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Product Description
All Music Guide
The most popular of all the Gary Numan albums is undeniably 1979's The Pleasure Principle. The reasons are simple - there is not a single weak moment on the disc and it contains his sole U.S.(number one worldwide) hit, "Cars".
After listening to Cars, Films, Metal or Engineers, you could well believe that guitar music was finished for ever.
It's mesmerizing.
After listening to Cars, Films, Metal or Engineers, you could well believe that guitar music was finished for ever.
It's mesmerizing.
CD Description
There's never been a better time for a reminder of
exactly how good Numan's `Pleasure Principle' sounds and Weatherbox's 180gram, remastered, deluxe edition shows the album at its absolute best.
Featuring the global No.1 super-hit "Cars", his debut solo album has sold over 100,000 records in the UK alone, reaching no.1 in the UK album chart and no.16 in the US respectively.
exactly how good Numan's `Pleasure Principle' sounds and Weatherbox's 180gram, remastered, deluxe edition shows the album at its absolute best.
Featuring the global No.1 super-hit "Cars", his debut solo album has sold over 100,000 records in the UK alone, reaching no.1 in the UK album chart and no.16 in the US respectively.
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
20 of 20 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
For me, no-one before or since has unleashed the force of analogue synthesizers quite so effectively as Numan. On "The Pleasure Principle" Numan deploys them very aggressively, but at the same time combines this force exquisitely with "real" drums, bass, piano and melancholic melodies to produce what is actually a very organic soundscape. The simplicity of the arrangements and Numan's unique vocals just serve to underline the almost military power of the music. Despite what you may think this is not electronic pop: if you like rock, and believe that synthesizers should go "grrr" instead of "beep", then you should like this.
15 of 15 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
Its hard to imagine Gary Numan's impact in 1979 (along with the Police, he was the biggest star to emerge from the punk and new wave explosion). Unfairly derided in some quarters as a mere Bowie clone, the critics missed the point completely, that a new type of pop star with an eye to future musical trends had emerged. Perhaps even more galling for the critics was that he sold millions of records, sold out concert tours instantly [ when you actually had to queue outside venues for tickets, not click a mouse!]. Here was a genuine pop phenomenon with a visionary bleakness, who was , albeit unintentionally, pushing forward thinking pop music into a new decade. Without Numan, there would have been very few musical openings,for OMD, The Human League, and their ilk..
The Pleasure Principal brilliantly capitalised on the success of Replicas, opting for a more synthetic approach than its predecessor, taking the themes of urban isolation, fame,and technology to new extremes. If Kraftwerk positively revelled in their vision of the future, here was an artist who held an entirely different point of view.The Pleasure Principal is full of great music [ Complex, M.E. and of course Cars], and without a single weak track stands as perhaps Gary Numans finest recorded output.
As with the excellent Replicas reissue there is a feast of demos,b' sides and oddities to make revisting The Pleasure Principal worthwhile. The demos have a welcome rough edge [Airlane for instance really rocks on the demo version],and give the overall impression that Numan's vision fo the album was fully formed prior to entering the studio to cut the album. To my ears the demos have a life of their own, and whilst lacking some studio gloss and trickery, are equal to their shinier counterparts. Perhaps the one disappointment on this disc is a lacklustre run through of Cars, but ,of course, this was soon to be improved in the final recording.
Overall another fantastic reissue from an artist who is yet to fully receive the recognition he deserves.
The Pleasure Principal brilliantly capitalised on the success of Replicas, opting for a more synthetic approach than its predecessor, taking the themes of urban isolation, fame,and technology to new extremes. If Kraftwerk positively revelled in their vision of the future, here was an artist who held an entirely different point of view.The Pleasure Principal is full of great music [ Complex, M.E. and of course Cars], and without a single weak track stands as perhaps Gary Numans finest recorded output.
As with the excellent Replicas reissue there is a feast of demos,b' sides and oddities to make revisting The Pleasure Principal worthwhile. The demos have a welcome rough edge [Airlane for instance really rocks on the demo version],and give the overall impression that Numan's vision fo the album was fully formed prior to entering the studio to cut the album. To my ears the demos have a life of their own, and whilst lacking some studio gloss and trickery, are equal to their shinier counterparts. Perhaps the one disappointment on this disc is a lacklustre run through of Cars, but ,of course, this was soon to be improved in the final recording.
Overall another fantastic reissue from an artist who is yet to fully receive the recognition he deserves.
11 of 11 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
Thirty years ago Gary Numan released his first album under his own name, previously having played with The Tubeway Army whos own second album with Numan, Replicas was also released in 1979. The Pleasure Principle went to number one in the U.K and many other countries and was the album that went on to influence a host of other synth acts, none of then however were as dark as Gary Numan.
With this two disc deluxe edition (not to be confused with the previous remastered reissue that is one disc with bonus tracks) you get the original ten song album remastered of course, you also get a second disc of 17 songs that include demo versions and out takes. Numan fans will be well familiar with these songs but to people who only have a passing interest and only know the song Cars, they will get a suprise at how much they have heard already whether it be the brilliant Metal which was covered by Nine Inch Nails (on their remix ep things falling apart)or how familiar the music to M.E sounds as it was used by Basement Jaxx on their big hit where's Yor Head At? This just goes to show the influence Numan has on a wide range of musicans.
Stand out tracks are Metal, Cars, M.E and Observer from the main album but truthfully there is no really weak tracks and the album has aged really well considering the technology that was around then and what's around now. On the bonus cd as well as the demos you get Random and Oceans which were out takes from the original album and here you get them all dusted down and remastered. the demos are all high quality so it will be interesting to hear how the finished songs sound originally. You get all the original artwork with the booklet as well as well written piece by writer Steve Malins.
The Pleasure Principle might be 30 years old but one thing for sure is that it will still be influencing people in another 30 years time!
With this two disc deluxe edition (not to be confused with the previous remastered reissue that is one disc with bonus tracks) you get the original ten song album remastered of course, you also get a second disc of 17 songs that include demo versions and out takes. Numan fans will be well familiar with these songs but to people who only have a passing interest and only know the song Cars, they will get a suprise at how much they have heard already whether it be the brilliant Metal which was covered by Nine Inch Nails (on their remix ep things falling apart)or how familiar the music to M.E sounds as it was used by Basement Jaxx on their big hit where's Yor Head At? This just goes to show the influence Numan has on a wide range of musicans.
Stand out tracks are Metal, Cars, M.E and Observer from the main album but truthfully there is no really weak tracks and the album has aged really well considering the technology that was around then and what's around now. On the bonus cd as well as the demos you get Random and Oceans which were out takes from the original album and here you get them all dusted down and remastered. the demos are all high quality so it will be interesting to hear how the finished songs sound originally. You get all the original artwork with the booklet as well as well written piece by writer Steve Malins.
The Pleasure Principle might be 30 years old but one thing for sure is that it will still be influencing people in another 30 years time!
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Look Ma, No Guitars!
Ditching the Tubeway Army name for this release, Gary Numan's transition from punk/rock guitar-slinger to synth pioneer was complete. No guitars in sight on this one. Read more
Published 3 months ago by Pink
NUMANOIDS RULE
I cannot quite qualify as an out and out Numanoid but i am close.I have the upmost respect for Numan's fans they have really stood by him,rightfully so,in the face of commercial... Read more
Published 9 months ago by mister joe
Memories!
Had this album on vinyl when it first came out when I was quite young. Just a replacement really but took me a long time to get round to it. Great for the memories and loved GN!
Published 9 months ago by J. L. Williams
It makes you think - about the best way to recycle plastic
It can't be denied that Numan gives you the full gamut of his song range - there's the dull, dreary one that drones, the droning, dreary one that's dull and the dull, droning one... Read more
Published 20 months ago by Frank Chickens
Just wonderful
Well here it is, and if like me you adore the sound of analogue synths and heaving bass beats then look no further. Read more
Published on 4 Dec 2009 by Korea Insincere
For your listening Pleasure
The Pleasure Principle 30 year expanded edition provides the listener with a stagering insight into the making of a truely outstanding and ground breaking album that sounds as good... Read more
Published on 3 Oct 2009 by A. Tan-atkinson
From Redux to Expanded
As a massive fan of Gary's since 1978 when he was just a shy retiring boy called 'Veleriun'in in a small unknown post punk band called Tubeway Army. Read more
Published on 21 Sep 2009 by Mj Saunders-guihen
THIS IS A TRULY GREAT ALBUM !!
I FIRST BOUGHT THIS ALBUM WHEN IT WAS ORIGINALLY RELEASED IN 1979. I'D BECOME A HUGE NUMAN FAN WHEN , AT THE AGE OF 15, I HEARD ARE FRIENDS ELECTRIC ? Read more
Published on 20 Aug 2009 by TARZANSMONKEY
180gram vinyl - the only way to play it!
This weatherbox vinyl release is truly the only way to listen to this classic. The same goes for REPLICAS.
Sonically superior to anything. Read more
Sonically superior to anything. Read more
Published on 9 Aug 2009 by Baron Von Stevie
change your life
Well here we are with another album review. I have no musical expertise, knowledge of the music industry or any interest in flogging an album from over 25 years ago. Read more
Published on 23 July 2009 by A. Beesley
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