Frankie Goes To Hollywood - Shoot! (ZTT)

Even more eagerly awaited than its audio counterpart, Shoot! contains eight videos, none of which have been commercially available before. More than five videos were made for 'Relax' and two are included here. The first is directed by Bernard Rose and was originally banned by both the BBC and MTV. More hilarious than shocking, the promo is set in some bizarre gay pleasuredome. A so-called live concert version is also included.

Godley & Creme's classic video for 'Two Tribes' of two world leaders enjoying a spot of fisticuffs looks more surreal than cutting edge ten years on, post-Perestroika. In true ZTT fashion this video (and its actors!) was even allocated a catalogue number, ZTIS 119. But collectors will be disappointed to find that ZTIS 200, the extended version with some innovative scratch video effects has been omitted. Godley & Creme also directed the 'Power Of Love' video and to tie in with its Christmas release recreated the Birth Of Christ. Thankfully the members of the band did not appear in the film which helped it look more blockbuster than school nativity!

The bands appearence in the other videos chart the rise and demise of the FGTH sensation. They play along with the grandiose storyboard for Bernard Rose's 'Welcome To The Pleasuredome' and after a year-long session of touring and recording actually perform on stage for 'Rage Hard' which has just as much energy as any of the non performence promos. By the time they appear on screen for 'Watching The Wildlife' (having left 'Warriors Of The Wasteland' to the animators) the band knew they would split up at the first available opportunity. And it shows, no-one except Holly (and perhaps Ped) deliver any passion on screen.

Strangely the one screen star to remain from these days is Paul Morley. He directed 'Watching The Wildlife' and the whole of 'Shoot!' is interspersed with interview excepts form his promo release 'The Frankie Video' which looks like a pilot for his 'The Thing Is...' TV show. Altogether a dazzling set of images, the Frankie videos still remain some of the most notorious examples of this genre of film making, packing an equal punch to the music they illustrate. As Holly Johnson once said: "It's not a very real world to live in, but it's a good laugh!".


This review also published in: Record Collector

Frankie Goes To Hollywood- Bang! (ZTT)

Ten years since Relax and five since the infamous split and court case, this Greatest Hits Of Frankie Goes To Hollywood really is long overdue. With the wealth of Frankie remixes from their year of notoriety still keeping them high in RC's collectability poll, their 10th Anniversary could mark the opening of the vaults at FGTHQ. But for now the powers-that-be appear to have taken the soft, or rather the broad appeal option. All the Frankie singles are on the album, from 'Relax' to 'Watching The Wildlife', but in standard 7" form. In fact the only non-standard mix included is the full length album version of 'The World Is My Oyster'/'Welcome To The Pleasuredome', which constituted all of Side 1 of FGTH's first album. Also included are a clutch of b-sides, namely cover versions of 'War', 'Ferry Cross The Mersey' and 'Born To Run'.

A lot has changed in music since Frankie first hit it big, so it will be interesting to see how this collection meets with contemporary ears. 'Two Tribes' stands out as bpm-wise it isn't that different from contemporary techno. 'Relax' would be a bit more difficult on the dancefloor nowadays, although the quality of overall production and arrangement values still shine through. The same goes for 'The Power Of Love', but 'Ferry...' and 'War' are rather more difficult to categorise, standing up now more as interesting curios rather than off-the-wall 'tributes', as they first appeared.

'Born To Run' however is a different matter. One of the first recordings to prove that the band could actually play their instruments, it shaped the direction of their second album 'Liverpool'. Given the relative commercial failure of this album compared to their debut 'Welcome To The Pleasuredome', it's a surprise to note that the tracks from 'Liverpool' have aged very little. 'Rage Hard', 'Watching The Wildlife' and 'Warriors Of The Wasteland' are 3 minute punches of rock pop that are only slightly less memorable than 'Relax' or 'Two Tribes' due to their lack of a forthright lyrical message.

The point of Liverpool is hammered home with the inclusion of 'For Heaven's Sake' but Frankie will be remembered for their more off-the-wall productions so the compilation aptly ends with the one minute long 'Bang'. This combination of the two very different sides of one of the most important bands in 80s pop should both stir the memories of those who experienced Frankie Goes To Hollywood the first time around and attract the new buyers of 90s pop.


This review also published in: Record Collector