Miami Vice - Ultimate Col [Soundtrack, Box set]

Just what I wanted I loved the theme and music from this show. Was not disapointed. I would like to collect more music from this show but there is enough here if I don't .

If you purchase this to relive moments from 1980's Miami era, you might just be disappointed - believe it, I was there in the day. This might be for purists fans of the show, but even there I felt some of the music was a bit belated and out of queue. It's for sure you will find it lacking if you were accustomed to many of the radio music hits inspired from the early "Miami Vice" series. Stick to Phil Collins and Don Henley if you want to capture more "Miami Vice" era hits. (chuckle) I even knew a fellow in the 80's who kept a four foot gator chained in his boat when he was using it. The gator stayed in his fenced yard, with the "cigar" boat, when the boat was out of the water. The gator was his "watch dog". Influenced by "Miami Vice"? Maybe, but he didn't have to worry about the gator biting or taking off his legs. He had already lost those in a motorcycle accident and wore prosthetics... and that's about how I felt listening to some of the songs on these three discs.

Even if you want this for Jan Hammer compositions, you'll only be getting ten representations of his work across the three discs here. Which means you'll be looking through more albums to get more of his work. At any rate, the Jan Hammer selections here are first rate compilations of some of his work.

The three disks here are in stages labeled I, II, and III. Disc I has Jan Hammer's classic show lead in, but everything on disc one sounds a bit tinny and doesn't seem to be remastered as well in stereo, and I rate it as fair - also due to track seven ["Vice" by Grandmaster Melle Mel] being a clunker that doesn't fit. I also didn't care for "Better Be Good To Me" by Tina Turner on track eight of disc one. Disc II fares a little better with more depth, bass, and some apparently better remastering - also capturing more of the old 80's Miami sound. The remastering is good in disc III, but the selections are more contemporary and laid back present day with rockabilly, and classic rock tossed in - with the exception of Don Henley's "Dirty Laundry" and the two Jan Hammer compositions on this disc. Overall, I don't quite know what this German recording is trying to capture or accomplish - but it misses more than it should of the 1980's Miami era - in my book. As such, I will probably play disc I and II most often of the three discs - possibly compiling another disc using the three for improved listening of my own - and deleting the rip raff from my selections. I'm two years older than Johnson, but somehow don't see Don Johnson carrying this around for play in his vehicles - not even when he was younger, and I sure don't see Philip Michael Thomas hauling this around in any of his vehicles. Both lead far more complex lives, and I doubt Jan hammer reflects back on this particular album much during his days and nights - not even when all of us were in our 30's. This album is just more of a collectible to my thinking, and is over priced fatback compared to the nice expensive steak I should have been able to sink my teeth into for $20.

Thinking back, some may remember the Miami Vice episode titled "The Big Thaw" - where "Wake Up And Live" from Bob Marley's "Survival" album was played. Yes, Marley was on the charts and frequently played in the 70's and 1980's - and played often on the streets of Miami during the times. Looks like something missing that should have been included here? I think so - along with several other of Jon Hammer's "Miami Vice" compilations.

The "MAIMI VICE" The Ultimate Collection is 'TOTALY AWSOME". It has great tracks from the Series. It makes you want to put on white linen pants, tee shirt and a linen blaser and wayfare shades. If you love the series of Mami Vice. Then you will love this cd collection.