Track 7 was the B-side to “Turn Your Back on Me” (EMI, 1984)
Disc 2, Tracks 9 and 11 from Crazy Peoples Right to Speak (EMI, 1985)
Disc 2, Track 13 was a 12″ A-side (EMI, 1984)
Disc 2, Track 14 was the B-side to “Hang On Now” (EMI, 1983)
Disc 2, Track 16 was the B-side to “The Lion’s Mouth” (EMI, 1984)

Sheena Easton, The Collection (Music Club Deluxe MCDLX146 (U.K.), 2012)

Disc 1

1. Modern Girl
2. Morning Train (Nine to Five)
3. One Man Woman
4. Telefone (Long Distance Love Affair)
5. Take My Time
6. Hungry Eyes
7. Machinery
8. Just Another Broken Heart
9. Sugar Walls
10. Strut
11. Jimmy Mack
12. Back in the City
13. So Far So Good
14. Are You Man Enough
15. Ice Out in the Rain
16. Do It for Love

Disc 2

1. For Your Eyes Only
2. We’ve Got Tonight – Kenny Rogers and Sheena Easton
3. When He Shines
4. Wind Beneath My Wings
5. Paradox
6. You Could Have Been with Me
7. Devil in a Fast Car
8. Magic of Love
9. Eternity
10. I Wouldn’t Beg for Water
11. Almost Over You
12. Straight Talkin’
13. A Little Tenderness
14. Letters from the Road
15. Swear

Disc 1, Tracks 1-3 and 5 and Disc 2, Track 3 from Take My Time (EMI, 1981)
Disc 1, Track 4 and Disc 2, Tracks 7 and 11 from Best Kept Secret (EMI, 1983)
Disc 1, Tracks 7 and 14-15 and Disc 2, Tracks 4 and 10 from Madness Money & Music (EMI, 1982)
Disc 1, Track 8 and Disc 2, Tracks 6 and 13 from You Could Have Been with Me (EMI, 1981)
Disc 1, Tracks 6, 9-10 and 12 and Disc 2, Track 15 from A Private Heaven (EMI, 1985)
Disc 1, Tracks 11 and 16 and Disc 2, Track 8 from Do You (EMI, 1986)
Disc 1, Track 13 from About Last Night…: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack (E
Disc 2, Track 1 from For Your Eyes Only: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack (EMI, 1981)
Disc 2, Track 2 from We’ve Got Tonight (Liberty, 1983)
Disc 2, Track 5 was the B-side to “Paradox” (EMI, 1980)
Disc 2, Track 9 from No Sound But a Heart (EMI, 1987)
Disc 2, Track 12 was the B-side to “Strut” (EMI, 1984)
Disc 2, Track 14 was the B-side to “Back in the City” (EMI, 1984)

Kim Wilde, The Collection (Music Club Deluxe MCDLX149 (U.K.), 2012)

Disc 1

1. Kids in America
2. Chequered Love
3. Water on Glass
4. Boys
5. Our Town
6. House of Salome
7. Love Blonde
8. Take Me Tonight
9. Action City
10. Sing It Out for Love
11. Shoot to Disable
12. Watching for Shapes
13. Ego
14. Young Heroes
15. Dream Sequence
16. Back Street Joe
17. You Came (2006 Version)

Disc 2

1. Cambodia
2. View from a Bridge
3. Child Come Away
4. Stay Awhile
5. Dancing in the Dark
6. Sparks
7. Can You Come Over
8. Chaos at the Airport
9. Bitter is Better
10. Shane
11. 2-6-5-8-0
12. Everything We Know
13. Baby Obey Me (feat. Ill Inspecta)
14. Can You Hear It
15. Together We Belong
16. You Keep Me Hanging On

Disc 1, Tracks 1-3, 5 and 14 and Disc 2, Tracks 11-12 from Kim Wilde (RAK Records, 1981)
Disc 1, Track 4 was the B-side t0 “Water on Glass” (RAK Records, 1981)
Disc 1, Tracks 6-7, 10-11 and 15 and Disc 2, Tracks 4-6 and 14 from Catch as Catch Can (RAK Records, 1983)
Disc 1, Tracks 8-9 and 13 and Disc 2, Tracks 1-2 and 7-8 from Select (RAK Records, 1982)
Disc 1, Track 12 was the B-side to “Cambodia” (RAK Records, 1981)
Disc 1, Track 17 and Disc 2, Tracks 13 (original version) and 15 from Never Say Never (EMI, 2006)
Disc 2, Track 3 was a non-LP single (RAK Records, 1982)
Disc 2, Track 9 was a non-LP single (RAK Records (JP), 1984)
Disc 2, Track 10 was the B-side to “Chequered Love” (RAK Records, 1981)
Disc 2, Track 16 from Another Step (MCA, 1986)

Living in a Box, The Very Best of Living in a Box (Music Club Deluxe MCDLX151 (U.K.), 2012)

Disc 1

1. Living in a Box
2. Blow the House Down
3. Scales of Justice
4. Gatecrashing
5. Love is the Art
6. Unique
7. Generate the Wave
8. Touch Sensitive
9. Live It Up
10. From Beginning to End
11. Day After Tomorrow Night
12. The Liam McCoy
13. Dance the Mayonnaise (Part 2)
14. Blow the House Down (Keith Cohen Mix)
15. Living in a Box (Dance Mix)

Disc 2

1. Room in Your Heart
2. So the Story Goes
3. Different Air
4. Living in a Box (Penthouse Mix)
5. All the Difference in the World
6. Human Story
7. Mistaken Identity
8. Going for the Big One
9. Can’t Stop the Wheel
10. When Push Comes to Shove
11. Ecstasy
12. Get on the Dog Doza
13. Love is the Art (Love)
14. Gatecrashing (Diesel Mix)
15. So the Story Goes (Club Mix)

Disc 1, Tracks 1, 3, 5, 7 and 10 and Disc 2, Tracks 2, 6 and 8-9 from Living in a Box (Chrysalis, 1987)
Disc 1, Tracks 2, 4, 6, 8-9 and 11 and Disc 2, Tracks 1, 3, 5 and 7 from Gatecrashing (Chrysalis, 1989)
Disc 1, Track 12 was the B-side to “So the Story Goes” (Chrysalis, 1987)
Disc 2, Tracks 13-14 from “Blow the House Down” 12″ single (Chrysalis, 1987)
Disc 1, Track 15 and Disc 2, Track 4 from “Living in a Box” 12″ single (Chrysalis, 1987)
Disc 2, Track 10 from “Room in Your Heart” 12″ single (Chrysalis, 1989)
Disc 2, Track 11 was the B-side to “Scales of Justice” (Chrysalis, 1987)
Disc 2, Tracks 12 and 14 from “Gatecrashing” 12″ single (Chrysalis, 1989)
Disc 2, Track 13 from “Love is the Art” 12″ single (Chrysalis, 1987)
Disc 2, Track 15 from “So the Story Goes” 12″ single (Chrysalis, 1987)

Go West, The Very Best of Go West (Music Club Deluxe MCDLX153 (U.K.), 2012)

Disc 1

1. We Close Our Eyes
2. Call Me
3. Don’t Look Down – The Sequel
4. Innocence (The Desperation Edit)
5. The King of Wishful Thinking
6. Faithful
7. One of Us
8. I Want to Hear It from You
9. S.O.S. (The Perpendicular Mix)
10. Man in My Mirror
11. True Colours
12. She Lights Me Up
13. Missing Persons
14. Don’t Ever Let ‘Em See You Sweat
15. Ball of Confusion (Live)
16. Call Me (Indiscriminate Mix)

Disc 2

1. Goodbye Girl
2. Eye to Eye
3. What You Won’t Do for Love
4. The Tracks of My Tears
5. The King is Dead
6. One Way Street
7. Chinese Whispers
8. Crossfire
9. From Baltimore to Paris
10. I Want You Back
11. Tell Me
12. Still in Love
13. The Sun and the Moon
14. Healing Hands (The Monitor Mix)
15. Don’t Look Down (The Stratospheric Mix)
16. We Close Our Eyes (Total Overhang Club Mix)

Disc 1, Tracks 1-2 and 13 and Disc 2, Tracks 1-2 from Go West (Chrysalis, 1985)
Disc 1, Track 3-4 and Disc 2, Track 15 from non-LP single (Chrysalis, 1985)
Disc 1, Track 5 from Pretty Woman: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack (EMI USA, 1990)
Disc 1, Track 6 and Disc 2, Tracks 3 and 10-13 from Indian Summer (Chrysalis, 1992)
Disc 1, Track 7 from ABBA – A Tribute: The 25th Anniversary Celebration (Relativity, 1999)
Disc 1, Tracks 8 and 11 and Disc 2, Tracks 5 and 7-9 from Dancing on the Couch (Chrysalis, 1987)
Disc 1, Track 9 from the 12″ B-side to “Goodbye Girl” (Chrysalis, 1985)
Disc 1, Track 10 was the B-side to “Call Me” (Chrysalis, 1985)
Disc 1, Track 12 from 3D (Townsend, 2011)
Disc 1, Track 14 from White Men Can’t Jump: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack (EMI USA, 1992)
Disc 1, Track 15 from Bangs and Crashes (Chrysalis, 1985)
Disc 1, Track 16 was the 12″ A-side to “Call Me” (Chrysalis, 1985)
Disc 2, Track 4 from Aces and Kings: The Best of Go West (Chrysalis, 1993)
Disc 2, Track 6 from Rocky IV: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack (Scotti Bros., 1985)
Disc 2, Track 14 was the B-side to “Still in Love” (Chrysalis, 1993)
Disc 2, Track 16 was the 12″ A-side to “We Close Our Eyes” (Chrysalis, 1985)

Stiff Little Fingers, Accept Nothing, Question Everything: The Very Best of Stiff Little Fingers (Music Club Deluxe MCDLX155 (U.K.), 2012)

Disc 1

1. Alternative Ulster
2. At the Edge
3. Roots Radicals Rockers & Reggae
4. Won’t Be Told
5. Gotta Getaway
6. Last Train from the Wasteland
7. Touch and Go
8. Tin Soldiers
9. Straw Dogs
10. Just Fade Away
11. Barbed Wire Love
12. Silver Lining
13. Bits of Kids
14. Nobody’s Hero
15. State of Emergency
16. That’s When Your Blood Bumps
17. No Change
18. Back to Front
19. 78 RPM
20. Wait and See
21. Gate 49
22. Bloody Sunday

Disc 2

1. Fly the Flag
2. Go for It
3. Love of the Common People
4. Roaring Boys (Parts 1 & 2)
5. Sad-Eyed People
6. Kicking Up a Racket
7. Mr. Coal-Fire Man
8. Here We Are Nowhere
9. Strummerville
10. Wasted Life
11. (I Could Be) Happy Yesterday
12. Breakout
13. Safe As Houses
14. Bloody Dub
15. White Noise
16. Doesn’t Make It Alright
17. Piccadilly Circus
18. Johnny Was
19. Guitar & Drum
20. Suspect Device

Disc 1, Tracks 1, 11 and 15 and Disc 2, Tracks 8, 10, 12, 15, 18 and 20 from Inflammable Material (Rough Trade, 1979)
Disc 1, Tracks 2, 5, 8, 14, 17 and 20 and Disc 2, Tracks 1, 14 and 16 from Nobody’s Heroes (Chrysalis, 1980)
Disc 1, Tracks 3, 10, 12 and 21 from and Disc 2, Tracks 2, 6, 13 and 17 from Go for It (Chrysalis, 1981)
Disc 1, Tracks 4, 7 and 13 and Disc 2, Track 3 from Now Then… (Chrysalis, 1982)
Disc 1, Track 6 from Hope Street (Oxygen, 1999)
Disc 1, Track 9 was a non-LP single (Chrysalis, 1979)
Disc 1, Track 16 and Disc 2, Track 5 from £1.10 or Less EP (Chrysalis, 1982)
Disc 1, Track 18 and Disc 2, Track 7 from a non-LP single (Chrysalis, 1980)
Disc 1, Track 19 was the B-side to “Alternative Ulster” (Rough Trade, 1978)
Disc 1, Track 22 was the B-side to “Gotta Gettaway” (Rough Trade, 1979)
Disc 2, Tracks 4 and 11 from Tinderbox (Abstract Sounds, 1997)
Disc 2, Tracks 9 and 19 from Guitar and Drum (Kung Fu/EMI, 2004)

The Drifters & Ben E. King, Their Greatest Hits (Music Club Deluxe MCDLX 536 (U.K.), 2012)

Disc 1

1. Under the Boardwalk
2. Up on the Roof
3. Saturday Night at the Movies
4. Save the Last Dance for Me
5. On Broadway
6. Sweets for My Sweet
7. Drip Drop
8. Fools Fall in Love
9. Ruby Baby
10. When My Little Girl is Smiling
11. Money Honey
12. Honey Love
13. Such a Night
14. Hypnotized
15. Everyone’s Laughing
16. Adorable
17. Some Kind of Wonderful
18. Vaya Con Dios
19. Lucille
20. Someday You’ll Want Me to Want You
21. I Gotta Get Myself a Woman
22. I Know
23. Please Stay
24. (If You Cry) True Love, True Love
25. Stranger on the Shore

Disc 2

1. Stand by Me – Ben E. King
2. Spanish Harlem – Ben E. King
3. This Magic Moment
4. Don’t Play That Song (You Lied) – Ben E. King
5. Amor, Amor – Ben E. King
6. There Goes My Baby
7. Whatcha Gonna Do
8. First Taste of Love – Ben E. King
9. Auf Wiedersehen, My Dear – Ben E. King
10. That’s When It Hurts – Ben E. King
11. I (Who Have Nothing) – Ben E. King
12. I Could Have Danced All Night – Ben E. King
13. What Now My Love – Ben E. King
14. Young Boy Blues – Ben E. King
15. How Can I Forget – Ben E. King
16. Memories Are Made of This
17. At the Club
18. Come On Over to My Place
19. There Goes My First Love
20. Kissin’ in the Back Row of the Movies
21. Can I Take You Home Little Girl?
22. Hello Happiness
23. Down on the Beach Tonight
24. Like Sister and Brother
25. You’re More Than a Number in My Little Red Book

Coolio, The Essential Collection (Music Club Deluxe MCDLX537 (U.K.), 2012)

Disc 1

1. Gangsta’s Paradise (with L.V.)
2. Too Hot
3. 1-2-3-4 (Sumpin’ New)
4. That’s How It Is (Skit)
5. Fantastic Voyage
6. Ooh La La
7. Geto Highlites
8. I Remember (with J-RO of The Alkaholiks and Billy Boy)
9. Hit ‘Em (with Ras Kass)
10. Can U Dig It
11. Bright As the Sun
12. Recoup This
13. The Revolution
14. U Know Hoo! (with W.C. of The M.A.A.D. Circle)
15. Get Up, Get Down
16. Can I Get Down One Time
17. Smilin’
18. 2 Minutes & 21 Seconds of Funk
19. Hand on My Nutsac

Disc 2

1. C U When U Get There (with 40 Thevz)
2. On My Way to Harlem
3. For My Sistas
4. Can-O-Corn
5. Nature of the Business (with Al Wilson)
6. Fucc Coolio (Skit)
7. Kinda High, Kinda Drunk
8. My Soul
9. Exercise Yo Game (with E-40, KAM and 40 Thevz)
10. Let’s Do It
11. Ghetto Cartoon (with LeShaun)
12. Cruisin’
13. Sticky Fingers
14. The Devil is Dope
15. Knight Falls
16. Homeboy (with Montell Jordan)
17. Throwndown 2000 (with 40 Thevz)
18. A Thing Going On
19. One Mo (with 40 Thevz)

Disc 1, Track 1 first released on Dangerous Minds: Music from the Motion Picture (MCA, 1995)
Disc 1, Tracks 1-4, 7, 11-13, 15 and 17 and Disc 2, Tracks 3, 6-7, 9, 12 and 18 from Gangsta’s Paradise (Tommy Boy, 1995)
Disc 1, Tracks 5, 8, 14 and 19 and Disc 2, Tracks 2, 4, 11 and 13 from It Takes a Thief (Tommy Boy, 1994)
Disc 1, Tracks 6, 9-10, 16 and 18 and Disc 2, Tracks 1, 5, 8, 10, 14-17 and 19 from My Soul (Tommy Boy, 1997)