Fans looking for a wildly thorough compilation for pop-rock band par excellence Huey Lewis & The News–or those hunting for rarities in the wake of their 30th anniversary edition of Sports that may have left fans wanting–have got some unlikely good (pardon the pun) news coming out of Europe.
An entry on the San Francisco bar band in Universal Music’s triple-disc Collected series looks to be not only a deep dive into the band’s hits and favorites from their debut album in 1980 to the release of 2010’s Stax covers album Soulsville, but a treasure chest full of rare mixes and hard-to-find tracks, including nine versions making their CD debuts.
The set covers the band’s meteoric rise from New Wave-tinged pub rockers to dominant rock hitmakers. Between 1982 and 1988, The News racked up a dozen Top 10 hits in America, including the chart-toppers “The Power of Love” (from the blockbuster film Back to the Future), “Stuck with You” and “Jacob’s Ladder.” But Collected goes even further, covering the group’s mix of covers and originals in the ’90s and ’00s, not to mention the silly, self-effacing theme to the stoner comedy Pineapple Express in 2006.
And the final disc racks up 17 rare and uncompiled tracks: there’s two Mutt Lange-produced songs from Clover, the pre-News group that included Lewis on harmonica and keyboardist Sean Hopper (and famously, sans Lewis, backed Elvis Costello on his debut album My Aim Is True in 1977), and soundtrack and compilation appearances by Lewis on his own. CD debuts on this disc include the sole single sides by American Express, which featured Lewis, Hopper, guitarist Johnny Colla, bassist Mario Cipollina and drummer Bill Gibson–5/6 of the classic News (lead guitarist Chris Hayes would complete the lineup)–and 12″ dance mixes of hits “I Want a New Drug,” “Heart and Soul,” “The Power of Love” and “Hip to Be Square.”
Though Amazon listings are not yet live, the band promises worldwide availability ahead of the set’s August 29 release date–a must-hear for any fans of Huey and the gang. In the meantime, check out the full track list below!
Collected (USM, 2017)
* previously unreleased on CD
Disc 1
- Some of My Lies Are True (Sooner or Later)
- Now Here’s You (Single Version) *
- Stop Trying
- Trouble In Paradise
- Do You Believe In Love
- Hope You Love Me Like You Say You Do
- Workin’ for a Livin’
- Tattoo (Giving It All Up for Love)
- Heart and Soul (Single Edit) *
- I Want a New Drug (Single Edit)
- The Heart of Rock & Roll (Single Edit)
- If This Is It
- Walking On a Thin Line (Single Edit)
- Bad Is Bad
- The Power of Love
- Back In Time (Jellybean Single Mix) *
- Stuck with You
- Hip To Be Square
- Jacob’s Ladder (Single Version)
- I Know What I Like (Single Version)
Original versions of Tracks 1-4 from Huey Lewis and The News (Chrysalis CHR 1292, 1980). Track 3 from Chrysalis single 2458, 1980
Tracks 5-8 from Picture This (Chrysalis CHR 1340, 1982)
Original versions of Tracks 9-14 from Sports (Chrysalis FV 41412, 1983). Track 9 from Chrysalis single VS4 42726, 1983. Track 10 from Chrysalis single VS4 42766, 1983. Track 11 from Chrysalis single VS4 42782, 1984. Track 13 from Chrysalis single VS4 42825, 1984
Original versions of Tracks 15-16 from Back to the Future: Music from the Original Motion Picture Soundtrack (MCA Records 6144, 1985). Track 16 from Chrysalis single WWS-17608 (JP), 1985
Original versions of Disc 1, Tracks 17-20 and Disc 2, Tracks 1-2 from Fore! (Chrysalis OV 41534, 1986). Track 19 from Chrysalis single VS4 43097, 1986. Track 20 from Chrysalis single VS4 43108, 1987
Disc 2
- Simple As That
- Doing It All for My Baby
- Perfect World
- Small World (Single Version)
- Give Me the Keys (and I’ll Drive You Crazy) (Single Edit)
- World to Me
- Walking with the Kid
- Couple Days Off (Short Edit)
- It Hit Me Like a Hammer (Sax Single Remix)
- He Don’t Know
- (She’s) Some Kind of Wonderful
- But It’s Alright
- Little Bitty Pretty One
- 100 Years from Now
- We’re Not Here for a Long Time (We’re Here for a Good Time)
- Let Her Go and Start Over (Radio Edit)
- I’m Not In Love Yet (with Wynonna Judd)
- Pineapple Express
- Respect Yourself
- Just the One (I’ve Been Looking For)
Original versions of Tracks 3-7 from Small World (Chrysalis OV 41622, 1988). Track 4 from Chrysalis single VS4 43306, 1988. Track 5 from Chrysalis single VS4 43335, 1988
Original versions of Tracks 8-10 from Hard At Play (EMI USA 93355, 1991). Track 8 from EMI USA promo CD single DPRO-04639, 1991. Track 9 from EMI USA promo CD single DPRO-04777, 1991
Tracks 11-13 from Four Chords & Several Years Ago (Elektra 61500, 1994)
Track 14 from Time Flies…The Best of Huey Lewis and The News (Elektra 61977, 1996)
Original versions of Tracks 15-17 from Plan B (Silvertone 01241-41767-2, 2001). Track 16 from Silvertone promo CD single JDJ-42920-2, 2001
Track 18 from Pineapple Express: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack (Bodog Music BDM0136128, 2006)
Tracks 19-20 from Soulsville (W.O.W. Records/Redeye 6 34457 53612 8, 2010)
Disc 3
- Streets of London – Clover
- Ain’t Nobody Own Nobody’s Soul – Clover
- Exodisco – American Express *
- Kick Back – American Express *
- Trouble In Paradise (Live @ The Kabuki Theatre, San Francisco – 3/19/1985)
- Flip Flop & Fly
- Oh! Darling – Huey Lewis
- Once Upon a Time In New York City – Huey Lewis
- Feelin’ Alright – Huey Lewis
- Lonely Teardrops – Huey Lewis
- Work with Me – Strokeland Superband feat. Huey Lewis
- Oh! Happy Day – Brenda Lee & Huey Lewis
- Way Past Midnight – Frankie Miller & Huey Lewis
- I Want a New Drug (Extended Version/Dance Mix) *
- Heart and Soul (Jellybean Remix) *
- The Power of Love (Jellybean Remix) *
- Hip to Be Square (Dance Remix) *
Track 1 from Unavailable (Mercury SRM-1-1169, 1977)
Track 2 from Love On The Wire (Mercury SRM 1-3708, 1977)
Tracks 3-4 from Mercury single 6007 212 (U.K.), 1979
Track 5 from We Are The World (Columbia USA 40043, 1985)
Track 6 from “But It’s Alright” CD single – Elektra EKR188CD (DE), 1994
Track 7 from Come Together: America Salutes The Beatles (Liberty CDP 72438 31712 2 4, 1995)
Track 8 from Oliver and Company: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack (Walt Disney Records 64101, 1988)
Tracks 9-10 from Duets: Original Soundtrack (Hollywood Records HR-62241-2, 2000)
Track 11 from Kick It Up a Step (Strokeland Records SR001CD, 2000)
Track 12 from Gospel Duets with Treasured Friends (Provident Special Markets 83061-0845-2, 2007)
Track 13 from Double Take (Universal Music 00602547944245 (U.K.), 2016)
Track 14 from Chrysalis 12″ single 4V9 42779, 1983
Track 15 from Chrysalis 12″ single 601 275 (Europe), 1983
Track 16 from Chrysalis 12″ single 4V9 42889, 1985
Track 17 from Chrysalis 12″ single 4V9 43075, 1986
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What a great looking set, and a must-have for me! I wish that Universal was this thorough with all their new multi-CD single-artist collections, some of which have notable omissions.
Funny cause I just heard Stuck With You in a Lowes.
I was never a fan. They always sound so happy.
I do like Do You Believe in Love. Being their first US hit.
Great looking set for the fans. I still have not gotten over my 80s radio overdose of HL & The News. Great pop rock songs but SO overplayed on radio back in the day that even today, whenever a song of theirs comes on, I switch the station. Phil Collins and Genesis have the same effect on me today. It was a double whammy with Collins because he had his solo hits and the hits with Genesis, and radio ran them both into the ground. That said, I am glad that labels are putting out sets like this.
A 3-disc set like this one is long overdue for Huey Lewis & The News. In fact, it really should have been a 4-disc anthology, including a few more rarities and missing singles. Notably missing are the following tracks (with U.S. Billboard chart positions):
“Back in Time [Jellybean 12” Remix] (from “The Power of Love” 12″ single, 1985, No. 3 Rock)
“It’s All Right” (from “A Tribute to Curtis Mayfield” album, 1993, No. 7 A.C., No. 37 Airplay)
“Cruisin'” (with Gwyneth Paltrow) (from the “Duets” soundtrack album, 2000, hit No. 1 A.C., No. 109 “Bubbling Under” Hot 100)
I will assume that these tracks were tossed in favor of the tracks presented, since I imagine that the 3 discs will be filled to their limits. Otherwise, this 3-disc set does an excellent job tackling the hits, singles, and rarities. I had no idea that the Jellybean single mix of “Back in Time” even existed! I am excited to hear this one! I will miss the 12″ mix, though, which was featured on the Japan “Super Selections” EP, released on CD in 1989, and very rare!
All but one of the 12″ mixes have been released on CD, to the best of my knowledge. “I Want a New Drug [Extended Version/Dance Mix]” was released on CD in 2016 on “So8os 10”. “The Power of Love [Jellybean Remix]” was released on CD in 2011 on “Dance Classics – Pop Edition – Vol. 4”. “Heart and Soul [Jellybean Remix]” was released on the “Super Selections” Japan CD EP in 1989. I do believe, however, that “Hip to Be Square [Dance Remix]” makes its CD debut on this “Collected” set. Regardless, the previously released on CD 12″ mixes are rather rare on CD, so I welcome their additions!
I will definitely be adding this one to my collection, regardless. What a nice package! Let’s hope that the sound is not ruined by squashed, loud, piercing, harsh mastering. Unfortunately, their album reissues have been lacking when it comes to bonus tracks. The 30th anniversary of “Sports” was a huge disappointment, so much that I didn’t even buy it (no 12″ mixes … huh?!)
Thanks for the article, Mike!
There is a little known remix of Heart & Soul (6:42) that appears to be the one contained here based on the footnote, which is different than the previously released version on Super Selections (5:50).
If it actually IS this version, it’s a great find. I do wish they’d made room for the Extended Version of Walking On a Thin Line (5:11) however.
I’ve heard a really nice extended version of Do You Believe In love but I think it’s just a well done fan mix.
Wow. I had no idea that another remix of “Heart & Soul” existed, but you are correct: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Td7C5wPnrY Perhaps that is the Jellybean Remix? Awesome find. Hopefully, this will be featured on this release.
Isn’t the 5:11 cut of “Walking On a Thin Line” the album version?
Yeah, I guess it is! I saw a 12″ that said Extended Version but of course they occasionally listed the non-single edit LP versions as extended – I actually have 3 different Greatest Hits CDs but only one has WOATL and it’s the edit, I never got Sports on CD cause all the good tracks were on the hits discs.
Would also like to have seen “Small World (part one and two)” and the extended dance mix, and I generally agree with Bellenger1981’s comments. I’ll certainly get a copy. Any idea what the price point will be?
Just noticed Amazon UK has a placeholder for a 2 disc vinyl version coming in Sept.
http://amzn.to/2tNHV01
The single/radio edited version of WalkingOATLine loses a few bars by omitting the longer bass lines and intro and IMO lost much of the originals magic.
Will get this but do wonder if there’s fresh remastering or whether they’ve used the 2006 remasters for some of this package? Really wish they had released a Deluxe remaster of Fore 🙁
I got my copy yesterday. Mastering credits go to QS Sound Lab. These are all new remasters, and I am pleasantly surprised by the sound. Yes, it is loud, but the tracks sound great to my ears. Note that there are a few vinyl transfers, however. “Back in Time [Jellybean Single Mix]”, for example, sounds like a vinyl transfer, which would not surprise me, since it makes its CD debut here. (The original master is probably long lost). Also, the American Express tracks are from vinyl, and “I Want a New Drug [Extended Version/Dance Mix]” is from vinyl as well, which is odd, since it appeared in master tape quality on “So8os 10”.
Cool thanks for the extra info 🙂