Customer Reviews

The Best of Howard Jones

5 star:		(17)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Looking at him, a wild parallel comes to mind. In a sense, Howard Jones seems to have been to the early-to-mid eighties what Moby became to the late nineties and early XXI century: the embodiment of a musical genre, funny, vegetarian, with a peculiar look, and above all, musicians at heart, releasing their first albums the same year, Moby with a new wave/punk band and Jones on his own, though at much late age (28).

I can almost see him today, over twenty years after, with the spikey hair, wearing the mic on his head (like it became a standard years later) and sitting in front of a big fat synthesizer. The year was 1983 and the song was "What Is Love?" (I missed his debut single, "New Song"), my first introduction to Howard Jones' music, and one of several songs to become Synth-Pop standards. Followed by many other classics, such as "Things Can Only Get Better", "Life In One Day" and "No One Ever Is To Blame", Jones' music continues to have the same effect on everyone: it gets you off your seat, and if you're driving, it gets you to tap on the wheel while you sing along his catchy tunes.

This compilation captures them all, sadly (for him) rendering most of the rest of his collection pointless, but making his best works easy to access for longtime fans of his music as well newcomers into his musical legacy.

Like most people, I purchased Best of Howard Jones because I really liked the songs I heard from him on the radio--and they're all here! The catchy "What Is Love?," the even catchier "Things Can Only Get Better," the inspirational "No One Is To Blame," and my personal favorite, the upbeat "Everlasting Love," were all big hits back in the 80s. And they sound as good as ever.

I was skeptical as always (with compilations) that the rest of the songs would be filler that I wouldn't care all that much about, but I liked the songs I did know enough to go ahead and make the purchase. I'm glad I did! Though I didn't know the other 14 tracks, it didn't take many plays for me to become a fan of them. The majority of the songs are slow, catchy tunes with top-notch singing and nice music to boot, and not a single of them are bad at all.

There's just something about Howard Jones's music. He seems to have a knack for making catchy hooks (listen to the way he says "love" in "What Is Love?," for instance) and for singing songs about as well as they could be done. You name it. "Pearl In The Shell," "Like To Get To Know You Well," "Life In One Day," and even the pleading "Look Mama," in which Jones says "Look mama, I love you. But you gotta let me live my life" are all nice to listen to, whether you're relaxing in the comfort of your own home or driving to and from work.

Perhaps there are some filler tracks that could've been left off to make the album stronger, but that's not the way I look at it. I'm now a proud owner of the songs I've been hearing for years on the radio, and the other 14 songs....well, I may not know them by heart, but I don't consider them to be filler. They're just more Howard Jones to listen to. Like some Howard Jones songs? This is the album to get.

Howard Jones. Though a synth-pop superstar in the eighties, he has been forgotten by many in the modern age, due to the shifting of the music industry. Fortunately, with the release of this compilation, his work won't have to go forgotten much longer. Read on for my review of The Best Of Howard Jones.

PROS:
If you want the Howard Jones hits you'll hear on your local eighties station, you've come to the right place. Things Can Only Get Better, No One Is To Blame, What Is Love?, and Everlasting Love are all here. Plus, you get one of Jones' underrated masterpieces - Like To Get To Know You Well, as featured in the 1985 film Better Off Dead. The other tracks are excellent too; there are very few fillers.

CONS:
I really can't think of many bad things to say about this compilation, because it's excellent. But there are a few filler tracks, and a few excellent tracks that didn't make the cut. But then again, aren't these things problems that haunt every hits compilation?

OVERALL:
Do you like Howard Jones? Get THIS compilation. Don't get The Essentials or the budget-priced best of, get THIS one.

I only bought this cd because i heard the song "what is love" on satellite tv and loved it.Howard jones is the best of pop from the 80's because he left out all the-now thought of as goofy looks and antics,sound.Very impressive use of the synth sounds that most artists caught on to only five years later.This cd can be put in and left to play all the way throught without skipping.That is a big plus for me.my 21 year old wife loves the cd now proving that good music is good music regardless if britny spears giant cheeseball has people liking over produced machine composed music.No hi-tech music software can duplicate a class act Howard Jones tune...

Am I the only one who had a 4'x6' poster of HoJo on their dorm room wall? Perhaps I am, but this is the ultimate Howard Jones collection. The songs you didn't know you knew are as sing along as anything on radio, and you will be instantly transported back to the big haired, spandexed, designer jeaned 80's. (How many of you still have those oversized ribbed tunics from Express??)Enjoy!

This is a very good compilation. The artist can be appreciated by Classic Rock lovers, like myself, as well as Pop / Top 40 lovers, like my wife. This has many of his best songs and sounds good while doing housework, yardwork, or at a barbecue.

Finally a greatest hits cd that's worth its mud. If you like 80's music then you'll love this complitation by Howard Jones. His use of the keyboard synthesizer is truly amamzing! And pretty much all of the songs on here are great as well. Everyone remembers the 1985 hit "Things Can Only Get Better", that's a song that all of us can relate too, especially when life isn't going that great. This greatest hits cd also offers the song "No One Is Too Blame" in its regular radio play version. His first cd "Dream Into Action" only has a remix slower version of "No One Is Too Blame" and I don't care for it that well. Anyway, I hope this review was helpfull. You should definetly but this cd, it's a must for any 80's music fan.

I am the ultimate Howard Jones fan and this is the ultimate cd that incorporates all of his best tunes. Howard Jones is a talent few and far between. His lyrics are heartfelt and genuine. If you truely listen you can hear life speaking truth to you and it will open you eyes to the wonders around you. By the way not many people know Howard is trained in classical piano,(he is not just a synth-keyboard wonder)... I love HoJo!!!!:-)

This cd brings back so many wonderful memories of the 80's. My husband and I listen and laugh and talk about our experiences, the clothes (those skinny ties!), and those hours of dancing! What a wonderful way to spend a Saturday afternoon. I highly recommend for any child of the 80's.

Howard Jones is a brilliant musician and songwriter! This is a wonderful collection of his many great hits that will be most familiar to American listeners. It's a very enjoyable CD. I recently read an interview with HoJo that detailed his practice of Buddhism as well. I had no idea he was a Buddhist, although many of his lyrics make more sense in that light. I recommend all Howard Jones fans pick up a copy of "Open Your Mind, Open Your Life: A Book of Eastern Wisdom" by a young author named Taro Gold. The book is filled with inspirational thoughts from the Buddhism that HoJo practices. His music and life philosophy are truly motivating!