Retrospectacle - The Best Of Thomas Dolby by Thomas Dolby - DeepRiffs

COMPILATION

After what had seemed like a promising start with "She Blinded Me With Science" in 1983, Thomas Dolby only charted with two other singles in the U.S. (though he had nine chart singles in his native U.K., 1981-1992). This 16-track compilation, embracing both his Capitol/EMI and Warner Bros. recordings, demonstrates that Dolby deserved better. His synthesizer-based songs are consistently catchy and clever, and especially notable are early songs like "Urges" and "Leipzig" that have not previously appeared on a U.S. album. "One of Our Submarines," Dolby's cover of Dan Hicks' "I Scare Myself," and "Hyperactive!" all hold up well. Some of the later (non-hit) material from the albums Aliens Ate My Buick and Astronauts & Heretics is less impressive; a better choice could have been made from those records. But for the most part, this is an efficient collection that justifies its name.
© William Ruhlmann /TiVo

1. Europa And The Pirate Twins

by Thomas Dolby

Primary Artist: Thomas Dolby; Main Performer
Bass: Mark Heyward-chaplin; Performer
Drums: Justin Hildreth; Performer
Guitar: Kevin Armstrong; Performer
Harmonica: Andy Partridge; Performer
Noise: Thomas Dolby; Performer
Percussion: Thomas Dolby; Performer
Synthesizer: Thomas Dolby; Performer
Vocals: Thomas Dolby
Les Chappell; Performer
Composer: Thomas Dolby; Composer
Composer: Thomas Dolby; Composer
Engineer: Tim Hunt
Mike Hedges
Chris Stone
Wally Brill
Chris Birkett
Martin Levan
Peter Wooliscroft
Graham Carmichael
Barry Kingston; Production
Producer: Thomas Dolby; Production

2. Urges

by Thomas Dolby

Primary Artist: Thomas Dolby; Main Performer
Composer: Thomas Dolby; Composer
Composer: Thomas Dolby; Composer

3. Leipzig

by Thomas Dolby

Primary Artist: Thomas Dolby; Main Performer
Composer: Thomas Dolby; Composer
Composer: Thomas Dolby; Composer

4. Windpower

by Thomas Dolby

Primary Artist: Thomas Dolby; Main Performer
Brass: Simon Lloyd; Performer
Flute: Simon Lloyd; Performer
Noise: Thomas Dolby; Performer
Vocals: Thomas Dolby
John Marsh; Performer
Composer: Thomas Dolby; Composer
Composer: Thomas Dolby; Composer
Engineer: Tim Hunt
Mike Hedges
Chris Stone
Wally Brill
Chris Birkett
Martin Levan
Peter Wooliscroft
Graham Carmichael
Barry Kingston; Production
Producer: Thomas Dolby; Production
Programmer: Thomas Dolby; Production

5. Airwaves

by Thomas Dolby

Primary Artist: Thomas Dolby; Main Performer
Bass: Mark Heyward-chaplin; Performer
Bass Guitar: Mark Heyward-chaplin; Performer
Drums: Justin Hildreth; Performer
Guitar: Kevin Armstrong; Performer
Piano: Thomas Dolby; Performer
Synthesizer: Thomas Dolby; Performer
Vocals: Bruce Woolley
Thomas Dolby; Performer
Composer: Thomas Dolby; Composer
Composer: Thomas Dolby; Composer
Engineer: Tim Hunt
Mike Hedges
Chris Stone
Wally Brill
Chris Birkett
Martin Levan
Peter Wooliscroft
Graham Carmichael
Barry Kingston; Production
Producer: Thomas Dolby; Production

6. She Blinded Me With Science

by Thomas Dolby

Primary Artist: Thomas Dolby; Main Performer
Vocals: Thomas Dolby; Performer
Composer: Jo Kerr
Thomas Dolby; Composer
Composer: Jo Kerr
Thomas Dolby; Composer
Producer: Tim Friese-greene
Thomas Dolby; Production

7. One Of Our Submarines

by Thomas Dolby

Primary Artist: Thomas Dolby; Main Performer
Vocals: Thomas Dolby; Performer
Composer: Thomas Dolby; Composer
Composer: Thomas Dolby; Composer

8. Screen Kiss

by Thomas Dolby

Primary Artist: Thomas Dolby; Main Performer
Bass: Matthew Seligman; Performer
Guitar: Kevin Armstrong; Performer
Percussion: Clif Brigden; Performer
Piano: Thomas Dolby; Performer
Trumpet: Kevin Armstrong; Performer
Vocals: Thomas Dolby
Kevin Armstrong
Lesley Fairbairn; Performer
Composer: Thomas Dolby; Composer
Composer: Thomas Dolby; Composer
Engineer: Dan Lacksman; Production
Mixing: Mike Shipley; Production
Producer: Thomas Dolby; Production
Programmer: Clif Brigden; Production
Miscellaneous: Thomas Dolby; Other

9. Hyperactive!

by Thomas Dolby

Primary Artist: Thomas Dolby; Main Performer
Bass: Matthew Seligman; Performer
Drums: Justin Hildreth; Performer
Guitar: Kevin Armstrong; Performer
Percussion: Clif Brigden
Matthew Salt; Performer
Piano: Thomas Dolby; Performer
Trombone: Peter Thoms; Performer
Trumpet: Kevin Armstrong; Performer
Vocals: Adele Bertei
Thomas Dolby
Kevin Armstrong; Performer
Composer: Thomas Dolby; Composer
Composer: Thomas Dolby; Composer
Engineer: Dan Lacksman; Production
Mixing: Alan Douglas; Production
Producer: Thomas Dolby; Production
Programmer: Clif Brigden; Production
Miscellaneous: Thomas Dolby; Other

10. I Scare Myself

by Thomas Dolby

Primary Artist: Thomas Dolby; Main Performer
Bass: Matthew Seligman; Performer
Guitar: Kevin Armstrong; Performer
Percussion: Clif Brigden; Performer
Piano: Thomas Dolby; Performer
Trombone: Peter Thoms; Performer
Trumpet: Kevin Armstrong; Performer
Vocals: Thomas Dolby
Kevin Armstrong
Lesley Fairbairn; Performer
Composer: Dan Hicks; Composer
Composer: Dan Hicks; Composer
Engineer: Dan Lacksman; Production
Mixing: Mike Shipley; Production
Producer: Thomas Dolby; Production
Programmer: Clif Brigden; Production
Miscellaneous: Thomas Dolby; Other

11. The Flat Earth

by Thomas Dolby

Primary Artist: Thomas Dolby; Main Performer
Bass: Matthew Seligman; Performer
Guitar: Kevin Armstrong; Performer
Percussion: Clif Brigden; Performer
Piano: Thomas Dolby; Performer
Trumpet: Kevin Armstrong; Performer
Vocals: Adele Bertei
Thomas Dolby
Kevin Armstrong
Lesley Fairbairn; Performer
Composer: Thomas Dolby; Composer
Composer: Thomas Dolby; Composer
Engineer: Dan Lacksman; Production
Mixing: Mike Shipley; Production
Producer: Thomas Dolby; Production
Programmer: Clif Brigden; Production
Miscellaneous: Thomas Dolby; Other

12. Pulp Culture

by Thomas Dolby

Primary Artist: Thomas Dolby; Main Performer
Performer: The Lost Toy People; Performer
Vocals: Thomas Dolby; Performer
Arranger: Thomas Dolby
The Lost Toy People; Composer
Composer: Thomas Dolby; Composer
Composer: Thomas Dolby; Composer
Producer: Thomas Dolby
Bill Bottrell; Production

13. Budapest By Blimp

by Thomas Dolby

Primary Artist: Thomas Dolby; Main Performer
Performer: The Lost Toy People; Performer
Vocals: Thomas Dolby; Performer
Arranger: Thomas Dolby
The Lost Toy People; Composer
Composer: Thomas Dolby; Composer
Composer: Thomas Dolby; Composer
Producer: Thomas Dolby
Bill Bottrell; Production

14. Cruel

by Thomas Dolby

Primary Artist: Thomas Dolby; Main Performer
Vocals: Thomas Dolby; Performer
Composer: Thomas Dolby; Composer
Composer: Thomas Dolby; Composer
Producer: Thomas Dolby; Production

15. Close But No Cigar

by Thomas Dolby

Primary Artist: Thomas Dolby; Main Performer
Vocals: Thomas Dolby; Performer
Composer: Thomas Dolby; Composer
Composer: Thomas Dolby; Composer
Producer: Thomas Dolby; Production

16. I Love You Goodbye

by Thomas Dolby

Primary Artist: Thomas Dolby; Main Performer
Vocals: Thomas Dolby; Performer
Composer: Thomas Dolby; Composer
Composer: Thomas Dolby; Composer
Producer: Thomas Dolby; Production

Technical Specifications

Volume

1 volume only

Tracks

16 tracks available

Type

COMPILATION

Format

Digital Media

Duration

1 hour, 17 minutes and 28 seconds

Explicit

None

Coverart

Available and up to 1400x1400 px

Booklet

Not available

Max Quality

CD Quality (Lossless)

16bit / 44.1 kHz

Stereo

Audio Extension

Lossless: FLAC, M4A, WAV, WV, AIFF

Lossy: AAC, MP3, M4A, MP4, OGA, OGG, OPUS, WMA

Archive Format

Available in these formats: ZIP, TAR, RAR

Lyrics

All tracks have lyrics

Synchronized Lyrics

14/16 tracks have synced lyrics

Genres

Pop/Rock, Synth Pop

Label

Echo

Music Distribution Service

Warner

Country

United Kingdom

United States

Language

English (United States)

Popularity

Release Date

Feb 6, 1994

Track Preview

Available

Delivery Charge

Free

Delivery Method

Digital download link via Email or Personal Dashboard on this site

UPC

724382764250