Dare/Fascination! (Deluxe Edition) [Double CD]

Naturally, the news of yet another reissue of DARE probably got a lot of eye rolls. But what's not so clarified with this release is that, aside from getting many bonus tracks from the DARE album sessions, also here is the few tracks from the Fascination EP that had never yet appeared on CD--along with bonus tracks from those sessions. What's CRUCIAL here is that finally, intact on CD is the Improvisation of Fascination as it was on the vinyl with the abrupt cold ending. Recent compilations that have included the mix have faded it out, leaving many fans of the original ending disappointed. Also on CD at last is the EP version of I Love You Too Much. Now--here comes the odd part...They've completely excluded Hard Times as it appeared on the EP!!! Yet it's included in an instrumental version! I simply cannot explain it. I don't get it. Good thing it was included on the Original Remixes and Rarities CD...

Meanwhile, also of note is the fact that the Fascination EP, which is disc 2 and comes in a replica cardboard sleeve of the original vinyl cover, is not at all in the same running order as it was on the EP. Since it's an expanded edition (minus the vocal version of Hard Times), they've sort of scrambled everything around and thrown the bonus tracks in randomly between the original EP tracks as well. It just seems SO weird to have Fascination brought to CD and mess with it like this. And with b-sides, instrumentals, dubs, and 12" mixes included, aside from not including Hard Times, it's kind of odd that they didn't just throw in the 7" version of Fascination as a bonus track as well. This would have been the ultimate expanded edition of the EP. Of course, I'm grateful to have those last 2 remaining tracks on CD since I already have the missing tracks on other CDs (which is why I didn't give the disc 4 stars instead of 5), but it still would have made sense to have it all together.

It's interesting to note that when the Fascination EP is referenced in the liner notes of this release, they actually give a nod to the organ intro of Fascination as the opening of the EP--yet that's not the way it's presented here since it's the 4th track on the disc. Also, they give nods to every song on the EP--excluding Hard Times. They simply pretend it never existed....

Meanwhile, there is the DARE reissue to consider. Despite no inclusion of the Love and Dancing album (which was included on a previous reissue of DARE), Several of those mixes are included as bonus tracks on this collection. You also get an `alternate' version of Don't You Want Me, which is a slightly different mix of the original that brings out the background orchestration (sort of like on the Love & Dancing mix, which is included here as well) and the background vocals. The result is noticeable--there's even a curious little synth intro that I've never heard before in any version of the song.

The discs come in a cardboard box. Just like the Fascination EP, DARE is housed in a replica cardboard sleeve of the original vinyl LP. There's an 8 page booklet with the new liner notes and the lyrics to just the songs on DARE. Plus there are cards replicating the front and back cover artwork of the original 12" releases of 6 of the songs. Track times:

CD1

1-1 The Things That Dreams Are Made Of 4:15
1-2 Open Your Heart 3:56
1-3 The Sound Of The Crowd 4:06
1-4 Darkness 3:58
1-5 Do Or Die 5:25
1-6 Get Carter 1:02
1-7 I Am The Law 4:08
1-8 Seconds 4:58
1-9 Love Action (I Believe In Love) 5:01
1-10 Don't You Want Me 4:00
1-11 The Sound Of The Crowd (12" Version) 6:28
1-12 Don't You Want Me (Extended Dance Mix) 7:31
1-13 The Sound Of The Crowd (Instrumental) 4:12
1-14 Open Your Heart/Non-Stop (Instrumentals) 8:41
1-15 Don't You Want Me (Alternative Version) 3:57

CD2

2-1 Hard Times/Love Action (I Believe In Love) (Instrumentals) 11:07
2-2 Mirror Man 3:50
2-3 You Remind Me Of Gold 3:37
2-4 (Keep Feeling) Fascination (Extended Version) 4:58
2-5 I Love You Too Much 3:19
2-6 Mirror Man (Extended Version) 4:22
2-7 You Remind Me Of Gold (Instrumental) 3:54
2-8 (Keep Feeling) Fascination (Improvisation) 6:13
2-9 I Love You Too Much (Dub Version) 5:53
2-10 Total Panic 3:29

The other review for this edition of "Dare" is very thorough, and identified the tracks very carefully. One thing to note that I found odd: despite including all kinds of remixes and instrumental versions of the songs, this editions does NOT include the basic radio edit of Fascination. I actually like it better than the "extended" version included here, but that's my only quibble with the tracks included.

The package itself is nice enough. It comes in a sturdy square cardboard box with inserts. The Dare and Fascination CD's come in square Japanese style reproduction sleeves. They printed on rather flimsy cardboard, but they look great. Also included a booklet and 12" cover repros. Very nice for collectors!