Always

I was so pleased to receive this album. I still have this album on cassette from the first time around, but not having a player anymore it's one of several consigned to the back of a cupboard.On playing this CD the opening bars of "Who's Leaving Who" immediately took me back to '88 in the blink of a (slightly misty) eye and I remembered why I enjoyed it so much the first time I heard it.Hazell's album "Always" was a little unusual in that it collected together some of the singles she had released over the previous few years, together with some new songs. Several of these were presented on the original album in the 12" Extended version, even on the LP version, though as was commonplace at the time the CD and cassette had more tracks on.This expanded edition instead uses the 7" versions of the songs as the basis for the album, covering the first 9 tracks on CD1. This is an improvement as each song is shorter and can be enjoyed as a collection of rather fabulous pop/dance tracks rather than long SAW extended mixes, building up from drum program with each element of the track being layered on top. Naturally all the 12" versions on the original album are here as bonus tracks, with a lot more besides.We are treated to several B-sides and remixes, one of which (a 12" mix of "Turn It Into Love") is previously unreleased, in addition to the remastered original album. The remaining singles (such as "Stand Up" and "E.S.P.") which were not included on the first release are also included here, making it more of a complete album. The attractive booklet even has liner notes written by Hazell herself to accompany the release. An extra nice touch was the re-use of the fonts and artwork from the original release, even Hazell's little hand-written "A" and "B" signs for the respective sides of the tape/LP, used here to signify CDs 1 and 2.There are so many highlights, the rare songs, the mixes, the title track "Always Doesn't Mean Forever", but my favourite is still "Who's Leaving Who", which still stands up so well as smart and classy pop. With its guitar and sparkly keyboards it sounds a little more mature than a lot of SAW's productions. One thing that struck me, which it shouldn't have as I should have known, is what a superb singer Hazell is. Her voice sounds so strong on these tracks.Very good stuff!

This is a review for:  Always: Expanded Edition Every now and then a release comes along that is genuinely exciting and gives the fans what they want. This is one of those times. The original CD of "Always" had a mixture of 12" versions and 7" versions, but on this double CD we now get the single versions and then the bonus tracks are the 12" versions and alternative mixes. So for the first time on CD we have the 7" versions of "Always Doesn't Mean Forever" & "Maybe (We Should Call It A Day)". Plus on bonus tracks we get the 7" Murray Mix of "No Fool (For Love)" and 7" & 12" mixes of "Stand Up" & "E.S.P. (Extra Sensual Persuasion)". We also get "Walk In My Shoes (Nightmare Mix)" which was only previously on a 12" single in Holland, and the B-Sides "Can't Get You Out Of My Mind", "Love Ends, Love Parts" and "Image In The Mirror". As if that isn't enough, there are also two 12" mixes of "Turn It Into Love" here for the first time, a house mix from the U.S. 12" and an unreleased Dave Ford mix. So the only track I can see missing that I would have expected to be here is the original 12" mix of "Turn It Into Love", but that is to be included on the forthcoming (at the time of writing this)  Evergreen: The Very Best of Hazell Dean . With the original 7", 12", and Remix 12" mixes of "They Say It's Gonna Rain", "Maybe (We Should Call It a Day)" & "Who's Leaving Who", we are totally spoilt. This release is worth more than 5 stars and is how a reissue should be done.

In its original release, `Always' was a much overlooked album - in spite of boasting the massive hit `Who's leaving Who', which took Hazell back in to the upper reaches of the charts after her 1984 successes with `Searchin' and `Whatever I Do'. This special edition is a nearly comprehensive set of mixes, single edits and rarities and comes complete with liner notes from Hazell for each track on the first disc. And lyrics fans are well catered for too - with a full set of lyrics for every song, plus there's a full Hazell discography in the booklet.As with some other CD releases from Stock, Aitken & Waterman produced acts, the original CD issue of `Always' presented some of the singles in their radio versions and some as extended mixes. This deluxe edition presents the original album as a collection of single versions and album tracks, moving the remixes and extended versions to disc 2 or as bonuses on disc 1. This works well, and the first nine tracks are a dynamic reminder of just how good S/A/W albums could be. It's a treat for the fans too, as this is the first time a number of the single versions have been made available on CD.The bonus tracks are well-selected. Among the highlights are an edit of `No Fool (For Love)', two rare remixes of `Turn it Into Love' and b-sides. Oddly though, whilst all of the commercially released remixes from the singles `Who's Leaving Who' and `Maybe' are present and correct, the original extended mix of `Turn it into Love' is missing - meaning that you'll have to track down the CD single to hear it. It's a little frustrating as some of the remixes here have been widely available on CD for some time.Overall this is one of the best reissues Cherry Pop have released. There's a definite sense of time and care put into this collection and as a result the edition flows well and the bonus tracks build upon the original, rather than sounding tacked on. Any fan of the Hit Factory should invest in this collection - it's far superior to any of the Greatest Hits that have been pushed out in Hazell's name.