The Explorers (2) Complete Explorers Manzanera & Mackay – The Complete Explorers

Name: The Explorers Complete Explorers Manzanera & Mackay - The Complete Explorers
Rating: 3.5 (4 reviews)

The Explorers (2) - The Complete Explorers album cover

Label:	Expression Records – EXPCD 26
Format:	2 x CD, Album, Compilation, Remastered
Country:	UK
Released:	2001
Genre:	Electronic, Rock, Pop
Style:	Pop Rock

Tracklist

1-1		Another Lost Soul On The Run
1-2		Soul Fantasy
1-3		Crack The Whip
1-4		Black Gang Chine
1-5		Two Worlds Apart
1-6		You Go Up In Smoke
1-7		Built For Speed
1-8		Men With Extraordinary Ways
1-9		Many Are The Ways
1-10		I Can Be Tender
1-11		Every King Of Stone
1-12		It Always Rains In Paradise
1-13		Not Fade Away
1-14		Arrow
1-15		Dreams Of The East (Incl. Tim Hain)
2-1		Ship Of Fools
2-2		Lorelei (12" Version)
2-3		Prussian Blue
2-4		Breath Of Life
2-5		Safe In The Arms Of Love
2-6		Dreams Of The East
2-7		Sacrosanct
2-8		Forgotten Man
2-9		Venus De Milo
2-10		Free Yourself
2-11		Robert Louis Stevenson
2-12		Voodoo Isle
2-13		Falling For Nightlife (12" Version)

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Reviews

noelfitzsimons Sep 20, 2015
The tracks on this (I have to say) excellent double CD are from :-
The Explorers (1985)
Crack the whip (1988)
Up in smoke (1989)
Manzanera & Mackay (1990) - these LP's feature all 26 tracks recorded by the Explorers / Manzanera & Mackay with repetition throughout.

Not only was their entire output ('84 - '90) confusing but this theme has continued with this release. Why on earth is the sequencing in this order - I'm baffled. Still - I only have the vinyl so when this double CD appeared on discogs at a very reasonable price (currently it sells at an extremely excessive price) I snapped it up.

Disappointments - 12" versions included - great - the absence of the 7" versions of Lorelei & Falling for Nightlife - not great - these versions are essential. There was enough space for these if those horrid & ghastly tracks by Leo Sayer & Denis Waterman (what !!!) were not included. Where in the name of Buddha did they originate from.

The sleeve notes are pretty slim and uninformative - all songs written by Manzanera Mackay & Wraith - not quite - cue the dismal version of Not Fade Away written by Buddy Holly (Charles Hardin) & Norman Petty. There are no original release dates nor any original artwork - perhaps they could not get the rights.

However - all in all it's great to have these remastered digital versions. If only this double CD was released starting the 7" & 12" versions of Lorelei plus b side - next single Falling for Nightlife 7" & 12" versions plus b side then the first LP and so on in a chronological fashion right up to the unreleased tracks that appeared on Manzanera & Mackay in 1990. Of course the original artwork of the first LP and all the singles would also need to be featured as well.